thedenverpost--2020-05-05--Kindred spirits: Rockies’ Kyle Freeland leaning on Bud Black’s experience

Kyle Freeland has better stuff than Bud Black ever did .
Who says so ?
Black , who doesn ’ t mind fessin ’ up .
“ Kyle throws harder than I did and his pitches have more life than mine ever did , ” the Rockies manager said from his offseason home near San Diego where he awaits baseball ’ s return during the coronavirus pandemic .
But there are striking parallels between Black and Freeland .
Both are ultra-competitive left-handers who know that guile can have as much to do with pitching success as fastballs , curveballs , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counting on that connection to get Freeland back on track once baseball returns .
“ We ’ ve had that conversation , ” said Freeland , whose average fastball velocity is 92.4 mph .
“ Buddy ’ s told me that we are kind of similar ; the way we are very fine with our craft .
We ’ ve never had the arsenal to blow people away .
We ’ re more of a thinking kind of pitcher .
Outthink your opponent and be smart about your pitch selection .
We ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pitching can be a big factor in success.
” Black , 62 , was the epitome of a “ crafty lefty ” during a 15-year big-league career during which he posted a 121-116 record with a 3.84 ERA .
In the 1985 American League Championship Series , Black pitched in three games for Kansas City , including one start , and had a 1.69 ERA over 10 innings .
He appeared in two games in the World Series vs. the Cardinals , losing 3-0 as the starter in Game 4 and pitching three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s 5-3 win in Game 6 .
Freeland , 26 , posted a 2.85 ERA and finished fourth for the National League Cy Young Award in 2018 .
He ’ s counting on pitching smarts to help him rebound from his disastrous 2019 season in which he went 3-11 with a 6.73 ERA.. “ Buddy has reassured me and he ’ s shown confidence in me , ” Freeland said .
“ He said , ‘ You are struggling right now , the whole world knows it , but you just have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also said that he knows that I can have extreme success and be one of the best pitchers in the game .
He brought up parts of ’ 17 and parts of the ’ 18 season and reminded me of my success .
He said , ‘ You have the qualities to be one of the best pitchers in the game , and you need to remember that.
’ ” Black ’ s encouraging words carry some cache .
In 1984 , Black compiled a 17-12 record and a 3.12 earned-run average and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He arrived in spring training in 1985 as the potential staff ace .
On opening day , Black beat Toronto , 2-1 .
By mid-May , Black was 5-3 with a 2.84 ERA .
But then Black lost his precious pitch precision and from May 21 through July 14 he lost seven of eight starts and had a 6.39 ERA .
Still , K.C .
manager Dick Howser stuck with Black , who had never missed a start in his four-year major league career .
Howser ’ s confidence paid off Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in his 33rd start .
The Royals trailed the Angels by one game in the AL West with five games to play when Black started a crucial game on Oct. 2 .
Black beat the Angels , 4-0 , tossing a complete-game three-hitter that moved the Royals into a tie for first place .
Freeland passed his own moment of truth in 2018 .
Starting the 2018 NL wild-card game against the Cubs at Chicago ’ s Wrigley Field , he was magnificent , pitching 6 ⅔ shutout innings on three days rest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ victory .
For all of his support and understanding , Black freely admits that he tends to be tougher on pitchers than he is on position players .
“ It ’ s because my background lends me to that engagement and scrutiny of pitchers , ” he said .
“ At one point I was in their shoes , so I can lend a credible perspective of constructive criticism and encouragement and praise .
There are both sides to it ; because I have been there.
” Freeland distinctly remembers a late-season lesson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2017 .
“ I was pitching against Arizona and I was feeling good on the mound , but I was fighting it , ” Freeland said .
“ They would just not swing at my slider .
I was throwing quality sliders and they just kept laying off of them .
“ I came into the dugout and as I walked past Buddy I said , ‘ They ’ re not biting on my slider.
’ So Buddy looks at me and says , ‘ Well then , change something .
Do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he ’ d become over-reliant on his slider , his bread-and-butter pitch for inducing weak contact .
“ That was one of those times when Buddy didn ’ t get on me , but he made it very clear to me that it was time to change things up , ” Freeland said .
“ I learned from that.
” When Black talks pitching , he preaches principles that have stood the test of time .
Chief among them : fastball command , first-pitch strikes , limiting walks , controlling the running @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Black ’ s pet peeves is passive pitching .
“ I don ’ t like that when I see it , ” he said .
“ I want our pitchers to have a fierceness to them .
I like guys who pitch with conviction .
A guy might be out of whack and their delivery might be messed up .
But if you have that toughness in you , if it ’ s part of your constitution , we can work with those guys .
Give me those guys .
Guys who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to compete.
” “ He wants you to be the badest dude out there , and I think , over his time here , Buddy has tried to instill that in our guys , ” Freeland said .
“ That ’ s the culture we are trying to create .
”

Kyle Freeland has better stuff than Bud Black ever did.
Who says so? Black, who doesn’t mind fessin’ up.
“Kyle throws harder than I did and his pitches have more life than mine ever did,” the Rockies manager said from his offseason home near San Diego where he awaits baseball’s return during the coronavirus pandemic.
But there are striking parallels between Black and Freeland. Both are ultra-competitive left-handers who know that guile can have as much to do with pitching success as fastballs, curveballs, sliders and changeups. Both men are counting on that connection to get Freeland back on track once baseball returns.
“We’ve had that conversation,” said Freeland, whose average fastball velocity is 92.4 mph. “Buddy’s told me that we are kind of similar; the way we are very fine with our craft. We’ve never had the arsenal to blow people away. We’re more of a thinking kind of pitcher. Outthink your opponent and be smart about your pitch selection. We’ve talked about how the intelligence of pitching can be a big factor in success.”
Black, 62, was the epitome of a “crafty lefty” during a 15-year big-league career during which he posted a 121-116 record with a 3.84 ERA. In the 1985 American League Championship Series, Black pitched in three games for Kansas City, including one start, and had a 1.69 ERA over 10 innings. He appeared in two games in the World Series vs. the Cardinals, losing 3-0 as the starter in Game 4 and pitching three innings of shutout relief in Kansas City’s 5-3 win in Game 6.
Freeland, 26, posted a 2.85 ERA and finished fourth for the National League Cy Young Award in 2018. He’s counting on pitching smarts to help him rebound from his disastrous 2019 season in which he went 3-11 with a 6.73 ERA..
“Buddy has reassured me and he’s shown confidence in me,” Freeland said. “He said, ‘You are struggling right now, the whole world knows it, but you just have to accept it.’
“But he also said that he knows that I can have extreme success and be one of the best pitchers in the game. He brought up parts of ’17 and parts of the ’18 season and reminded me of my success. He said, ‘You have the qualities to be one of the best pitchers in the game, and you need to remember that.’ ”
Black’s encouraging words carry some cache. In 1984, Black compiled a 17-12 record and a 3.12 earned-run average and led the Royals in seven pitching categories. He arrived in spring training in 1985 as the potential staff ace.
On opening day, Black beat Toronto, 2-1. By mid-May, Black was 5-3 with a 2.84 ERA. But then Black lost his precious pitch precision and from May 21 through July 14 he lost seven of eight starts and had a 6.39 ERA.
Still, K.C. manager Dick Howser stuck with Black, who had never missed a start in his four-year major league career. Howser’s confidence paid off Black pitched his best game of the season in his 33rd start. The Royals trailed the Angels by one game in the AL West with five games to play when Black started a crucial game on Oct. 2. Black beat the Angels, 4-0, tossing a complete-game three-hitter that moved the Royals into a tie for first place.
Freeland passed his own moment of truth in 2018. Starting the 2018 NL wild-card game against the Cubs at Chicago’s Wrigley Field, he was magnificent, pitching 6 ⅔ shutout innings on three days rest in Colorado’s 2-1, 13-inning victory.
For all of his support and understanding, Black freely admits that he tends to be tougher on pitchers than he is on position players.
“It’s because my background lends me to that engagement and scrutiny of pitchers,” he said. “At one point I was in their shoes, so I can lend a credible perspective of constructive criticism and encouragement and praise. There are both sides to it; because I have been there.”
Freeland distinctly remembers a late-season lesson Black taught him during his rookie season in 2017.
“I was pitching against Arizona and I was feeling good on the mound, but I was fighting it,” Freeland said. “They would just not swing at my slider. I was throwing quality sliders and they just kept laying off of them.
“I came into the dugout and as I walked past Buddy I said, ‘They’re not biting on my slider.’ So Buddy looks at me and says, ‘Well then, change something. Do something different.’ ”
Freeland quickly realized that he’d become over-reliant on his slider, his bread-and-butter pitch for inducing weak contact.
“That was one of those times when Buddy didn’t get on me, but he made it very clear to me that it was time to change things up,” Freeland said. “I learned from that.”
When Black talks pitching, he preaches principles that have stood the test of time. Chief among them: fastball command, first-pitch strikes, limiting walks, controlling the running game and fielding the position.
One of Black’s pet peeves is passive pitching.
“I don’t like that when I see it,” he said. “I want our pitchers to have a fierceness to them. I like guys who pitch with conviction. A guy might be out of whack and their delivery might be messed up. But if you have that toughness in you, if it’s part of your constitution, we can work with those guys. Give me those guys. Guys who are fierce and truly aggressive and want to compete.”
Freeland understands.
“He wants you to be the badest dude out there, and I think, over his time here, Buddy has tried to instill that in our guys,” Freeland said. “That’s the culture we are trying to create.”


