Lenny Walls will not be offended if trash talk falls on his ears upon his return to Denver today. Walls welcomes chatter from Broncos players such as receivers Rod Smith and Javon Walker, and the challenge they’ll present.
“I hope I hear it and I hope I see it,” Walls said. “If Rod and Javon tell me they are going to come after me, that’s fine. I’m going to tell them to come on and bring it. I need the action. Please, come my way, Broncos.”
Walls has been waiting for action and fast-talking for nearly a year. He hopes his return to Invesco Field today is an active one.
He is working as the nickel cornerback for the Chiefs and is expected to get significant playing time today. Walls was cut by Denver in November after a series of injuries. Walls, who lost his starting job to rookie Darrent Williams last season, missed significant parts of the past two seasons in Denver because of injury. While the Broncos thought Walls was immensely talented and intriguing because of his height – at 6-feet-4 he’s the tallest cornerback in the NFL – injuries took a toll. He suffered ankle, shoulder and groin injuries the past two seasons. Walls was claimed by Oakland last year, but failed the physical and sat out the rest of the season while he healed.
The Chiefs – whose secondary is coached by former Broncos assistant David Gibbs – snapped up Walls during free agency.
“The biggest difference now is my health,” Walls said. “I’m as healthy as I’ve been in a long time. It makes a huge difference.”
Walls, who is close to Gibbs, said he has had a rebirth in Kansas City.
“Gibby knows my style and how I play,” Walls said. “I think he’s talked to the other coaches and let them know what I can do. It has helped me move up here. There’s a trust factor.”
Walls said he is not a bitter man and understands why Denver released him. He keeps in touch with several former teammates. He and Williams spoke last Sunday night after the Chiefs and Broncos opened the season with disappointing losses.
“I know every guy on that team well,” Walls said. “I know they are hungry, but so are we. All of my new teammates have teased me this week, saying I’m going back to the dark side this week. But I like it in Denver. I can’t wait to play against all those guys.”
A challenging review
Miami: Dolphins coach Nick Saban is in his second season away from the NCAA, but he wouldn’t mind adopting at least one aspect of the college game.
In the Dolphins’ season-opening loss at Pittsburgh, the Dolphins weren’t allowed to challenge a Pittsburgh touchdown that likely would have been overturned because the officials didn’t notice Saban threw a challenge flag.
Saban told Miami reporters he would like to see the NFL adopt the college replay system. In the NCAA, a replay official can review and rule on field calls.
“I did go home on Saturday night, and I watched parts of several college football games,” Saban said. “Man, that seems like it works a whole lot better to me. They just look at in the booth and if the official messed it up, they fix it.”
Of course, the former Louisiana State coach would have saved himself a headache – and seven points – if he had thrown the flag earlier.
Departures hurt Patriots
New England: The Patriots may be one of the great system teams in NFL history. But you need players to win, and the former dynasty has seen many leave in recent seasons. The latest to go is disgruntled receiver Deion Branch. The former Super Bowl MVP was traded to Seattle after a long contract dispute.
Branch joins players such as Ty Law, Willie McGinest, David Givens and Adam Vinatieri who recently left the Patriots. Yes, Bill Belichick is a genius and quarterback Tom Brady seemingly wins games by himself, but the team will miss the departed players. Branch may be the most missed because he was Brady’s favorite target and an offensive sparkplug.
Haslett’s immediate impact
St. Louis: Something may have been forgotten about Jim Haslett in his painful final year as head coach in New Orleans.
The guy knows how to coach and the Rams are fortunate to have him as their defensive coordinator. In a move that will help define his career, Rams’ offensive-minded head coach Scott Linehan made the right choice in bringing in Haslett to head his defense. That was evident against the Broncos last week.
Haslett, a longtime coordinator before he took over the Saints in 2000, devised a scheme to keep Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer inside the pocket for much of the game. Plummer, much more comfortable outside the pocket, committed four turnovers in the Broncos’ 18-10 loss.
After the game, Linehan credited Haslett for the scheme. A few more games like this and Haslett will be first in line when teams come calling for head coaches next January.
Smooth move by Seahawks
Seattle: It was a nice move by Seattle to pick up Branch. A Super Bowl contending team gets a Super Bowl hero. Pretty smooth.
Seattle needed a spark at receiver and the shifty Branch provides it. He will fit well in coach Mike Holmgren’s system.
Plus, the price was right. Sure, the Seahawks had to surrender a first-round pick. They think Branch is the missing link to the team’s first Super Bowl ring, so he is worth it. It likely will be a low first-rounder even if Seattle doesn’t win the Super Bowl.
A day after making the deal, Seattle made Branch happy by giving him a six-year, $39 million deal, locking him up.
Looking ahead to next year’s free- agent class, Branch and Philadelphia’s Donte’ Stallworth – just acquired from New Orleans – were the top players at the receiver position. The Seahawks beat the competition for the player they wanted.
Good organizations make smart moves. This was an example of it.
Around the league
The Packers are being panned for signing receiver Koren Robinson, who was cut by Minnesota last month after an alcohol-related arrest, could serve jail time and could face a one-year suspension by the league. While the Packers are desperate for help, some around the league think Green Bay is shunning the NFL’s message to take a hard stance with troubled players. … Former Broncos backup quarterback Bradlee Van Pelt said he believes he and many other backup quarterbacks are having trouble getting into the league because there are 10 teams that have just two quarterbacks on the roster. The Broncos were the only team, with Van Pelt being the backup, to have just two quarterbacks most of last season. … Watch out for the Ravens. After their 27-0 victory at Tampa, many league scouts believe the Ravens’ defense can be as good as the 2000 unit that won a Super Bowl. … How about this line? Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck completed 25-of-30 passes against Detroit. Two of the incomplete “passes” were spikes to stop the game clock.
* Broncos mailbag: Bill Williamson posts a new installment each Tuesday on DenverPost.com. also are available on the website.
Bill Williamson can be reached at 303-954-1262 or bwilliamson@denverpost.com.
Lenny Walls standing tall as Chiefs’ nickel cornerback
Former Broncos cornerback Lenny Walls will play against his old team today at Invesco Field at Mile High when the Kansas City Chiefs visit.
Past: Joined the Broncos as an undrafted free agent. Became a starter, but his career was plagued by injuries. He was cut last November because of a nagging groin injury.
Future: Walls is the Chiefs’ nickel cornerback and should get more playing time as the season progresses.
Known for: Being the tallest cornerback in the NFL at 6-feet-4.
FYI: Twin brother Kenny played basketball at Boston College while Lenny competed in football at the school.
