Leading Off: Pedroia Rejoins Red Sox, Diamondback Doldrums

Jim Leonhard is eager to come into work every day. The Broncos are building something special at cornerback, and Denver’s first-year defensive backs coach senses it. Pat Surtain II established himself as a high-level cornerback from the moment he stepped onto the field as a rookie in 2021. But the emergence of second-year CB Riley Moss, nickel cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian and feisty rookie Kris Abrams-Draine has made the unit a formidable bunch with immense potential, which has the franchise anticipating a bright future. “There’s a lot of excitement within the organization,” Leonhard told The Denver Post.

SALT LAKE CITY — The Colorado Avalanche didn’t need very long to decide Mackenzie Blackwood is the guy in net for this franchise. Blackwood signed a five-year contract Friday, the club announced. The deal is for $5.25 million per season, the Denver Post confirmed. The Avs traded for Blackwood 18 days ago.

The touchstone wore diamonds and spun gold. Shedeur Sanders, the greatest pure passer to ever run behind Ralphie, takes a CU snap for the last time Saturday night. Flex your watches accordingly. “I don’t see how you don’t consider him the best QB that ever played at CU outside of Darian Hagan, because (Hagan) got the national championship,” former Buffs QB Steven Montez, no slouch himself, told me recently when the conversation shifted to Shedeur.

Fresh snow will make roads slick and fuel dangerous avalanche conditions across the mountains this weekend, forecasters say. The National Weather Service wrote that northern Colorado mountains can expect light to moderate snow, with between 8 and 12 inches falling through Friday night near Rabbit Ears Pass and Cameron Pass, and 3 to 7 inches expected elsewhere. Travel could become “difficult to impossible” at Rabbit Ears Pass, where U.

Broncos (9-6) at Bengals (7-8) When: Saturday, 2:30 p.m. MT Where: Paycor Stadium Radio/TV: 850 AM, 94.1 FM/NFL Network Broncos-Bengals series: Denver is 22-11 in 33 regular-season games dating back to 1968; the Broncos lost 15-10 in the last meeting, on Dec. 19, 2021, at home, and have dropped two of their last three games to the Bengals. In the spotlight: Bengals passing game is dangerous, but don’t forget about RB Chase Brown The Broncos will have their hands full trying to contain wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.

There’s good-on-good in the NFL. Then there’s Pat Surtain II vs. Ja’Marr Chase. The Denver cornerback and Cincinnati wide receiver could see each other often Saturday afternoon when their teams collide in a game with major playoff implications. Each has authored a dominant start to his professional career. And each is putting together his most dominant work yet this fall. Each line on their resumes from 2024 looks more ridiculous than the next. Chase is in line to become just the fifth wide receiver since 1970 to win the triple crown — lead the NFL in catches, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. With two games remaining, Chase’s 108 catches are seven clear of the next batch.