This note’s for you, D-Will. …
The view through orange-colored glasses may be that the Broncos should be in the playoffs, but reality suggests otherwise. They finished 9-7 – 6-2 vs. nonplayoff teams, 3-5 against teams still playing. Now for the numbers inside the numbers: They started 3-0 against playoff teams, only to lose their last five. …
But then, not making the playoffs has lost its relevance given the events of the past week. We’ve seen teams, even perennial winners such as the Broncos, rebuild. But this … this is something altogether different. Knee ligaments and shoulder separations can be fixed. But how does Mike Shanahan mend a team’s broken heart? …
Sunday night, my most vivid memory of the 2006 season was Darrent Williams bolting from the locker room after the Broncos had blown a big lead against the Colts. Monday morning, it was replaced by Javon Walker walking into Broncos headquarters in a blood-stained shirt. Sadly, that scene will forever symbolize a season gone bad, then tragic. …
And to top off the worst week in franchise history, Champ Bailey didn’t win The Associated Press NFL defensive player of the year award. Which doesn’t bode well for future defensive backs hoping to win it, what with Bailey having had one of the greatest seasons ever by a DB. …
Domonique Foxworth, when asked after the season finale if Bailey should win the DPOY award: “If he doesn’t, I’ll feel like he was robbed. I feel he’s the most dominant player at his position in the league. We’re not in the playoffs, but that’s one person who deserves absolutely no blame.” …
The award, of course, went to Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor. No surprise there. Taylor had a monster season with 13 1/2 sacks, nine forced fumbles and two interceptions, each of which he returned for a touchdown. Not only that, he had history on his side. Defensive linemen and linebackers have won the award 29 times in its 36-year history. …
The NFL doesn’t recognize forced fumbles among its official stats, but Stats Inc. has been tracking them since the mid-1990s. For the record, Taylor’s nine FFs are tied with Leonard Little and Dwight Freeney for the most in a season since then. …
Broncos rookie Brandon Marshall on life without the playoffs: “At this time last year, we lose, that’s OK. I’ve got class and study hall, things like that. But now it’s just nothing. So I don’t know what I’m going to do with myself.” …
The stunning fact of the matter is the Broncos lost four of their final five home games. Their most recent 1-4 stretch at home? Try 1990, when they finished 5-11. …
Meanwhile, in Oakland, the Raiders will try to dig out from their latest disaster, one that runs their record to 15-49 since the start of the 2003 season. Um, Al, hiring another offensive coordinator who was running a bed-and-breakfast probably isn’t the answer. …
The Raiders’ offense scored 12 touchdowns in 16 games. LaDainian Tomlinson scored 14 in one four-game stretch. …
From the don’t-be-shocked-if dept.: Ohio State’s Jim Tressel wins the national championship Monday night, then bolts for the Browns. If it doesn’t go down, look for Bill Cowher, a former Browns linebacker and assistant coach, to assume control in 2008. …
In the interest of full disclosure, here are the five players I voted for on my Hall of Fame ballot: Tony Gwynn, Cal Ripken Jr., Goose Gossage, Jim Rice and Alan Trammell. They might talk me into Bert Blyleven next time around if he has a good year on ESPN Classic. …
No Lee Smith? He’ll get my vote down the road, but only after Gossage. If the Goose isn’t in the Hall of Fame, then no reliever should be. …
How thoroughly mediocre is the NFC? One NFC team – the Cowboys at 3-1 – had a winning record vs. the AFC. …
Is it just me? Enough already with the weight-loss commercials. In case you’ve been roughing it in the mountains without a TV, Dan Marino lost 22 pounds and we can, too. …
Not that J.R. Smith will be welcomed back with open arms, but he’s averaging half of the Nuggets’ 5.6 3-pointers per game. …
And finally, not that time flies when you’re typing and standing in lines at the airport, but Thursday marks the 20-year anniversary of The Drive.
Staff writer Jim Armstrong can be reached at 303-954-1269 or jarmstrong@denverpost.com.
