Angela Rae Harris's Blog, page 26

CU Anschutz receives jumpstart donation of $50 million for mental health initiative

A $50 million donation to the Colorado University Anschutz Medical Campus will launch a mental health collaborative to improve access and treatment options for mental health therapies around the state.

The Anschutz Foundation made the donation on Tuesday as part of the launch of a mental health collaborative with Colorado Children’s Hospital and UC Health. The initiative seeks $150 million in additional donations to “unite programs and drive new therapies” for patients of all ages, according to a press release by CU Anschutz.

“There is a critical need for mental health care support across our state. We hope this gift will help attract additional funding to advance this vital work in Colorado and beyond,” said Christian Anschutz, president of The Anschutz Foundation.

In 2024, 1,306 Coloradans died by suicide, including 39 children, ages 10-18, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Furthermore, 7,577 Coloradans visited the emergency room for “non-fatal suicide-related” reasons.

The funding by the Anschutz Foundation and from future donors will support several types of mental health intervention, including suicide prevention, community intervention, “crisis and acute care” including substance abuse treatment, and the advancement of new therapies such as neuromodulation, a type of bioelectronic medical therapy, according to the press release.

As part of its goal of community intervention, CU Anschutz will work with UC Health and Colorado Children’s Hospital to ensure people of all ages have access to mental health treatment, the press release stated.

The mental health initiative by CU Anschutz follows efforts that partnering hospitals have made for years.

Colorado Children’s Hospital declared a children’s mental health state of emergency in 2021 due to a sharp increase in youth suicide attempts after COVID-19.

Since the declaration, the hospital says it has made advancements in mental health care for children, but the initiative by CU Anschutz plans to stretch this impact through collaboration, improving accessibility and quality of mental health treatments for children and adults.

“This new mental health collaboration will bring our hospitals, researchers, and providers together to address one of the most pressing health challenges of our time with innovation, compassion and shared purpose,” said Tom Gronow, president and CEO of UC Health.

Denver budget hearings focus on public safety

Day two of the public hearings for Denver’s proposed 2026 spending plan got underway on Tuesday with presentations from the city’s public safety agencies.

As representatives from the Denver Department of Safety, Denver Police, Denver Fire, Denver Sheriff and the Department of Public Health and Environment shared plans for helping the city tighten its belt, recurring themes included streamlining program functions, identifying new sources of revenue and shifting some positions out of the city’s general fund into alternate funding sources such as special revenue funds and grants.

Overall, agencies sought to protect core services and align with council priorities.

Here are some of the top takeaways for the day:

Denver Public Safety
Director: Al Gardner
General Fund: $34 million
Reduction of 29 vacant positions
No reduction in filled positions

The good news is there will be no changes to department core functions, no changes to full-time employees budgeted for 911 operations, no program or staff reductions to current community corrections facilities, and no reduction to employee wellness programs or resources.

What will be impacted, according to Department of Safety Executive Director Al Gardner, is the opening of a new community corrections facility near the intersection of 45th Avenue and Dahlia Street.

Construction delays will prevent the city from occupying and operating the new facility until at least Q4 of 2026, officials said.

Although currently under construction, the delay, along with reductions in personnel, has allowed the department to realize some savings, bringing it closer to the 2026 target budget numbers.

The hiring of new cadets will also be deferred in 2026.

Denver Police Department
Director: Police Chief Ron Thomas
General Fund: $281 million
No changes to department core functions
Reduction of 10 vacant positions
No reduction to uniformed positions

In 2026, the Denver Police Department plans to reduce shootings by 15% and improve department response time to calls.

While there will be no reduction in uniformed personnel, the Denver Police Department will see a savings of $3.7 million by transferring 28 filled uniform positions to the Denver International Airport and transferring the same number of vacant uniform positions back to the General Fund.

Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas said DPD plans to expand body-worn camera contracts and replace outdated Tasers to maintain compliance with legislation.

Thomas also noted that, in 2026, residents can expect DPD to increase focus on traffic safety through the use of photo radar enforcement, a move he said will bring in an additional $600,000 in revenue without adding new full-time employees.

The department is also exploring more uses for drones.

“I think maybe the most important thing for me to say is that we do not weaponize any of our drones. We don’t have that capacity,” Thomas said. “We do have a small number of drones that we currently deploy, usually for assistance with tactical operations. We have deployed drones to help us with managing large crowds, like during the No Kings protests, some of the other larger protests; that helps us identify crowd size and identify direction of travel and those kinds of things.”

