Denver, CO

Broncos, Pat Surtain II Impacted by Falcons CB A.J. Terrell’s Mega-Extension

Published

2 years ago

September 2, 2024

Broncos, Pat Surtain II Impacted by Falcons CB A.J. Terrell’s Mega-Extension

One extension Denver Broncos fans may be expecting the team to announce in the near future is that of 2021 first-round pick Patrick Surtain II. As one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL, it’s not hard to figure out that the Broncos need to keep him.

One argument for getting Surtain extended sooner than later is that the Broncos can avoid the rising costs in the cornerback market. I have previously discussed, though, that it’s not exactly the case that other cornerbacks have re-set the market.

But another cornerback who entered the final year of his contract got extended in recent weeks. The Atlanta Falcons agreed to a four-year deal with A.J. Terrell, the team’s 2020 first-round pick.

Terrell got a four-year, $81 million deal with $42.344M fully guaranteed upon signing. He got $65.844M in total guarantees and $53.5M in new guarantees.

The new guarantees are important to note because Terrell was due $12.344M in fully guaranteed salary for 2024, after the Falcons exercised the fifth-year option in his rookie deal. Still, the new guarantees matter, along with full and total guarantees, in figuring out how this contract might impact the negotiations for a Surtain extension.

For starters, while Terrell got near the top in APY salary, he didn’t re-set the market in that aspect. His $20.25M APY salary trails that of Jaire Alexander at $21M. It does represent an increase over the APY salary for L’Jarius Sneed at $19.1M.

Also, Terrell’s APY salary exceeds that of Denzel Ward at $20.1M, but did not exceed Ward’s contract in other aspects. Ward got $44.5M in fully guaranteed money and $71.25M in total guarantees.

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In other words, Ward still holds the highest marks for guaranteed money, whether full or total guarantees. Thus, those numbers are still the ones Surtain is poised to surpass.

While APY salary can be useful, and it’s likely Surtain will set a new benchmark for APY salary, that isn’t the mark to beat above all else. Full guarantees, total guarantees and new guarantees matter just as much.

Currently, Surtain is due a little more than $3.5M for 2024 and $19.8M for 2025, the latter coming from the fifth-year option the Broncos picked up. If he were to sign a contract during the season, that guaranteed money will be part of the new deal.

Consequently, Surtain and his agent are certain to seek a significant sum of new guarantees. If we assume Surtain was to sign that deal this season and match Terrell’s $53.5M in new guarantees, Surtain would be looking at $76.8M in total guarantees. That would easily surpass Ward’s total guarantees.

However, it wouldn’t surprise if Surtain and his agent would seek to surpass the new guarantees Terrell got. If Surtain got $55M in new guarantees, that would mean he gets more than $78M in total guarantees.

If the Broncos wait until after the season to extend Surtain, the $3.5M he is due this season wouldn’t apply to the extension. Only the fifth-year option of $19.8M would apply. If we assume $55M in new guarantees in a deal signed in 2025, that gives Surtain $74.8M in total guarantees, which still easily surpasses what Ward got.

Simply put, Surtain is likely to be the cornerback who actually re-sets the market in every aspect. And while it would be great to see him sign a deal sooner than later, how soon he signs an extension won’t change the fact that he’s certain to become the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL by any aspect you consider.

So while the Terrell extension may impact negotiations for a Surtain deal to some degree, Ward’s contract matters just as much in negotiations. It’s easy to look at the wide receiver market and think that somebody is going to do a massive re-set like Justin Jefferson, but among young cornerbacks eligible for extensions, none of them are as talented as Surtain.

If anybody does truly re-set the cornerback market, Surtain is that player. The only question is how soon he and the Broncos come to terms on that new deal.

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Denver, CO

Purple Row After Dark: Is Denver the best sports town in the US?

Published

5 hours ago

March 29, 2026

Press Room

Purple Row After Dark: Is Denver the best sports town in the US?

In case you missed it, the Denver Summit — the Mile High City’s new NWSL team — made quite a debut today:

The game ended on a 0-0 draw, but what a great day for Denver sports.

And that raises an interesting question: Is Denver the best sports town in the United States?

