thedenverpost--2020-09-14--As Trump played down coronavirus, health experts’ alarm grew

WASHINGTON — Public health officials were already warning Americans about the need to prepare for the coronavirus threat in early February when President Donald Trump called it “ deadly stuff ” in a private conversation that has only now has come to light .
At the time , the virus was mostly a problem in China , with just 11 cases confirmed in the United States .
There was uncertainty about how the U.S. ultimately would be affected , and top U.S. officials would deliver some mixed messages along the way .
But their overall thrust was to take the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preparing as if this is a pandemic , ” Dr. Nancy Messonnier of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told reporters on Feb. 5 .
“ This is just good commonsense public health.
” Trump , however , had a louder megaphone than his health experts , and in public he was playing down the threat .
Three days after delivering his “ deadly ” assessment in a private call with journalist Bob Woodward , he told a New Hampshire rally on Feb. 10 , “ It ’ s going to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Woodward ’ s new book “ Rage ” that he was minimizing the severity of the virus in public to avoid causing panic has triggered waves of criticism that he wasn ’ t leveling with the American people .
The White House has tried to answer that criticism by pointing to selected comments from U.S. health experts to suggest they were on the same page with Trump all along .
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany highlighted comments from Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nation ’ s top infectious disease expert , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t lie to the public .
She cited a Feb. 17 interview in which Fauci focused his concern on the seasonal flu then playing out .
But a day later , Fauci had spoken of alarming potential implications from the new virus , saying , “ Not only do we not have an appreciation of the magnitude , even more disturbing is that we don ’ t have an appreciation of where the magnitude is going.
” Mixed safety messages added to confusion .
There was considerable discussion about mask-wearing in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with leading experts advising the public against it , saying to leave the masks for health care workers .
“ Seriously people — STOP BUYING MASKS !
” U.S .
Surgeon General Jerome Adams tweeted on Feb. 29 .
Officials later recommended that people wear face coverings in public and around people who don ’ t live in their household , based on a review of the latest evidence .
People could find different takeaways within Fauci ’ s pronouncements .
He told the USA Today editorial board on Feb. 17 that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus in five major cities when they showed up at clinics with flu-like symptoms .
If that testing showed the virus had slipped into the country in places federal officials didn ’ t know about , “ we ’ ve got a problem , ” Fauci said .
Still , the headline put the spotlight on his remark that the danger posed by the virus was slight .
It read : “ Top disease official : Risk of coronavirus in USA is ‘ minuscule.
’ ” Larry Gostin , a professor at Georgetown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administrations on public health issues , said there should be no confusing honest mistakes and expressions of uncertainty from public health officials with Trump ’ s effort to minimize the threat of COVID-19 .
“ It is irrefutable that he has played down the epidemic and sidelined trusted scientists , and in some cases , muzzled them , ” Gostin said .
He added : “ I categorically deny the idea that there wasn ’ t a strong consensus of public health experts at the time saying this was a very serious problem.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 19 that he had deliberately minimized the danger .
“ I wanted to always play it down , ” the president said .
“ I still like playing it down because I don ’ t want to create a panic.
” Critics have long noted how Trump ’ s public comments failed to sync up with those of public health officials , contributing to confusion among Americans .
As Trump left for India on Feb. 23 , he told reporters that the virus was “ very much under control ” and that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. were “ very well confined.
” But two days later , the CDC ’ s Messonnier told reporters , “ It ’ s not so much a question of if this will happen anymore , but more really a question of when it will happen and how many people in this country will have severe illness.
” Stocks plunged following her remarks and , soon after , Trump appointed Vice President Mike Pence to lead the White House coronavirus task force .
At the news conference announcing Pence ’ s selection , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the inevitability of COVID-19 in the United States .
“ Well , I don ’ t think it ’ s inevitable .
It probably will .
It possibly will .
It could be at a very small level or it could be at a larger level .
Whatever happens , we ’ re totally prepared , ” Trump said .
Sandra Crouse Quinn , a University of Maryland professor who researches crisis communications during public health emergencies , said it ’ s critical not to overreassure people in a pandemic .
“ You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coming , ” she said .
Dr. Howard Koh of Harvard ’ s school of public health said unflinchingly communicating what ’ s known as soon as possible helps build trust that will be necessary as the pandemic progresses .
Koh said the role of the White House in a pandemic is to galvanize national attention for public health officials and then step out of the way .
But that hasn ’ t been the case under Trump , said Koh , who was at the Department of Health and Human Services under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ played out last week , Trump got some backup from Fauci , who told Fox News that he didn ’ t get the sense that Trump had distorted anything .
But in an interview with MSNBC , Fauci noted the discrepancies between his own comments and the president ’ s .
“ As you know , there were times when I was out there telling the American public how difficult this is , how we ’ re having a really serious problem , you know , and the president was saying it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disappear , which obviously is not the case , ” he said .
Associated Press writer Candice Choi in New York contributed to this report .
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WASHINGTON — Public health officials were already warning Americans about the need to prepare for the coronavirus threat in early February when President Donald Trump called it “deadly stuff” in a private conversation that has only now has come to light.
At the time, the virus was mostly a problem in China, with just 11 cases confirmed in the United States.
There was uncertainty about how the U.S. ultimately would be affected, and top U.S. officials would deliver some mixed messages along the way. But their overall thrust was to take the thing seriously.
“We’re preparing as if this is a pandemic,” Dr. Nancy Messonnier of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told reporters on Feb. 5. “This is just good commonsense public health.”
Trump, however, had a louder megaphone than his health experts, and in public he was playing down the threat. Three days after delivering his “deadly” assessment in a private call with journalist Bob Woodward, he told a New Hampshire rally on Feb. 10, “It’s going to be fine.”
Trump’s acknowledgment in Woodward’s new book “Rage” that he was minimizing the severity of the virus in public to avoid causing panic has triggered waves of criticism that he wasn’t leveling with the American people.
The White House has tried to answer that criticism by pointing to selected comments from U.S. health experts to suggest they were on the same page with Trump all along.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany highlighted comments from Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, to try to make the case that Trump didn’t lie to the public. She cited a Feb. 17 interview in which Fauci focused his concern on the seasonal flu then playing out.
But a day later, Fauci had spoken of alarming potential implications from the new virus, saying, “Not only do we not have an appreciation of the magnitude, even more disturbing is that we don’t have an appreciation of where the magnitude is going.”
Mixed safety messages added to confusion. There was considerable discussion about mask-wearing in the early days of the pandemic, with leading experts advising the public against it, saying to leave the masks for health care workers.
“Seriously people — STOP BUYING MASKS!” U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams tweeted on Feb. 29. Officials later recommended that people wear face coverings in public and around people who don’t live in their household, based on a review of the latest evidence.
People could find different takeaways within Fauci’s pronouncements. He told the USA Today editorial board on Feb. 17 that the CDC would be testing people for the coronavirus in five major cities when they showed up at clinics with flu-like symptoms.
If that testing showed the virus had slipped into the country in places federal officials didn’t know about, “we’ve got a problem,” Fauci said. Still, the headline put the spotlight on his remark that the danger posed by the virus was slight. It read: “Top disease official: Risk of coronavirus in USA is ‘minuscule.’”
Larry Gostin, a professor at Georgetown University who has advised Republican and Democratic administrations on public health issues, said there should be no confusing honest mistakes and expressions of uncertainty from public health officials with Trump’s effort to minimize the threat of COVID-19.
“It is irrefutable that he has played down the epidemic and sidelined trusted scientists, and in some cases, muzzled them,” Gostin said.
He added: “I categorically deny the idea that there wasn’t a strong consensus of public health experts at the time saying this was a very serious problem.”
Trump himself told Woodward on March 19 that he had deliberately minimized the danger. “I wanted to always play it down,” the president said. “I still like playing it down because I don’t want to create a panic.”
Critics have long noted how Trump’s public comments failed to sync up with those of public health officials, contributing to confusion among Americans.
As Trump left for India on Feb. 23, he told reporters that the virus was “very much under control” and that the small number of infected people in the U.S. were “very well confined.”
But two days later, the CDC’s Messonnier told reporters, “It’s not so much a question of if this will happen anymore, but more really a question of when it will happen and how many people in this country will have severe illness.”
Stocks plunged following her remarks and, soon after, Trump appointed Vice President Mike Pence to lead the White House coronavirus task force. At the news conference announcing Pence’s selection, Trump was asked if he agreed with the inevitability of COVID-19 in the United States.
“Well, I don’t think it’s inevitable. It probably will. It possibly will. It could be at a very small level or it could be at a larger level. Whatever happens, we’re totally prepared,” Trump said.
Sandra Crouse Quinn, a University of Maryland professor who researches crisis communications during public health emergencies, said it’s critical not to overreassure people in a pandemic.
“You help the public anticipate what’s coming,” she said.
Dr. Howard Koh of Harvard’s school of public health said unflinchingly communicating what’s known as soon as possible helps build trust that will be necessary as the pandemic progresses.
Koh said the role of the White House in a pandemic is to galvanize national attention for public health officials and then step out of the way. But that hasn’t been the case under Trump, said Koh, who was at the Department of Health and Human Services under President Barack Obama.
As the fallout played out last week, Trump got some backup from Fauci, who told Fox News that he didn’t get the sense that Trump had distorted anything. But in an interview with MSNBC, Fauci noted the discrepancies between his own comments and the president’s.
“As you know, there were times when I was out there telling the American public how difficult this is, how we’re having a really serious problem, you know, and the president was saying it’s something that’s going to disappear, which obviously is not the case,” he said.
Associated Press writer Candice Choi in New York contributed to this report.
Subscribe to bi-weekly newsletter to get health news sent straight to your inbox.


thedenverpost--2020-09-14--Keeler: Kawhi Leonard, Clippers look like choke artists. And the Nuggets look like Freddy Krueger, t

Keeler: Kawhi Leonard, Clippers look like choke artists. And the Nuggets look like Freddy Krueger, the nightmare that never ends.

