Denver Post staff writer Bill Williamson posts his Broncos Mailbag each Friday during the 2005 NFL season on DenverPost.com. The next installment is slated for Sept. 16.
To drop a question into the Mailbag or visit DenverPost.com’s .
When I was in Las Vegas on vacation, I saw that the Broncos’ over/under for wins this year was 8.5. I put $100 on the over, meaning they have to win at least nine games for me to win. Do you think that was a sucker bet?
— Tim Walker, Huntington Park, Calif.
Hey, it’s your money, Tim. I’m not calling you a sucker. Do I think you have a chance? Yes, I think this team can win up to 12 games, probably closer to 10 or 11. But I do see this team being at least 9-7.
Who is your preseason pick to win the Super Bowl? Judging by the Broncos’ luck in the past, I’m picking the Redskins to win it all, thereby shipping us the 32nd pick in the first round of next year’s draft in exchange for the 25th pick they received from us this year.
— Sam, Cortez
Sam – Indianapolis over Carolina … don’t fret too much about the Redskins. The Broncos are going to be looking at a very nice pick. I say top five. Washington is horrible.
Why did the Broncos keep Nate Jackson?
— Keoni, Honolulu
Keoni – He is a favorite of the coaching staff. He has great hands and runs nice routes. The converted receiver is still a project but could turn out to be a very nice player to have on the roster.
If you count Dwayne Carswell, Denver has six tight ends. Why so many?
— Paul Kaufman, Charlestown, Mass.
Paul – Carswell will likely be an offensive lineman this season. With just seven offensive linemen, Carswell probably will not drift back to tight end.
As for the glut at tight end, it’s not as crowded as you might think. Mike Leach is on the team because he’s the long snapper. He’s only an emergency tight end. The team player turned kept Wesley Duke because there was buzz several teams would try to steal him if he were cut and the Broncos tried to stash him on the practice squad. Duke probably won’t play very much, with him spending virtually all season on the inactive list. So, there are really three tight ends – Stephen Alexander, Jeb Putzier and Nate Jackson – who will play the roles of the position.
Broncos coach Mike Shanahan may be taking some heat for drafting Maurice Clarett, but I applaud a coach who is still willing to take chances. After watching San Diego lose to the Jets last year in the playoffs by playing safe and unimaginative in the fourth quarter, I’ve gained a new appreciation for coaches who still go for broke once in a while.
— Geoff Ankeney, Portland, Ore.
Geoff – Draft-day chances and fourth-quarter decisions in the postseason are distant cousins at best. But to succeed, gambles need to be taken in several different aspects of running an organization.
Do you think the Broncos will get back Willie Middlebrooks, since he has been released?
— Rob Korver, Denver
Rob – The only way Middlebrooks would ever come back is if there were several injuries. The Broncos traded Middlebrooks because they didn’t think he would make the team with the addition of the three draft picks who play the same position: cornerback. The trade for John Engelberger for Middlebrooks – who was cut last week by San Francisco – has a chance to go down as a big-time steal. Engelberger was fantastic in the preseason and has a chance to register a bunch of sacks.
Why did Denver keep Cecil Sapp?
— Ishmael Huber, Providence, R.I.
Ishmael – The former Colorado State standout essentially was kept instead of tailback Quentin Griffin. A big reason Sapp was taken is special teams, where he excels. Also, Sapp is the lone backup at fullback. There are two backup tailbacks, so Sapp was kept and Griffin wasn’t.
Bill Williamson is in his second season as a Denver Post NFL writer. To drop a question into the Mailbag .