thedenverpost--2020-05-05--This Colorado city just set a record high … for eight straight days

Sure , it ’ s been hot for most of Colorado lately .
But one city in particular has been exceptionally warm .
In Denver , the mercury soared all the way up to 85 degrees last Friday , more than 20 degrees above average for this time of the year .
Colorado Springs set a new daily record high last Friday ( 86 degrees ) , and Pueblo set one last Thursday ( 94 degrees ) .
But in Alamosa , located in the heart of southern Colorado ’ s San Luis Valley , they ’ ve had eight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That streak was ( barely ) snapped on Monday , but not before more than a week ’ s worth of new daily records .
According to Klint Skelly , a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Pueblo , the consecutive record high temperatures have been mainly due to a persistently warm wind pattern .
“ If you get the right setup , in this case it ’ s southwesterly winds off the San Juan Mountains , it just heats up .
It was a pretty persistent pattern over the eight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s eight-day heat wave .
“ It was uncommon for eight days in a row .
But if the pattern is right , it ’ s going to be warm and dry.
” When wind flows down off of a mountain range , it accelerates as it hurdles down toward a flatter surface , similar to a kid on a playground slide .
When that air accelerates , it also compresses and warms .
If that weather pattern takes place over a prolonged period , it ’ ll often lead to extra @ @ @ @ @ @ @ frame .
In Alamosa , located in the heart of the notoriously dry San Luis Valley , that often means warmer and drier weather than the rest of Colorado .
Alamosa is located just east of the San Juan mountains of southwest Colorado and just west of the Wet Mountains of south-central Colorado , meaning that downsloping winds are relatively common there .
But the prolonged southerly component to those downsloping winds ticked up those temperatures even higher than usual .
That , simply and generally , led to the lengthy heat wave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alamosa have been regularly gusting to 30 to 40 mph , including a peak 33 mph wind gust on Monday afternoon at the San Luis Valley Regional Airport in Alamosa .
It should be noted that Alamosa ’ s official climatological record only dates back to 1943 , which is substantially shorter than other Colorado cities such as Denver ( records date back to 1872 ) or Colorado Springs ( 1894 ) .
That increases the likelihood of setting a daily record .
Even with that in mind , eight straight days of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alamosa accomplished the feat this week .
“ It ’ s just the pattern that ’ s set up , ” Skelly said .
“ Pueblo and Colorado Springs , we set records here two or three days in a row .
But not nearly as long as the San Luis Valley .
”

Sure, it’s been hot for most of Colorado lately. But one city in particular has been exceptionally warm.
In Denver, the mercury soared all the way up to 85 degrees last Friday, more than 20 degrees above average for this time of the year. Colorado Springs set a new daily record high last Friday (86 degrees), and Pueblo set one last Thursday (94 degrees).
But in Alamosa, located in the heart of southern Colorado’s San Luis Valley, they’ve had eight straight days of daily record highs. That streak was (barely) snapped on Monday, but not before more than a week’s worth of new daily records.
As of 330 pm, the high temp in Alamosa has topped out at 80F, which is 1F off of the May 4th record of 81F in 1943. If this is the case, Alamosa's daily record high streak ends at 8 consecutive days (April 26-May 3) which will tie an 8 day record streak in July of 2003. #cowx — NWS Pueblo (@NWSPueblo) May 4, 2020
According to Klint Skelly, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Pueblo, the consecutive record high temperatures have been mainly due to a persistently warm wind pattern.
“If you get the right setup, in this case it’s southwesterly winds off the San Juan Mountains, it just heats up. It was a pretty persistent pattern over the eight days,” Skelly said of Alamosa’s eight-day heat wave. “It was uncommon for eight days in a row. But if the pattern is right, it’s going to be warm and dry.”
When wind flows down off of a mountain range, it accelerates as it hurdles down toward a flatter surface, similar to a kid on a playground slide. When that air accelerates, it also compresses and warms. If that weather pattern takes place over a prolonged period, it’ll often lead to extra warm and windy temperatures over that time frame.
In Alamosa, located in the heart of the notoriously dry San Luis Valley, that often means warmer and drier weather than the rest of Colorado. Alamosa is located just east of the San Juan mountains of southwest Colorado and just west of the Wet Mountains of south-central Colorado, meaning that downsloping winds are relatively common there.
But the prolonged southerly component to those downsloping winds ticked up those temperatures even higher than usual. That, simply and generally, led to the lengthy heat wave of daily record highs.
Gusts in Alamosa have been regularly gusting to 30 to 40 mph, including a peak 33 mph wind gust on Monday afternoon at the San Luis Valley Regional Airport in Alamosa.
It should be noted that Alamosa’s official climatological record only dates back to 1943, which is substantially shorter than other Colorado cities such as Denver (records date back to 1872) or Colorado Springs (1894). That increases the likelihood of setting a daily record.
Even with that in mind, eight straight days of daily record highs is impressive, and Alamosa accomplished the feat this week.
“It’s just the pattern that’s set up,” Skelly said. “Pueblo and Colorado Springs, we set records here two or three days in a row. But not nearly as long as the San Luis Valley.”


thedenverpost--2020-05-05--Richard LeCounte to the Broncos? CBS Sports’ 2021 NFL mock draft has defensive back heading to Denve

Richard LeCounte to the Broncos? CBS Sports’ 2021 NFL mock draft has defensive back heading to Denver.

The 2020 NFL draft just ended 10 days ago and the next one doesn ’ t begin for another 358 days , but that doesn ’ t mean we can ’ t take a really early look ahead .
CBS Sports ’ Chris Trapasso unveiled his 2021 NFL mock draft on Monday and has the Broncos — with the No .
16 overall pick — going for Georgia defensive back Richard LeCounte .
Trapasso writes : “ This could be an offensive tackle , but let ’ s go against the grain slightly , assuming John Elway either signs or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LeCounte will head into the 2020 college football season as the premier safety prospect.
” The 5-foot-11 , 190-pound senior-to-be recorded career-highs in interceptions ( 4 ) and pass deflections ( 7 ) for the Bulldogs in 2019 .
As for the No .
1 overall pick , that ’ s a no-brainer in Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence , who ’ s headed to Minshew Country with the Jacksonville Jaguars in the mock draft .
If you enjoy the Denver Sports Omelette , tell a friend it ’ s easy to sign up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If you have any questions or suggestions , hit me up on Twitter @ joenguyen or by email .
A special offer for Sports Omelette readers !
Subscribe to The Denver Post ’ s sports coverage for just 99¢ for the first month and only $ 6.99/month thereafter .
Cancel anytime .
+ Broncos Mailbag : Have a question about the team ?
Ask Ryan O ’ Halloran here .
+ Nuggets Mailbag : Have a question about the team ?
Ask Mike Singer here .
+ Avs Mailbag : Have a question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here .
+ Rockies Mailbag : Have a question about the team ?
Ask Patrick Saunders here .

The 2020 NFL draft just ended 10 days ago and the next one doesn’t begin for another 358 days, but that doesn’t mean we can’t take a really early look ahead.
CBS Sports’ Chris Trapasso unveiled his 2021 NFL mock draft on Monday and has the Broncos — with the No. 16 overall pick — going for Georgia defensive back Richard LeCounte.
Trapasso writes: “This could be an offensive tackle, but let’s go against the grain slightly, assuming John Elway either signs or trades for a tackle next offseason. LeCounte will head into the 2020 college football season as the premier safety prospect.”
The 5-foot-11, 190-pound senior-to-be recorded career-highs in interceptions (4) and pass deflections (7) for the Bulldogs in 2019.
As for the No. 1 overall pick, that’s a no-brainer in Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who’s headed to Minshew Country with the Jacksonville Jaguars in the mock draft.
— Joe Nguyen, The Denver Post
If you enjoy the Denver Sports Omelette, tell a friend it’s easy to sign up here for our daily sports roundup. If you have any questions or suggestions, hit me up on Twitter @joenguyen or by email.
A special offer for Sports Omelette readers! Subscribe to The Denver Post’s sports coverage for just 99¢ for the first month and only $6.99/month thereafter. Cancel anytime.
Ask The Experts
+ Broncos Mailbag: Have a question about the team? Ask Ryan O’Halloran here.
+ Nuggets Mailbag: Have a question about the team? Ask Mike Singer here.
+ Avs Mailbag: Have a question about the team? Ask Mike Chambers here.
+ Rockies Mailbag: Have a question about the team? Ask Patrick Saunders here.


