The Sunday notes. Born in the USA. …
Will the last defensive lineman standing at Broncos training camp please turn out the lights?
Of all the position battles at Camp Shanahan, none will be more intense than the D-line. After drafting three linemen (Jarvis Moss, Tim Crowder and Marcus Thomas), trading for another (Jimmy Kennedy) and signing two more as free agents (Alvin McKinley and Sam Adams), the Broncos have a major traffic jam at the point of impact.
Good thing, says John Lynch.
“The old adage – and I don’t think it’s just an adage, it’s the truth – is you win and lose football games up front,” Lynch said. “The competition there is going to be just crazy. It’s going to be hard. Some good players probably won’t make this team because of the numbers, but that will make us a better football team.” …
Let the record show two things: First, given the uncertain status of Rod Smith, I’m not convinced the Broncos won’t have depth issues at wide receiver; second, Mike Shanahan – by force of habit, no doubt – thinks I’m wholly mistaken.
“That’s one thing I do think we have, a lot of depth at the wide receiver position – more than we’ve had,” Shanahan said. “We’ve got a lot of untested guys, but I think we’ve got a lot of talent. So it will be interesting to see who stays healthy and who steps up and makes plays when it counts.” …
An orange Lamborghini? Hey, give Pacman Jones credit. At least he isn’t trying to, you know, draw attention to himself. …
Memo to Pacman: Next time, try driving 10 mph down the highway in a white Bronco. You’ll be less conspicuous. …
Speaking of O.J. Simpson, you’ll be glad to know the Juice turned 60 the other day. What to get for the man who has everything? A GPS tracking system for his golf cart, just in case the real killer is hiding in the woods on 17. …
News: USA Today ranks Peyton Manning 12th on its list of the 25 greatest NFL players of the past 25 years. View: I’m thinking McPaper didn’t consult the Broncos’ secondary on that one. …
Great news, Red Sox Nation: Julio Lugo cracked a timely single Friday night to move over the Mendoza Line. If this keeps up, they’ll be erecting a statue of him in the men’s room at Fenway. …
From the e-mail bag: “You wrote, ‘Chris Carpenter is hurting, Albert Pujols hasn’t homered in three weeks and Danny Haren started the All-Star Game for the American League. Other than that, how is your summer working out, Cardinals fans?’ Here’s a better question for your next article: How have any of your summers worked out, Rockies fans?” …
Gary Sheffield is at it again. This time, he tells HBO that Derek Jeter, the product of a racially-mixed marriage, “ain’t all the way black.” I wonder what Sheffield’s brother Gary and his other brother Gary think of that one. …
Joe Garvey, The Norfolk (Va.) Virginian-Pilot, on 71-year-old Gary Player still doing 1,000 ab crunches a day: “John Daly, 41, looks like he does at least 1,000 Nestlé Crunches a day.” …
Better watch your back, Tiger man. Former (1999-2002) CU golfer Matthew Zions has qualified for the British Open. …
Ralph Kiner, circa 1947: “Home run hitters drive Cadillacs, singles hitters drive Fords.” Then there’s Ichiro, a singles hitter who could buy either company. …
Seventh-inning stretch, meet seventh-inning meltdown: Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, among the fat cats trying to buy the Cubs. …
Come on. Haven’t we been there, done this? Unless David Beckham walked here from England, he isn’t about to turn soccer into the next big thing in the U.S. …
The Phillies are on the verge of their 10,000th loss, the most of any team in any sport in any league. It all started in 1883, when they finished 17-81 in their first season in the National League. Seventeen and 81? I know bugs who’ve had higher winning percentages against windshields. …
Most amazing stat of the Rockies’ season: Troy Tulowitzki, five errors through Friday, putting him on pace for nine by season’s end. To put that number in perspective, Walt Weiss, your basic steady customer on the left side of the infield, had 30 in 1996.
Staff writer Jim Armstrong can be reached at 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com.
