Denver Post sports columnist Woody Paige posts Woody’s Mailbag every Thursday on DenverPost.com.
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Woody – Wow. Is Eddie Royal the real deal, or do the Raiders not count? So much is made of the first-round bust in Jarvis Moss. What about the second-round score in Royal?
— Theodore, Denver
Ed-dee, Ed-dee. , Theodore. I was impressed with him in offseason workouts, training camp, the exhibition games and, obviously, in the regular-season opener. He’s fast; he runs precise routes; and he can catch, and catch and run.
There were 10, if I remember, wide receivers drafted in the second round (none in the first round), and he was considered No. 3 or 4 because of his lack of size (5-10, 170 pounds), and DeSean Jackson (Philly) was thought to be the best. Jackson had a great opening game, so it will be intriguing to follow both.
I remember when the Broncos drafted Louis Wright instead of Neal Colzie long ago, and people questioned that move, because Colzie was the All-American from Ohio State, and Wright was a track star, mostly, at San Jose State. Wright was far superior. Maybe the Broncos did it again. The only thing I see is, when you see him in the locker room, he is a little guy. Can he stay healthy?
Woody – Several years ago you walked home to Denver from Lincoln, Neb. At least you said you would if Nebraska beat Colorado, which they did. My question is: How long did it take you?
— Jack Dennis, Omaha
Jack – It’s taking about 20 years. I want to get in my best shape before I do it. But I promise I will, as long as I don’t have to spend the night anywhere in Nebraska. How about we double the bet?
Is Dre Bly really better than Domonique Foxworth?
— Darryl, Rose Hill, Kan.
Darryl – I really liked Domonique, as I’ve written over and over. But the Broncos ultimately didn’t. I don’t believe it was because he will be an unrestricted free agent next year. They needed a good backup and nickel back this year. He didn’t play well in the last two exhibitions, but I thought he was their best cornerback (Champ Bailey & Bly were out) in the first two. What do I know?
But I’ve been right more often than wrong about the Steve Watsons and Jim Ryans and Eddie Royals. I guess I was totally wrong, but we’ll find out if he makes a mark with Atlanta, and . Seventh round? A lot of us must have been wrong. I apologize.
Rockies GM Dan O’Dowd recently said, “.” If we had better pitching, I bet the execution would improve. Do you see the Rockies ever, ever taking a chance on a big-name pitcher again? Or must we wait for the farm to produce? Thanks.
— Mike, Denver
Mike – O’Dowd’s execution has been abysmal. He hit about .200 on pitchers in the offseason and during the regular season. I will say it again. The Rockies are so proud and protective of their farm system. Sometimes you got to give up something to get something. I recommended in July that the Rockies trade for CC Sabathia. I got laughed at.
The Rockies have to get over the Mike Hampton signing. There was no humidor then. You sign a big-time pitcher with the humidor, and he can win 20 here. But you know as well as I do the Rockies’ ownership is playing with scared money (even though attendance is up, and they’re getting a fortune from national TV rights), and they’re afraid to go sign an outstanding free-agent pitcher or trade prospects for Dan Haren. You get what you pay for — Mark Redman, Josh Towers, Kip Wells. Abysmal execution, Dealin’ Dud.
What were your impressions of UCLA under new coach Rick Neuheisel in the win over Tennessee (sorry)?
— Michael, Los Angeles
Michael – I was sad as I sat with all my friends (alone) watching the game, not because of Newweasel, but because Tennessee is very mediocre this year. Tricky Ricky will do well at UCLA, if he’s learned not to cheat, which I think he finally has, but it will take a few years, and UCLA is no USC, despite the Bruins’ claims this season. “The Monopoly is Over in L.A.,” the billboards claim. Give me a break.
Big fan of you on ESPN. Quick question: Do you publish anywhere on the Internet your creative chalkboard one-liner messages? They are memorable and “crack me up.” One of my favorites: “My favorite animal is steak.”
— Kevin McNally, Denver
Thanks, Kevin. As I told some Bay Area media people in the elevator Monday night, when I die, all I will be remembered for are my blackboard sayings. They’ll put a blackboard over my grave, which says, “I told you I was not feeling well.”
There are a couple of places on the Internet that record and publish the blackboards, but I have nothing to do with it. I can’t remember them an hour after they’re up. There’s a fan club called AroundTheHorn group, and that’s all I know, and some guy somewhere puts them up on his Facebook or something. They have been compiled by someone who works with me, and I’m putting them in a book I’m writing.
After losing to CU on Saturday, Eastern Washington defensive back Ryan Kelly said: “.” Talk about bulletin-board material! Is CU a Big Sky team in disguise?
— John, Boulder
No, John. But they looked like Lucy in the Big Sky with Diamonds on Saturday. Bad until the last few minutes. They needed to just run the ball early at Eastern Washington, take control and wear down the Eagles. But they let EWU hang around. CU had a bad defensive scheme until the second half. Eastern Washington couldn’t run. They should have gone to seven men back, doubles on the wideouts, right away.
Oddly enough, I give CU a serious chance to beat West Virginia, which got beat, and Florida State, which isn’t much. The Buffs have better skill players than last year or in recent seasons. I think the offensive line will be fine. And I love Jeff Smart at linebacker. Josh Smith is a playmaker, and the two freshmen running backs can play. Don’t tell Dan Hawkins I said this, but Cody Hawkins will never be all-Big 12. Cody is smart and is a leader, but he’s not a great athlete.
Is a big boost for the Broncos? Or too small in the grand scheme of things?
— T.K., Lakewood
Tom Brady’s injury, which is even worse than first feared, I’ve been told today, and the start by Indianapolis and San Diego open up the whole AFC. Pittsburgh, Denver, even the Jets, Buffalo all could figure.
, and the Colts have the same problem as the Broncos did when they moved to a new stadium. Indianapolis’ old place was the hardest place for road teams because of the crowd noise (and some was rumored to be piped in). But this new place is bigger, is open to the sky on good days and has a big picture window that opens at the end, and the noise level has dropped, as it did for the Broncos when they moved to whateveritsnameis field @Mile High. The Broncos don’t have the same home-field advantage they used to.
, but the Dolphins are garbage. Pittsburgh is serious. Buffalo could be very good. I still think New England will win 10 or 11 or even 12, and Indy will win 10, 11 or 12 (although the Colts’ window is closing, and I’m not talking about the one in the stadium), so if the Broncos or Pittsburgh can get to 11 or 12, they’ll be right there for a home game or two in the playoffs. It will be very close in the conference this year, T.K.
Woodrow – Watching some film of Obama, I see a strong tendency to go to his left, which often puts him in a position to be easily defended. And since his opponents have done a good job of scouting his tendencies, his opponents have a fairly well thought-out game plan. However, when he moves to the middle he finds some space, which allows him to get more folks involved. McCain, on the other hand, seems to be making a move to a younger lineup, which makes sense since, well, let’s face it, he may have lost a step or two. But he can have serious implications if he were to go down since his backup doesn’t have any major league experience, may not have mastered the whole playbook and has not had many snaps with the first team. Any thoughts? And how important will the training staff be for the McCain team as we approach the fourth quarter?
— Anthony Vallejos, Los Alamos, N.M.
Anthony – Have you been in the New Mexico desert smoking some kind of strange cactus? I like USC against Ohio State.
Woody Paige first joined The Denver Post in 1981 as a sports columnist. To drop a question into Woody’s Mailbag or visit DenverPost.com’s .
