Able to leap tall notes columns in a single bound …
He’s been in a Broncos uniform for eight games and already Javon Walker is breaking 45-year-old records. Well, one anyway. Walker’s 72-yard end-around against Pittsburgh gave him 120 rushing yards midway through the season. That’s the highest single-season total by a wideout in franchise history, 10 more than Al Frazier’s 110 in 1961. …
NFL Network analyst Deion Sanders on Walker: “This may be the best offseason acquisition in the NFL.” Drew Brees might have something to say about that, but you get the point. …
Remember when Walker talked about being in the Philly airport, ready to fly to Boston to be introduced to the New England media? You don’t suppose the Pats are kicking themselves for not closing the deal with the Packers, do you? Nah, didn’t think so. …
A little credit, por favor, to the Broncos’ behind-the-scenes guys. Trainer Steve Antonopulos, for one. Walker, having estranged himself from the Green Bay front office, was behind in his knee rehab when he arrived in Our Town. It wasn’t until Antonopulos and the rest of the Broncos’ medical staff got involved that he caught up. …
Talk about a metaphor for the Steelers’ season. A World War II submarine was docked in the river outside Heinz Field on Sunday. …
Steelers tailback Willie Parker: “We’re a great team that’s 2-6.” While he’s certainly entitled to his opinion, I’m a graduate of the Bill Parcells’ “you are what your record says you are” school of thought. …
This just in, Willie. Your great team could use a couple of new cornerbacks. Forget Champ Bailey and Darrent Williams. I’m wondering if Domonique Foxworth could start for the Steelers. …
Not that all is lost in Steeler Nation. I hear Bill Cowher got a smokin’ deal on that dream home of his in North Carolina. …
The Broncos have allowed a league-low 98 points through eight games, putting them on pace for 196. Nothing unusual there except that they haven’t allowed fewer than 198 since 1978, the year the NFL went to a 16-game season. They even allowed 226 in 1982, a season shortened by a strike to nine games. …
For the record, the franchise record is 148 points allowed, set by the Orange Crush in 1977. If this year’s team comes remotely close to that, Champ Bailey goes straight to the Hall of Fame without passing Go. …
Just the fax: According to USA Today, Rutgers’ showdown with Louisville will mark the first time in school history both teams were ranked in a game played by the Scarlet Knights. …
Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Bradley to reporters after Joe Paterno sustained a broken leg and two torn knee ligaments when two players crashed into him at Wisconsin’s Camp Randall Stadium: “I told him he’s not playing those low blocks like he used to.” …
It isn’t just the turnovers the Steelers have committed. They’re not forcing any, either. It’s midseason and they’ve recovered one fumble. …
The Steelers fumbled 22 times last season and lost nine. This year, they’ve coughed it up 19 times and lost 10. Nineteen fumbles halfway through a season? Four words, Steelers equipment staff: Kenny Rogers’ wonder gook. …
He has put in 10 years in this man’s league, and what does Jake Plummer have to show for it? Before Sunday’s game, he had thrown 155 touchdown passes and 155 interceptions. …
There’s a new sheriff in the Bay Area. Or maybe you didn’t catch Don Nelson’s summary of Mike Dunleavy’s performance the other night: “Didn’t rebound, didn’t guard, didn’t do anything.” …
And finally, happy trails to one of the good guys, Jeff Bagwell, cut loose by the Astros because of a bum shoulder.
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.
