St. Louis – Roll out the barrel, we’ll have a barrel of notes. …
What do you say we don’t make this more complicated than it is. The Rams were 1-5 vs. the gawdawful NFC West last season, including two losses to the Performers Formerly Known as the 49ers. Moral to the story: Assuming Al Wilson and Champ Bailey don’t sleep in, Broncos roll. Make it 31-13. …
It is, after all, opening day, when Mike Shanahan is more automatic than Mo Clarett’s rifles. …
Moving right along, the Chiefs will be in town next weekend when the Broncos will try to extend their six-game winning streak in home openers. In case you’ve misplaced your scorecard, that’s the longest in the league. …
Enough already with this talk that the Arizona Cardinals could be a dark horse in the Not For Long. What part of “they look like Superman, but play like Clark Kent” don’t you get? …
Broncos tight end Chad Mustard has switched to No. 85 from 46. Imagine that, Jake Plummer possibly throwing over the middle to somebody wearing No. 85 …
Giants’ backer LaVar Arrington, when asked if he had reservations about hitting Eli Manning’s brother, Peyton: “Not at all. If his mom was in a uniform and was out there playing, I’d hit her.” …
The five best records in September since 1990: 1. Miami, 37-17; 2. Kansas City, 41-20; 3. Denver, 40-21; 4. Buffalo, 33-22, and San Francisco, 34-23. …
What’s this? Fake grass at Colorado A&M, a.k.a. CSU? Reminds me of the day Richie Allen first got a look at Astroturf. “If horses don’t eat it,” said Allen, “I ain’t playin’ on it.” …
Add CSU: Of the three linebackers with the most sacks in 2005, two are former Rams. That would be Joey Porter (10.5) and Clark Haggans (9.0). Shawne Merriman finished between them with 10.0. …
Sorry, but I’m not drinking the Cowboy Kool-Aid. Not after catching a glimpse of this stat: Drew Bledsoe fumbled 17 times last season, often after blindside hits. That tied him with David Carr for the league lead. …
If your quarterback can’t avoid the rush, he’d better have that Peyton Manning sixth sense of when to throw it to the nearest cheerleader. If not, he’s your basic injury waiting to happen. …
Carmelo Anthony, when asked by Post hoops maven Marc J. Spears whether he needed a rest after a five-week tour with Phi Slama Uncle Sama: “I got to. I got to get it. We’ve been gone for 35 days. I don’t know how I’m going to go about it. I’m going to sit and talk to George (Karl) when I get back. I need rest.” …
So what did the Melo Fellow do upon returning to the US of A? What else? He shot a TV commercial in L.A. …
What, you think you’re in shape? Jerry Schemmel, the voice of the Nuggets, will embark on the 750-mile “Colorado Last Chance” bike ride this week. Seven hundred fifty miles on a bike? I wouldn’t make it past the first ice cream parlor. …
Working title for the Packers’ 2006 highlight video: “The Way We Were.” …
By the way, make mine Peyton in the Manning Bowl. He’s the best quarterback in the bid’ness. And his little brother? Eli Manning last season was the 23rd-ranked QB in the league with a pass rating of 75.9. That left him sandwiched between the immortal Trent Dilfer (76.9) and the incomparable Josh McCown (74.9). …
True, but strange: CU’s loss to Montana State marked the 12th time in the past 13 occasions, dating to 1935, that the Buffs have lost the debut game of a new coach. …
Marty Schottenheimer on ex-UNC wideout Vincent Jackson, who had all of three catches during his injury-plagued rookie season with the Chargers: “You draft a guy high and he has to set the world on fire, but that’s not the way it is. It would be nice if every player chosen high would go to the Hall of Fame, but that isn’t the way it happens. This young man has terrific skills, he’s a good worker and he’s very bright. He’s a very interesting prospect.” …
And finally, happy birthday to Arnold Palmer, who turns the big 7-7 today.
Catch Jim Armstrong from 6-9 a.m. during “The Press Box” on ESPN radio 560. He can be reached at 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com.