thedenverpost--2020-05-05--Ask Amy: Family stress and fighting upsets teen

Dear Amy : My parents have been fighting a lot .
It scares me because I love them so much and I don ’ t know what I would do without either one of them .
I have tried to talk to both of them privately , but they act like everything is fine , when I know it isn ’ t .
I know that times are tough for all of us and maybe we could all just use some time by ourselves , but I really don ’ t know what to do .
Should I also act @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should I try to talk to them about it again , when I know they will say that it doesn ’ t concern me and that I shouldn ’ t worry about it ?
Dear Scared : First this : Your folks have done a great job , raising a sensitive , concerned , and empathetic child .
Your folks are feeling the stress – and so are you .
You may be noticing a dynamic between them that has actually been going on for a while ( because you are all spending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are feeling financial , workplace , or family worries that you aren ’ t aware of .
Bickering happens .
Arguing happens .
And this affects you – of course it does – but your folks are right – it likely doesn ’ t have much , if anything , to do with you .
It does concern you , however , because you love them both and you want to live in a peaceful and stable household .
You need to feel safe .
You have already spoken to each of your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and so you should try to speak with both of them , together .
You can not solve their problems for them , but you have the right to speak your own truth , and so you should try to tell them how their actions affect you .
Use “ I statements ” : “ I ’ m worried because you seem to be arguing a lot.
” “ When you fight it makes me feel … ” ( anxious , upset , afraid ) .
It might help for you to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and if you don ’ t believe you can have this conversation with both of them together , you can give them both a copy of your written thoughts .
I hope your concern inspires them to behave differently – for everyone ’ s sake .
If you find yourself overwhelmed by this – and other stresses in your life – please reach out for help .
Crisis Text Line has a round-the-clock staff of empathetic and helpful counselors , all available via text .
Store this number in your phone : 741-741 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and text if you need to talk .
Dear Amy : I am a regular reader of your column .
Thank you for being up to date on the coronavirus situation .
I am being as careful as I can possibly be in terms of protecting myself , and since March 15 I have secluded myself in my apartment .
I am 91 years old and very active .
Before this secluded period , most days I would be out and about somewhere in my new car every day .
The other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some groceries to my outside deck and I went to the sliding glass doors and went out onto the deck while she stood out on the lawn and we conversed .
I had on a mask but pulled it down with my rubber gloves ( which I had just sanitized ) , to talk to her .
She phoned afterward to say that she was concerned that I had touched my mask with my soiled hands .
Amy , why do people do this ?
And how should I respond ?
Dear Air @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are anxious and afraid .
All of us are trying , in a variety of ways , to control something that is invisible and unpredictable .
This friend has been making efforts to take care of you .
The response from you should be – “ Thank you for everything you are doing , and thank you for your concern .
I ’ m doing well .
I ’ m feeling great , and grateful.
” Once you say these things , you can hang up the phone , take a deep breath @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and daydream about cruising in your new car .
It will happen .
Dear Amy : Thank you for calling out the couple signing their letter “ Too Close.
” They were excessively selfish for insisting that their friends needed to immediately attend to their needs , regardless of the current health crisis , which places everyone at risk .

Dear Amy: My parents have been fighting a lot. It scares me because I love them so much and I don’t know what I would do without either one of them.
I have tried to talk to both of them privately, but they act like everything is fine, when I know it isn’t. I know that times are tough for all of us and maybe we could all just use some time by ourselves, but I really don’t know what to do. Should I also act like everything is all right, or should I try to talk to them about it again, when I know they will say that it doesn’t concern me and that I shouldn’t worry about it?
— Scared Teen
Dear Scared: First this: Your folks have done a great job, raising a sensitive, concerned, and empathetic child.
Your folks are feeling the stress – and so are you. You may be noticing a dynamic between them that has actually been going on for a while (because you are all spending more time together), or they are feeling financial, workplace, or family worries that you aren’t aware of.
Bickering happens. Arguing happens. And this affects you – of course it does – but your folks are right – it likely doesn’t have much, if anything, to do with you. It does concern you, however, because you love them both and you want to live in a peaceful and stable household. You need to feel safe.
You have already spoken to each of your parents, but you deserve more reassurance, and so you should try to speak with both of them, together.
You cannot solve their problems for them, but you have the right to speak your own truth, and so you should try to tell them how their actions affect you. Use “I statements”: “I’m worried because you seem to be arguing a lot.” “When you fight it makes me feel …” (anxious, upset, afraid).
It might help for you to write down your thoughts in advance, and if you don’t believe you can have this conversation with both of them together, you can give them both a copy of your written thoughts. I hope your concern inspires them to behave differently – for everyone’s sake.
If you find yourself overwhelmed by this – and other stresses in your life – please reach out for help. Crisis Text Line has a round-the-clock staff of empathetic and helpful counselors, all available via text. Store this number in your phone: 741-741 (I have it in mine), and text if you need to talk.
Dear Amy: I am a regular reader of your column. Thank you for being up to date on the coronavirus situation. I am being as careful as I can possibly be in terms of protecting myself, and since March 15 I have secluded myself in my apartment.
I am 91 years old and very active. Before this secluded period, most days I would be out and about somewhere in my new car every day.
The other day, a friend of mine delivered some groceries to my outside deck and I went to the sliding glass doors and went out onto the deck while she stood out on the lawn and we conversed.
I had on a mask but pulled it down with my rubber gloves (which I had just sanitized), to talk to her.
She phoned afterward to say that she was concerned that I had touched my mask with my soiled hands.
Amy, why do people do this? And how should I respond?
— Air Hugs in Nebraska
Dear Air Hugs: People do this because they are anxious and afraid. All of us are trying, in a variety of ways, to control something that is invisible and unpredictable.
This friend has been making efforts to take care of you. The response from you should be – “Thank you for everything you are doing, and thank you for your concern. I’m doing well. I’m feeling great, and grateful.”
Once you say these things, you can hang up the phone, take a deep breath, make yourself a cup of tea, and daydream about cruising in your new car. It will happen.
Dear Amy: Thank you for calling out the couple signing their letter “Too Close.” They were excessively selfish for insisting that their friends needed to immediately attend to their needs, regardless of the current health crisis, which places everyone at risk.
— Sheltering
(You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook.)


thedenverpost--2020-05-05--Rays minor leaguer Blake Bivens talks about killings of 3 family members

DANVILLE , Va. — Tampa Bay Rays minor leaguer Blake Bivens says he learned through social media of the deaths of three family members last summer .
Speaking publicly for what is believed to be the first time about the Aug. 28 deaths of wife Emily , 1-year-old son Culle and mother-in-law Joan Bernard , Bivens recalled details of traveling home to Keeling , Virginia , from Chattanooga , Tennessee , where he had been on a road trip with the Rays ’ Double-A Montgomery affiliate .
The 24-year-old pitcher ’ s brother-in-law , Matthew Bernard , was arrested , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is awaiting trial .
Bivens spoke for more than 30 minutes Sunday with interim senior pastor Travis Gore of The River Church during a conversation aired live on Facebook .
The athlete said his faith has helped him cope with the deaths .
“ The only thing I really remember from the whole plane ride is I just went through periods .
I just stared at the back of the seat the whole time , trying to get my mind to wrap around what I ’ m hearing , ” Bivens said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ like , ` This isn ’ t really happening.
’ I was more in a state of shock .
I would go through periods of shaking , ” he said .
“ Then I would start to lose it a little bit and break down and cry .
It was kind of like a circle .
The plane rides just seemed like they took forever.
” Bivens said he initially feared something was wrong when he awakened that day and had not received a text message from his wife .
The concern grew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and he learned on Facebook that his brother-in-law was being sought by police .
He returned to social media , searching for information , while sitting in the Chattanooga airport .
“ First headline I see is two females and a small child were gone .
I immediately knew that was them , ” Bivens said .
“ I found out my family was gone over a Facebook headline .
I just immediately began to scream in the middle of the airport.
’ ’ The pitcher said the trip home “ could have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” if he had not been accompanied by three members of the Rays organization , including Montgomery manager Morgan Ensberg .
“ I think the hardest moment for me was when I got home and I walked in my son ’ s bedroom for the first time and realized I was never going to see him on this earth again , ” Bivens said .
“ That was the worst moment in my life .
Nothing ever will come to feeling the way I felt at that moment .
”

DANVILLE, Va. — Tampa Bay Rays minor leaguer Blake Bivens says he learned through social media of the deaths of three family members last summer.
Speaking publicly for what is believed to be the first time about the Aug. 28 deaths of wife Emily, 1-year-old son Culle and mother-in-law Joan Bernard, Bivens recalled details of traveling home to Keeling, Virginia, from Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he had been on a road trip with the Rays’ Double-A Montgomery affiliate.
The 24-year-old pitcher’s brother-in-law, Matthew Bernard, was arrested, charged with three counts of murder and is awaiting trial.
Bivens spoke for more than 30 minutes Sunday with interim senior pastor Travis Gore of The River Church during a conversation aired live on Facebook.
The athlete said his faith has helped him cope with the deaths.
“The only thing I really remember from the whole plane ride is I just went through periods. I just stared at the back of the seat the whole time, trying to get my mind to wrap around what I’m hearing,” Bivens said.
“It’s almost kind of like, `This isn’t really happening.’ I was more in a state of shock. I would go through periods of shaking,” he said. “Then I would start to lose it a little bit and break down and cry. It was kind of like a circle. The plane rides just seemed like they took forever.”
Bivens said he initially feared something was wrong when he awakened that day and had not received a text message from his wife.
The concern grew when he couldn’t reach her and he learned on Facebook that his brother-in-law was being sought by police. He returned to social media, searching for information, while sitting in the Chattanooga airport.
“First headline I see is two females and a small child were gone. I immediately knew that was them,” Bivens said. “I found out my family was gone over a Facebook headline. I just immediately began to scream in the middle of the airport.’’
The pitcher said the trip home “could have been a whole lot worse for me” if he had not been accompanied by three members of the Rays organization, including Montgomery manager Morgan Ensberg.
“I think the hardest moment for me was when I got home and I walked in my son’s bedroom for the first time and realized I was never going to see him on this earth again,” Bivens said. “That was the worst moment in my life. Nothing ever will come to feeling the way I felt at that moment.”


thedenverpost--2020-05-05--NFL to release 2020 schedule on Thursday night

NEW YORK — The NFL will release its regular-season schedule on Thursday night , the league announced Monday , as it continues conducting business mostly as usual amid the coronavirus pandemic .
The schedule will be revealed in a 3-hour telecast on NFL Network starting at 6 p.m. Mountain .
Thus far , the league has not announced any major changes to its schedule as a result of the pandemic , which has brought most organized sports around the globe to a halt .
NFL training facilities are closed because of the pandemic , leading to the league ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the league still plans to start the season on time while playing in teams ’ home stadiums .
Opening day for the 2020 season is Sept. 10 , with the season set to conclude with Super Bowl 55 on February 7 , 2021 .
The NFL also held last month ’ s draft on time while canceling all in-person events .
The draft had been set for Las Vegas ; instead , Commissioner Roger Goodell announced picks from his home .
Should the pandemic force major changes to the season , the league @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neutral sites and getting rid of bye weeks , league executive Troy Vincent told The Associated Press last week .
Any such changes would have to be approved by the players union .
Earlier Monday , the NFL announced it was moving its five games scheduled for London and Mexico City this season back to U.S. stadiums .

