Notes for Raider Week …
They may lack for talent, but at least the Silver & Bleak will have motivation on their side when they play the Broncos on Sunday night.
How’s that?
Turns out Al Davis isn’t the only one among the Raiders’ ranks who has a history with Mike Shanahan. Shanahan during his stormy tenure as the Raiders’ head coach fired a handful of assistant coaches, only to have Davis squelch the move.
“I had to step in and restore order,” Davis said.
Among the coaches, all Davis cronies, was Art Shell, who succeeded Shanahan after he was broomed four games into the 1989 season. The same Art Shell who will be walking the Raiders’ sideline Sunday. …
Tough times for Raiders fans living in Our State. To wit: CU and the Raiders each are trying to dig out of 10-game losing streaks. …
Well done, young man. CSU’s Caleb Hanie, that is. Dude is second among Division I-A quarterbacks with a 71.9 (87-for-121) completion percentage. San Jose State’s Adam Tafralis is No. 1 at 76.7. …
From USA Today: Talk about a long, strange trip through the football season. Ex-CU quarterback Brian White transferred to Division I-AA Portland State after the Buffs’ season-opening loss to Montana State. Since transfers to I-AA schools are immediately eligible, White got some playing time Saturday during Portland State’s loss to, you guessed it, Montana State. …
Apparently the N.C. in N.C. State stands for Not Consistent. To wit: The Wolfpack followed losses to Akron and Southern Miss with W’s over Boston College and Florida State. …
From the e-mail bag, courtesy of a Huskers fan: “Knock, knock. Who’s there? Owen. Owen who? 0-6. Go Buffs!” …
What, you thought the worst move Monday night was Steve McNair challenging Champ Bailey in the end zone? Not even close. According to my spies in the stands, an overtrained fan with an orange wig and a painted face vomited on cops as they were arresting him. …
Broncos D coordinator Larry Coyer, on the Ravens’ decision to go after Bailey, which ended in Denver’s first interception of the season: “I was glad to see them throw one at him, yeah. That’ll work for me.” …
Welcome to the .500-plus club, Jake the Snake. Monday’s win left the Jakemeister 65-64 in 129 NFL starts – 30-52 with the Cardinals, 35-12 with the Bronx. …
Just wondering: Did the Broncos have to waive Todd Sauerbrun injured because of that lingering brain cramp that prompted him to use ephedra? …
Plummer, circa Monday night, on tailback Tatum Bell: “He’s proven he’s ready to take the load. Early in the game, after that fumble, I went and told him: ‘Hey, let it go. You’re going to have to make big plays for us.”‘ He’s right. Bell has proved he deserves the starting job. What he hasn’t proved is whether he can rack up 1,500 yards. But that’s only a matter of time. …
The Las Vegas Hilton, the world’s largest sports book, has the Nuggets’ victory total listed at 43.5, 7.5 fewer than a year ago. The Spurs have the highest number at 57.5, the Blazers the lowest at 24.5. …
What’s this? Alex Rodriguez, your basic No. 8 hitter, in the same sentence as Babe Ruth? It’s true. A-Rod has gone hitless in 15 consecutive postseason at-bats with runners in scoring position, tying a streak owned by the Bambino from 1922-27. According to ESPN’s crack research team, A-Rod during those 15 ABs whiffed six times and hit two balls out of the infield. …
From the fine line dept.: The NFL Network’s Rich Eisen, noting that Peyton Manning was on the sideline Sunday “on the only phone he’s not pitching on TV.” …
And finally, so long, farewell and goodbye to Buck O’Neil, the greatest ambassador baseball ever had.
Catch Jim Armstrong from 6-9 a.m. during “The Press Box” on ESPN 560 AM. He can be reached at 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com.