Look , we chainsawed its guts .
We cut off its head .
We read the incantation from the book twice .
So why is this zombie still walking ?
The look on Kawhi Leonard ’ s face Sunday was a little like the “ final girl ” from horror films when the big baddie gets dismembered and just won ’ t stay , ya know , dead .
Isn ’ t this fun ?
The Nuggets are suddenly Freddy Krueger , the nightmare that never ends .
And a reporter after Game 6 asked Leonard , one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his Los Angeles Clippers were choke artists .
“ Just went cold , ” the Claw replied , softly , after the Nuggets stunned the Clips for a second consecutive playoff victory behind a second straight second-half flurry , forcing a Game 7 in the Western Conference semifinals .
“ We went cold in that third quarter .
That ’ s it .
We kept getting to the paint , passing the ball .
Got a little stagnant and just couldn ’ t make shots.
” Even if it isn ’ t a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nuggets awfully hard to swallow right now .
And harder , still , to put away .
Denver outscored Los Angeles 18-6 over the final seven minutes of the third quarter .
The Nuggets then won the fourth , 34-19 , pulling out a 111-98 victory that pushed all the chips to the center of the table Tuesday night .
“ ( There ’ s ) pressure every game , ” said Leonard , who finished with 25 points and eight boards but didn ’ t make a field goal in the third @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to go home.
” Yeah , but the Nuggets know this part of the neighborhood by memory now .
According to ESPN Stats & Information , Denver is the first NBA team to play in four straight Game 7s .
And the first since 1997 to come back from at least 15 points down in three different elimination playoff contests .
Meanwhile , Tuesday will be the first time Kawhi will have to play in a Game 7 after leading a series 3-1 .
And teammate Paul George has never won Game 7 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ squad let a 3-1 cushion slip away .
“ We ’ re still in the driver seat .
It ’ s not a panic mode , ” said George , who netted a team-high 33 points .
“ We have a Game 7 .
I like our odds with our group .
We put ourselves in this position .
And it ’ s on us to get ourselves out of it.
” Denver is 5-0 in elimination games inside the NBA bubble , 6-1 over the past 18 months .
The Nuggets look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feels against their backs .
The Clippers look like someone just ripped their guts out with a rusty crowbar .
“ The more games you win , the more pressure is on the opposing team , ” offered Nuggets wing man Torrey Craig , whose 3-pointer a minute into the fourth period gave Denver its first second-half lead .
“ Right now , we feel like the pressure ’ s on them.
” This part of the neighborhood ’ s never treated Doc Rivers kindly .
The Clippers coach has lost every NBA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ failed to close out by Game 6 .
Rivers ’ Orlando Magic chucked away a 3-1 cushion during the first round of the 2003 playoffs , dropping three straight to Chauncey Billups and the Detroit Pistons .
And Doc ’ s Clips lost three in a row to Houston to close out the 2015 Western Conference semis after racing out to a 3-1 bulge .
Of course , that ’ s ancient history now .
And the Nuggets are a win away from making some more of their own .

Look, we chainsawed its guts. We cut off its head. We read the incantation from the book twice. So why is this zombie still walking? The look on Kawhi Leonard’s face Sunday was a little like the “final girl” from horror films when the big baddie gets dismembered and just won’t stay, ya know, dead.
Isn’t this fun? The Nuggets are suddenly Freddy Krueger, the nightmare that never ends. And a reporter after Game 6 asked Leonard, one of the best players of his generation, if his Los Angeles Clippers were choke artists.
“Just went cold,” the Claw replied, softly, after the Nuggets stunned the Clips for a second consecutive playoff victory behind a second straight second-half flurry, forcing a Game 7 in the Western Conference semifinals. “We went cold in that third quarter. That’s it. We kept getting to the paint, passing the ball. Got a little stagnant and just couldn’t make shots.”
Even if it isn’t a choke, the Clippers are finding the Nuggets awfully hard to swallow right now. And harder, still, to put away. Denver outscored Los Angeles 18-6 over the final seven minutes of the third quarter. The Nuggets then won the fourth, 34-19, pulling out a 111-98 victory that pushed all the chips to the center of the table Tuesday night.
“(There’s) pressure every game,” said Leonard, who finished with 25 points and eight boards but didn’t make a field goal in the third quarter. “Obviously, nobody wants to go home.”
Yeah, but the Nuggets know this part of the neighborhood by memory now. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Denver is the first NBA team to play in four straight Game 7s. And the first since 1997 to come back from at least 15 points down in three different elimination playoff contests.
Meanwhile, Tuesday will be the first time Kawhi will have to play in a Game 7 after leading a series 3-1. And teammate Paul George has never won Game 7 of a postseason series that saw his squad let a 3-1 cushion slip away.
“We’re still in the driver seat. It’s not a panic mode,” said George, who netted a team-high 33 points. “We have a Game 7. I like our odds with our group. We put ourselves in this position. And it’s on us to get ourselves out of it.”
Denver is 5-0 in elimination games inside the NBA bubble, 6-1 over the past 18 months. The Nuggets look like they love the way the wall feels against their backs. The Clippers look like someone just ripped their guts out with a rusty crowbar.
“The more games you win, the more pressure is on the opposing team,” offered Nuggets wing man Torrey Craig, whose 3-pointer a minute into the fourth period gave Denver its first second-half lead. “Right now, we feel like the pressure’s on them.”
This part of the neighborhood’s never treated Doc Rivers kindly. The Clippers coach has lost every NBA postseason series his teams led 3-1 but failed to close out by Game 6.
Rivers’ Orlando Magic chucked away a 3-1 cushion during the first round of the 2003 playoffs, dropping three straight to Chauncey Billups and the Detroit Pistons. And Doc’s Clips lost three in a row to Houston to close out the 2015 Western Conference semis after racing out to a 3-1 bulge.
Of course, that’s ancient history now. And the Nuggets are a win away from making some more of their own.


thedenverpost--2020-09-14--Broncos Journal: An easy way to break four-year playoff drought? More takeaways.

Way back on Aug. 14 , Broncos safety Trey Marshall and cornerbacks Bryce Callahan and Michael Ojemudia opened training camp with interceptions .
The Broncos should hope that established the foundation for takeaway improvement .
Last year , only five NFL teams had fewer than the Broncos ’ 17 takeaways .
Among their seven interceptions , only one was by a full-time cornerback ( Chris Harris , who is now with the Chargers ) .
Last season fell off the rails when the defense produced no takeaways , which meant no short fields for a struggling offense , no momentum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) .
Entering Monday night ’ s opener against Tennessee , the Broncos are counting on improved cornerback play , the return of outside linebacker Bradley Chubb from a torn ACL and a more consistent run defense ( which leads to passing downs ) to equal more takeaway opportunities .
“ It ’ s one of the things that we preach , ” safety Kareem Jackson said .
“ We didn ’ t do a great job at creating turnovers last year so we ’ ve definitely placed a lot of emphasis on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opportunities for our offense with the weapons those guys have .
“ It ’ s all about getting the ball .
If we can get the ball , we feel like we can be a pretty good group.
” Seven of the top eight teams in turnover ratio last year reached the playoffs ; the Broncos were plus-1 ( tied for 13th ) .
Nine of their 17 takeaways came in three games .
Broncos coach Vic Fangio has been a defensive play-caller for 15 years and his teams are 104-29-1 ( regular @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — a rate of 77.6 % .
Carolina ( 1995-98 ) : The Panthers were 18-3 , including 8-0 in ’ 96 .
Indianapolis ( 1999-2001 ) : The Colts were 19-3 , including 0-2 in the playoffs .
San Francisco ( 2011-14 ) : The 49ers were 37-5-1 , including 4-0 in the playoffs .
Chicago ( 2015-18 ) : The Bears were , gulp , 13-9 , including 0-1 in the playoffs .
“ I think just another year in the system will help the guys that were here last year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve added some players that could help in that area , also , in A.J .
( Bouye ) and Jurrell ( Casey ) .
Bradley returning to the lineup will help .
“ If we can get in the lead more in the second half of games , that will also help.
” Thing is , the Broncos had a plus-48 point differential in the first half last year ( eighth-best ) , but were minus-82 in the second half ( third-worst ) .
The Broncos lost games in which they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , 6-3 ( at Indianapolis ) and 20-0 ( at Minnesota ) .
They went 6-3 when leading at halftime .
Plan A was to have Chubb and Von Miller , reunited after combining for 26 1/2 sacks in 2018 , dominating off the edge .
Miller , though , sustained an ankle injury last Tuesday that could keep him out the entire season .
“ On third down , Vic tries to bring those five-man pressures with Chubb and Miller and make sure they ’ re singled up , ” an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It ’ s not like it ’ s a hard scheme to figure out .
He ’ s a Cover 4 base guy , but he has some third down stuff that is kind of unique .
But he really relies on his defensive line.
” Enter Casey , who arrives from Tennessee to provide an interior pass rush .
There is also high expectations for second-year defensive end Dre ’ Mont Jones .
The pressure is on every player on defense to do more .
It all must come together … @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make turnovers , ” Bouye said .
“ Coverage , sacks , strip-sacking .
Being top-five in turnovers is going to help our team get to where we need to be and that ’ s one of our goals .
”