Denver Fire Department
Director: Fire Chief Desmond Fulton
General Fund: $158.1 million
No changes to department core functions
Reduction of 9 vacant uniform positions, 9 vacant career service positions
No reduction to filled positions

Top priorities for the Denver Fire Department include funding adequate resources and personnel to ensure sufficient emergency response across all areas of the city, said Denver Fire Chief Desmond Fulton.

Staffing levels will remain steady with four firefighters per company and all firehouses remaining operational.

Reductions and changes to services will include the redirection of Public Information Officer duties among the recruitment lieutenant, program outreach manager, and command staff duty officer.

As training staff are reassigned to operations, there will be reduced training opportunities, as well as limited availability for community education and training.

The Denver Fire Department enjoys a nearly 100% staffing level at this time and by eliminating one fire academy in 2026, consisting of 24 recruits, Fulton said the department could realize a savings of $1.8 million.

Also on the list of ways to boost the department’s bottom line is a proposed increase in fire permit fees and conveyance services, which would equate to nearly $2 million in additional revenue. The last time fees were evaluated was 2009, officials said, and they are currently 200% to 400% less than in surrounding jurisdictions.

Denver Sheriff’s Department
Director: Sheriff Elias Diggins
General Fund: $174.2 million
No changes to department core functions
Reduction of 58 vacant career service positions
Reduction of 3 on-call positions
No reduction of filled or uniformed positions

Denver Sheriff Elias Diggins informed city officials that the department is currently at 61% staffing, up from 54% following the George Floyd incident, and will focus on recruitment and retention in 2026.

However, the department is competing with other law enforcement agencies and ICE for recruits, and they are offering a $50,000 sign-on bonus and tuition reimbursement.

Diggins said among the core services DSD fought to protect are the medical services provided by Denver Health for those in custody, and the Medical Assisted Treatment Program (MAT) for individuals recovering from addiction.

Reductions in services, as noted by Diggins, will include the Sunday closure of the city’s vehicle impound facility.

“We only had four people coming in to retrieve their cars on Sundays in an eight-hour period,” he said.

Denver Department of Public Health and Environment
Director: Karin McGowan
General Fund: $37.5 million
No changes to department core functions
Reduction of a total of 28 positions, including 12 filled positions and 16 vacant positions.

While no programs were eliminated, Denver Department of Public Health and Environment Director Karin McGowan said the DDPHE remains committed to its core public health mission, but some changes were made to increase efficiency.

Residents will notice a change in the DDPHE inspection “cadence,” with less frequent inspections for facilities with a minimal violation history, and slower response times are possible.

DDPHE has also slated a reduction in its community outreach and support from Denver Animal Protection.

Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance announces euthanization of 32-year-old Sumatran Orangutan

The Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance has announced that Berani, a beloved 32-year-old Sumatran Orangutan, was humanely euthanized on Monday, Sept. 22.

According to DZCA, recent bloodwork and a decline in Berani’s health showed his quality of life decreasing. He had entered end-stage kidney failure. The DZCA’s Animal Care and Health teams decided to euthanize him to prevent suffering.

The DZCA also said that the Sumatran Orangutan showed “remarkable resilience and trust in his caregivers” during his sickness.

Berani came to the DZCA in 2017 from Audubon Nature Institute as part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan. He quickly became one of the staff, members, and guests’ favorites. He went on to capture the world’s attention in 2020 when became a single father.

Berani’s mate passed away and Berani filled in to raise their infant daughter Cerah. According to the DZCA, it is rare for male orangutans to take on caregiving roles. However, Berani was a “devoted, patient, and caring father figure.”

The DZCA describes Berani as having a “calm presence and gentle spirit.” Berani will also contribute to the future of orangutan care as the Veterinary Medicine and Animal Care teams and specialists from across the country use the opportunity to learn more about his kidney disease.

“Our campus will never feel quite the same without him, but Berani’s influence will continue to inspire compassion and advance conservation far beyond DZCA,” reads the press release.

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Three Rockies things to watch, include Freeland vs. Giants rematch | Kevin’s Take

With stops in Seattle and San Francisco this week, the end of the 2025 Colorado Rockies season will have a distinct West Coast flavor to it.

