The long and winding notes …
Not that he ever left – though for a while there, he appeared as good as gone – but Trevor Pryce is back.
He was in uniform in late December, but don’t kid yourself. It took him seven months, until mid-April, to recover from lower back surgery that ruined his 2004 season.
Having reached his 30s, with such a serious injury in his rearview mirror, he will spend the rest of his career under the microscope. But Pryce has a message for Bronco Nation: “Relax.”
“There’s nothing wrong with me,” Pryce said. “I’m 100 percent. My back doesn’t affect me at all. I’ve never had a back problem. It was a nerve problem in my hip, but I’m fine now. I know people are going to be watching me, but they shouldn’t bother.
“Just let me go about my business.” …
If Pryce gets back to business as usual – as in double-figure sacks – the Broncos could be a threat in the AFC West. Say what you will about the defensive line imports from Cleveland, but Pryce’s return is the single-most important piece to the Broncos’ puzzle. …
Rod Smith, on Pryce: “They basically traded away our first-round draft choice so they could pay Trevor. Trust me, they weren’t going to get a guy who can do what Trevor can do. We need his physical presence on the field. He changes the game.” …
The 30th annual Mile High Football Camp, is set for June 26-30 at Colorado Christian University in Lakewood. Several NFL types will be doling out instruction, among them Chargers QB Drew Brees and linebacker Donnie Edwards. Info: 303-665-6565 or www.milehighfootballcamp.com. …
Here’s hoping Jason Giambi accepts the Yankees’ offer to send him to the minors. The guy has to get away from the throng of reporters tormenting him at Yankee Stadium. How big is the team’s media entourage? Kids in New York have three career options – Yankees beat person, talk-show host or Central Park mugger. …
The answer, then, is no. The question being, just once, can the NBA get through the playoffs without a major controversy surrounding the officiating? Frankly, I haven’t noticed much outrage over Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy‘s statements about the officials. Could it be we have come to accept biased officiating in the NBA? …
LeBron James canned his agent, the one who negotiated $135 million worth of endorsement deals, so he could hire three of his Akron homies to run his affairs. Which reminds me. If this column isn’t any good, it’s because the neighbor kid who mows my lawn is writing it. …
True story. Back on opening day, Rockies owner Charlie Monfort was saying he wouldn’t fire Dan O’Dowd or Clint Hurdle under any circumstances. To which some reporter – the one with the chins a few paragraphs north of here – replied, “Even if you’re 7-22?” Through Wednesday, the Rox were 9-22. If only they were a game off the pace, too. …
In case you hadn’t heard, The Post, always on the cutting edge of technology, is available in . I’ll let you know what that means just as soon as I’m finished replacing the tape in my eight-track player. …
Words to live by from the one and only Yogi Berra: “Always go to other people’s funerals. Otherwise, they won’t go to yours.”
Catch Jim Armstrong from 6-9 a.m. during “The Press Box” on ESPN 560 AM and Fox Sports Net’s “Insider Edition.” He can be reached at 303-820-5452 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com.
