The Broncos aren’t alone. This is a must-win notes column. …
Is it possible to win three Super Bowls in four years and be underrated? The answer, apparently, is yes.
The NFL recognizes seven annual awards, as voted on by The Associated Press – MVP, coach of the year, offensive player of the year, defensive player of the year, offensive rookie of the year, defensive rookie of the year and comeback player of the year.
That’s 28 possible awards since 2001, when the Pats’ amazing run began.
So how many have the Boys of Belichick received? Try one. Boring Bill was the coach of the year in 2003. What, do the reporters deduct style points for his wardrobe? …
The Broncos’ official injury report coming out of the mauling at Miami: Mike Anderson (ribs); Champ Bailey (shoulder); Nate Jackson (hamstring); Mike Shanahan (ego). …
Oh, in case you’re wondering, the Chargers were undefeated (5-0-1) against the point spread last season as road underdogs. …
Memo to the loser of today’s game at Invesco: Thanks for playing Jeopardy with us this season. Tell them about their cool parting gifts, Don Pardo. …
Yes, if the Broncos lose, things will be uglier than the federal deficit. On the other hand, there’s always that unbeaten record in the exhibition season to hang their hats on. …
You heard it here first. Special teams is the difference today. And for once, the Broncos will be on the right side of things in that particular department. …
Promise you one thing. Tatum Bell fumbles this afternoon and the Barney Fife vein in Shanahan’s neck will make its home debut. …
So you’re thinking the Broncos’ problems are on defense. Not! The Chargers allowed 313 points last season and won the division. The Bronx allowed 304. …
A stat that requires repeating, what with the home opener upon us: The Broncos in 2004 committed 15 turnovers and forced eight at Invesco. …
One final number on the One & Only Jerry Rice: He caught 143 touchdown passes from 1986-95. That’s 41 more than any other wideout in NFL history for a 10-season span. Cris Carter caught 102 from 1992-2001. After that, you’ve got to go back to Don Hutson, who caught 93 from 1936-45. …
Just so there’s no second guessing down the road, let’s get this straight right here and now. If the baseball reporters disqualify David Ortiz from winning the AL MVP award because he’s a DH, then it will be official. They couldn’t spell Ph.D. if you spotted them the P and the D. …
As if Ortiz breaks less of a sweat than Dennis Eckersley, who pitched one inning four, maybe five times a week and went to the Hall of Fame. …
I know Clint Hurdle detests these on-pace notes, but here goes anyway: Todd Helton, the Rockies’ leading home run hitter, is on pace for 19 homers. Jason Giambi had 14 in July. …
After one visit to the Avs’ dressing room, my nostrils tell me hockey season officially has arrived. The whiff of sweat-soaked pads is like the smell of lush sun-belt grass at spring training. …
Alex Tanguay on the NHL’s decision to downsize goalie pads to 11 inches from 12: “You come down on the goalie and you see a lot more of the net than you’d think. The 5-hole is wide open.” …
Kudos – for the record, the only cliché we’ll use today – to the Rockies for showing some heart of late. Yeah, but. Don’t fall in love with their .500-plus record in August and September. Much of it has been forged against the wretched NL West. Da Rox going into today: 28-37 (.431) versus the West, 32-50 (.390) against real teams. …
Is it just my imagination, or is Brian Fuentes pitching like an all-star these days instead of an all-star-by-default? Dude is lights out against lefties and, for that matter, most righties. Trouble is, one of these days, he’s going to want an extra comma in his paycheck. …
Watching Barry Bonds hit a home run Friday night: worthless. Watching those dweebs in McCovey Cove diving with the sharks for a Bonds foul ball: priceless. …
And finally, happy 34th birthday to Lance Armstrong. Let me guess. The French media marked the occasion by buying you a specimen cup.
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.