The final few games also will have both ends of the excitement spectrum attached to them, with Seattle battling for the top of the American League West and needing a sweep over the Rockies to help cement their first division title since 2001. Meanwhile, in San Francisco, the Giants are simply playing out the schedule as any realistic chances for a wild card bid have evaporated.

Colorado, meanwhile, is stuck in a weird MLB purgatory. The Rockies have already ensured they won’t tally the most losses in modern baseball history, but every loss the rest of the way will add to what is already a franchise-record for defeats in a season.

The Rockies also can’t get to 50 wins this season, so there’s no round number that would serve as some kind of milestone motivation, either.

So what’s left to watch for the Rockies during the final week? Here are three things:

Moments on the mound

Tanner Gordon is expected to draw the start Wednesday in Seattle, and some of his best moments of the season have come against teams that are among MLB’s upper echelon. The 27-year-old right-hander has inserted himself squarely into the conversation for the 2026 rotation and has one more chance to solidify his spot, against the Mariners. However, he has a 7.50 ERA in five starts this season against AL teams.

Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Tanner Gordon (29) in the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

If you’re the sentimental type, German Marquez will likely make his final start with the Rockies on Friday in San Francisco. It will be the 200th career start for the pitcher who has thrown the third-most innings in Rockies history (1142.0 so far). However, with his contract expiring at the end of the season, many expect the 30-year-old right-hander to be in another uniform next year.

Finally, Kyle Freeland’s scheduled start on Saturday in San Francisco could be interesting. The last time he was on the mound against the Giants, benches cleared after Freeland and Rafael Devers exchanged words following a home run. Could any bad blood from their most recent encounter spill over to Oracle Park?

Will the wrong kind of history be made?

The Rockies won’t have the most losses in MLB history, but there are other numbers to watch that could write the 2025 Rockies into the record books in other ways.

Colorado entered Tuesday with 113 losses and could enter the five worst seasons in modern history with a few stumbles this week. The 2018 Baltimore Orioles and 1935 Boston Braves are tied for the fifth-most losses with 115 while the 1916 Philadelphia Athletics own the fourth-most with 117.

On the defensive side, heading into Tuesday, the Rockies had allowed 988 runs this season. The most allowed in franchise history were the 1,028 runs surrendered by the 1999 team.

This year’s Rockies team is giving up an average of 6.33 runs per game so that could put the 2025 squad right at the edge of breaking a franchise record no team wants to shatter.

The Rockies also entered Tuesday with a run differential of minus-404 this season. That’s the worst mark for any team in the last century-plus. The 1883 Philadelphia Quakers finished with a minus-424 run differential for the fifth-worst in baseball history, so the Rockies know the number to avoid if they don’t want to finish in the top five of all time.

Can Hunter Goodman join an exclusive club?

Colorado’s All-Star catcher has had a banner season, becoming the second primary catcher in the modern era (minimum 51% of games at catcher) to record at least 25 doubles, five triples and 30 home runs in a season. Additionally, his 30 homers, 144 hits, 61 extra-base hits and 88 RBI are all the most in a season for a Rockies primary catcher.

Colorado Rockies designated hitter Hunter Goodman signs a ball for a pair of young fans during the ceremonial walk around the field after the team won their final home baseball game, against the Los Angeles Angels, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

With a pair of runs knocked in during this final road trip, Goodman can also become a part of an elite catching community. With two more RBI, the 25-year-old Goodman would become the sixth catcher in his age-25 season or younger with at least 30 home runs and 90 RBI. Also in that group is Rudy York (1937-38), Joe Torre (1966), Johnny Bench (1970 and 1972), Mike Piazza (1993) and Gary Sanchez (2017).

Colorado zoo asks for help naming adorable baby gorilla

The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has welcomed its first gorilla baby born at the location in 13 years and is requesting the public’s help in giving the gorilla a name.

The public can donate any amount starting at $5 until Thursday, Oct. 9 to vote for one of three names that the keepers have chosen. The name receiving the most combined donations will win. The name choices are Abu, Ryder, or Sully.

The money raised will help fund historic improvements to great ape habitats at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.

“Every donation supports a brand new home for gorillas, orangutans and more,” reads the zoo’s press release.

The winning name will be announced on Wednesday, Oct. 15.

A donor has also agreed to match all donations up to $25,000 so all donations can have twice the impact. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is a nonprofit, an an AZA-accredited zoo that doesn’t receive tax support. According to the zoo, improvements depend on admissions, programs, and donations.

Vote to help name the baby gorilla .

