There’s no i in notes. …
And the answer is … 4.something.
That’s as far as Jeremy Bloom will go in assessing his likely 40-yard dash time at this weekend’s NFL scouting combine at Indianapolis.
“I don’t expect anything,” Bloom said. “All I know is I’m doing everything I can to get in 40 shape. We’ll see what that leaves me.”
The 40 is the holy grail at the combine. A particularly fast time can send you skyrocketing up the draft charts. Run half a step below expectations, though, and you can tumble down to undrafted free-agent status.
Bloom, one of the fastest players ever to wear a CU uniform, looms as the mystery man of the combine. He didn’t play the past two seasons after the NCAA ruled that he couldn’t compete in football while skiing for the U.S. Olympic team. After finishing a disappointing sixth in the moguls at Turin, he’s playing catch-up in an attempt to get ready for the combine.
He has been working with a team of speed and strength coaches in Los Angeles since returning to the country Friday. So how realistic is it to think, after devoting most of his time to skiing for several months, that he can put on an impressive performance at Indy?
“I’m obviously at a disadvantage,” Bloom said. “I’m not as fast as I want to be, but I want to do the best I can under the circumstances. To be honest, I’m just happy that, one week removed from the Olympics, I’ve got an opportunity to go to the NFL combine.” …
April 1. That date figures to be even more important for Bloom than this weekend. According to his dad, Larry Bloom, that’s when he’ll run again for NFL scouts in a private workout on the Southern Cal campus. …
Sorry, but I don’t get all the outrage over Sebastian Telfair sneaking a loaded pistol on to the Trail Blazers’ team charter. Have you seen that .366 shooting percentage of his? …
The Red Sox have given Manny Ramirez permission to report a few days late to spring training. Well, duh! It takes a little longer to get to Florida from Manny’s planet. …
Don’t know who they’re going to draft or sign as free agents, but it has already been a good offseason for the Broncos. How’s that? The Chargers have all but given up on the notion of Drew Brees being their quarterback in 2006. …
So Ricky Williams reportedly has tested positive for a drug of choice other than marijuana? What, does this guy get his stuff at Baskin-Robbins or what? …
Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper must have skipped Capology 101 in college. To wit: He may not play a down next season because of a knee injury, but he has asked the Vikings to raise his salary to $18 million from $8 million. Hey, no problem, big fella. Sure you don’t want $28 million? …
Just the fax: The Nuggets as of Tuesday afternoon were the only NBA franchise with a winning record among the top five teams in man games lost to injuries. They’ve lost 155, third in the league behind Houston (196) and Charlotte (179). The others are Orlando and the Lakers, who went into Tuesday night at .500. …
What, you think that contract the Nuggets gave Kenyon Martin was bad? Wait till you see what some misguided team lays on Nene. He could be looking at $10 million to $11 million from teams that, under normal circumstances, can’t get free agents to take their money. The list would include, among others, Chicago, Toronto, Atlanta and Charlotte.
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.