NEW YORK — The NFL will release its regular-season schedule on Thursday night, the league announced Monday, as it continues conducting business mostly as usual amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The schedule will be revealed in a 3-hour telecast on NFL Network starting at 6 p.m. Mountain.
Thus far, the league has not announced any major changes to its schedule as a result of the pandemic, which has brought most organized sports around the globe to a halt. NFL training facilities are closed because of the pandemic, leading to the league’s first-ever “virtual offseason,” but the league still plans to start the season on time while playing in teams’ home stadiums.
Opening day for the 2020 season is Sept. 10, with the season set to conclude with Super Bowl 55 on February 7, 2021. The NFL also held last month’s draft on time while canceling all in-person events. The draft had been set for Las Vegas; instead, Commissioner Roger Goodell announced picks from his home.
Should the pandemic force major changes to the season, the league is considering alternatives including empty stadiums, neutral sites and getting rid of bye weeks, league executive Troy Vincent told The Associated Press last week. Any such changes would have to be approved by the players union.
Earlier Monday, the NFL announced it was moving its five games scheduled for London and Mexico City this season back to U.S. stadiums.


thedenverpost--2020-05-05--Trump’s anti-China rhetoric aimed at boosting U.S. leverage

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is making ever louder pronouncements casting blame on China for the COVID-19 pandemic , aiming to sidestep domestic criticism of the president ’ s own response , tarnish China ’ s global reputation and give the U.S. leverage on trade and other aspects of U.S.-China competition .
President Donald Trump has vowed to penalize China for what U.S. officials have increasingly described as a pattern of deceit that denied the world precious time to prepare for the pandemic .
The opening salvo isn ’ t in the form of tariffs or sanctions , but in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behavior that could yank the Chinese lower on the global reputation meter .
The State Department , the Department of Homeland Security and the White House have all launched public efforts in recent days to lay bare what they say is clear evidence that China tried to mask the scale of the outbreak and then refused to provide critical access to U.S. and global scientists that could have saved lives .
More than 250,000 people have died globally from COVID-19 , including more than 68,000 in the U.S .
The Trump administration , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to convince the world that China isn ’ t playing by the same rules as everyone else , and that may be the biggest punishment for an intensely proud emerging superpower .
The official was not authorized to publicly discuss the issue and spoke only on condition of anonymity .
To that end , the administration has pushed its China criticism beyond the bounds of established evidence .
Trump and allies repeat and express confidence in an unsubstantiated theory linking the origin of the outbreak to a possible accident at a Chinese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are still exploring the subject and describe the evidence as purely circumstantial .
But Trump , aides say , has embraced the notion to further highlight China ’ s lack of transparency .
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told ABC ’ s “ This Week with George Stephanopoulos ” that there is “ enormous evidence ” that the virus began in the Wuhan Institute of Virology .
The institute , which is run by the Chinese Academy of Sciences , is about 8 miles , or 13 kilometers , from a market that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus .
It has done groundbreaking research tracing the likely origins of the SARS virus , finding new bat viruses and discovering how they could jump to people .
Pompeo said China has denied the U.S. and World Health Organization access to the lab .
But Trump says he has seen information that gives him a high degree of confidence that the Wuhan institute is the origin of the virus .
Asked why he has such confidence , Trump said : “ I can ’ t tell you that .
I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ From our perspective , this remains speculative , ” WHO emergencies chief Dr. Michael Ryan says of the lab theory .
“ But like any evidence-based organization , we would be very willing to receive any information that purports to the origin of the virus.
” Trump ’ s ouster of more than a handful of top intelligence officials has given him an additional credibility problem when it comes to the administration ’ s pronouncements based on intelligence .
“ These purges have already , I fear , politicized the intelligence community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said Mike Morell , a former acting CIA director under President Barack Obama who now hosts the “ Intelligence Matters ” podcast .
One of our institutions critical to the pursuit of the truth has a large crack in it.
” On Monday , China ’ s official Global Times newspaper said Pompeo was making “ groundless accusations ” against Beijing by suggesting the coronavirus was released from a Chinese laboratory .
The populist tabloid published by the ruling Communist Party mouthpiece People ’ s Daily said the claims were a politically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidency and divert attention from the U.S. administration ’ s own failures in dealing with the outbreak .
While Trump ’ s and Pompeo ’ s critical statements have been at the forefront of the administration ’ s anti-China rhetoric , U.S. government agencies , including the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security , have been compiling often publicly available information to try to support the allegations .
DHS documents , obtained by The Associated Press on Sunday and Monday , accuse the Chinese government of intentionally downplaying the scope and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in order to buy up international stocks of personal protective equipment and other medical supplies needed to combat the disease .
Although any country might be expected to purchase large quantities of materials necessary to combat a major threat to public health , the administration has sought to portray China ’ s actions as secret , irresponsible and dangerous for the rest of the world .
One such document , drawing from open source material , emphasizes reports about the disappearance of Chinese doctors who raised early alarms about the virus and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alleged suppression and destruction of virus samples and closure of relevant laboratories .
It also reports on China ’ s early resistance to acknowledging human-to-human transmission of COVID-19 , the failure of authorities to immediately block domestic or international travel out of Wuhan and China ’ s opposition to calls for an international inquiry into the pandemic .
The focus on China comes as Trump ’ s own record has faced persistent scrutiny .
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany , told the AP on Monday that Trump was first briefed by intelligence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and then again on Jan 28 .
Providing a rare glimpse into one of the most sensitive U.S. government practices , the highly classified presidential daily briefing , McEnany said it was only in that second briefing that Trump was told that the virus was spreading outside China .
Trump , she added , was told that all the deaths were still occurring inside China and that Beijing was not sharing key data .
Days later , Trump moved to severely curtail travel to the U.S. from China .
The White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prepared by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence , a spokesperson said .
But reference to the coronavirus was included in at least passing mention in the written version of the intelligence briefing on Jan. 11 and Jan. 14 , according to a senior U.S. government official within the intelligence community , who said that other officials , including Defense Secretary Mark Esper , were briefed .
Officials emphasized that much of the U.S. government ’ s attention during that period was on Iran , after the killing of Islamic Revolutionary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jan 3 U.S. drone strike and the subsequent downing of Ukrainian airliner over Tehran .

