Notes for today’s showdown …
Nobody saw five sacks in two games coming, but Al Wilson figured all along Elvis Dumervil would make an impact as a rookie. “I knew it in training camp,” Wilson said. “I watched him a little bit at Louisville. People forgot he was the best defensive player in college football. No matter what size somebody is, you can’t measure heart, you can’t measure desire. When it comes down to playing ball, I’ll take that guy any day.” …
Maybe they ought to wear their retro unis: The Broncos were the first team since the 1934 Lions to allow as few as one touchdown in their first five games. The Colts, meanwhile, can become the first team since the 1929-31 Packers to open back-to-back seasons with seven straight W’s. …
Can the Broncos defense contain the Colts like the Bailey Bunch contained the Raiders and Browns? “That’s our plan,” Champ Bailey said. “Hopefully, we won’t have to. Maybe we’ll put up 50. But at the same time, I don’t care what we put up, I still don’t want them to score.” …
Maybe they’ll put up 50. Uh-huh. And maybe Jessica Alba is sitting on my lap as I type this. …
Tony Dungy is the exception to the rule among NFL coaches. While so many others arrive for work before the sun rises, Dungy takes his son to high school in the mornings and usually walks through the door at 8-8:15 a.m. “I try to keep it in perspective,” Dungy said. “We put in a lot of hours, but you’ve got to find time for your family. We did it that way with coach (Chuck) Noll, and we won a lot of games.” …
Chauncey Billups says he has just the right guy for the Colorado 14ers as they prepare for Thursday’s NBDL draft. That would be his little brother, former DU star Rodney Billups, who led the Latvian league in assists (6.4) and steals (3.3) last season. Says Chauncey, “They wouldn’t just be getting a name, they’d be getting someone who can hoop.” …
Just so you know, that last note really wasn’t that good. I had pine tar on my fingertips and the umpires let me get away with it. …
Which reminds me. Detroit Free Press headline after the umps made Kenny Rogers wash his hand: “Tar Wars.” …
Mike Tyson’s first “opponent” during his World Tour 2006 was none other than Corey “T-Rex” Sanders, your basic pug who happens to be blind in one eye. Let me guess. Some kid was heard to say at ringside, “Hey dad, who’s that dinosaur in there with T-Rex?” …
By the numbers: Saturday’s loss to BYU dropped Air Force to 5-15 in the week preceding the Army game. …
Pudge Rodriguez, 0-fer most of the World Series. Hey, stuff happens when you weigh less than the batboy. How to explain that incredible weight loss? Can’t say for sure, but feel free to cross off “dating Jenny Craig” from your list of candidates. …
Wizards star Gilbert Arenas has high-altitude air pumped into his house in an attempt to improve his endurance. Scott Ostler of the San Francisco Chronicle’s response: “Just what we need, an NBA guy getting less oxygen to his brain.” …
Judging from all those teams calling about J.R. Smith, the Nuggets did well to get the kid. He figures to stay, but not if the Nugs can pry Corey Maggette away from the Clippers. …
Charlie Weis doesn’t make two trips across two time zones for just any recruit. But he did in a futile attempt to lure Columbine tackle Ryan Miller to the Golden Dome. While the good news for CU is that Miller has committed, the bad news is the Buffs need to be on TV more often. There’s a reason they call it the power of television. …
Sorry, but a bunch of chatroom nerds aren’t about to run off Bobby Bowden. Good thing. When Bowden and Joe Pa go, a piece of all of us will go with them. …
David Thomas of the Fort Worth Star- Telegram, on the Cowboys’ Monday night clunker vs. the Giants: “If you’re going to trail by 19 points in the fourth quarter, do so against Arizona.” …
That’s all for now. My neighborhood Halloween party is about to start. Just so you know, I’m going disguised as a thin person.
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.