Way back on Aug. 14, Broncos safety Trey Marshall and cornerbacks Bryce Callahan and Michael Ojemudia opened training camp with interceptions.
The Broncos should hope that established the foundation for takeaway improvement. Last year, only five NFL teams had fewer than the Broncos’ 17 takeaways. Among their seven interceptions, only one was by a full-time cornerback (Chris Harris, who is now with the Chargers).
Last season fell off the rails when the defense produced no takeaways, which meant no short fields for a struggling offense, no momentum swings and no wins (0-4 start).
Entering Monday night’s opener against Tennessee, the Broncos are counting on improved cornerback play, the return of outside linebacker Bradley Chubb from a torn ACL and a more consistent run defense (which leads to passing downs) to equal more takeaway opportunities.
“It’s one of the things that we preach,” safety Kareem Jackson said. “We didn’t do a great job at creating turnovers last year so we’ve definitely placed a lot of emphasis on getting the ball and creating some more opportunities for our offense with the weapons those guys have.
“It’s all about getting the ball. If we can get the ball, we feel like we can be a pretty good group.”
Seven of the top eight teams in turnover ratio last year reached the playoffs; the Broncos were plus-1 (tied for 13th). Nine of their 17 takeaways came in three games.
A plus turnover ratio leads to winning, period.
Broncos coach Vic Fangio has been a defensive play-caller for 15 years and his teams are 104-29-1 (regular season-playoffs) when winning the turnover battle — a rate of 77.6%.
Carolina (1995-98): The Panthers were 18-3, including 8-0 in ’96.
Indianapolis (1999-2001): The Colts were 19-3, including 0-2 in the playoffs.
Houston (2002-05): The Texans were 13-7.
San Francisco (2011-14): The 49ers were 37-5-1, including 4-0 in the playoffs.
Chicago (2015-18): The Bears were, gulp, 13-9, including 0-1 in the playoffs.
Broncos (2019): The Broncos were 4-2.
So what’s the solution?
“I think just another year in the system will help the guys that were here last year,” Fangio said. “We’ve added some players that could help in that area, also, in A.J. (Bouye) and Jurrell (Casey). Bradley returning to the lineup will help.
“If we can get in the lead more in the second half of games, that will also help.”
Thing is, the Broncos had a plus-48 point differential in the first half last year (eighth-best), but were minus-82 in the second half (third-worst).
The Broncos lost games in which they had halftime leads of 17-6 (Jacksonville), 6-3 (at Indianapolis) and 20-0 (at Minnesota). They went 6-3 when leading at halftime.
Plan A was to have Chubb and Von Miller, reunited after combining for 26 1/2 sacks in 2018, dominating off the edge. Miller, though, sustained an ankle injury last Tuesday that could keep him out the entire season.
“On third down, Vic tries to bring those five-man pressures with Chubb and Miller and make sure they’re singled up,” an NFL player said during the offseason. “It’s not like it’s a hard scheme to figure out. He’s a Cover 4 base guy, but he has some third down stuff that is kind of unique. But he really relies on his defensive line.”
Enter Casey, who arrives from Tennessee to provide an interior pass rush. There is also high expectations for second-year defensive end Dre’Mont Jones. The pressure is on every player on defense to do more. It all must come together … quickly.
“There are many ways to make turnovers,” Bouye said. “Coverage, sacks, strip-sacking. Being top-five in turnovers is going to help our team get to where we need to be and that’s one of our goals.”


thedenverpost--2020-09-13--Nuggets teammates on Nikola Jokic’s Game 6 heroics: “He’s the best player in the world”

It takes a special circumstance to get a rise out of Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic .
He ’ s faced elimination five times this postseason alone , and all five times the Nuggets have won , with Jokic laughing off the pressure as nothing more than competitive fun .
“ We don ’ t care , ” said Jokic of the tension his team continues to ignore .
He just enjoys the ride .
His 34-point , 14-rebound , seven-assist effort Sunday elevated his franchise to a fourth consecutive Game 7 and the second one in a row that would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Their improbable 111-98 win over the Clippers forced a winner-take-all Game 7 on Tuesday night .
Either Jokic rises to the occasion or is unaffected by the threat of elimination .
In the team ’ s last five elimination games , Jokic has averaged 27.8 points on 55 % shooting , 54 % from 3-point range , 10.4 rebounds and 5.8 assists .
But amid Sunday ’ s dramatic Game 6 win , Nuggets coach Michael Malone saw a passion from Jokic that always burns but rarely erupts .
It did Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back from a 19-point deficit in the third quarter , ultimately pounding the Clippers by a 29-point margin in the second half .
“ My favorite part about Nikola Jokic – he doesn ’ t get really excited too often , but when we went on that run , and we were getting stops , they were calling timeout … we ’ re making the right play , the ball was flying , when I see Nikola emotional and yelling and screaming and pounding his chest , I know we ’ re in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Jokic isn ’ t the emotional touchstone of the Nuggets .
That spot is reserved for Jamal Murray .
But when the Nuggets need confidence , it ’ s their steady superstar who helps them navigate deficits , like the three times this postseason they ’ ve trailed by at least 15 points in elimination games only to win .
“ Tonight , Nikola Jokic was the best player in the world , ” Nuggets rookie Michael Porter Jr. said .
Not to be outdone by a rookie , Murray backed up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was , too , ” Murray said .
“ I don ’ t see why not .
He ’ s hitting one-legged step-backs , fading away , off one leg with a hand in his face , consecutive times .
I ’ d say he ’ s the best player in the world.
” Murray was referencing the one-legged , 3-point fadeaway Jokic sunk in the first half , and the falling , flailing jumper he drained during the Nuggets ’ third-quarter stampede .
While he and his teammates were picking apart Los @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they were cinching tight any offensive rhythm the Clippers had on the other .
“ Even Torrey Craig had a couple assists , ” Jokic said .
“ That doesn ’ t seem , like , usually.
” Before Sunday ’ s Game 6 , Clippers coach Doc Rivers wouldn ’ t even acknowledge a question about Jokic ’ s carefree attitude toward elimination games .
To him , it just didn ’ t compute .
“ I don ’ t think they are loose , ” he said .
Not anymore they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re on the brink of history – again .
“ It ’ s just fun when we know that we can do something , “ Jokic said .
“ … When you see that it ’ s going your way , the rhythm , you had the momentum , you get emotional.
” Harris ’ help : When Gary Harris returned late in the first round against the Jazz , it was his defense that helped them win the series .
On Sunday , it was his offense that opened a release valve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 16 points with two 3-pointers , spreading Los Angeles ’ defense on the perimeter and forcing double teams away from the Nuggets ’ two stars .
“ Any time they put two on Nikola , they put two on Jamal , that means there ’ s an open man somewhere , ” Malone said .
“ And the only way you ’ re going to get them out of double-teaming is if somebody else steps up and makes a play .
In Game 2 , our first win against them , Gary Harris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , allowed us to get that win .
Tonight , I love Gary ’ s attack mentality .
… He had no hesitation on his jump shot .
”

It takes a special circumstance to get a rise out of Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic.
He’s faced elimination five times this postseason alone, and all five times the Nuggets have won, with Jokic laughing off the pressure as nothing more than competitive fun.
“We don’t care,” said Jokic of the tension his team continues to ignore. He just enjoys the ride.
His 34-point, 14-rebound, seven-assist effort Sunday elevated his franchise to a fourth consecutive Game 7 and the second one in a row that would re-write NBA history and defy common sense. Their improbable 111-98 win over the Clippers forced a winner-take-all Game 7 on Tuesday night.
Either Jokic rises to the occasion or is unaffected by the threat of elimination. In the team’s last five elimination games, Jokic has averaged 27.8 points on 55% shooting, 54% from 3-point range, 10.4 rebounds and 5.8 assists.
But amid Sunday’s dramatic Game 6 win, Nuggets coach Michael Malone saw a passion from Jokic that always burns but rarely erupts. It did Sunday, as Jokic’s team charged back from a 19-point deficit in the third quarter, ultimately pounding the Clippers by a 29-point margin in the second half.
“My favorite part about Nikola Jokic – he doesn’t get really excited too often, but when we went on that run, and we were getting stops, they were calling timeout … we’re making the right play, the ball was flying, when I see Nikola emotional and yelling and screaming and pounding his chest, I know we’re in a good place,” said Malone.
Jokic isn’t the emotional touchstone of the Nuggets. That spot is reserved for Jamal Murray. But when the Nuggets need confidence, it’s their steady superstar who helps them navigate deficits, like the three times this postseason they’ve trailed by at least 15 points in elimination games only to win.
“Tonight, Nikola Jokic was the best player in the world,” Nuggets rookie Michael Porter Jr. said.
Not to be outdone by a rookie, Murray backed up the claim.
“I think he was, too,” Murray said. “I don’t see why not. He’s hitting one-legged step-backs, fading away, off one leg with a hand in his face, consecutive times. I’d say he’s the best player in the world.”
Murray was referencing the one-legged, 3-point fadeaway Jokic sunk in the first half, and the falling, flailing jumper he drained during the Nuggets’ third-quarter stampede. While he and his teammates were picking apart Los Angeles’ defense on one end, they were cinching tight any offensive rhythm the Clippers had on the other.
“Even Torrey Craig had a couple assists,” Jokic said. “That doesn’t seem, like, usually.”
Before Sunday’s Game 6, Clippers coach Doc Rivers wouldn’t even acknowledge a question about Jokic’s carefree attitude toward elimination games. To him, it just didn’t compute.
“I don’t think they are loose,” he said.
Not anymore they’re not. Now they’re on the brink of history – again.
“It’s just fun when we know that we can do something, “Jokic said. “… When you see that it’s going your way, the rhythm, you had the momentum, you get emotional.”
Harris’ help: When Gary Harris returned late in the first round against the Jazz, it was his defense that helped them win the series. On Sunday, it was his offense that opened a release valve for Jokic and Murray.
Harris buried 16 points with two 3-pointers, spreading Los Angeles’ defense on the perimeter and forcing double teams away from the Nuggets’ two stars.
“Any time they put two on Nikola, they put two on Jamal, that means there’s an open man somewhere,” Malone said. “And the only way you’re going to get them out of double-teaming is if somebody else steps up and makes a play. In Game 2, our first win against them, Gary Harris hit three 3s in the fourth quarter, allowed us to get that win. Tonight, I love Gary’s attack mentality. … He had no hesitation on his jump shot.”


thedenverpost--2020-09-13--Affidavit: Garden City nightclub security attacked after confronting man about cocaine deal

A 22-year-old man could face a felony charge after police say he fought with nightclub security earlier this month in Garden City .
About 11:30 p.m. Sept. 5 , Garden City police responded to El Rodeo Nightclub , at 510 25th St. , where a drunk man was reportedly fighting with security .
On arrival , police found security had detained 22-year-old Rigoberto Rangel-Medrano , who was in need of treatment for pepper spray exposure .
A security guard told police he saw Rangel-Medrano enter a restroom and engage in a drug deal .
The guard told Rangel-Medrano drugs weren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told him he had to leave , according to court documents .
It ’ s unclear from court documents whether the guard saw the other person involved in the drug deal , but online arrest records maintained by the Weld County Sheriff ’ s Office indicate Garden City police did not arrest anyone else that day .
Rangel-Medrano became verbally aggressive with security , the guard told police .
At one point , the guard asked Rangel-Medrano what he placed in his back pocket , and Rangel-Medrano pulled his face mask from his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bag of what appeared to be cocaine inside the mask , he later told police .
Security began to escort Rangel-Medrano out of the club , when he swung at a guard and punched him in the face , according to court records .
The victim said Rangel-Medrano broke a $ 400 pair of glasses and an $ 800 phone in the struggle .
The guard continued to bleed from his nose after police arrived .
Police found the bag , which tested presumptive positive for half a gram of cocaine , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrested on suspicion of criminal mischief , a Class 6 felony , third-degree assault , a Class 1 misdemeanor , and misdemeanor drug possession .
He was taken to the Weld County Jail , from which he has since been released .
The Weld District Attorney ’ s Office has a deadline of 3:30 p.m. Wednesday to file formal charges in this case .