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is making ever louder pronouncements casting blame on China for the COVID-19 pandemic, aiming to sidestep domestic criticism of the president’s own response, tarnish China’s global reputation and give the U.S. leverage on trade and other aspects of U.S.-China competition.
President Donald Trump has vowed to penalize China for what U.S. officials have increasingly described as a pattern of deceit that denied the world precious time to prepare for the pandemic. The opening salvo isn’t in the form of tariffs or sanctions, but in a one-sided accounting of China’s behavior that could yank the Chinese lower on the global reputation meter.
The State Department, the Department of Homeland Security and the White House have all launched public efforts in recent days to lay bare what they say is clear evidence that China tried to mask the scale of the outbreak and then refused to provide critical access to U.S. and global scientists that could have saved lives. More than 250,000 people have died globally from COVID-19, including more than 68,000 in the U.S.
The Trump administration, a senior administration official says, is trying to convince the world that China isn’t playing by the same rules as everyone else, and that may be the biggest punishment for an intensely proud emerging superpower. The official was not authorized to publicly discuss the issue and spoke only on condition of anonymity.
To that end, the administration has pushed its China criticism beyond the bounds of established evidence.
Trump and allies repeat and express confidence in an unsubstantiated theory linking the origin of the outbreak to a possible accident at a Chinese virology laboratory. U.S. officials say they are still exploring the subject and describe the evidence as purely circumstantial. But Trump, aides say, has embraced the notion to further highlight China’s lack of transparency.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told ABC’s “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” that there is “enormous evidence” that the virus began in the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
The institute, which is run by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, is about 8 miles, or 13 kilometers, from a market that is considered a possible source for the virus. It has done groundbreaking research tracing the likely origins of the SARS virus, finding new bat viruses and discovering how they could jump to people.
Pompeo said China has denied the U.S. and World Health Organization access to the lab. But Trump says he has seen information that gives him a high degree of confidence that the Wuhan institute is the origin of the virus. Asked why he has such confidence, Trump said: “I can’t tell you that. I’m not allowed to tell you that.”
Health officials are dubious.
“From our perspective, this remains speculative,” WHO emergencies chief Dr. Michael Ryan says of the lab theory. “But like any evidence-based organization, we would be very willing to receive any information that purports to the origin of the virus.”
Trump’s ouster of more than a handful of top intelligence officials has given him an additional credibility problem when it comes to the administration’s pronouncements based on intelligence.
“These purges have already, I fear, politicized the intelligence community’s work in key ways,” said Mike Morell, a former acting CIA director under President Barack Obama who now hosts the “Intelligence Matters” podcast. One of our institutions critical to the pursuit of the truth has a large crack in it.”
China strongly rejects Trump’s version of events.
On Monday, China’s official Global Times newspaper said Pompeo was making “groundless accusations” against Beijing by suggesting the coronavirus was released from a Chinese laboratory.
The populist tabloid published by the ruling Communist Party mouthpiece People’s Daily said the claims were a politically motivated attempt to preserve Trump’s presidency and divert attention from the U.S. administration’s own failures in dealing with the outbreak.
While Trump’s and Pompeo’s critical statements have been at the forefront of the administration’s anti-China rhetoric, U.S. government agencies, including the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security, have been compiling often publicly available information to try to support the allegations.
DHS documents, obtained by The Associated Press on Sunday and Monday, accuse the Chinese government of intentionally downplaying the scope and severity of the spread of the virus in order to buy up international stocks of personal protective equipment and other medical supplies needed to combat the disease.
Although any country might be expected to purchase large quantities of materials necessary to combat a major threat to public health, the administration has sought to portray China’s actions as secret, irresponsible and dangerous for the rest of the world.
One such document, drawing from open source material, emphasizes reports about the disappearance of Chinese doctors who raised early alarms about the virus and the response, the Chinese government’s alleged suppression and destruction of virus samples and closure of relevant laboratories.
It also reports on China’s early resistance to acknowledging human-to-human transmission of COVID-19, the failure of authorities to immediately block domestic or international travel out of Wuhan and China’s opposition to calls for an international inquiry into the pandemic.
The focus on China comes as Trump’s own record has faced persistent scrutiny. White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, told the AP on Monday that Trump was first briefed by intelligence agencies about the virus on Jan 23, and then again on Jan 28.
Providing a rare glimpse into one of the most sensitive U.S. government practices, the highly classified presidential daily briefing, McEnany said it was only in that second briefing that Trump was told that the virus was spreading outside China.
Trump, she added, was told that all the deaths were still occurring inside China and that Beijing was not sharing key data. Days later, Trump moved to severely curtail travel to the U.S. from China. The White House’s descriptions of the briefing were prepared by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, a spokesperson said.
But reference to the coronavirus was included in at least passing mention in the written version of the intelligence briefing on Jan. 11 and Jan. 14, according to a senior U.S. government official within the intelligence community, who said that other officials, including Defense Secretary Mark Esper, were briefed.
Officials emphasized that much of the U.S. government’s attention during that period was on Iran, after the killing of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Gen. Qasem Soleimani in a Jan 3 U.S. drone strike and the subsequent downing of Ukrainian airliner over Tehran.


thedenverpost--2020-05-05--Man accused of assaulting Louisville hospital nursing staff

A man has been arrested after reportedly assaulting multiple medical workers at a behavioral hospital in Louisville last week .
Adrian Ross , 33 , was arrested on suspicion of seven counts of second-degree assault and one count of misdemeanor menacing , according to an arrest report .
According to the report , Ross assaulted medical staff at Centennial Peaks Hospital , 2255 S 88th St. , on April 27 and again on Friday over a fight about his medication .
Police were called on Friday , and the responding officer observed visible injuries on some of the staffers .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ross hitting staff with both of his closed fists while staff was trying to deescalate the situation and restrain Ross .
The officer said several of the staffers were knocked to the ground as a result of the strikes .
Several staffers told police they were scared to return to work while Ross was still there .
Staffers said Ross had made previous threatening statements like , “ I am going to kill you , ” “ I could beat you down , ” and “ you ’ ll get yours.
” Police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not elaborate .
He was taken into custody on Friday .
Ross does not have any prior criminal history in Colorado , according to court records .
He will be released on a $ 5,000 personal recognizance bond and is set for a formal filing of charges Wednesday .

A man has been arrested after reportedly assaulting multiple medical workers at a behavioral hospital in Louisville last week.
Adrian Ross, 33, was arrested on suspicion of seven counts of second-degree assault and one count of misdemeanor menacing, according to an arrest report.
According to the report, Ross assaulted medical staff at Centennial Peaks Hospital, 2255 S 88th St., on April 27 and again on Friday over a fight about his medication.
Police were called on Friday, and the responding officer observed visible injuries on some of the staffers. The officer then watched surveillance footage showing Ross hitting staff with both of his closed fists while staff was trying to deescalate the situation and restrain Ross. The officer said several of the staffers were knocked to the ground as a result of the strikes.
Several staffers told police they were scared to return to work while Ross was still there. Staffers said Ross had made previous threatening statements like, “I am going to kill you,” “I could beat you down,” and “you’ll get yours.”
Police talked to Ross who claimed self-defense but did not elaborate. He was taken into custody on Friday.
Ross does not have any prior criminal history in Colorado, according to court records.
He will be released on a $5,000 personal recognizance bond and is set for a formal filing of charges Wednesday.


thedenverpost--2020-05-06--Justice Ginsburg in hospital with infection, court says

WASHINGTON — Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was hospitalized Tuesday with an infection caused by a gallstone , the Supreme Court @ @ @ @ @ underwent non-surgical treatment for what the court described as acute cholecystitis , a benign gall @ @ @ @ @ Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore , Maryland .
She expects to be in the hospital for @ @ @ @ @ the court said .
Ginsburg took part in the court ’ s telephone arguments Monday @ @ @ @ @ do so again Wednesday , the court said .
She has been treated four times @ @ @ @ @ in August .
She initially sought medical care Monday , when the gallstone was first @ @

WASHINGTON — Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was hospitalized Tuesday with an infection caused by a gallstone, the Supreme Court said.
The 87-year-old justice underwent non-surgical treatment for what the court described as acute cholecystitis, a benign gall bladder condition, at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland.
She expects to be in the hospital for a day or two, the court said.
Ginsburg took part in the court’s telephone arguments Monday and Tuesday and plans to do so again Wednesday, the court said.
She has been treated four times for cancer, most recently in August.
She initially sought medical care Monday, when the gallstone was first diagnosed.


thedenverpost--2020-05-06--Lorena Garcia appealing decision barring her from Colorado’s Democratic Senate primary ballot

The Colorado Supreme Court has all but cemented a two-way Democratic primary for Colorado ’ s U.S. Senate seat in @ @ @ @ @ Andrew Romanoff after reversing another Denver District Court decision .
On Tuesday , the Supreme @ @ @ @ @ Lorena Garcia shouldn ’ t be placed on the primary ballot because she didn ’ @ @ @ @ @ in line with the court ’ s decision about Michelle Ferrigno Warren on Monday .
@ @ @ @ @ , Garcia plans to appeal the decision on the federal level .
“ Not only @ @ @ @ @ , on behalf of the Secretary of State , violate my campaign ’ s right @ @ @ @ @ , the Colorado state legislature failed in ensuring equal protection under the law when they @ @ @ @ @ the public health of circulators and voters when Covid-19 struck Colorado , ” Garcia said @ @ @ @ @ This violated the people of Colorado ’ s right to support their candidate .
”

The Colorado Supreme Court has all but cemented a two-way Democratic primary for Colorado’s U.S. Senate seat in June between John Hickenlooper and Andrew Romanoff after reversing another Denver District Court decision.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court ruled that Democratic candidate Lorena Garcia shouldn’t be placed on the primary ballot because she didn’t collect enough signatures, in line with the court’s decision about Michelle Ferrigno Warren on Monday.
Unlike Ferrigno Warren, however, Garcia plans to appeal the decision on the federal level.
“Not only did the Colorado Supreme Court, on behalf of the Secretary of State, violate my campaign’s right to have its side heard, the Colorado state legislature failed in ensuring equal protection under the law when they had the chance to protect the public health of circulators and voters when Covid-19 struck Colorado,” Garcia said in a statement. “This violated the people of Colorado’s right to support their candidate.”


thedenverpost--2020-05-06--No criminal charges for four officers in fatal Federal Heights shooting

