This neauxt’s for you, Saints fans. …
Here we go again. Underrating the Patriots, that is.
The Pats are underdogs in today’s AFC championship game, just like they were underdogs in last week’s divisional playoff game at San Diego.
Yo, Marty, how did that work out for you, anyway?
I’m not sure why we do it, but there’s no denying we do. We don’t give the Patriots their due. Maybe it’s Bill Belichick’s hoodies or Tom Brady’s enviable good looks, but there’s something about the Pats that makes us overlook their greatness.
Consider this: The Associated Press hands out seven awards after every NFL season. That would make 42 awards since the end of the 2001 season, when the Patriots began their run of three Super Bowls in four years.
And how many of those 42 awards has the team with the three Super Bowl rings won? Two. Tedy Bruschi was the co-comeback player of the year in 2005 and Belichick was the coach of the year in 2003.
That’s it. No MVPs, no offensive or defensive players of the year, and no offensive or defensive rookies of the year. Just three Super Bowl rings. …
So who do I like in today’s grudge match at Indy? Who else? The Colts? …
Amazing stat du jour: The Pats have knocked five of the past seven MVPs out of the playoffs – Kurt Warner (2001), Peyton Manning and Steve McNair (co-MVPs 2003), Manning (2004) and LaDainian Tomlinson last week. …
Buzz? What buzz? If anything, ex-CU left guard Brian Daniels, who played for the West in Saturday’s East-West Shrine Game, is amazed at how closemouthed teams are. He interviewed with several teams, but doesn’t have a clue who’s interested. “In my mind, I’m a second-day type guy,” Daniels says. “I just want to make it. It’s been a dream of mine my entire life, and to be able to chase that dream is something special.” …
Daniels, by the way, practiced at center and both guard spots last week to improve his draft stock. Trust me, the Broncos will notice. They love big lugs who can play multiple positions on the line. Cases in point: Ben Hamilton, Trey Teague and Matt Lepsis, just to mention a few. …
Then there’s CU kicker Mason Crosby, who’s good to go for this week’s Senior Bowl. Sure, he missed a few kicks last season, but scouts love his ability to boom kickoffs into the end zone, if not points beyond. Especially Cowboys scouts. Don’t be the least bit surprised if Crosby gets a call from the ‘Boys on draft weekend. …
The lights are on, but nobody is playing any D: The Jazz has allowed four 50-point games this season – Michael Redd (57), Ray Allen (54), Kobe Bryant (52) and Gilbert Arenas (51). …
Let the record show that Allen Iverson left a lot of his baggage in Philly. He has gone out of his way to cooperate with the local media geeks. Not only that, Post hoops maven Marc J. Spears tells me the Nuggets had an event for sponsors the other day and A.I. stayed overtime to schmooze with the deep-pockets set. …
NBC’s Conan O’Brien after Kevin Federline showed up in a WWE “Monday Night Raw” match: “I never thought I would ever say this, but I expected better out of pro wrestling.” …
Michael Vick had a what? A secret compartment in his water bottle? Somewhere, Maurice Clarett is wondering what might have been. …
For the record, Miami airport cops are only saying there was a small amount of a “dark particulate” in Vick’s custom-made water bottle. A dark particulate? Get me Google. …
Rex Grossman to the Chicago media: “A lot of you guys are glass-half-empty type people.” Rex, my man, they are writers. Their glasses are always running on empty. …
The Dolphins just hired a coach and the Steelers are on the verge. The Raiders? They’ll let us know as soon as Al Davis wakes up from his nap. …
Phil Mickelson, in an attempt to jump-start his 2007 tour season, says he lost 20 pounds, then regained 10 to 15 pounds of muscle. What’s that? Yeah, you’re right. Tiger is still going to kick him around the fairway. …
And finally, today’s blast from the past. Former Auburn coach Shug Jordan, when someone suggested his team was a lock to win that Saturday: “Always remember, Goliath was a 40-point favorite over David.”
Jim Armstrong can be reached at 303-954-1269 or at jarmstrong@denverpost.com.