A 22-year-old man could face a felony charge after police say he fought with nightclub security earlier this month in Garden City.
About 11:30 p.m. Sept. 5, Garden City police responded to El Rodeo Nightclub, at 510 25th St., where a drunk man was reportedly fighting with security. On arrival, police found security had detained 22-year-old Rigoberto Rangel-Medrano, who was in need of treatment for pepper spray exposure.
A security guard told police he saw Rangel-Medrano enter a restroom and engage in a drug deal. The guard told Rangel-Medrano drugs weren’t allowed on the premise and told him he had to leave, according to court documents. It’s unclear from court documents whether the guard saw the other person involved in the drug deal, but online arrest records maintained by the Weld County Sheriff’s Office indicate Garden City police did not arrest anyone else that day.
Rangel-Medrano became verbally aggressive with security, the guard told police. At one point, the guard asked Rangel-Medrano what he placed in his back pocket, and Rangel-Medrano pulled his face mask from his right rear pocket. The guard saw a bag of what appeared to be cocaine inside the mask, he later told police.
Security began to escort Rangel-Medrano out of the club, when he swung at a guard and punched him in the face, according to court records. The victim said Rangel-Medrano broke a $400 pair of glasses and an $800 phone in the struggle. The guard continued to bleed from his nose after police arrived.
Police found the bag, which tested presumptive positive for half a gram of cocaine, according to court records. Rangel-Medrano was arrested on suspicion of criminal mischief, a Class 6 felony, third-degree assault, a Class 1 misdemeanor, and misdemeanor drug possession. He was taken to the Weld County Jail, from which he has since been released.
The Weld District Attorney’s Office has a deadline of 3:30 p.m. Wednesday to file formal charges in this case.


thedenverpost--2020-09-14--Wadhams: Where will the woke cleansing of American history end?

Unrestrained by acquiescing Democratic governors and mayors , anarchist mobs have destroyed monuments to George Washington , Abraham Lincoln , Thomas Jefferson , Frederick Douglass , Ulysses S. Grant , and Colonel Robert Gould Shaw .
Here in Colorado , our state Capitol was desecrated and severely damaged night after night while feckless Democratic Gov .
Jared Polis remained silent until former Republican Gov .
Bill Owens publicly criticized his failure to protect the Capitol .
The mob also defaced and eventually tore down the statue of a Civil War soldier that has stood in front of the Capitol for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will not be returned to its place .
Meanwhile , the City of Denver removed a statue of Kit Carson in a “ preemptive ” action before it could be destroyed .
How inspiring to watch Mayor Michael Hancock and Polis surrender to anarchy .
Following in the footsteps of these mobs is Democratic Mayor Muriel E. Bowser of Washington , D.C. who has created the “ District of Columbia Facilities and Commemorative Expressions Committee ” to consider whether to “ remove , relocate or contextualize ” monuments and statues across our nation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ land such as the Lincoln Memorial , Jefferson Memorial and Washington Monument .
This history cleansing tribunal has found 153 “ persons of concern ” whose backgrounds and lives do not meet its cancel culture standards .
Alexander Graham Bell , Benjamin Franklin , Francis Scott Key , and James Monroe are also among those whose histories could be wiped away in Washington , D.C. Thankfully , Mount Rushmore is 1,600 miles away from Washington and out of reach of Mayor Bowser .
Given the agenda of this committee , it is perplexing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and prominent figure of American history , Democratic President Franklin Delano Roosevelt , who executed one of the most blatantly racist policies in our nation ’ s history , is not on this list for possible removal .
Without the consent of Congress , Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 on February 19 , 1942 , requiring the relocation of 120,000 people of Japanese descent , most of whom were American citizens , from California to ten internment camps during World War II .
These citizens lost their homes , farms and businesses before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican Gov .
Ralph Carr of Colorado publicly opposed Roosevelt ’ s treatment of these citizens .
One of Roosevelt ’ s internment camps was located in our state , Camp Amache , near Granada , Colorado .
Growing up in southeastern Colorado , I had classmates whose parents and grandparents were interned at Camp Amache and who stayed in the Arkansas Valley after the war .
If Washington , Lincoln , Jefferson and many others are not acceptable to the anarchist mobs and possibly to the new Washington , D.C. tribunal , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the list of “ persons of concern ” ?
Roosevelt ’ s executive order was reprehensible but is it the only standard by which we should judge his thirteen years as president during the Great Depression and World War II ?
Absolutely not .
President Roosevelt was elected president four times before dying in office in 1945 , and he is truly one of our greatest presidents .
While his economic policies are still being debated today , he inspired a nation by his aggressive response to our failing economy during the Depression @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the looming threat of Nazism and led the great Allied effort to win World War II .
Millions of Americans revered Roosevelt including my own grandparents who were New Deal Democrats .
And that is the point .
Whether it be the anarchist mobs who are either woefully ignorant of history or who are willfully trying to rewrite history in their own leftist ideology , or the mayor of Washington , D.C. who seeks the same possible outcome with the imprimatur of government , our American history is under assault by those who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , alive or dead , who does not meet their definition of political “ wokeness.
” We have elected no perfect angels to public office during our 244 years as a nation .
But we have elected and now honor individuals who , despite their personal and public flaws , created , built and sustained this nation .
They deserve to continue to be honored and their memorials should not be desecrated by anarchist mobs or taken down by ideologically driven government commissions .
Dick Wadhams is a Republican political consultant and former @ @ @ @ @

Unrestrained by acquiescing Democratic governors and mayors, anarchist mobs have destroyed monuments to George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, Frederick Douglass, Ulysses S. Grant, and Colonel Robert Gould Shaw.
Here in Colorado, our state Capitol was desecrated and severely damaged night after night while feckless Democratic Gov. Jared Polis remained silent until former Republican Gov. Bill Owens publicly criticized his failure to protect the Capitol.
The mob also defaced and eventually tore down the statue of a Civil War soldier that has stood in front of the Capitol for a century, and it appears it will not be returned to its place. Meanwhile, the City of Denver removed a statue of Kit Carson in a “preemptive” action before it could be destroyed. How inspiring to watch Mayor Michael Hancock and Polis surrender to anarchy.
Following in the footsteps of these mobs is Democratic Mayor Muriel E. Bowser of Washington, D.C. who has created the “District of Columbia Facilities and Commemorative Expressions Committee” to consider whether to “remove, relocate or contextualize” monuments and statues across our nation’s capital city including on federal land such as the Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial and Washington Monument.
This history cleansing tribunal has found 153 “persons of concern” whose backgrounds and lives do not meet its cancel culture standards.
Alexander Graham Bell, Benjamin Franklin, Francis Scott Key, and James Monroe are also among those whose histories could be wiped away in Washington, D.C. Thankfully, Mount Rushmore is 1,600 miles away from Washington and out of reach of Mayor Bowser.
Given the agenda of this committee, it is perplexing that the memorial for another former president and prominent figure of American history, Democratic President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who executed one of the most blatantly racist policies in our nation’s history, is not on this list for possible removal.
Without the consent of Congress, Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 1942, requiring the relocation of 120,000 people of Japanese descent, most of whom were American citizens, from California to ten internment camps during World War II. These citizens lost their homes, farms and businesses before being incarcerated hundreds of miles away.
Republican Gov. Ralph Carr of Colorado publicly opposed Roosevelt’s treatment of these citizens. One of Roosevelt’s internment camps was located in our state, Camp Amache, near Granada, Colorado. Growing up in southeastern Colorado, I had classmates whose parents and grandparents were interned at Camp Amache and who stayed in the Arkansas Valley after the war.
If Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson and many others are not acceptable to the anarchist mobs and possibly to the new Washington, D.C. tribunal, how could Roosevelt not be included on the list of “persons of concern”?
Roosevelt’s executive order was reprehensible but is it the only standard by which we should judge his thirteen years as president during the Great Depression and World War II? Absolutely not.
President Roosevelt was elected president four times before dying in office in 1945, and he is truly one of our greatest presidents. While his economic policies are still being debated today, he inspired a nation by his aggressive response to our failing economy during the Depression through the New Deal. He saw the looming threat of Nazism and led the great Allied effort to win World War II.
Millions of Americans revered Roosevelt including my own grandparents who were New Deal Democrats.
And that is the point.
Whether it be the anarchist mobs who are either woefully ignorant of history or who are willfully trying to rewrite history in their own leftist ideology, or the mayor of Washington, D.C. who seeks the same possible outcome with the imprimatur of government, our American history is under assault by those who are obsessed with tearing down any leader, alive or dead, who does not meet their definition of political “wokeness.”
We have elected no perfect angels to public office during our 244 years as a nation. But we have elected and now honor individuals who, despite their personal and public flaws, created, built and sustained this nation. They deserve to continue to be honored and their memorials should not be desecrated by anarchist mobs or taken down by ideologically driven government commissions.
Dick Wadhams is a Republican political consultant and former Colorado Republican state chairman.


thedenverpost--2020-09-14--Guest commentary: ‘Now that I’m a grandfather I am raising my voice in support of preserving America

Guest commentary: ‘Now that I’m a grandfather I am raising my voice in support of preserving America’s beauty and wonders’