Four officers who shot and killed an armed man in Federal Heights were justified in their actions and will not face any criminal charges related to the incident , according to a review of the December officer-involved shooting .
The office of 17th Judicial District Attorney Dave Young reviewed the Dec. 6 shooting of 24-year-old Hunter Steven James Lowry and determined that the officers feared for their lives , and the lives of others , when Lowry pointed a hand gun at the officers .
Four officers , including one with a rifle , shot Lowry 26 times , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Coroner ’ s Office , as part of its autopsy , found that Lowry tested positive for methamphetamine .
“ There is no reasonable likelihood of success of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that the officers involved committed any crime ; therefore , no criminal charges will be filed against any officer as a result of the incident , ” said the review signed by Young on Monday .
Lowry , according to the review , had robbed several items from an auto parts store in Federal Heights and fled in a vehicle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tried to pull Lowry from the vehicle , but Lowry cut the employee ’ s finger with a sharp object .
During the interaction , the employee ’ s cellphone fell into Lowry ’ s vehicle .
Police were able to use the “ find my phone ” app to track Lowry and his vehicle .
Cpl .
Joey Montoya , of Federal Heights police , spotted Lowry at West 92nd Avenue and Pecos Street , according to the review .
Lowry , in his vehicle , fled the scene , ran a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the area of West 92nd Avenue and Federal Boulevard .
Lowry fled the crash on foot , heading northwest from the intersection , with officers from Federal Heights , Westminster and Thornton in pursuit .
Lowry was spotted jumping a fence from an automotive business into a parking lot of a townhome complex .
Lowry was running through the parking lot with a “ silver metallic object in his hand.
” At the same time , there was a report of shots fired in the area , the review said .
Officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stop .
He did not .
A Taser was fired and it dropped Lowry to the ground .
At that point Lowry dropped a hand gun .
As officers closed in Lowry , reached for the gun , grabbed it and pointed it at the officers , the review said .
Montoya , who was armed with a rifle , fired .
Officer Garrett Dyrud , of Thornton , and officers Anthony Stroup and Josh Azua , of Westminster ; also fired .
When the gunfire stopped , Azua approached and kicked the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the review .
Lowry ’ s handgun is described as a Cobra CB9 , 9mm two-shot pistol .
“ This pistol was loaded with two fired rounds in the pistol , which is consistent with the firing of two rounds the officers heard when they initially arrived , ” the review said .
Recovered at the scene were 20 .9mm shell casing and 14 .223 shell casings .
“ Each of these officers explained that at the time they fired their weapons they were in fear for their lives and the lives of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ The evidence does not support the fling of any criminal charges against any of the involved officers .
”

Four officers who shot and killed an armed man in Federal Heights were justified in their actions and will not face any criminal charges related to the incident, according to a review of the December officer-involved shooting.
The office of 17th Judicial District Attorney Dave Young reviewed the Dec. 6 shooting of 24-year-old Hunter Steven James Lowry and determined that the officers feared for their lives, and the lives of others, when Lowry pointed a hand gun at the officers.
Four officers, including one with a rifle, shot Lowry 26 times, according to the review. The Adams County Coroner’s Office, as part of its autopsy, found that Lowry tested positive for methamphetamine.
“There is no reasonable likelihood of success of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that the officers involved committed any crime; therefore, no criminal charges will be filed against any officer as a result of the incident,” said the review signed by Young on Monday.
Lowry, according to the review, had robbed several items from an auto parts store in Federal Heights and fled in a vehicle. Just before fleeing, an employee tried to pull Lowry from the vehicle, but Lowry cut the employee’s finger with a sharp object. During the interaction, the employee’s cellphone fell into Lowry’s vehicle. Police were able to use the “find my phone” app to track Lowry and his vehicle.
Cpl. Joey Montoya, of Federal Heights police, spotted Lowry at West 92nd Avenue and Pecos Street, according to the review. Lowry, in his vehicle, fled the scene, ran a red light and crashed into another vehicle in the area of West 92nd Avenue and Federal Boulevard.
Lowry fled the crash on foot, heading northwest from the intersection, with officers from Federal Heights, Westminster and Thornton in pursuit. Lowry was spotted jumping a fence from an automotive business into a parking lot of a townhome complex.
Lowry was running through the parking lot with a “silver metallic object in his hand.” At the same time, there was a report of shots fired in the area, the review said.
Officers yelled at Lowry, commanding him to stop. He did not. A Taser was fired and it dropped Lowry to the ground. At that point Lowry dropped a hand gun. As officers closed in Lowry, reached for the gun, grabbed it and pointed it at the officers, the review said.
Montoya, who was armed with a rifle, fired. Officer Garrett Dyrud, of Thornton, and officers Anthony Stroup and Josh Azua, of Westminster; also fired. When the gunfire stopped, Azua approached and kicked the handgun away from Lowry, according to the review.
Lowry’s handgun is described as a Cobra CB9, 9mm two-shot pistol. “This pistol was loaded with two fired rounds in the pistol, which is consistent with the firing of two rounds the officers heard when they initially arrived,” the review said.
Recovered at the scene were 20 .9mm shell casing and 14 .223 shell casings.
“Each of these officers explained that at the time they fired their weapons they were in fear for their lives and the lives of their fellow officers,” the review said. “The evidence does not support the fling of any criminal charges against any of the involved officers.”


thedenverpost--2020-05-05--Trump tours, touts mask factory — but no mask for him

PHOENIX — Making himself Exhibit A for reopening the country , President Donald Trump visited an Arizona face mask factory Tuesday , using the trip to demonstrate his determination to see an easing of stay-at-home orders even as the coronavirus remains a dire threat .
Trump did not wear a mask despite guidelines saying they should be worn inside the factory at all times .
“ The people of our country should think of themselves as warriors .
We have to open , ” Trump declared as he left Washington on a trip that was more about the journey than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acknowledged the human cost of returning to normalcy .
“ I ’ m not saying anything is perfect , and yes , will some people be affected ?
Yes .
Will some people be affected badly ?
Yes .
But we have to get our country open and we have to get it open soon , ” he said .
Trump had said he would don a face mask if the factory was “ a mask environment , ” but in the end he wore only safety goggles during a tour of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and members of the press as well as some White House staff and Secret Service agents wore masks .
Senior White House staff and Honeywell executives did not .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that all Americans wear cloth masks when they can ’ t socially distance , such as in supermarkets , especially in places with high transmission rates .
In the area where Trump spoke , a large video monitor listed safety guidelines , one of which said , “ Please wear your mask at all times.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ stir recently when photos showed him maskless in a visit to the Mayo Clinic surrounded by hospital officials and doctors all wearing masks .
He said that he hadn ’ t known it was a requirement and that he is tested for the virus frequently .
He wore a mask at an event a few days later .
Trump ’ s visit came as the White House said it hopes to wind down its coronavirus task force in the coming month as the president shifts his focus from battling an “ invisible enemy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president spent about three hours in Phoenix , touring the Honeywell factory and holding a roundtable on Native American issues .
Aides said the trip would be worth the nearly eight hours of flight time as a symbolic show that the nation is taking steps back to normalcy .
The trip was also expected to be a marker of Trump ’ s return to a regular travel schedule , as he hopes the nation , too , will begin to emerge from seven weeks of virus-imposed isolation .
After weeks cooped up in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus has been affecting Americans ’ day-to-day lives , Trump got a first-hand view of one big impact .
At the airport , Air Force One parked next to dozens of grounded commercial airliners with covered engines and taped-over probes and vents .
Trump ’ s first stop was a meeting with Native American leaders during which he distributed 1,000 Abbott quick virus tests .
“ Native Americans have been hit hard by the terrible pandemic , ” Trump said .
“ Hopefully , that will be helpful to you.
” Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as his allies have noted an erosion in support for the president in recent weeks .
Republicans believe Trump ’ s path to a second term depends on the public ’ s perception of how quickly the economy rebounds from shutdowns meant to slow the spread of the virus .
That includes in Arizona , a key swing state , which Trump carried by less than 4 percentage points in 2016 .
“ I love Arizona .
I have a lot of friends in Arizona .
I ’ ve had great success @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump boasted as he left .
But even as many Americans have adhered to strict social distancing guidelines , the numbers of new infections and deaths from the virus have not decreased as quickly as hoped .
Indeed , when the New York metropolitan area ’ s progress against the virus is taken out of the equation , numbers for the rest of the U.S. are moving in the wrong direction .
The infection rate is rising even as states move to lift their lockdowns , an Associated Press analysis found Tuesday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ discussions about winding down its coronavirus task force , which has already been meeting less frequently , Pence said .
Its members have become fixtures on television sets across the nation , with Americans hungry for information and marooned at home .
“ I think we ’ re having conversations about that and about what the proper time is for the task force to complete its work and for the ongoing efforts to take place on an agency by agency level , ” Pence said at the White House .
He said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early June .
“ We ’ re now looking at a little bit of a different form , and that form is safety and opening , ” Trump said in Arizona , “ and we ’ ll have a different group , probably , set up for that.
” Asked about his statements in February playing down the threat of the virus , Trump told ABC in an interview that medical experts also had underestimated the risk and added : “ I want to be optimistic .
I don ’ t want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s a very bad subject .
I ’ m not looking to tell the American people when nobody really knows what is happening yet , ‘ Oh this is going to be so tragic.
’ ” Trump is seeking to pivot his focus away from the virus ’ s spread and toward more familiar — and , aides hope , politically safer — ground : talking up the economy .
As more states have begun to ease closure orders , despite warnings that that could lead to spikes in new cases , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration ’ s work in helping businesses and employees rebound .
To that point , aides said the president would hold more frequent roundtables with CEOs , business owners and beneficiaries of the trillions of dollars in federal aid already approved by Congress , and begin to outline what he hopes to see in a future “ phase four ” recovery package .
Pence told reporters at a White House briefing Tuesday that the U.S. could be “ in a very different place ” come late May and early June “ as we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ engage in safe and responsible reopening plans.
” The administration is beginning to eye that window as the appropriate time for federal agencies to begin managing the pandemic response “ in a more traditional way , ” he said .
Dr. Deborah Birx , the task force coordinator , said the federal government would still keep a close eye on the data if the task force disbands .
“ It took us a while to build that capacity and we ’ ll make sure that we ’ re watching that at a federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and his White House team have been operating in a virus-safe bubble , thanks to the rapid coronavirus tests provided to senior staff and anyone who meets with the president .
Trump has been repeatedly talking up the administration ’ s response to the virus , despite persistent criticism that he dragged his feet and failed to adequately increase production of personal protective equipment and testing supplies .
“ We did everything right .
Now it ’ s time to get back to work , ” he said .
He added that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” with more than 7 million now completed , even as some experts say millions more people must be tested every week for the country to safely reopen .
Join our Facebook group for the latest updates on coronavirus in Colorado .