The sooner the Mile High City gets a WNBA team, the better.

Me, I think you can’t beat Denver for sports. But I’m willing to entertain other perspectives. Let us know in the comments!

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Denver, CO

Every Opening and Closing This Week: Six Spots Debuted

Published

17 hours ago

March 28, 2026

Press Room

Every Opening and Closing This Week: Six Spots Debuted

Paperboy has opened its first location outside of Texas.

Paperboy

Denver is a city that loves to brunch and now, one of Austin’s top daytime spots has opened a location in the West Highland neighborhood. Paperboy’s third outpost is its first outside of its home state of Texas. The concept, which founder Rynan Harms started in a food trailer, has taken over the former home of Rooted Craft American Kitchen (and FNG before that).

“We love this neighborhood because it’s still close to downtown but has its own unique and relaxed vibe,” says Robert Brown, Harms’ longtime business partner, who has lived in Denver for nearly a decade. “People know their neighbors, they show up to community events, they’re invested in this place in a way that feels increasingly rare. That sense of connection is something Paperboy has always tried to foster, and we’re honored to be a part of it here in Denver.”

The menu includes staples such as the chicken and biscuit drizzled with spicy honey; Texas Hash with roasted pork, sweet potato, onion, kale, poached egg and pecan mole; and the Paperboy Pancake, described as “a cake-forward cornmeal pancake that still manages to be impossibly fluffy.”

martini on a table in front of a bar — FiNO’s martini is made with pickled tomato water.

Also now open is FiNO, the restaurant inside the revamped All Inn Hotel on East Colfax. We enjoyed our first meal there; if you’re planning to visit, don’t miss the signature martini, the Medi Nachos and the caper-studded charred cabbage.

On East Sixth Avenue, the powerhouse duo behind the city’s best new barbecue restaurant, Riot BBQ, has debuted Chicken Riot in the former Truffle Cheese Shop space. Meanwhile, the former Whiskey Biscuit in Englewood is now the Barn, a neighborhood eatery from a pair of longtime hospitality pros, including former Brider chef Chase Devitt.

Taqueria Los Gallitos has expanded once again, adding an eighth location in the former Taco John’s near the shuttered Denver Merchandise Mart.

And just in time for the Rockies home opener on Friday, April 3, McGregor Square has opened its revamped food hall. The former Milepost Zero moniker is out. Now, the space is dubbed McGregor Square Food & Drink and includes six food stalls from local eateries: Anthony’s Pizza & Pasta, C Burger, G-Que BBQ, High Point Creamery, TaCo! and Tora Ramen.

There’s just one closure to report this week: Ballyhoo Table & Stage, which actually shuttered last month after an eviction notice was posted.

In other openings and closings news:

chicken club sandwich — A chicken club is one of the sandwiches on off at the Barn.

Here’s the complete list of restaurants and bars that opened and closed this week*:

Openings

The Barn South Broadway, 3299 South Broadway, Englewood
Chicken Riot, 2906 East Sixth Avenue
FiNO, 3015 East Colfax Avenue
McGregor Square Food & Drink, 1601 19th Street
Paperboy, 3940 West 32nd Avenue
Taqueria Los Gallitos, 5810 Logan Street

Closures

Ballyhoo Table & Stage, 3300 Tejon Street

*Or earlier and not previously reported.

Know of something we missed? Email cafe@westword.com.

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Denver, CO

Preview: Spirit Prepares for First Match Against Denver Summit FC, Another Record Crowd

Published

1 day ago

March 28, 2026

Press Room

Preview: Spirit Prepares for First Match Against Denver Summit FC, Another Record Crowd

Denver, Colo. (03/27/2026) – In front of another expected record-breaking crowd, the Washington Spirit is set to take on Denver Summit FC in the side’s inaugural home match at Empower Field at Mile High. With over 60,000 tickets already distributed, the match is poised to break the NWSL attendance record of 40,091 set last summer when the Spirit visited Bay FC at San Francisco’s Oracle Park. Kicking off at 2 p.m. EDT, the match will broadcast nationally on CBS.

