Finishing second by a note. …
Daniel Graham, Dré Bly and Travis Henry – nice pickups any way you slice it. Oh, and those D-linemen from the draft. All three could see the field as rookies.
Let’s not overlook the obvious, though. None of the above is the key to the Broncos’ 2007 season. That distinction belongs to Jay Cutler and Jay Cutler alone.
So, Mike Shanahan, how difficult is it to project Cutler’s progress from his rookie year to his sophomore season?
“Good question.”
As in, not even his own coach can be sure.
Said Shanahan: “The kid is going to keep on getting better and better because he works out every day. He’s out there throwing with the wide receivers, the tight ends, the running backs. He enjoys the game. When you have guys who enjoy the game, who are smart, they’ll get better and better. … He’s got a chance to be really good.”
How good and how soon. Those are the two biggest question marks surrounding the Broncos. …
Shanahan, on JaMarcus Russell: “I can’t remember a guy that big. I haven’t been around him. I’ve never seen him in person. I’ve watched him on TV and looked at his pictures from the combine. But he’s a big human being. He looks like an offensive tackle, a big offensive tackle.” …
As we speak, Brandon Marshall looks like the starter opposite Javon Walker. Said Shanahan, when asked if he felt like Marshall wouldn’t have more off-field problems, “‘I know he won’t.” …
Now the Yankees are coughing up 5-0 first-inning leads at home. The good news is that, if the New York garbage men go on strike again, the Yankees’ bullpen can pinch hit for them. …
Memo to National League managers near and far: We can still pull this off, fellas. All you’ve got to do is intentionally walk Barry Bonds for the next two years. Or until an indictment arrives in his mail box. …
So the Yanks fired their “‘director of performance enhancement.” Just a thought, but how about firing the guy who decided to call him that? …
You know, I must be getting old. I remember when bat boys handled bats, not needles. …
J.J. Hardy, MVP candidate. Does that J.J. stand for Joltin’ Joe? …
Note reprised from one Bush administration to the next: Julio Franco homered off Randy Johnson on Friday night. …
First, Roger Goodell makes it mandatory for players to talk to the media every week. Then he says NFL coaches must conduct at least one predraft press conference. Um, Rog, I’m thinking a nice dry Chardonnay would be perfect for the Invesco Field press box. …
It’s Mel Kiper Jr.’s world, we just live in it: According to the league office, 23,547,000 people tuned in the 2001 NFL draft. The number has risen every year since, topped off by last weekend’s head count of 37,980,000. …
You think CU’s football program has some issues? Texas A&M didn’t have a single player drafted. Or a married one, for that matter. …
Ponderosa High linebacker Jon Major is Scout.com’s No. 2-ranked player in the Midlands. I only mention it because there are nine bucks in unmarked bills in it for him if he signs with my alma mater. …
By now, you probably know that Alabama drew 92,000 for Nick Saban’s first spring game. But how about Notre Dame? The Weis Guys attracted 51,000-plus – at 15 bucks a head. …
That sound you heard the other night was the Las Vegas sports books groaning in agony. Stuff happens when a 17-1 underdog beats a
No. 1 seed in the NBA playoffs. …
How badly do the Nuggets need a 3-point specialist? Consider this: They made 23 3s against the Spurs. Golden State racked up 62 vs. the Mavwrecks. …
Consider the source – I had Custer and the points at Little Bighorn – but I like the Warriors to go to the Western Conference finals. Buyer beware, though. Baron Davis’ knee is listed as minute to minute. …
Not that defensive end Jamaal Anderson, the Falcons’ first-rounder, is an athlete, but the dude played wide receiver in high school. …
Talk about the last stop on the bus line. Ex-NFL quarterback Shaun King has been waived by the Las Vegas Gladiators of the arena league. …
The fight? That was easy. The tough part was business partners Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Oscar De La Hoya going chin-to-chin for promo pictures without cracking up. …
Sure sign of no intelligent life in Las Vegas: 700 people showing up to see De La Hoya and Mayweather stand on a scale in their underwear. …
And finally, happy 76th birthday to Willie Mays, once and for all the Say Hey Kid.
Jim Armstrong can be reached at 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com.
