Three notes and a cloud of dust. …
Having once made his living slamming into NFL linebackers, fear isn’t an emotion Terrell Davis often feels.
But make no doubt, he was scared this time. Scared for his life. Scared the excruciating pain in his left side wasn’t going to subside.
Davis, the Broncos’ newest Ring of Famer, will look like the picture of fitness today at his induction ceremony. But that picture belies the uneasiness he feels about his health. And no, we’re not talking about the knee-replacement surgery he’s facing down the road.
He spent four days in a San Diego hospital last year after experiencing pain, the likes of which he never felt in seven NFL seasons.
“I couldn’t move,” Davis said. “I don’t think I’ve felt pain like that probably ever. It wouldn’t stop for hours. They’re giving me everything in the book and nothing was working. It was definitely a scary episode.”
The doctors suspected he had suffered a stroke, but tests proved negative. The truth, said Davis, is “none of the doctors had a clue what happened.”
That’s what made it even scarier when it happened again.
He was sitting in the Atlanta airport several weeks ago when he began experiencing the same sensation. Same spot, same muscle contractions, same everything. Fortunately, a traveling companion had Valium, which eventually eased his pain, as opposed to easing his anxiety.
Davis doesn’t know what to make of the two episodes. He doesn’t know if they’re related to football injuries, and doesn’t know if they’re going to return. All he knows is how scary they were.
“My muscles are squeezing me so tight, it’s hard to breathe,” he said. “The longer it happens, it seems like my bones start to ache. It shuts down my whole left side. It’s like a python squeezing me for hours.” …
If you were among those of us who had the privilege of seeing Davis play, you know the Ring of Fame isn’t enough. He belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
For now, he’ll have to settle for being on an elite list that includes Bart Starr, John Elway, Terry Bradshaw, Joe Montana, Emmitt Smith, Steve Young, Peyton Manning and Kurt Warner. Those are the players who’ve won a regular-season MVP award and a Super Bowl MVP award.
Of those nine, five are in the Hall and two others – Manning and Smith – are locks to get there. That leaves Warner and Davis. One of those two belongs, too. He’ll be on the field at Invesco at halftime. …
Broncos rookie Tim Crowder: “It will be scary in a couple of years how good our defensive line is going to be. And we’re still going to be young.” Good thing. None of those D-linemen will ever catch a pass from Jay Cutler, but make no doubt, they’ll help determine how many games he wins. …
How wild has the ride been so far? Consider this: The Broncos are one of 10 2-0 teams in the NFL. They’ve won both games on the final play and have outscored their opponents by four points. The other nine undefeated teams have scored an average of 27 points more than the competition. …
The most underrated player in the league? Make mine Colts safety Bob Sanders, who dominates games at 5-feet-8 and 205 pounds. With 20 tackles and 2.5 sacks, he’s an early favorite for defensive player of the year. …
And finally, best wishes to Ravens DE Trevor Pryce, on my short list of all-time favorite Broncos. He’ll miss three or four weeks with a broken left wrist.
Read Jim Armstrong’s Third & Short column on Sundays and the day after Broncos games. He can be reached at 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com.
