Jack Frost nipping at your notes. …
If Jay Cutler works on his game as much as the other quarterback on the field tonight, he’ll be just fine.
How underrated was Matt Hasselbeck coming out of Boston College? He wasn’t invited to the NFL scouting combine.
Said Hasselbeck, when asked if he could have handled starting as a rookie, “I couldn’t, but I wasn’t as good as Cutler. No one felt that way about me when I was coming out of college.”
That was in 1998, when Hasselbeck was drafted by the Packers in the sixth round. If you’re wondering if those humble roots have motivated him throughout his career, the answer is yes.
“I’m trying to let it go,” he said. “I’m using it as a positive. The day-one guys – round one, two and three – wouldn’t understand.” …
Hasselbeck, when asked where he would rank Champ Bailey among NFL cornerbacks: “He’s top two, no doubt. … I’ve thrown him interceptions in my career. Who hasn’t?” …
In honor of Kid Cutler, here are six other famous No. 6s: Stan Musial, Julius Erving, Bill Russell, Al Kaline, Joe Torre and Benny Friedman. …
What, you’ve never heard of Benny Friedman? He was, according to his Hall of Fame bio, “the NFL’s first great passer” in the 1920s and 1930s. …
No, the Seahawks haven’t played as well as last season, when they started 2-2 before winning 11 straight, but they’re faring better than most recent Super Bowl losers. The past five have missed the playoffs, finishing a combined 31-49 the next season. …
By the numbers: Peyton Manning has thrown 16 interceptions since the start of the 2005 season. That’s half as many as his little brother, Eli. …
How long ago was it that Cutler actually took a snap, albeit in an exhibition game? Among those on the Detroit sideline when Cutler faced the Lions was none other than former CU quarterback Joel Klatt, who was among the team’s first cuts. …
Before we go any further, Brian Griese asked me to remind the Bears coaches that Rex Grossman has personally accounted for 15 turnovers – 11 picks, four fumbles – in his past six games. …
PinnacleSports.com’s over/under on LaDainian Tomlinson’s touchdown total: 32.5. The Broncos’ on-pace-for total: 31. …
You’ve got your death, you’ve got your taxes, and you’ve got Ichiro Suzuki sliding in under the tag. Dude attempted 47 steals last season and was caught twice. …
That guy honking his horn next to you the other day? For all you know, he could have been the latest candidate to turn down the Alabama coaching job. …
Not that UCLA’s win over Southern Cal was an upset, but the Bruins weren’t ranked. USC, meanwhile, was No. 2 in the BCS rankings and had beaten four currently ranked teams – Arkansas, Notre Dame, Nebraska and Cal – by an average of 22 points. …
What, you thought Kenyon Martin was a regrettable purchase? Check out Rams center Richie Incognito. His BMW 750 includes – count ’em – 23 TV monitors. Incognito to USA Today Sports Weekly: “It was a rookie mistake. It was the coolest thing ever when I first got it. Now I don’t even turn on the TV anymore. I’m like, ‘Someone please steal this thing.”‘ …
Two Cy Young Awards aside, former Rockie Bret Saberhagen isn’t going into the Hall of Fame. But if by some quirk he were elected? “I’d have to decline,” Saberhagen told The Kansas City Star. “I wouldn’t accept it unless the Hall decides to put Pete Rose in, which is where he belongs.” …
Just so you know, Rose isn’t getting in. His eligibility with the writers has expired, leaving him at the mercy of the veterans committee. His staunchest critics are the living Hall of Famers, so he isn’t about to get in via that route. …
What were the odds? Two Division I-A football coaches get fired in North Carolina and neither worked at Duke. …
Granted, you never know about recruiting rankings, but I’m thinking it’s a good thing that Rivals.com has CU ranked No. 18, one notch ahead of some school back East called Ohio State.
Jim Armstrong can be reached at 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com.
