Denver, CO
NFL combine buzz: Should Broncos target Georgia TE Brock Bowers in first round?
Parker Gabriel, Broncos beat reporter: Alright, Ryan, another busy day at the NFL combine. Reporters took a massive interest Thursday in Georgia tight end Brock Bowers, and with good reason. NFL teams have massive interest in him, too. Tight end prospects like this don’t come around every year. It just so happens that Denver has a glaring need at tight end, where it received precious little production in 2023 (42 catches, 370 yards, three touchdowns combined) and an injury-riddled season from second-year man Greg Dulcich. So, what should Sean Payton and the Broncos scouting department be thinking here? Is Bowers special enough to consider taking him if he falls to No. 12? Even with the quarterback need looming? Or is this more likely a situation where Denver looks for an interesting later-round prospect — remember, George Kittle was a fifth-round pick, Travis Kelce a third-rounder and Sam LaPorta a second-rounder — or mines free agency?
Ryan McFadden, Broncos beat reporter: This is a tough question, but Payton and general manager George Paton have expressed the need for a tight end. Bowers said he has met with the Broncos and he does fit the “Joker” role Payton covets in his offense. Before coming to Indianapolis, I wasn’t sure if the Broncos would take Bowers at No. 12. But after a few days here, I think they would. Still, I’ll stand pat on my belief that Denver needs to address the left tackle position. If someone like Penn State’s Olu Fashanu or Notre Dame’s Joe Alt is available, the Broncos should lean toward addressing that position or cornerback. They can take a tight end in the later rounds like Penn State’s Theo Johnson, TCU’s Jared Wiley or even Thor himself, Dallin Holker from Colorado State. That said, Payton values tight ends, and prospects like Bowers don’t come around often.
Gabriel: True enough about left tackle. Between that position — it’s a deep tackle class — quarterback or corner, there are plenty of options. But here’s the thing: Payton loves himself a “Joker” type mismatch at tight end or running back. Bowers has that potential. Heck, NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah said before the combine that Bowers is what would happen if Dallas Clark and George Kittle had a child together. That’s lofty praise in the tight end pantheon. Plus, when Payton has a standout tight end, they produce at outrageous levels. At his four-year peak (2011-14), Jimmy Graham had four straight years with at least 85 catches, between 889 and 1,310 yards and 46 total touchdown receptions. Not saying Bowers is a guarantee to do that, but he sure would alter Payton’s approach. Twenty-five NFL tight ends had more yards in 2023 than Denver’s room overall. So, there are a lot of ways to get better. Bowers would be the most exciting one.
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Denver, CO
Things To Do In And Around Denver This Weekend – 12/17-12/21 – 303 Magazine
Where: Fight Club – 1959 16th St Mall Denver
Cost: Price varies
The Lowdown:
Guests have the option of $39 bottomless flatbreads, which includes the price of their oche reservation for Social Darts®. The bottomless flatbread menu features Smoked Salmon Flatbread, Four Cheese Flatbread, Breakfast Flatbread, or Garden Vegetable Flatbread. Guests can also order off the á la carte menu, which includes a fresh-cut fruit plate, breakfast sliders,, avocado toast, and Flight Club’s famous churros.
Denver, CO
Denver airport delays, crashes, broken windows, downed power lines: What to know about Colorado’s windy Wednesday
Hurricane-force winds in Colorado on Wednesday had a major impact across the Denver metro area, Front Range, and foothills. It’s a First Alert Weather Day because of the dangerous conditions.
Gusts of over 100 mph — equivalent to a category 2 hurricane — were reported in some parts of the Front Range, and over 100,000 people were without power as of 7 p.m. On Berthoud Pass, between Empire and Winter Park, wind gusts reached at least 102 mph. They reached 97 mph at Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge in Boulder County, 96 mph in Marshall, and 93 mph in West Arvada.
