Pay no attention to that notes columnist behind the curtain. …
Don’t count on Dan Hawkins’ first in-state recruiting effort – four players, five fewer than Gary Barnett signed a year ago – as a sign of things to come. Hawkins said during Thursday’s CU football preview luncheon that when it comes to recruiting the state, he’s putting his best man on the case. “The guy that’s primarily in charge of the state of Colorado, you’re looking at,” Hawkins said. “I’m the chief recruiter in Colorado.” …
California and Texas will continue to be the Buffs’ main target areas on the recruiting trail, but Hawkins said one of his goals is to establish a niche in talent-rich Florida, where CU has landed three players since the end of the Bill McCartney era. …
Hawkins on the NFL-record 63-yard field goal booted by Tom Dempsey and matched by Jason Elam: “That used to be the record. There will be a new record.” As in, Mason Crosby will set it. …
Seems impossible, given how easily Ben Roethlisberger carved up the Broncos’ defense, but he isn’t the hottest quarterback in the Super Bowl. Seattle’s Matt Hasselbeck had the highest completion percentage (76.1) of any starting quarterback in NFL history in December, throwing 10 touchdown passes and one interception. …
Hasselbeck, by the way, was born in Boulder, and dreamed of playing for the Buffs before relocating to the East Coast after his dad, ex-CU tight end Don Hasselbeck, was selected by the Patriots in the second round of the ’77 draft. …
From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Steelers D coordinator Dick LeBeau had a fax waiting for him when he returned to the team hotel the other day. The fax read simply, “Keep some pressure on the ball. Good luck.” The sender? Bob Knight. …
Further proof that, with so much pressure coming off the corner, play action is the best plan of attack in today’s NFL: Roethlisberger and Hasselbeck were the second- and third-rated quarterbacks in the league when using play action. Big Ben had a passer rating of 137.2, Hasselbeck 136.2. So who led the league? Tom Brady at 143.0. …
Hall of Famer-in-waiting Tim Brown, via Fox Sports Net, on Hall of Fame inductee John Madden: “I spent a long time in Raiderland. And when you talk to the old guys who played under Madden, they say, ‘Look, if not for this guy, maybe we win three or four Super Bowls.’ They actually think that he may have hindered them.” …
Amazing NHL factoid of the year: A rookie, Marek Svatos, went into the weekend leading not only the Avs but the entire Western Conference, with 30 goals. …
Why did Tom Nalen re-sign with the Broncos so quickly? He considered the Texans until he found out they had barber shops in Houston. …
So you’re thinking the Broncos can’t go wrong signing T.O. as long as he agrees to one of those team-friendly incentive-laden contracts. Don’t be so sure. What happens, for instance, if Owens is closing in on a lucrative incentive and Jake Plummer doesn’t throw him the ball on a given Sunday afternoon? That could be the match that lights the fire. …
Just wondering: Would a leather lounge chair count against the Nuggets’ salary cap? I only ask because Voshon Lenard hasn’t gotten off the bench since Dec. 15. …
What, you think Kobe Bryant is a one-man team? The Pistons were 8 for 27 from beyond the arc Tuesday night – 6 for 6 from Chauncey Billups, 2 for 21 for everyone else. …
So what are the chances of a close game today? Pretty good, if recent history is any indication. Only 12 of the 39 Super Bowls have been decided by seven points or fewer, but five of those games have come in the past eight years. …
According to people who would know, the average Super Bowl party numbers 17 people. Not only that, an average of six pass out in the guacamole. …
So you’re pondering a friendly wager on the Big Game. OK, but be forewarned. According to other no-lifers who study this kind of stuff, sales of antacids increase 20 percent the day after Super Bowl Sunday. …
Jerome Bettis Day? Jerome Bettis Week? The keys to the city of Detroit? Let me guess. They’re calling it Super Bowl XL in honor of his T-shirt size.
Catch Jim Armstrong from 6-9 a.m. during “The Press Box” on ESPN 560 AM. He can be reached at 303-820-5452 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com.
