Nine Inch Notes …
Enough already with the e-mails inquiring about my performance-enhancing drug of choice. Yes, I wrote the other day Todd Sauerbrun, your basic punter, was the Broncos’ most important offseason acquisition. And no, I’m not about to change my mind.
But maybe I can change yours.
Just how badly were the Broncos beaten in the field-position game last season? A few stats to ponder:
They began 48 drives inside their 20, 15 more than their opponents.
Their average starting field position was their 29, compared to their opponents’ 32.
They started 23 drives beyond the 50-yard line and scored 12 times, including two touchdowns. Their opponents? They began 26 drives in Broncos territory and scored 23 times, 12 via touchdowns.
Forget their red-zone percentage and forced turnovers. That was the ugliest stat of the Broncos’ season. …
Gerard Warren one of the former Browns D-linemen, on life as a Bronco: “I’m enjoying every moment of it, to actually know I have a chance to go out on that field and win on Sundays. In Cleveland, we were always trying to win this game, just trying to be good, make them respect us. The Denver Broncos have respect. The goal here is to win the Super Bowl.” …
Mike Shanahan on Sauerbrun skipping the Broncos’ May and June camps: “I didn’t want him to come. I’m not concerned with punters and kickers being involved in our offseason program. Usually the only thing they do is pull muscles.” …
This Cuttino Mobley-to-the-Nuggets business? Not if it means trading an emerging player such as Nene. For the record, that’s Kiki Vandeweghe’s opinion, not mine. …
If only the issue were that simple. As much as Vandeweghe wants to keep Nene, the kid may hit the free-agent trail ASAP. He isn’t going to start for the Nuggets, and he isn’t going to attain his goal of becoming a cultural icon in his native Brazil by sitting on the bench. …
From Dwight Perry of The Seattle Times: “The Nuggets have reportedly agreed to give Ricky Sanchez – their 6-foot-11, 210-pound draft pick – time off to participate in the 2008 Olympics. Apparently he has his heart set on being a javelin.” …
Not that anyone around here could forget, but remember CU’s 62-36 pounding of Nebraska in 2001? The Huskers since that day have had nine losses of 22-plus points, three last season. …
Scott Ostler of the San Francisco Chronicle on the Giants’ plans to honor the Sultan of Spit, Gaylord Perry, on July 23: “The first 10,000 in attendance will be patted down by the home-plate umpire.” …
You know, for a guy who’s washed up, injury-prone and overpaid, Ken Griffey Jr. isn’t exactly stinking up the stadium. He went into Saturday’s game at .289, with 17 more homers and 58 more RBIs than Barry Bonds. …
Add Griffey: His offseason golfing partners include, among others, Tiger Woods. Said Junior, when asked by Fox Sports Net how many strokes Tiger gives him, “Not enough.” …
So another Running of the Bulls is in the books. Not that it’s any of my business, but how did that ever become a tradition? That’s just what I’d want to do on a nice summer day, get trampled or gored by a bull. Either that or get a manicure with a chainsaw. …
Talk about tightly bunched. According to the Las Vegas wiseguys, the Chiefs are 8-5 to win the AFC West. Every other team in the division is 5-2. …
John Elway, Stan Kroenke and Pat Bowlen aren’t the only locals to own an Arenaball team. Vail’s own Bob Hernreich, a part owner of the Sacramento Kings, just bought the Arizona Rattlers. …
Hey, don’t ask me: Todd Helton’s .372 road on-base percentage, just ahead of JD Closser’s .362. …
Roger Clemens will take a 1.48 ERA into the all-star break. The lowest ever for a National League pitcher at the break? According to the Elias Sports Bureau’s numbers crunchers, Bob Gibson was a 1.06 in 1968 before slumping and finishing the season at 1.12. …
Mariners lefty Jamie Moyer won his 200th game the other day. Now for the interesting part: According to the boys at Elias, Moyer is the fourth 200-game winner to have more wins in his 40s (36) than his 20s (34). …
You learn something new every day in the sports world. I didn’t realize, for instance, that Darko Milicic was left-handed until I saw him playing in the NBA summer league. I could have sworn he always used his right hand to scratch himself on the end of the Pistons’ bench.
Catch Jim Armstrong from 6-9 a.m. during “The Press Box” on ESPN 560 AM and on Fox Sports Net’s “Insider Edition.” He can be reached at 303-820-5452 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com.
