A veritable cornucopia of notes. What’s that? You’re right. Like there’s any other kind of cornucopia. . . .
Lions coach Rod Marinelli says he won’t reveal next week’s starting quarterback until game day.
Like it matters at this point.
Marinelli may be able to keep a secret, but he isn’t going to keep his job. The only suspense left in Motown is whether the Lions can become the first 0-16 team in NFL history.
“I have a vision,” wrote Detroit Free Press columnist Michael Rosenberg. “I see Rod Marinelli and William Clay Ford Sr. embarrassed and sportswriters checking how to spell ‘ignominious’ and Al Michaels dropping in to ask: ‘Do you believe in massacres?’
“I’m thinking 0-16. The worst NFL record ever. Who’s with me?”
For the record, that was two weeks ago.
Things have gotten progressively uglier for the Lions since. At this point, it’s difficult to find a “W” for them. Their next three opponents — the Panthers, Bucs and Titans — are a combined 22-5. Then they have the Vikings, Colts, Saints and Packers. If they’re 0-15 going into that roadie at Green Bay, it’s a done deal. They haven’t won there since 1991. . . .
Call it an educated guess, but don’t be a bit surprised if Marinelli resurfaces as the Texans’ defensive coordinator. Former Broncos assistant Richard Smith isn’t exactly feelin’ the love these days in Houston. . . .
Welcome to the NFL, kid. With the rout on Sunday vs. Jacksonville, Marinelli benched Daunte Culpepper and put Drew Stanton in the lineup. Stanton’s line in the fourth quarter: six completions, five sacks. . . .
Either Bill Belichick is every bit the coach we think he is or the Pats lead the league in smoke and mirrors. God bless Matt Cassel, but the guy has thrown more touchdown passes than interceptions twice in nine games. Only once has he thrown more than one TD pass in a game. Don’t ask, Bronco Nation. . . .
Pats guard Logan Mankins, to reporters after Sunday’s dubya over Buffalo: “I’d rather have Matt than 99 percent of the quarterbacks in this league.” Check that man for one too many concussions. . . .
By the way, before we go any further, the first Kansas City media geek to rip Herm Edwards for going for two gets a wedgie. . . .
The Chiefs were struggling to get off the mat after blowing a 24-3 lead the previous Sunday, and the Chargers were coming off a bye week after back-to-back losses. Yet the Chiefs came thisclose to winning. If we weren’t sure how shaky the Bolts were before, we are now. . . .
Just wondering: How was Sunday night’s game so close on the scoreboard? The Giants controlled the ball for almost 40 minutes and ran 19 more plays than the Eagles. Sorry, Tennessee, but the G-Men are the best team in the blocking-and-tackling business. . . .
How tough is Sunday’s assignment for the Broncos? The Falcons have played four home games, 240 minutes, and trailed for all of 11 seconds. . . .
Falcons DB Lawyer Milloy, to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “Every year there’s a team that has you scratching your head, that you never saw coming. Why not us?” . . .
From the where-are-they-now dept.: Former Bronco Reuben Droughns, one of the best guys ever to pass through Our Town, was on the Giants’ inactive list vs. the Eagles. . . .
The Raiders have scored 35 points in their past five games. I only mention it because the Jets had 40 at halftime vs. the Rams on Sunday. . . .
Add Raiduhs: They’ve scored 113 points in nine games, about half as many as the Broncos’ 224. . . .
With that running game and D-line, all the Vikings’ Gus Frerotte has to do is — calling all cliche cops — manage the game. No such luck lately. He threw three picks in his first four starts, eight in his last three. . . .
Streaking: Ravens’ Joe Flacco, 111 consecutive passes without a pick. Well done, young man.
Jim Armstrong: 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com