Zeke Miller, Jill Colvin, Darlene Superville

PHOENIX — Making himself Exhibit A for reopening the country, President Donald Trump visited an Arizona face mask factory, using the trip to demonstrate his determination to see an easing of stay-at-home orders even as the coronavirus remains a dire threat. Trump did not wear a mask despite guidelines saying they should be worn inside the factory at all times.
“The people of our country should think of themselves as warriors. We have to open,” Trump declared Tuesday as he left Washington on a trip that was more about the journey than the destination.
In Arizona, Trump acknowledged the human cost of returning to normalcy.
“I’m not saying anything is perfect, and yes, will some people be affected? Yes. Will some people be affected badly? Yes. But we have to get our country open and we have to get it open soon,” he said.
Trump had said he would don a face mask if the factory was “a mask environment,” but in the end he wore only safety goggles during a tour of the Honeywell facility. Nearly all factory workers and members of the press as well as some White House staff and Secret Service agents wore masks. Senior White House staff and Honeywell executives did not.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that all Americans wear cloth masks when they can’t socially distance, such as in supermarkets, especially in places with high transmission rates. In the area where Trump spoke, a large video monitor listed safety guidelines, one of which said, “Please wear your mask at all times.”
Vice President Mike Pence created a stir recently when photos showed him maskless in a visit to the Mayo Clinic surrounded by hospital officials and doctors all wearing masks. He said that he hadn’t known it was a requirement and that he is tested for the virus frequently. He wore a mask at an event a few days later.
Trump’s visit came as the White House said it hopes to wind down its coronavirus task force in the coming month as the president shifts his focus from battling an “invisible enemy” to rebooting the economy.
The president spent about three hours in Phoenix, touring the Honeywell factory and holding a roundtable on Native American issues. Aides said the trip would be worth the nearly eight hours of flight time as a symbolic show that the nation is taking steps back to normalcy. The trip was also expected to be a marker of Trump’s return to a regular travel schedule, as he hopes the nation, too, will begin to emerge from seven weeks of virus-imposed isolation.
After weeks cooped up in Washington, with little exposure to how the virus has been affecting Americans’ day-to-day lives, Trump got a first-hand view of one big impact. At the airport, Air Force One parked next to dozens of grounded commercial airliners with covered engines and taped-over probes and vents.
Trump’s first stop was a meeting with Native American leaders during which he distributed 1,000 Abbott quick virus tests.
“Native Americans have been hit hard by the terrible pandemic,” Trump said. “Hopefully, that will be helpful to you.”
Trump sees economic revival as a political imperative, as his allies have noted an erosion in support for the president in recent weeks. Republicans believe Trump’s path to a second term depends on the public’s perception of how quickly the economy rebounds from shutdowns meant to slow the spread of the virus.
That includes in Arizona, a key swing state, which Trump carried by less than 4 percentage points in 2016.
“I love Arizona. I have a lot of friends in Arizona. I’ve had great success over the years in Arizona,” Trump boasted as he left.
But even as many Americans have adhered to strict social distancing guidelines, the numbers of new infections and deaths from the virus have not decreased as quickly as hoped. Indeed, when the New York metropolitan area’s progress against the virus is taken out of the equation, numbers for the rest of the U.S. are moving in the wrong direction. The infection rate is rising even as states move to lift their lockdowns, an Associated Press analysis found Tuesday.
Nonetheless, the White House has begun discussions about winding down its coronavirus task force, which has already been meeting less frequently, Pence said. Its members have become fixtures on television sets across the nation, with Americans hungry for information and marooned at home.
“I think we’re having conversations about that and about what the proper time is for the task force to complete its work and for the ongoing efforts to take place on an agency by agency level,” Pence said at the White House. He said the group could wind down its work by early June.
“We’re now looking at a little bit of a different form, and that form is safety and opening,” Trump said in Arizona, “and we’ll have a different group, probably, set up for that.”
Asked about his statements in February playing down the threat of the virus, Trump told ABC in an interview that medical experts also had underestimated the risk and added: “I want to be optimistic. I don’t want to be Mr. Doom and Gloom. It’s a very bad subject. I’m not looking to tell the American people when nobody really knows what is happening yet, ‘Oh this is going to be so tragic.’”
Trump is seeking to pivot his focus away from the virus’s spread and toward more familiar — and, aides hope, politically safer — ground: talking up the economy. As more states have begun to ease closure orders, despite warnings that that could lead to spikes in new cases, Trump has been trying to highlight his administration’s work in helping businesses and employees rebound.
To that point, aides said the president would hold more frequent roundtables with CEOs, business owners and beneficiaries of the trillions of dollars in federal aid already approved by Congress, and begin to outline what he hopes to see in a future “phase four” recovery package.
Pence told reporters at a White House briefing Tuesday that the U.S. could be “in a very different place” come late May and early June “as we continue to practice social distancing and states engage in safe and responsible reopening plans.” The administration is beginning to eye that window as the appropriate time for federal agencies to begin managing the pandemic response “in a more traditional way,” he said.
Dr. Deborah Birx, the task force coordinator, said the federal government would still keep a close eye on the data if the task force disbands.
“It took us a while to build that capacity and we’ll make sure that we’re watching that at a federal level,” she said.
Trump and his White House team have been operating in a virus-safe bubble, thanks to the rapid coronavirus tests provided to senior staff and anyone who meets with the president.
Trump has been repeatedly talking up the administration’s response to the virus, despite persistent criticism that he dragged his feet and failed to adequately increase production of personal protective equipment and testing supplies.
“We did everything right. Now it’s time to get back to work,” he said. He added that the country has “the best testing,” with more than 7 million now completed, even as some experts say millions more people must be tested every week for the country to safely reopen.


thedenverpost--2020-05-05--Broncos quarterback Drew Lock “super-pumped” about new system, players

Unable to be in the same room as offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur and quarterbacks coach Mike Shula , Broncos quarterback Drew Lock has enlisted a close associate in Lee ’ s Summit , Mo.
, to help develop a comfort level with the new playbook .
Last year , Lock would spend spare time reciting the plays while standing in front of a mirror .
This year , because NFL teams are prohibited from training at their facilities due to the coronavirus pandemic , Lock turned to Andy .
“ He ’ s doing a good job , ” Drew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday .
“ I had to teach him some rhythm on how to call plays because it was pretty choppy at first , but I think we got it down to an art now.
” Lock has been teaching his dad how to recite the plays , but the beginning of the offseason program has been mostly about learning .
The new system .
The new teammates .
The new processes .
A lot to handle for a second-year player , but one Lock is embracing and appears ready for .
“ Nothing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as far as wins and losses just because of the people we drafted , ” he said .
“ We have a lot of work to put together to hopefully be on our ‘ A ’ game every single Sunday.
” The new system : Shurmur and Shula joined the Broncos from the New York Giants , where they were the coach and offensive coordinator , respectively .
In just the early part of the installation of the playbook , Lock sees a big and welcomed change .
“ There are more possibilities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which I think plays into my strengths and will play ( to the strengths ) of the receivers that we have on this team now and being able to ( move ) down the field and give me options to change a ‘ curl ’ route into a ‘ go ’ route if we can get man ( coverage ) , ” Lock said .
Lock said picking up the 2020 Broncos offense is happening “ 10 times quicker ” than a year ago .
“ I think having this be my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot of ways I didn ’ t necessary expect ( when ) learning a new offense , ” he said .
“ There is similar carryover from the old one — you can pocket that and don ’ t have to necessarily study that as much because you know what they ’ re talking about .
Even the new stuff I ’ m being taught , it ’ s easier for me to learn because I ’ ve found a way that fits me best.
” The new teammates : Since Lock wrapped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the Raiders , the Broncos have acquired running back Melvin Gordon , right guard Graham Glasgow , tight end Albert Okwuegbunam and receivers Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler .
“ I ’ m super-pumped about the guys we added , ” Lock said .
“ You talk about Melvin and Graham , two experienced players to help this offense start rolling early when the season starts and then you talk about the guys in the draft — a bunch of young , extremely , extremely talented players .
But at the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an extremely talented player coming into ( the NFL ) and it took some time for me to adjust.
” The Broncos want to be more explosive ( their 46 completions of at least 20 yards last year were 25th-most in the league ) and lining up Jeudy and Hamler opposite receiver Courtland Sutton could aid that .
“ We saw a lot of teams start doubling Courtland toward the end of the year when I was playing , ” Lock said .
“ Being able to have speed on the other side @ @ @ @ @ @ @ d-coordinators I believe — you ’ re not going to shade a single-high safety over to Courtland if you have those guys on the other side .
( They will ) probably have to stick to more two-high stuff and play us straight up and if you play two-high , we have Phillip ( Lindsay ) and Melvin .
I think we ’ re very versatile as far as what we can do — attack through the air or run the ball.
” The decision by general manager John Elway , coach Vic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surround Lock was a hat-tip to his play last year ( seven touchdowns , three interceptions and an 89.7 rating ) .
“ It says they saw something positive in the way I played in those last games and can stay for a long time and help the Broncos win as many games as possible , ” Lock said .
“ It means a lot to me to see that happen .
It puts some extra confidence on my back , but at the same time , the expectations also rise .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high expectations and put pressure on myself in general and that always outweighs the pressure from the media or even friends and family.
” The new processes .
Lock has continued to work with his personal trainer , Austin Pace , in suburban Kansas City during the shutdown and once permitted , wants to get the Broncos ’ skill-position players together for throwing sessions .
“ I actually got pretty lucky , ” he said .
“ My trainer here has a private place where it ended up being just me and him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just fine .
We got to keep my running going and my lifting going and I connected him and ( Broncos strength-and-conditioning coach ) Loren ( Landow ) together to have a similar mindset as far as what Loren wants and he relayed that to Austin.
” Lock has the offensive players , all of whom have the new offense on team-provided iPads , on a text chain and “ whenever the professionals say it ’ s OK , we ’ re going to be ready and start throwing and get this chemistry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called the Zoom conference meetings with the offense , “ definitely a little different .
… You have to be more vocal ; you ’ re not up at the board and face to face with your receivers or running backs .
It ’ s not awkward , but it ’ s definitely different to chime in during these meetings and have all the eyes looking at you on the screen .
”