Tech CEO dead after sliding 2,000 feet ‘out of sight’ on glacier at 13,500 feet

The death of Argentinian tech CEO and founder of GranData Matias Augusto Travizano has made headlines in recent days, after Travizano took a fatal fall in a northern California mountain climbing accident.

Per a report from the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office, Travizano was with two others during a successful summit of 14,162-foot Mount Shasta on September 12 with the group utilizing the Clear Creek route. Upon the group’s descent down the mountain, two of climbers, including Travizano, found themselves off trail and stranded on an ice sheet located at the northern tip of Wintun Glacier at about 13,500 feet of elevation. Upon realizing they were on the wrong route, the two attempted to glissade to a lower section of the mountain to get back on-trail, with glissading involving the use of a mountaineering axe for traction while sliding down snowy or icy slopes.

During the glissade, Travizano started to slide out of control and hit a large boulder estimated to be 300 feet below the other person he was with. This is believed to have knocked him unconscious for about five to 10 minutes, during which time the second climber attempted to reach him to render aid.

As the second climber got within about 80 feet from Travizano, he started to regain consciousness, with his movements tragically freeing him from the rock. He then slid down the rest of the glacier and out-of-sight. It was later estimated he slid about 2,000 feet down the mountainside.

The third hiker arrived moments later to assist in calling emergency services to report the accident. Travizano was found after a couple hours of searching, deceased and at an elevation of about 10,200 feet in the area of the base of the glacier.

“While the Clear Creek Route is considered one of the mountain’s “safer” trails to the summit, climbers can become disoriented in low-visibility conditions, particularly when descending from the summit plateau,” read a message from the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office following Travizano’s death. “Once off trail, these climbers often wander into more hazardous areas in the Ash Creek or Mud Creek drainages, where accidents are more likely to occur.”

GranData, the company that Travizano founded and served for as the CEO, operates in the IT services field out of San Francisco.

Condolences go out to those impacted by Travizano’s tragic death.

Key stretch of 14er trail acquired by conservation group – but you still can’t visit summit

In recent years, those headed to hike a trail best known as the ‘DeCaLiBron loop’ have experienced intermittent limited access due to various closures in the area. One group hopes to make headway in changing that reality, announcing the recent acquisition of 480-plus acres on Mount Bross.

Mount Bross is one of four 14,000-foot summits along the DeCaLiBron route, joined by summits of Democrat, Cameron, and Lincoln. Clocking in at 7.5-miles round-trip with 3,500 of gain, the route is among the most popular high-elevation routes in Colorado, upwards of 30,000 people during peak years when fully open.

Per reporting from Colorado Springs Gazette’s Seth Boster, the recent acquisition by The Conservation Fund has been described as “a major win for conservation and public access” and as “a step forward after decades of complex land ownership and trail closures that have challenged land managers and impacted local communities that rely on outdoor recreation for economic stability.”

The land that was recently acquired on the southern side of Bross joins an area above Kite Lake that encompasses some of the highest stretches of Mount Democrat that was acquired by The Conservation Fund in 2023. A stretch of trail between Mount Lincoln and Mount Bross was also acquired in the most recent acquisition, though the summit of Mount Bross remains private.

The 480 acres that were recently acquired will be added to national forest land in the area, potentially finalized within the year.

Read the full report from Seth Boster of the Colorado Springs Gazette here.

Two elk hunters found dead were struck by lightning, Conejos County Coroner says

Two elk hunters found dead after going missing in the San Juan Wilderness Area west of Trujillo Meadows Reservoir were struck by lightning, the Conejos County Coroner told Gazette news partner KOAA Monday.

Andrew Porter, 25, of Asheville, N.C., and Ian Stasko, 25, of Salt Lake City failed to check in with loved ones at a predetermined time on Saturday, according to a previous news release by the Conejo County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies responded on Sept. 13 to the Rio de Los Pinos Trailhead to attempt contact with the two hunters. The office announced Thursday that the bodies were found at around 11 a.m., 2 miles from the trailhead, KOAA reported.

Porter’s fiancée, Bridget Murphy, posted on social media Monday that the situation was “out of everyone’s hands” and was glad they could be at peace.

“It is OFFICIAL, that a lightning strike to the ground took them in an instant. They didn’t do anything wrong, they didn’t feel fear or pain,” Murphy wrote. “He was just trying to get back to the car as storms rolled in on Friday – September 12.”