When I was younger , I spent considerable time in the wilds of Alaska .
I did a 12-day trek in Denali National Park and remember catching the scent of wildlife , not knowing what it might be ; we ’ d seen bear tracks but no bears .
Soon , we saw the source of what we had sensed nearby .
They were caribou , the first I ’ d seen , and lovely in their graceful walk ahead of me .
Now that I ’ m a grandfather I am raising my voice in support of preserving America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everyone ’ s grandkids will get to be witnesses , too , to the wonders of our world .
I hope this not just for the joy in what is seen , but for more , because the rich interrelatedness of life on earth benefits all participants in ways we yet are discovering .
We have only begun to understand the gifts of other species to our own , and we mourn those species who are no longer with us to share their gifts .
Too much of human history has focused on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eventual loss .
That orientation is at work today on our Arctic National Wildlife Refuge , one of the largest preserves anywhere , with huge herds of caribou , and people , the Gwich ’ in , who have lived for 10,000 years alongside herds they have never diminished .
These are people who have lived from the land without its ruin .
Their grandchildren have long witnessed what they as youth have seen .
But the refuge is threatened because a persistent will to develop and use and diminish is at work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Administration wants fossil fuel development to happen in the Coastal Plain of the Arctic Refuge .
All for the sake of a limited supply of fossil fuels whose impact from drilling through shipment compounds problems and develops loss .
Fossil fuels are changing our world , altering the prospects for my grandchildren , pushing wildlife out of current habitats with climate change and forcing some out of life itself .
We are not living as a people who will preserve the earth ’ s beauty and wild abundance for 10,000 years .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only have a short time to go .
We can do better .
The Gwich ’ in demonstrate that throughout their culture .
We can alter our energy economy .
We can preserve wildlands and their rich wildlife populations .
We can have a future in which our grandchildren walk with their children in quiet beauty and sense the presence of other species that walk nearby , knowing that presence directly and not in just stories told by older folks .
We must preserve and protect this earth and her wondrous diversity if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those we love are free to thrive .
I urge us to raise a voice for caribou that their migration patterns not be disturbed by drilling , that they not be pushed off land that supports them well and forced where food is less abundant and predators more likely , and thus be taken from the people who live well with them .
I urge protection for the 37 other species of land mammals thriving there , the eight marine mammals , 42 fish species , and over 200 migratory birds species that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tells us when God created the world , God did so with the command : “ Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas , and let birds multiply on the earth.
” It is my fear that our country today feels the authority to reverse that command , to diminish the world ’ s wild populations and so alter the land and seas such that they can not be a place where life abounds .
I find for my Christian faith there to be no greater failing of divine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ succumb to this reversal of creation , leaving to the future a world of sacrifice zones and profound loss .
Grandfather of 8 , Mark Meeks has been the minister of Capitol Heights Presbyterian Church in Denver since 1979 .
To send a letter to the editor about this article , submit online or check out our guidelines for how to submit by email or mail .

When I was younger, I spent considerable time in the wilds of Alaska. I did a 12-day trek in Denali National Park and remember catching the scent of wildlife, not knowing what it might be; we’d seen bear tracks but no bears. Soon, we
saw the source of what we had sensed nearby. They were caribou, the first I’d seen, and lovely in their graceful walk ahead of me.
Now that I’m a grandfather I am raising my voice in support of preserving America’s beauty and wonders so that everyone’s grandkids will get to be witnesses, too, to the wonders of our world. I hope this not just for the joy in
what is seen, but for more, because the rich interrelatedness of life on earth benefits all participants in ways we yet are discovering. We have only begun to understand the gifts of other species to our own, and we mourn those species who are no longer with us to share their gifts.
Too much of human history has focused on immediate gain, exploitation towards ruin and eventual loss. That orientation is at work today on our Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, one of the largest preserves anywhere, with huge herds of caribou, and people, the Gwich’in, who have lived for 10,000 years alongside herds they have never diminished. These are people who have lived from the land without its ruin. Their grandchildren have long witnessed what they as youth have seen. But the refuge is threatened because a persistent will to develop and use and diminish is at work
in that wondrous place.
The Trump Administration wants fossil fuel development to happen in the Coastal Plain of the Arctic Refuge. All for the sake of a limited supply of fossil fuels whose impact from drilling through shipment compounds problems and develops loss. Fossil fuels are changing our world, altering the prospects for my grandchildren, pushing wildlife out of current habitats with climate change and forcing some out of life itself. We are not living as a people who will preserve the
earth’s beauty and wild abundance for 10,000 years. We seem to be living as if we only have a short time to go. We can do better. The Gwich’in demonstrate that throughout their culture. We can alter our energy economy. We can preserve wildlands and their rich wildlife populations. We can have a future in which our grandchildren walk with their children in quiet beauty and sense the presence of other species that walk nearby, knowing that presence directly and not in just stories told by older folks.
We must preserve and protect this earth and her wondrous diversity if we are to protect a world where those we love are free to thrive. I urge us to raise a voice for caribou that their migration patterns not be disturbed by drilling, that they not be pushed off land that supports them well and forced where food is less abundant and predators more likely, and thus be taken from the people who live well with them. I urge protection for the 37 other species of land mammals thriving there, the eight marine mammals, 42 fish species, and over 200 migratory birds species that inhabit this wilderness.
Our ancient scripture tells us when God created the world, God did so with the command: “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” It is my fear that our country today feels the authority to reverse that command, to diminish the world’s wild populations and so alter the land and seas such that they cannot be a place where life abounds. I find for my Christian faith there to be no greater failing of divine goodness and creativity. We must not succumb to this reversal of creation, leaving to the future a world of sacrifice zones and profound loss.
Grandfather of 8, Mark Meeks has been the minister of Capitol Heights Presbyterian Church in Denver since 1979.
To send a letter to the editor about this article, submit online or check out our guidelines for how to submit by email or mail.


thedenverpost--2020-09-14--CenturyLink rebrands itself as Lumen Technologies

CenturyLink has taken on a new identity — Lumen Technologies — a name it says better highlights the company ’ s future direction and focus .
“ Our people are dedicated to furthering human progress through technology .
Lumen is all about enabling the amazing potential of our customers , by utilizing our technology platform , our people , and our relationships with customers and partners , ” said Lumen CEO Jeff Storey , in a statement on the name change .
Those around awhile may remember Mountain Bell , the local phone company , which became US West in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Qwest Communications International , an up and coming fiber-optic network , acquired the much larger US West , only to get into trouble with regulators , leaving it a vulnerable target for CenturyLink , a traditional phone provider out of Louisiana , after the tech and telecom boom went bust .
Now , another new name and logo will go up on the company ’ s buildings across the metro area .
It isn ’ t because of one big acquisition , but rather a bunch of smaller ones .
Outside of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made dozens of other ones , small and big , such as Broomfield-based Level 3 Communications .
Along with internal software innovations , they have given Lumen the ability to provide enterprise customers with a variety of services in a variety of areas .
Lumen is a measure of the brightness of light , and the company ’ s competitive advantage this century has come from its massive fiber network , stretching 450,000 route miles .
That has helped CenturyLink survive even as consumers cut their home phone lines in favor of wireless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of faster alternatives .
But transporting light signals can also be a commodity service .
Lumen is now pushing to offer more higher-value applications and enterprise services directly to its customers , reflected in the company ’ s new motto : “ The Platform for Amazing Things.
” Smart cities , retail and industrial robotics , real-time virtual collaboration and automated factories are some of the applications that Lumen believes it can help customers achieve in what it and others call the 4th Industrial Revolution .
Steam power , electricity and then the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and now the melding of the digital and physical worlds that connectivity permits is doing the same , said Shaun Andrews , Lumen ’ s chief marketing officer .
That is the future direction , where the company sees the greatest potential for growth and new revenues .
But Andrews emphasized that residential and small business consumers will still deal with CenturyLink , a brand executives believe still has value two decades into the new century .
It is the name that will continue to show up on residential customers ’ bills .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ name .
Another new entity , Quantum Fiber , will handle the residential and small business transition to digital as the company rolls out more fiber-optic connections directly to homes and businesses .
The company added capacity to reach about 300,000 homes and small businesses last year with gigabit service and plans to reach another 400,000 this year , according to Fierce Telecom .
Andrews said the name change won ’ t include a relocation to Denver of the corporate headquarters , which will remain in Monroe , La.
, home of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s 40,000 employees globally , 5,800 are based in Colorado , and metro Denver remains an important hub of operations , especially the ones that Lumen will emphasize .
The company will change its ticker symbol from CTL to LUMN on Sept. 18 as part of the rebranding .

CenturyLink has taken on a new identity — Lumen Technologies — a name it says better highlights the company’s future direction and focus.
“Our people are dedicated to furthering human progress through technology. Lumen is all about enabling the amazing potential of our customers, by utilizing our technology platform, our people, and our relationships with customers and
partners,” said Lumen CEO Jeff Storey, in a statement on the name change.
Those around a while may remember Mountain Bell, the local phone company, which became US West in an anti-trust spin-off from AT&T. Qwest Communications International, an up and coming fiber-optic network, acquired the much larger US West, only to get into trouble with regulators, leaving it a vulnerable target for CenturyLink, a traditional phone provider out of Louisiana, after the tech and telecom boom went bust.
Now, another new name and logo will go up on the company’s buildings across the metro area. It isn’t because of one big acquisition, but rather a bunch of smaller ones. Outside of those name-changing transactions, the company has made dozens of other ones, small and big, such as Broomfield-based Level 3 Communications. Along with internal software innovations, they have given Lumen the ability to provide enterprise customers with a variety of services in a variety of areas.
Lumen is a measure of the brightness of light, and the company’s competitive advantage this century has come from its massive fiber network, stretching 450,000 route miles. That has helped CenturyLink survive even as consumers cut their home phone lines in favor of wireless providers and switched off DSL in favor of faster alternatives.
But transporting light signals can also be a commodity service. Lumen is now pushing to offer more higher-value applications and enterprise services directly to its customers, reflected in the company’s new motto: “The Platform for Amazing Things.”
Smart cities, retail and industrial robotics, real-time virtual collaboration and automated factories are some of the applications that Lumen believes it can help customers achieve in what it and others call the 4th Industrial Revolution. Steam power, electricity and then the computer chip all pushed economic progress, and now the melding of the digital and physical worlds that connectivity permits is doing the same, said Shaun Andrews, Lumen’s chief marketing officer.
That is the future direction, where the company sees the greatest potential for growth and new revenues. But Andrews emphasized that residential and small business consumers will still deal with CenturyLink, a brand executives believe still has value two decades into the new century. It is the name that will continue to show up on residential customers’ bills. CenturyLink Field in Seattle will retain its name.
Another new entity, Quantum Fiber, will handle the residential and small business transition to digital as the company rolls out more fiber-optic connections directly to homes and businesses. The company added capacity to reach about 300,000 homes and small businesses last year with gigabit service and plans to reach another 400,000 this year, according to Fierce Telecom.
Andrews said the name change won’t include a relocation to Denver of the corporate headquarters, which will remain in Monroe, La., home of the original CenturyLink. Of the company’s 40,000 employees globally, 5,800 are based in Colorado, and metro Denver remains an important hub of operations, especially the ones that Lumen will emphasize.
The company will change its ticker symbol from CTL to LUMN on Sept. 18 as part of the rebranding.