Several highways were closed, Denver International Airport saw dozens of delays, power lines and other property damage were reported, schools were closed, Denver’s holiday events were canceled, and thousands of homes and businesses were without power after Xcel’s Public Safety Power Shutoff and unplanned outages.
Power shutoff
Xcel Energy was implementing what it calls a Public Safety Shutoff, for only the second time ever in Colorado. An estimated 50,000 people across the Front Range were impacted, mostly in Boulder, Clear Creek, Jefferson, Larimer, and Weld counties.
Restoration for some areas was expected to start around 6 p.m. Wednesday, but many customers told CBS News Colorado that Xcel told them it could be up to three days before their power is restored.
As a result, the Colorado Division of Emergency Management opened charging centers, shelters, and resource centers in the impacted areas.
Xcel said it shut off the power in these areas because of the combination of wind speeds and dry conditions that increase the chance of wildfires.
Once conditions improve, Xcel Energy Colorado President Robert Kenney said crews will begin inspecting lines to determine when power can be restored.
“Once the wind event stops, that does not mean your power will be immediately restored,” he said. “We have several hundred crew members that are already being pre-positioned, that are on standby, so that when the wind event does end, they will be able to immediately begin inspecting the lines. They have to visually inspect the lines for damage before restoring the power.”
Delayed flights
The Federal Aviation Administration called for a ground delay at Denver International Airport from 5 through 8 p.m., although that’s subject to change, based on evolving weather conditions.
As of about 6:30 p.m., 66 flights were delayed, and one was canceled.
Wind gusts were recorded at around 40 mph at the airport around 5 p.m.
School closures
Several school districts — including Jefferson County, Colorado’s second-largest — closed schools, and many also canceled after-school activities.
The University of Colorado cancelled classes, but the Buffs’ basketball game against Portland State is continuing, although fans are not allowed to attend.
Highway closures
Several highways in the foothills near Boulder, as well as in Northern Colorado up to the Wyoming state line, were closed. At least one crash also closed the westbound lanes of Interstate 70 on the Eastern Plains.
Those planned closures included:
- Highway 93 between Boulder and Arvada
- Highway 36 between Boulder and Lyons
- Highway 128 from Superior to Highway 93
- Highway 287 between Ted’s Place and the Wyoming border closed this afternoon, but has since reopened
Damage and other closures
Power lines were reported as having fallen across the Denver metro area, adding to the number of customers without power.
A number of local businesses were also forced to close — some out of caution, others due to a lack of power.
Car and structure windows were also broken by flying debris, like this car in Boulder, whose windows were shattered by small, flying rocks.
Despite losing power around 10 a.m., Ace Hardware in Golden remained open and kept busy, selling generators, flashlights, batteries, and tools and materials to prevent or fix damage.
Some business owners raised concerns about what a days-long outage could mean for their companies, products, and customers.
“We could lose everything,” DeAnn Wieber, owner of the Windy Saddle Cafe in Golden, said. “We could lose all our food, the time that it took to prepare everything, and we just don’t know. And there’s are a lot of businesses going through the same thing.”
Denver, CO
Canceled due to high winds: Wednesday’s drone show, holiday tree, Christkindlmarket
Downtown’s Mile High Drone Show, the Denver Christkindlmarket and access to the Mile High Tree have been canceled for Wednesday, Dec. 17, due to high winds, said producers at Visit Denver.
The city’s tourism arm on Wednesday morning decided to cancel the shows and outdoor holiday market for this evening “due to weather conditions,” as well as cut off access to the 110-foot LED icon known as the Mile High Tree, through which visitors can typically walk and snap selfies.
Denver is forecasted to endure wind gusts of up to 50 mph on Dec. 17, with gusts of up to 75 to 80mph possible in higher elevations. High winds, low humidity and the possibility of wildfire led Xcel Energy to cut power to more than 100,000 Front Range residents by Wednesday morning. Xcel Energy also sponsors the Mile High Tree.
Denver Christkindlmarket is scheduled to run through Dec. 23 at the Auraria Campus.
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