The Spirit

Washington comes into this weekend’s fixture off a difficult 1-1 home draw with Utah Royals FC earlier this week. After scoring in the 18th minute, the Spirit nearly earned its first victory of 2026 but conceded an equalizer late and had to settle for a single point on the table. Washington’s goal was scored by midfielder Rebeca Bernal, the Mexican star’s first since transferring to the NWSL last year.

Saturday afternoon’s match will mark the first-ever meeting between the Spirit, one of the NWSL’s original clubs, and 2026 expansion side Denver Summit FC. Denver will be the 17th different opponent for Washington across its regular season history: the Spirit has played against 13 active clubs (all except expansion sides Denver and Boston) as well as defunct clubs the Boston Breakers, FC Kansas City and the Western New York Flash.

The Spirit has had success against expansion sides as of late, tallying 11 wins in 15 matches against NWSL clubs in their first season of competition since the start of the 2021 campaign. In 2024, the Spirit went a perfect 5-0-0 against Bay FC and Utah Royals FC, outscoring the teams 10-3 with a playoff win to boot. In 2022, Washington earned a 1-3-0 record against Angel City FC and San Diego Wave FC and, in 2021, the eventual NWSL champions went an impressive 5-1-0 against Kansas City and Racing Louisville FC.

This weekend’s matchup at Empower Field at Mile High, home of the NFL’s Denver Broncos, is set to shatter the NWSL’s single match attendance record with over 60,000 tickets already distributed. The Spirit has also been the visiting team for two of the league’s previous three record-setting attendances: 34,130 fans at Seattle’s Lumen Field when the Spirit took on the Reign and 40,091 in the stands at San Francisco’s historic Oracle Park to watch Washington play Bay FC.

Washington is in good standing in several attacking categories through three matches despite two draws and a loss. The Spirit remains first in the league in rate of possession at nearly 62% and top three in both shots and shots on target with 49 and 17, respectively. With just three goals through three matches, look for the Spirit attack to continue getting attempts on frame this weekend.

Following Saturday’s match, the Spirit will hit the road again next weekend for an away match against Bay FC in San Jose on Sunday, April 5. Washington’s next home match will be on Friday, April 24 at 8 p.m. EDT when the side hosts the defending Shield winner Kansas City Current at Audi Field. Information on tickets can be found HERE.

The Opponent

Denver Summit FC opened its inaugural season with three straight away matches, collecting a win, a loss and a draw to carry four points into its home opener this weekend. Summit FC dropped its first match to Bay FC 1-2 before drawing Orlando 1-1 and beating Gotham 2-0.

Summit FC is led in scoring by star German forward Melissa Kössler who has three goals in three matches, scoring once in each contest. With a goal tomorrow, the forward would join Alex Morgan as just the second player in league history to score in each of her first four matches with a club. Look for the Spirit defending third to place an emphasis on limiting chances to Kössler on Saturday afternoon.

Denver has only allowed one goal across its last 240 minutes of action after giving up two in the first 30 minutes of the side’s opener. The strong recent form of Summit FC’s defending third against the Spirit attacking third’s ability to generate chance after chance will be a point to watch this weekend.

Three former Spirit players are currently on the Summit FC roster as midfielders Meg Boade and Jordan Baggett and defender Camryn Biegalski signed with the side ahead of this season. Baggett spent four years with the Spirit after being drafted by the side in 2019 while Biegalski signed with Washington in 2021 and played three seasons, both winning the 2021 NWSL Championship with the team. Boade spent the first half of the 2025 season in DC as a short-term injury replacement, even scoring a goal for the Spirit.

Following tomorrow’s match, Denver will travel to Seattle to face Reign FC on Saturday, April 4.

All-Time Series History

This weekend’s match will be the first-ever meeting between the Spirit and Denver Summit FC.

About The Washington Spirit

The Washington Spirit is the premier professional women’s soccer team based in Washington, D.C. and plays at Audi Field in Buzzard Point. The Spirit was founded on November 21, 2012 and is an inaugural member of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) the fastest growing sports league in the US. The club is home to some of the best players in the world who have won championships for both club and country. For more information about the Spirit, visit WashingtonSpirit.com and follow the club on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

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