thedenverpost--2020-09-14--NFL betting, return of table games offers glimmer of hope in Colorado’s COVID-impacted casino towns

Like many corners of Colorado that had high hopes for 2020 , the state ’ s gambling capital of Gilpin County has absorbed some serious body blows in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic .
The novel coronavirus shut down casinos in Black Hawk , Central City and across the state from March 17 through mid-June .
Now Gilpin leaders are trying to reckon with a more than $ 4.5 million hole in the county ’ s projected tax income , Commissioner Ron Engels said .
“ There will be absolutely no capital projects in next year ’ s budget , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s unemployment rate , which spiked over 20 % in April , still paced the state in July at 12 % , according to labor department data .
This past weekend is providing sparks of optimism in Black Hawk and Central City and putting people back to work .
Those sparks are coming in the form of dice , cards , roulette wheels and footballs .
Gov .
Jared Polis and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment on Tuesday moved Gilpin County to the “ Protect our Neighbors ” phase of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ table games like blackjack , craps , and poker to resume for the first time since spring .
It also greatly increases the number of people casinos can allow on the floor at one time , up to 500 from the previous limit of 175 .
Some Black Hawk establishments , including the Monarch Casino , welcomed players back Friday morning .
“ Our dealers are really excited to be back at work , ” Monarch chief operating officer David Farahi said Thursday , shortly after 100 returning workers went through COVID tests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does not plan to let 500 people in at a time right away , capping capacity at 25 % of fire code , Farahi said .
Some of the games will look different , too .
In blackjack , only the dealers touch the cards now .
“ We want to make sure that we have a density that still allows for social distancing in the building , ” Farahi said .
The other major gambling development this past week is the kickoff of the NFL season .
Sports betting has been legal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20 licensed betting apps handling bettors ’ money while casinos were closed .
With all major U.S. sports leagues shut down by the virus , the biggest sport for those dollars over Colorado ’ s first month of legal sports betting was table tennis , the Division of Gaming reported at the time .
Since then , pro basketball , hockey and baseball have returned and sports apps have continued to proliferate — but NFL football is the main event .
A recent survey from the American Gaming Association found that 33.2 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on NFL games this year , including 11.3 million through online platforms ( legal and illegal ) and 6.6 million who planned to visit physical sportsbooks .
DraftKings got in on the ground floor of Colorado ’ s legal market .
In addition to its app , it has a physical presence at the Mardi Gras Casino in Black Hawk .
Company co-founder Matt Kalish called Colorado “ one of our best markets , ” and expressed high hopes for what the NFL season will mean for action in the state .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ following the sport , and I think it ’ s also the weekend cadence , ” Kalish said of football ’ s dominance when it comes to betting .
“ The NFL has just carved off Sunday .
Everybody is just paying attention and dropping what they ’ re doing to pay attention.
” DraftKings is just getting into the retail side of sportsbook operations , but the Monarch , which has a sister casino in Reno , Nev. , runs its own book and is used to the physical side of things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Colorado , he was surprised at how slow the casino was on Broncos ’ Sundays , noting the NFL used to bring out crowds in Reno .
“ I am really curious to see what happens on Monday night , and , now that sports betting is legal , if casinos are going to become a hub for watching football games , ” Farahi said .
The Monarch has a small physical sportsbook now but supplements that with a bar where fans and bettors can watch games .
A larger sportsbook is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s long-in-the-works expansion that will also bring a spa and 516 new hotel rooms to the property , but a projected completion date for that project hasn ’ t been announced .
Because of the way the sports betting law is written in Colorado , even bets made at brick-and-mortar locations don ’ t provide tax revenue directly to Gilpin County , Engels said .
But the hope is players will drop some additional coin , be it on food or in a slot machine , if the sportsbooks can draw them in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ table games are still not allowed to operate .
Teller County Commissioner Marc Dettenrieder said he was filing a variance request with the state health department on Friday to change that and to allow 24-hour alcohol service in casinos .
“ We feel we are in the right position to put in another variance request for casinos specifically , based on the facts on the ground , ” Dettenrieder said of the county ’ s efforts to contain the coronavirus after a case spike in late July .
In the meantime , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 2019 when it comes to its slots revenue and only a little behind annual revenue as a whole , director of marketing Andy Jones said .
The casino , which is also in the midst of an ambitious expansion plan , including a 102-room hotel , stayed active reaching out to players even during the shutdown , Jones said .
It ’ s planning its biggest promotion ever , a nightly drawing giving visitors a shot at $ 2 million , starting in October .
“ Instead of trying to starve our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to grow the market right now , ” he said .
Wildwood does have its own sportsbook with 20 TVs , Jones said , and while the take wasn ’ t fully counted as of Friday morning , he said activity on Thursday night ’ s NFL game was better than expected .
“ Obviously , Sunday will be the big test followed by the Broncos on Monday , ” he said .

Like many corners of Colorado that had high hopes for 2020, the state’s gambling capital of Gilpin County has absorbed some serious body blows in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The novel coronavirus shut down casinos in Black Hawk, Central City and across the state from March 17 through mid-June. Now Gilpin leaders are trying to reckon with a more than $4.5 million hole in the county’s projected tax income, Commissioner Ron Engels said.
“There will be absolutely no capital projects in next year’s budget,” said Engels.
The county’s unemployment rate, which spiked over 20% in April, still paced the state in July at 12%, according to labor department data.
This past weekend is providing sparks of optimism in Black Hawk and Central City and putting people back to work. Those sparks are coming in the form of dice, cards, roulette wheels and footballs.
Gov. Jared Polis and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment on Tuesday moved Gilpin County to the “Protect our Neighbors” phase of coronavirus restrictions, a rollback that allows table games like blackjack, craps, and poker to resume for the first time since spring. It also greatly increases the number of people casinos can allow on the floor at one time, up to 500 from the previous limit of 175. Some Black Hawk establishments, including the Monarch Casino, welcomed players back Friday morning.
“Our dealers are really excited to be back at work,” Monarch chief operating officer David Farahi said Thursday, shortly after 100 returning workers went through COVID tests ahead of the reopening.
The Monarch does not plan to let 500 people in at a time right away, capping capacity at 25% of fire code, Farahi said. Some of the games will look different, too. In blackjack, only the dealers touch the cards now.
“We want to make sure that we have a density that still allows for social distancing in the building,” Farahi said.
The other major gambling development this past week is the kickoff of the NFL season.
Sports betting has been legal since May 1 in Colorado, with 20 licensed betting apps handling bettors’ money while casinos were closed. With all major U.S. sports leagues shut down by the virus, the biggest sport for those dollars over Colorado’s first month of legal sports betting was table tennis, the Division of Gaming reported at the time.
Since then, pro basketball, hockey and baseball have returned and sports apps have continued to proliferate — but NFL football is the main event.
A recent survey from the American Gaming Association found that 33.2 million Americans reported that they planned to bet on NFL games this year, including 11.3 million through online platforms (legal and illegal) and 6.6 million who planned to visit physical sportsbooks.
DraftKings got in on the ground floor of Colorado’s legal market. In addition to its app, it has a physical presence at the Mardi Gras Casino in Black Hawk. Company co-founder Matt Kalish called Colorado “one of our best markets,” and expressed high hopes for what the NFL season will mean for action in the state.
“The NFL has the biggest national audience following the sport, and I think it’s also the weekend cadence,” Kalish said of football’s dominance when it comes to betting. “The NFL has just carved off Sunday. Everybody is just paying attention and dropping what they’re doing to pay attention.”
DraftKings is just getting into the retail side of sportsbook operations, but the Monarch, which has a sister casino in Reno, Nev., runs its own book and is used to the physical side of things. Farahi said when he first moved to Colorado, he was surprised at how slow the casino was on Broncos’ Sundays, noting the NFL used to bring out crowds in Reno.
“I am really curious to see what happens on Monday night, and, now that sports betting is legal, if casinos are going to become a hub for watching football games,” Farahi said.
The Monarch has a small physical sportsbook now but supplements that with a bar where fans and bettors can watch games. A larger sportsbook is coming as part of the casino’s long-in-the-works expansion that will also bring a spa and 516 new hotel rooms to the property, but a projected completion date for that project hasn’t been announced.
Because of the way the sports betting law is written in Colorado, even bets made at brick-and-mortar locations don’t provide tax revenue directly to Gilpin County, Engels said. But the hope is players will drop some additional coin, be it on food or in a slot machine, if the sportsbooks can draw them in in person.
In Cripple Creek, table games are still not allowed to operate. Teller County Commissioner Marc Dettenrieder said he was filing a variance request with the state health department on Friday to change that and to allow 24-hour alcohol service in casinos.
“We feel we are in the right position to put in another variance request for casinos specifically, based on the facts on the ground,” Dettenrieder said of the county’s efforts to contain the coronavirus after a case spike in late July.
In the meantime, the Wildwood Casino in Cripple Creek is ahead of 2019 when it comes to its slots revenue and only a little behind annual revenue as a whole, director of marketing Andy Jones said. The casino, which is also in the midst of an ambitious expansion plan, including a 102-room hotel, stayed active reaching out to players even during the shutdown, Jones said. It’s planning its biggest promotion ever, a nightly drawing giving visitors a shot at $2 million, starting in October.
“Instead of trying to starve our way to success, we’re trying to grow the market right now,” he said.
Wildwood does have its own sportsbook with 20 TVs, Jones said, and while the take wasn’t fully counted as of Friday morning, he said activity on Thursday night’s NFL game was better than expected.
“Obviously, Sunday will be the big test followed by the Broncos on Monday,” he said.


