This summer, Brian Iwuh got to know Kevin Everett better while helping him at his youth football camp in Everett’s hometown of Port Arthur, Texas.
Iwuh also is from that area, and both players have Brian Overstreet as an agent. As Everett did in Week 1 for the Buffalo Bills, Iwuh will perform special-teams duty against the Broncos on Sunday. Everett is on the mind of Iwuh, a former University of Colorado linebacker, as he prepares to play in Denver.
Everett was severely injured while tackling Broncos kick returner Domenik Hixon in the third quarter at Buffalo on Sept. 9.
“Kevin is a real cool dude, and it’s real tough to see what happened to him,” Iwuh said. “It looks like he is getting better. I sure hope so.”
Although initially paralyzed, Everett is making progress. Like Everett, Iwuh specializes in making tackles on special teams and has become one of the Jaguars’ better players on that unit. While Everett’s injury makes Iwuh think about the danger, he said he can’t afford to lose any of his edge.
“You look at the play in which Kevin was hurt, and it looked normal to me,” Iwuh said. “But it’s a position where you have to be reckless.”
Iwuh’s special-teams prowess has earned him a career in the NFL. He wasn’t drafted in 2006. After Iwuh started his rookie season on the practice squad, Jacksonville put him on the 53-man roster and he finished with 10 special-teams tackles. He is a stalwart on the unit this year.
Iwuh said his journey to the NFL and the injury to Everett helps him keep a good perspective.
“When things aren’t going my way, I realize all of the people who want to be in my position,” Iwuh said. “It makes me focus on what I have to do. Right now, that is being the best special-teams player I can be.”
Brian Iwuh file
What he does: Special-teams ace, Jacksonville Jaguars
Vitals: He has two tackles in two games this season.
Last year: He had 10 special-teams tackles in 12 games.
Local tie: He played at the University of Colorado.
What he did in college: He had 216 career tackles, 4 1/2 sacks and one interception for the Buffs.
Garrett a hot commodity
The Cowboys soon might have a dilemma on their hands: keeping offensive coordinator Jason Garrett.
Under Garrett, the Dallas offense has been flourishing, with 75 points in two games. They are passing and running the ball well, and quarterback Tony Romo looks like the real deal. NFL owners always are looking for the next hot offensive mind, and Garrett will go to the front of the line of coaching candidates if the Cowboys stay hot.
The problem for Dallas owner Jerry Jones is that he would like to groom Garrett to be his head coach once the Wade Phillips era is over. But if Garrett – a former Dallas backup quarterback who was the Dolphins’ quarterbacks coach last season – gets bites in the offseason, Jones will have a difficult time persuading him to stay for a job that is currently occupied.
One thing Jones has in his favor is cash flow. Perhaps a hefty raise could pacify Garrett and keep him from looking at potential head coaching jobs.
#@*&#@ TV show!
The portrayal of the Chiefs in HBO’s “Hard Knocks” this summer bothered some key people in the organization. The uncensored show, which followed the team through training camp and the preseason, featured much profanity. Defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham was often shown using colorful language.
The Hunt family, which owns the team, is one of the classiest and most dignified families in the league, and was not pleased. This could scare other teams off from doing the show. San Francisco turned down the chance to be featured this season.
Clueless in Oakland
Here a look at the Raiders’ recent first-round draft moves: In 2004, the team took tackle Robert Gallery at No. 2; in 2005, they traded the No. 7 pick for receiver Randy Moss; in 2006, the team took safety Michael Huff at No. 7; this year, they selec- ted quarterback JaMarcus Russell at No. 1.
Gallery has been a colossal bust, and was moved to guard, making him the highest-paid non-star at that position in the history of the league. Moss was a failure in Oakland and was traded to New England. Huff has rarely made a play. Russell just signed and hasn’t played.
But it didn’t have to be this bad. This is what Oakland bypassed: In 2004, they could have taken receiver Larry Fitzgerald or safety Roy Williams; in 2005, the Raiders could have drafted linebacker Shawne Merriman; in 2006, they could have taken quarterbacks Matt Leinart or Jay Cutler; and this year, they could have selected receiver Calvin Johnson.
What would have been a better grouping for the Raiders: a class of Gallery, Moss, Huff and Russell, or a class of Williams, Merriman, Cutler and Johnson? And Raiders fans wonder why the team is 15-51 since losing the Super Bowl in 2003.
Around the league
The Broncos have 12 former Pro Bowlers on their roster. … Now that his NFL suspension is over, watch for receiver Antonio Bryant to get some looks. He is one of the better playmakers available. … Former Broncos tackle George Foster is struggling in Detroit. He was traded along with running back Tatum Bell in March for cornerback Dré Bly. … The earliest Oakland is likely to start Russell is after the team’s bye, which falls on Oct. 7…. Green Bay rookie Deshawn Wynn looks like a steal. He had two touchdowns Sunday and will get plenty of carries for the Packers. Wynn, a seventh-round pick, might have a chance to be the Packers’ go-to back soon….Colts first-round pick Anthony Gonzalez is playing about eight plays a game, but he has come up with some big ones already. Couple him with blocking/receiving threat Dallas Clark at tight end, and the Colts have so many weapons they don’t know what to do with them. … Many in the league are surprised that it took this long for the Falcons to sign Byron Leftwich. He was cut by Jacksonville before the start of the season, and the Falcons had to know Joey Harrington wasn’t the answer. Now, Leftwich will have to cram with the Falcons’ offense. … Tank Johnson wasn’t garnering much interest before he signed with the Cowboys. Johnson has to serve six more games of an NFL suspension….The Raiders might be tiring of Sebastian Janikowski’s inconsistency and could wind up cutting him. Even though he has the strongest leg in the league, Janikowski has made 1-of-5 field-goal attempts this season.
Staff writer Bill Williamsoncan be reached at 303-954-1262 or bwilliamson@denverpost.com.