They were the first two lightning fatalities in Colorado this year, and the 15th and 16th in the U.S., according to National Weather Service data. About 500,000 lightning strikes hit the ground in the Centennial State each year, causing two fatalities and 12 injuries on average.

For lightning safety, there is no safe place outside during thunderstorms and one agency slogan advises: “When thunder roars, go indoors.”

When a safe location is not nearby, the NWS recommends:

Avoiding open fieldsStaying away from tall, isolated trees or other tall objectsIf in a forest, stay near lower treesGroups should spread out to avoid the current traveling between peopleIf camping in an open area, set up in a valley, ravine or other low areaStay away from water, wet items and metal objects

Additional lightning safety guidance can be found on the agency’s website.

Injuries, graduation, transfers have Air Force football leaning on young defense

Air Force’s personnel situation on defense can partly be attributed to the normal patterns of college football but also reflects the program’s precarious position within this new era.

The Falcons lined up on Saturday night with three sophomores and a freshmen in the defensive lineup. That extreme youth was by no means the full story of the issues during the 49-37 loss to Boise State, as the same inexperience wasn’t the case for a defensive front that was part of the same effort, but it also can’t be discounted in a season that has already seen six underclassmen start games on defense.

“I do think if you go down through (Boise State’s) offensive line, how many of those guys are fifth-year guys or have a six beside their name?” Air Force coach Troy Calhoun said, contrasting the Broncos with the age of his crew. “That matters.”

Air Force (1-2, 0-2 Mountain West) knew it would be breaking in newcomers at cornerback, where the senior trio of Jamari Bellamy, Trey Williams and Jerome Gaillard graduated. But Levi Brown, who had seen time at safety and moved to cornerback, figured to be an option with some snaps to his credit.

But Brown was injured at Utah State in the second game and didn’t play on Saturday.

So the starting cornerbacks on Saturday were sophomores Mikhail Seiken and Korey Johnson, with freshman Jordan Elie-Stuart subbing in for several series.

At safety, Kyle Chen started four games last season and Houston Hendrix started seven. Both figured to return, bringing that experience with them. But Chen injured a knee and won’t play this season. Hendrix has been injured for much of the past two months and didn’t play against Boise State.

In their place, sophomore Roger Jones Jr. and Max Mustell started at the safety positions.

Finally, perhaps no player was more impactful on defense during a season-ending four-game winning streak than Lincoln Tuiti-Mariner. The sophomore nickel (a position also known as SPUR linebacker for Air Force) made four tackles for loss at San Diego State in the season finale and rode that performance into the transfer portal, where he landed at Southern Utah.

In his place, sophomore Nick Beckwith has started the first three games of the season.

The Falcons also lost sophomore outside linebacker David Santiago to the transfer portal. Santiago has five tackles this season for Michigan State.

Sophomore Jaylin Reese was initially the starter in Santiago’s place, though junior Isaac Hubert has since moved into the lineup.

Football minds can debate if the issues stem from execution or scheme or quality of opponent, but certainly in an era where teams reload in the portal and capitalize on extra seasons of eligibility, the lack of experience certainly is helping Air Force. Injuries and graduation have always been factors, but the portal taking away from the Falcons as it did this year and boosting opponents has only accentuated the issue.

“To be completely honest we’re one guy away on all those big plays,” junior linebacker Luke Fisher said after the loss to Boise State. “One guy away from doing the right job, making the play.

“We should never lose a game when our offense puts up 37 points.”

When asked after the Falcons gave up 49 points for a second consecutive game what he attributed the issues to on the defensive side, Calhoun noted that the team had to “find a way to get older some way.”

“If that’s who we’re going to play with, and we’re lucky to play with, those guys are laying it on the line, we’ve just got to get them physically to come along,” Calhoun said. “If you look, pretty much here on our we’re going to play against older, bigger teams. We’ve just got to grow.”

CSU game time set

The Air Force at Colorado State game on Nov. 28, in Fort Collins (the day after Thanksgiving) will start at 1 p.m. and be nationally televised on Fox Sports 1 The game is the regular-season finale for both teams and their final meeting as Mountain West opponents before the Rams leave for the Pac-12.

Mark Kiszla: Blame Bo Nix’s shaky start on Sean Payton’s big mouth and bad playcalling

The biggest thing wrong with quarterback Bo Nix is Sean Payton’s big, fat mouth.