thedenverpost--2020-09-14--Colorado voters support police reform law, haven’t heard of QAnon, poll finds

A new poll provides further evidence that Donald Trump and Cory Gardner are in trouble in Colorado .
But it also offers fresh insight into how Coloradans generally view the Black Lives Matter movement , QAnon and leaders ’ response to the coronavirus pandemic .
The findings were released by the liberal advocacy group ProgressNow Colorado , which contracted with Democratic firm Global Strategy Group to conduct the survey .
The pollsters surveyed 800 likely Colorado voters between Aug. 28 and Sept. 1 , with a breakdown of party affiliations — 43 % unaffiliated voters , 27 % Republicans and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the latest statewide breakdown reported by the Secretary of State ’ s Office .
The poll has a 3.5 % margin of error .
The poll finds Joe Biden leading Trump by 11 points in the presidential race .
Kanye West will be on the state ’ s ballot in that race , too , and he received 1 % support .
The poll finds that in the U.S. Senate race , Republican incumbent Gardner is down 10 points to Democratic challenger Hickenlooper , the former governor .
Other recent polls have shown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including one released last week that put Gardner just five points behind .
Many view Gardner as the most vulnerable Republican incumbent in the Senate , and the outcome of this race could be a deciding factor in whether Democrats can gain control of the chamber .
Overall , 55 % of poll respondents said they view the Black Lives Matter movement favorably , while 40 % view it unfavorably and 5 % were unfamiliar .
Asked which party they ’ d trust with “ improving relations between police and the Black community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Democrats and 32 % chose the GOP .
On the topic of police reform , respondents were almost evenly divided .
Asked to choose between two statements , 50 % agreed “ there may be a few bad apples who should be punished , but we don ’ t need sweeping reforms that will make it harder for police to keep us safe ” and 47 % felt “ we need to make significant changes to policing in this country to prevent police brutality and misconduct.
” The rest said they didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opinion .
Still , more than two-thirds of respondents — 69 % — said they approve of Senate Bill 217 , a sweeping police reform measure passed into law by the state legislature in late spring .
“ Clearly voters don ’ t think SB-217 is going too far , or that it won ’ t keep us safe , ” said Global Strategy Group ’ s Andrew Baumann , who conducted the survey .
More than half of respondents said they weren ’ t familiar with QAnon , the pro-Trump conspiracy movement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Democratic power players such as George Soros and Hillary Clinton are part of a global child sex-trafficking and blood-sucking ring that ’ s working to undermine Trump .
Eight percent of Coloradans surveyed said they view Qanon favorably , while 38 % have an unfavorable view .
That so many are unfamiliar with it , Baumann said , is “ a good reminder that most regular voters don ’ t spend a lot of time in the online political bubble.
” The poll found that Coloradans are generally satisfied with the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Asked about Gov .
Jared Polis ’ handling of the pandemic , 58 % said they approve , compared with 36 % who disapprove .
On Trump ’ s coronavirus response , the findings flip : 58 % of respondents disapprove , and 40 % approve .

A new poll provides further evidence that Donald Trump and Cory Gardner are in trouble in Colorado.
But it also offers fresh insight into how Coloradans generally view the Black Lives Matter movement, QAnon and leaders’ response to the coronavirus pandemic.
The findings were released by the liberal advocacy group ProgressNow Colorado, which contracted with Democratic firm Global Strategy Group to conduct the survey. The pollsters surveyed 800 registered Colorado voters between Aug. 28 and Sept. 1, with a breakdown of party affiliations — 43% unaffiliated voters, 27% Republicans and 30% Democrats — that roughly mirrors the latest statewide breakdown reported by the Secretary of State’s Office. The poll has a 3.5% margin of error.
The poll finds Joe Biden leading Trump by 11 points in the presidential race. Kanye West will be on the state’s ballot in that race, too, and he received 1% support.
The poll finds that in the U.S. Senate race, Republican incumbent Gardner is down 10 points to Democratic challenger John Hickenlooper, the former governor. Other recent polls have shown Gardner within single digits of Hickenlooper, including one released last week that put Gardner just five points behind. Many view Gardner as the most vulnerable Republican incumbent in the Senate, and the outcome of this race could be a deciding factor in whether Democrats can gain control of the chamber.
Overall, 55% of poll respondents said they view the Black Lives Matter movement favorably, while 40% view it unfavorably and 5% were unfamiliar. Asked which party they’d trust with “improving relations between police and the Black community,” 49% of respondents chose the Democrats and 32% chose the GOP.
On the topic of police reform, respondents were almost evenly divided. Asked to choose between two statements, 50% agreed “there may be a few bad apples who should be punished, but we don’t need sweeping reforms that will make it harder for police to keep us safe” and 47% felt “we need to make significant changes to policing in this country to prevent police brutality and misconduct.” The rest said they didn’t know enough to have an opinion.
Still, more than two-thirds of respondents — 69% — said they approve of Senate Bill 217, a sweeping police reform measure passed into law by the state legislature in late spring.
“Clearly voters don’t think SB-217 is going too far, or that it won’t keep us safe,” said Global Strategy Group’s Andrew Baumann, who conducted the survey.
More than half of respondents said they weren’t familiar with QAnon, the pro-Trump conspiracy movement that asserts, among other things, that Democratic power players such as George Soros and Hillary Clinton are part of a global child sex-trafficking and blood-sucking ring that’s working to undermine Trump. Eight percent of Coloradans surveyed said they view Qanon favorably, while 38% have an unfavorable view.
That so many are unfamiliar with it, Baumann said, is “a good reminder that most regular voters don’t spend a lot of time in the online political bubble.”
The poll found that Coloradans are generally satisfied with the state’s response to the coronavirus. Asked about Gov. Jared Polis’ handling of the pandemic, 58% said they approve, compared with 36% who disapprove. On Trump’s coronavirus response, the findings flip: 58% of respondents disapprove, and 40% approve.
This story has been corrected to reflect that registered voters were surveyed.


thedenverpost--2020-09-14--With foundation built last December, Broncos QB Drew Lock leaned on 2 coaches for offseason instruct

With foundation built last December, Broncos QB Drew Lock leaned on 2 coaches for offseason instruction to flourish in 2020

During his five-game debut last year when he showed enough potential to be the Broncos ’ starting quarterback Monday night against Tennessee , Drew Lock completed 100 passes .
He threw short — 26 behind the line of scrimmage .
He worked the middle of the field — an identical 26 that traveled 1-15 yards in the air .
And he took some shots — six that traveled at least 16 yards in the air .
But months later , when asked if there was a touchstone play in which his confidence was confirmed and he felt like this NFL @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him , Lock had an immediate reply .
“ I would go with the seam ball to Noah ( Fant ) against Houston , ” he said in an interview with The Denver Post .
Lock ’ s second start was against the Texans .
A promising opening drive had stalled and the Broncos faced third-and-12 from the Houston 14-yard line .
It was time for one of the league ’ s worst red-zone offenses to take an early lead .
Lock was in the shotgun and Fant , the tight end , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Houston is a very good team and the last time I was in that city , ( Missouri ) got our butts kicked by Texas ( 33-16 in a bowl game ) , ” Lock said .
“ We ended up running that seam ( route ) to Noah and it felt like college — ‘ OK , he ’ s got his back turned to me , he doesn ’ t know where the ball is and I ’ m going to put it right over his helmet and Noah @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ “ And that ’ s exactly what happened .
I thought , ‘ I had played that through my head and it just happened against a starting NFL defense that is really good.
’ I think I can do this.
” Lock should believe he can do “ this ” and serve as the answer to the Broncos ’ quarterback question .
And the Broncos should believe he can do “ this ” and stabilize the sport ’ s most important position .
“ He wants to be great , ” running @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s a competitive person and I like that .
I like a guy that ’ s going to put it all out there on the line for you .
You like to be led by guys like that.
” And to be great , you have to be open to coaching , and as he prepares for his first full year as a starter , he will lean on Justin Hoover and Mike Shula .
Hoover is the head coach at Shawnee Mission East High School in suburban Kansas City , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his work as the owner and operator of Spin It Quarterback Academy .
Hoover has been providing Lock with personal instruction for nearly a decade .
During Lock ’ s college career , Hoover — with an eye toward the NFL and the elite defensive backs Lock would be facing — focused on making his throwing process more compact and rotational to match up the fundamentals/anticipation so body/mind can function together .
Fast forward to last November , when Lock was activated from injured reserve and named the starter against the Los Angeles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s five starts with two purposes — to show support for his long-time student but also work up a to-do list for the 2020 offseason .
“ Confidence and toughness , ” was what stood out , Hoover said .
“ When it was time to go , he was ready for it.
” And when the season was completed and Lock returned to the Kansas City area , Hoover was ready to work .
But because of coronavirus , Hoover and Lock had to improvise .
Hoover said they “ found any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was nice enough , we just made it work.
” The prohibition on groups of people convening to train meant it was just Hoover and Lock most of the time .
Hoover focused on two things : Alignment and simulating movements that will allow Lock to avoid pass rushers .
Hoover wanted Lock to create a “ straight-line ” throw , meaning he was leading with his front foot for more velocity and accuracy on his throws .
And in the pocket , Hoover wanted to fine-tune Lock ’ s “ spatial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to keep his fundamentals tight even when he is trying to extend the play .
During off days last month , Lock sent Hoover practice clips to have his pocket presence and throwing motion evaluated .
Before the next practice , Hoover sent Lock specific pointers .
The relationship runs long and the trust runs deep .
“ ( Hoover ) is very good about putting drills together to put me in awkward positions , ” Lock said .
“ There ’ s no question that if he needs to give me a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He ’ s 100 % dialed into my mechanics , my stroke and where I throw it the best.
” His work in Missouri complete , Lock returned to the Denver area to begin in-person training with Shula .
Lock is used to change — new playbooks , new techniques , new coaches and new play-callers .
He had three offensive coordinators at Missouri and with the Broncos , Year 2 means his second coordinator ( Pat Shurmur ) and quarterback coach ( Shula ) , respectively .
“ I don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more in-depth football mind , ” Lock said of Shula .
“ The guys he ’ s worked with , the way he ’ s had to adapt , the way his quarterbacks were able to adapt — you can ’ t say enough about him.
” About that coaching history .
Shula ’ s quarterbacks have included Vinny Testaverde/Chris Chandler ( Tampa Bay ) , Jay Fiedler ( Miami ) , Trent Dilfer ( Tampa Bay ) , David Garrard ( Jacksonville ) , Cam Newton ( Carolina ) and Daniel Jones @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2015 , Newton won NFL MVP honors when Shula was the Panthers ’ play-caller and Carolina lost to the Broncos in the Super Bowl .
“ I ’ ve been really lucky to coach young guys and old guys and learn a lot about them as I coached them , ” Shula said in an interview with The Post .
“ I think the understanding and experience can be drawn upon .
How guys sometimes learn .
Not to take anything for granted that they see it the way you see it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ your children — you make sure you ’ re clear with the communication.
” Shula first met Lock during the latter ’ s pre-draft visit to the Giants .
Because of coronavirus , their first significant meeting time was through video conferencing .
Shula had watched all of last year ’ s video and had ideas , but they ’ ve been on the practice field together for a little more than a month .
“ The learning curve has to increase because of the urgency , ” Shula said .
“ He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and he wants instant feedback and that ’ s all you can ask of a young guy.
” What has been the takeaway from watching Lock on the field in-person vs. his game video ?
“ Physically , I think he ’ s really gifted , ” Shula said .
“ He ’ s got such a quick release and he has a strong arm and different release points , which you really can ’ t coach in my opinion — either a guy has that or doesn ’ t .
… I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him live than watching him in college and at the combine.
” A key attribute Shula has already noticed about Lock : He ’ s accountable , often blaming himself instantly for poor throws or decisions .
But just as quickly , he moves onto the next play , a characteristic that is imperative .
Quarterbacks who look back often find themselves looking at somebody taking his job .
Shula believes Lock will handle the adversity seamlessly .
How will he handle a stinker of a game ?
How will he bounce back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Not until Lock hits the proverbial pothole will the Broncos know for sure .
“ He ’ s a little hard on himself at times , which is what you want from your quarterback just as long as when you get to the game , one play doesn ’ t affect the next , ” Shula said .
From afar , it didn ’ t look like Lock let one bad practice spill into the next .
That short-term memory of sorts — forget the bad plays , but remember why the heck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Lock ending the Broncos ’ half-decade of offensive futility .
Five starts was enough for general manager John Elway to not only move on from injured Joe Flacco , but sign Jeff Driskel to be Lock ’ s backup and not Lock ’ s competition and then , a month later , draft receivers Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler in the first two rounds .
To start this season , the puzzle pieces are in place for Lock to have success .
“ Sometimes you really have to try and press hard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be willing to be aggressive with the football , ” ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky said .
“ That didn ’ t seem to be something Drew hesitated with last year .
I think because of the talent and the play-caller and the people they have around him , he ’ s in a very , very healthy place .
”