Unable to be in the same room as offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur and quarterbacks coach Mike Shula, Broncos quarterback Drew Lock has enlisted a close associate in Lee’s Summit, Mo., to help develop a comfort level with the new playbook.
His dad, Andy.
Last year, Lock would spend spare time reciting the plays while standing in front of a mirror. This year, because NFL teams are prohibited from training at their facilities due to the coronavirus pandemic, Lock turned to Andy.
“He’s doing a good job,” Drew said during a video conference call on Tuesday. “I had to teach him some rhythm on how to call plays because it was pretty choppy at first, but I think we got it down to an art now.”
Lock has been teaching his dad how to recite the plays, but the beginning of the offseason program has been mostly about learning. The new system. The new teammates. The new processes. A lot to handle for a second-year player, but one Lock is embracing and appears ready for.
“Nothing’s in fine ink right now as far as wins and losses just because of the people we drafted,” he said. “We have a lot of work to put together to hopefully be on our ‘A’ game every single Sunday.”
The new system: Shurmur and Shula joined the Broncos from the New York Giants, where they were the coach and offensive coordinator, respectively. In just the early part of the installation of the playbook, Lock sees a big and welcomed change.
“There are more possibilities for us to press the ball downfield, which I think plays into my strengths and will play (to the strengths) of the receivers that we have on this team now and being able to (move) down the field and give me options to change a ‘curl’ route into a ‘go’ route if we can get man (coverage),” Lock said.
Lock said picking up the 2020 Broncos offense is happening “10 times quicker” than a year ago.
“I think having this be my second year is benefiting me in a lot of ways I didn’t necessary expect (when) learning a new offense,” he said. “There is similar carryover from the old one — you can pocket that and don’t have to necessarily study that as much because you know what they’re talking about. Even the new stuff I’m being taught, it’s easier for me to learn because I’ve found a way that fits me best.”
The new teammates: Since Lock wrapped up his rookie year with a win over the Raiders, the Broncos have acquired running back Melvin Gordon, right guard Graham Glasgow, tight end Albert Okwuegbunam and receivers Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler.
“I’m super-pumped about the guys we added,” Lock said. “You talk about Melvin and Graham, two experienced players to help this offense start rolling early when the season starts and then you talk about the guys in the draft — a bunch of young, extremely, extremely talented players. But at the same time, I thought of myself as an extremely talented player coming into (the NFL) and it took some time for me to adjust.”
The Broncos want to be more explosive (their 46 completions of at least 20 yards last year were 25th-most in the league) and lining up Jeudy and Hamler opposite receiver Courtland Sutton could aid that.
“We saw a lot of teams start doubling Courtland toward the end of the year when I was playing,” Lock said. “Being able to have speed on the other side, it’s going to scare d-coordinators I believe — you’re not going to shade a single-high safety over to Courtland if you have those guys on the other side. (They will) probably have to stick to more two-high stuff and play us straight up and if you play two-high, we have Phillip (Lindsay) and Melvin. I think we’re very versatile as far as what we can do — attack through the air or run the ball.”
The decision by general manager John Elway, coach Vic Fangio and Shurmur during the offseason to surround Lock was a hat-tip to his play last year (seven touchdowns, three interceptions and an 89.7 rating).
“It says they saw something positive in the way I played in those last games and can stay for a long time and help the Broncos win as many games as possible,” Lock said. “It means a lot to me to see that happen. It puts some extra confidence on my back, but at the same time, the expectations also rise. I like to say I hold myself to high expectations and put pressure on myself in general and that always outweighs the pressure from the media or even friends and family.”
The new processes. Lock has continued to work with his personal trainer, Austin Pace, in suburban Kansas City during the shutdown and once permitted, wants to get the Broncos’ skill-position players together for throwing sessions.
“I actually got pretty lucky,” he said. “My trainer here has a private place where it ended up being just me and him during the quarantine. It worked out just fine. We got to keep my running going and my lifting going and I connected him and (Broncos strength-and-conditioning coach) Loren (Landow) together to have a similar mindset as far as what Loren wants and he relayed that to Austin.”
Lock has the offensive players, all of whom have the new offense on team-provided iPads, on a text chain and “whenever the professionals say it’s OK, we’re going to be ready and start throwing and get this chemistry down and get things rolling.”
Lock called the Zoom conference meetings with the offense, “definitely a little different. … You have to be more vocal; you’re not up at the board and face to face with your receivers or running backs. It’s not awkward, but it’s definitely different to chime in during these meetings and have all the eyes looking at you on the screen.”


thedenverpost--2020-05-05--Broncos safety Kareem Jackson reflects on 2019 two-game suspension, comfort level playing amid coron

Broncos safety Kareem Jackson reflects on 2019 two-game suspension, comfort level playing amid coronavirus

Broncos safety Kareem Jackson watched from the sidelines over the final two games last season while suspended by the NFL for a violation of its policy and program on substance abuse .
On Tuesday , Jackson spoke with local reporters for the first time since his September arrest for driving under the influence .
Jackson , acquired in 2019 from the Texans via free agency , expressed regret , calling the incident a “ mistake ” during a Zoom teleconference call .
“ It was very disappointing , ” Jackson said .
“ Being the competitor that I am , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I kind of feel like I let the guys down .
For me , it was good to go ahead and get that done , put it behind me , and move forward.
” Jackson , 32 , had played an integral role during his first season in coach Vic Fangio ’ s defense .
Jackson appeared in 12-of-13 games ( missing the Jaguars loss with a hamstring injury ) and had 71 tackles , two interceptions , and a fumble returned for a touchdown .
He started alongside Justin Simmons at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ injuries depleted the Broncos secondary of depth .
Another season in Fangio ’ s system , plus the free-agent additions of cornerback A.J .
Bouye and defensive lineman Jurrel Casey , has sparked optimism for a big step forward in 2020 .
Jackson said defensive improvement will start with better tackling , but added : “ For us , the sky is the limit.
” When it comes to playing games safely amid the pandemic , though , Jackson is in no rush to return .
He is working out at a private @ @ @ @ @ @ @ position meetings .
“ It doesn ’ t make sense to play any games unless it ’ s completely , 100-percent safe to go out there , ” Jackson said .

Broncos safety Kareem Jackson watched from the sidelines over the final two games last season while suspended by the NFL for a violation of its policy and program on substance abuse.
On Tuesday, Jackson spoke with local reporters for the first time since his September arrest for driving under the influence. Jackson, acquired in 2019 from the Texans via free agency, expressed regret, calling the incident a “mistake” during a Zoom teleconference call.
“It was very disappointing,” Jackson said. “Being the competitor that I am, and with that being a self-inflicted issue, I kind of feel like I let the guys down. For me, it was good to go ahead and get that done, put it behind me, and move forward.”
Jackson, 32, had played an integral role during his first season in coach Vic Fangio’s defense. Jackson appeared in 12-of-13 games (missing the Jaguars loss with a hamstring injury) and had 71 tackles, two interceptions, and a fumble returned for a touchdown. He started alongside Justin Simmons at safety in addition to playing cornerback after injuries depleted the Broncos secondary of depth.
Another season in Fangio’s system, plus the free-agent additions of cornerback A.J. Bouye and defensive lineman Jurrel Casey, has sparked optimism for a big step forward in 2020. Jackson said defensive improvement will start with better tackling, but added: “For us, the sky is the limit.”
When it comes to playing games safely amid the pandemic, though, Jackson is in no rush to return. He is working out at a private gym in Houston in between virtual team position meetings.
“It doesn’t make sense to play any games unless it’s completely, 100-percent safe to go out there,” Jackson said.