The angst in Broncos Country over a team that looks nothing like a Super Bowl contender and a quarterback who appears far from elite is the fault of a head coach whose arrogance knows no bounds.

“We feel like we’re a good football team,” Payton said Monday.

Well, so far this, Payton has been a better spin doctor than football coach. 

Bonehead penalties and blown leads in the fourth quarter have cost the Broncos dearly in two defeats. That’s not good. Those are signs of a poorly coached team.

From yapping about the Super Bowl on Day One to boasting Nix is going to be an elite NFL quarterback, Payton has been living a lie, while spreading non-stop nonsense.

At winning time, the Broncos wilt.

“When the season’s over with,” Payton said, “let’s look at this team and say: ‘Hey, can they finish?’’’ 

We shall see. Yes, indeed.

So far, Payton has oversold this team. And under-delivered.

We don’t take kindly to that kind of balderdash in Broncos Country.

The early chapters of Denver’s 2025 NFL season have been filled with regret and underscored by opportunities lost.

The team’s 1-2 start, however, is only a disaster if you jumped on the hype train driven by Payton.

Payton is a storyteller who loves to hear himself talk. And know the worst part of this tale? It’s Nix who is paying the heftiest price for Payton’s swashbuckling hubris.

When everything’s clicking, Nix can be a top 10 quarterback in this league. When off his game, he’s a fringe NFL starter, struggling to escape the bottom 10.

Nix will have better days than the 23-20 loss to the Chargers. He needs to clean up an annoying habit of overthrowing the deep ball, evidenced when he misfired by inches on long passes that fell incomplete off the fingertips of Marvin Mims and Courtland Sutton.

“That would be like 50th on my to-do list,” Payton said Monday, dismissing the essential truth of Nix losing a deft touch that’s needed in the clutch. Let me remind Payton: Didn’t somebody once say football is a game of inches, and inches make champions?

If memory serves, it was Vince Lombardi, a far greater coach than Payton ever will be.

In a sport where the difference between victory and defeat is often one or two big plays, John Elway made his legend by coming up big when it mattered most, and nobody was better than Peyton Manning at precisely threading a pass with no margin for error.

From a distance, the difference between good and great can look almost too small to measure. But it’s immense.

And Nix keeps coming up inches short in close games. 

“It stinks. It’s definitely not fun, not enjoyable,” he said after a loss to the Chargers dropped his record to 1-8 in games decided by seven points or less.

The Philadelphia Eagles beat Kansas City in the Super Bowl earlier this year by getting after Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and watching Jalen Hurts play the game of his life.

That’s the Broncos’ template for championship success.

The reasonable goal and achievable ceiling for Nix is Hurts, not Josh Allen, Joe Burrow or even Baker Mayfield.

In the history of Denver quarterbacks, the talent level of Nix falls somewhere between Brian Griese and Jake Plummer. 

Nix isn’t blessed with Griese’s brilliant mind, but demonstrates far more athleticism. He’s smarter with the football than Plummer, but lacks the gunslinger mentality that made Jake the Snake dangerous with his back to the wall.

After only 20 NFL starts, it’s neither particularly surprising nor alarming that Nix currently ranks 25th in the league, below Bryce Young but above Russell Wilson, when measured by ESPN’s QBR statistical analysis.

If Nix looks wobbly, it’s because Payton did the great disservice of putting him on a pedestal as a franchise quarterback far too early.

With chronically injured linebacker Dre Greenlaw a no-show on the field and a liability on the payroll, Denver can create havoc rushing the passer but has often looked weak against the run at the point of attack.

Nobody asked me, but Broncos Country should be more worried about the championship legitimacy of Denver’s defense rather than fretting about how good Nix can be.

As they now stand, tangled in a log jam among also-rans chasing the Chargers in the AFC West, the Broncos are a mediocre NFL team. Good enough to make the playoffs or break your heart on any given Sunday.

“I would say the job degree (of) difficulty factor, it was a hard day to play quarterback when your average third down is third-and-11,” said Payton, making excuses for Nix’s 14 completions for 153 yards against the Chargers. “If we’re not more efficient on first and second down, the best in our league are going to struggle with the numbers that we gave him (Nix) on third down.”

The last thing Nix needs is for Payton to be his apologist or hype man. 

What a young, struggling Broncos quarterback really needs is for Payton to be a far better playcaller and a smarter head coach worth anything near the outrageous money that franchise owner Greg Penner is paying him.