During his five-game debut last year when he showed enough potential to be the Broncos’ starting quarterback Monday night against Tennessee, Drew Lock completed 100 passes.
He threw short — 26 behind the line of scrimmage. He worked the middle of the field — an identical 26 that traveled 1-15 yards in the air. And he took some shots — six that traveled at least 16 yards in the air.
But months later, when asked if there was a touchstone play in which his confidence was confirmed and he felt like this NFL deal wasn’t too big for him, Lock had an immediate reply.
“I would go with the seam ball to Noah (Fant) against Houston,” he said in an interview with The Denver Post.
Lock’s second start was against the Texans. A promising opening drive had stalled and the Broncos faced third-and-12 from the Houston 14-yard line. It was time for one of the league’s worst red-zone offenses to take an early lead. Lock was in the shotgun and Fant, the tight end, was lined up in the left slot.
“Houston is a very good team and the last time I was in that city, (Missouri) got our butts kicked by Texas (33-16 in a bowl game),” Lock said. “We ended up running that seam (route) to Noah and it felt like college — ‘OK, he’s got his back turned to me, he doesn’t know where the ball is and I’m going to put it right over his helmet and Noah’s going to catch this thing.’
“And that’s exactly what happened. I thought, ‘I had played that through my head and it just happened against a starting NFL defense that is really good.’ I think I can do this.”
Lock should believe he can do “this” and serve as the answer to the Broncos’ quarterback question. And the Broncos should believe he can do “this” and stabilize the sport’s most important position.
“He wants to be great,” running back Melvin Gordon said. “He’s a competitive person and I like that. I like a guy that’s going to put it all out there on the line for you. You like to be led by guys like that.”
And to be great, you have to be open to coaching, and as he prepares for his first full year as a starter, he will lean on Justin Hoover and Mike Shula.
Strong ties with personal coach
Hoover is the head coach at Shawnee Mission East High School in suburban Kansas City, but he’s almost more well-known for his work as the owner and operator of Spin It Quarterback Academy.
Hoover has been providing Lock with personal instruction for nearly a decade.
During Lock’s college career, Hoover — with an eye toward the NFL and the elite defensive backs Lock would be facing — focused on making his throwing process more compact and rotational to match up the fundamentals/anticipation so body/mind can function together.
Fast forward to last November, when Lock was activated from injured reserve and named the starter against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Hoover was watching Lock’s five starts with two purposes — to show support for his long-time student but also work up a to-do list for the 2020 offseason.
“Confidence and toughness,” was what stood out, Hoover said. “When it was time to go, he was ready for it.”
And when the season was completed and Lock returned to the Kansas City area, Hoover was ready to work.
But because of coronavirus, Hoover and Lock had to improvise. Hoover said they “found any patch of grass we could and if it was nice enough, we just made it work.” The prohibition on groups of people convening to train meant it was just Hoover and Lock most of the time.
Hoover focused on two things: Alignment and simulating movements that will allow Lock to avoid pass rushers.
Hoover wanted Lock to create a “straight-line” throw, meaning he was leading with his front foot for more velocity and accuracy on his throws. And in the pocket, Hoover wanted to fine-tune Lock’s “spatial awareness” so he would know how to keep his fundamentals tight even when he is trying to extend the play. During off days last month, Lock sent Hoover practice clips to have his pocket presence and throwing motion evaluated. Before the next practice, Hoover sent Lock specific pointers. The relationship runs long and the trust runs deep.
“(Hoover) is very good about putting drills together to put me in awkward positions,” Lock said. “There’s no question that if he needs to give me a coaching point, he’s right. He’s 100% dialed into my mechanics, my stroke and where I throw it the best.”
His work in Missouri complete, Lock returned to the Denver area to begin in-person training with Shula.
The right mindset
Lock is used to change — new playbooks, new techniques, new coaches and new play-callers. He had three offensive coordinators at Missouri and with the Broncos, Year 2 means his second coordinator (Pat Shurmur) and quarterback coach (Shula), respectively.
“I don’t know if you can find a more in-depth football mind,” Lock said of Shula. “The guys he’s worked with, the way he’s had to adapt, the way his quarterbacks were able to adapt — you can’t say enough about him.”
About that coaching history. Shula’s quarterbacks have included Vinny Testaverde/Chris Chandler (Tampa Bay), Jay Fiedler (Miami), Trent Dilfer (Tampa Bay), David Garrard (Jacksonville), Cam Newton (Carolina) and Daniel Jones (New York Giants). In 2015, Newton won NFL MVP honors when Shula was the Panthers’ play-caller and Carolina lost to the Broncos in the Super Bowl.
The common thread is developing young passers.
“I’ve been really lucky to coach young guys and old guys and learn a lot about them as I coached them,” Shula said in an interview with The Post. “I think the understanding and experience can be drawn upon. How guys sometimes learn. Not to take anything for granted that they see it the way you see it. It’s kind of like with your children — you make sure you’re clear with the communication.”
Shula first met Lock during the latter’s pre-draft visit to the Giants. Because of coronavirus, their first significant meeting time was through video conferencing. Shula had watched all of last year’s video and had ideas, but they’ve been on the practice field together for a little more than a month.
“The learning curve has to increase because of the urgency,” Shula said. “He’s really dialed in every day and he wants instant feedback and that’s all you can ask of a young guy.”
What has been the takeaway from watching Lock on the field in-person vs. his game video?
“Physically, I think he’s really gifted,” Shula said. “He’s got such a quick release and he has a strong arm and different release points, which you really can’t coach in my opinion — either a guy has that or doesn’t. … I’ve probably been more impressed seeing him live than watching him in college and at the combine.”
A key attribute Shula has already noticed about Lock: He’s accountable, often blaming himself instantly for poor throws or decisions. But just as quickly, he moves onto the next play, a characteristic that is imperative. Quarterbacks who look back often find themselves looking at somebody taking his job.
Shula believes Lock will handle the adversity seamlessly. How will he handle a stinker of a game? How will he bounce back from a bad quarter or half? Not until Lock hits the proverbial pothole will the Broncos know for sure.
“He’s a little hard on himself at times, which is what you want from your quarterback just as long as when you get to the game, one play doesn’t affect the next,” Shula said.
From afar, it didn’t look like Lock let one bad practice spill into the next. That short-term memory of sorts — forget the bad plays, but remember why the heck they happened — will be the key to Lock ending the Broncos’ half-decade of offensive futility.
Five starts was enough for general manager John Elway to not only move on from injured Joe Flacco, but sign Jeff Driskel to be Lock’s backup and not Lock’s competition and then, a month later, draft receivers Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler in the first two rounds.
To start this season, the puzzle pieces are in place for Lock to have success.
“Sometimes you really have to try and press hard to get guys to be confident and to be willing to be aggressive with the football,” ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky said. “That didn’t seem to be something Drew hesitated with last year. I think because of the talent and the play-caller and the people they have around him, he’s in a very, very healthy place.”