Denver Post sports columnist Woody Paige posts Woody’s Mailbag on Thursdays at DenverPost.com.
To drop a question into Woody’s Mailbag or visit DenverPost.com’s . And to browse the archive of videos in Woody’s World, .
Woodrow – A couple of months ago, you asked for Mike Shanahan’s head on “Around the Horn,” and you got it. Where should we go from now? I am a very big fan of yours and your thoughts, but I don’t know if this is the best thing for a team that is falling apart at the seams.
— Bryan Heavey, San Diego
They’ve gone now, Bryan, with a new coach and a new defensive coordinator. I’m not sure about either, honestly.
I preferred one of the quality defensive coordinators — (even though he blew me off after the Giants lost on Sunday night) and Rex Ryan of the Ravens, who I love, but may not get a job because of the baggage of his father (Buddy Ryan). But Rex Ryan has done incredibly well with the Ravens. He’s a John Madden-type guy in appearance and style.
The Broncos have to sign two safeties (Mike Brown is my choice, from the Chicago Bears, often hurt, but great when he plays, and a field leader), a linebacker (I like Channing Crowder from the Dolphins, and he won’t cost that much, and is a great tackler) and Julius Peppers and Terrell Suggs (an end/linebacker). Albert Haynesworth will get all the attention, but I don’t think he fits , and you can get a couple of great players for what he will cost.
I’d draft at No. 12 a defensive lineman or safety who can play right away and contribute. The Broncos need six or seven new players on defense. I’m OK with the offense, if the Broncos get a fifth receiver in the draft, two more offensive linemen (a center) and a running back in the second or third round. A new kicker, or, at least, competition should be a necessity.
I like the linebackers overall, if they’re healthy and in a 3-4, and they should move Jarvis Moss to linebacker. He can’t beat any offensive lineman with his (lack of) size, and somehow they’ve got to get contributions from Marcus Thomas and Tim Crowder. Dewayne Robertson is history. He did nothing and is owed a big bonus that can be given to a nose tackle. Can’t give you one, though, at this juncture.
It looks like Jeremy Bates will be gone, but doesn’t bother me. They’ve got to keep Bobby Turner, the running backs coach. He’s the best in the league. How’s that for starters?
I saw that Jay Mariotti ended up with AOL Sports. He wrote in a recent column: “Sometimes, my pieces will appear via video, so you get to know me even better than .” Do you think Mariotti schools you on “Around the Horn”? Every day?
— Steve V., Denver
I don’t think Mariotti went to school.
After watching the Bowlen-Shanahan press conference, I humbly take back all the negative things I said about Pat Bowlen and most of the bad things I’ve said about Mike Shanahan. I was blown away by the grace and class of two men who obviously have a great deal of respect for each other. Looking ahead, what do you think about Rick Dennison as head coach? Interesting, no?
— Anthony Vallejos, Los Alamos, N.M.
Interesting? No. He won’t be the head coach, Anthony, as you know by now, although he should be kept as offensive line coach, and I’d give him a title. He’s been a company man and has done all the jobs asked of him offensively and defensively, and the offensive line is no problem. He’s interviewing around, but the Broncos should do what they can to keep him.
What do you think of about a half-billion on three free agents? With this economy? And why did the Yankees need a new stadium? Is this why? Thanks.
— Ken, Denver
Ken – The Yankees felt they needed a new stadium for luxury suites. It’s all about boxes at every stadium. I was at Giants Stadium last weekend, and they’re building a new stadium, despite the current stadium being perfect for fans, strictly to sell luxury suites.
How’s that going in this economy? Corporations that are going out of business and individuals who were rich aren’t buying any more. It’s hurting every team … except for the Yankees. They’ve sold out most of their tickets (at much higher prices) for the first year in the stadium, and they’ll sell the suites, so they had to make a splash, and they did, because they haven’t been to the World Series for so long, have fallen behind Boston and Tampa Bay in the division and because they’re moving into the new place. It’s all about New Yankee Stadium.
I preferred old Yankee Stadium. I see where one of the Yankees executives has been called into court to testify because there was a lot of weird stuff surrounding the building of the stadium. This is not “The House That Ruth Built.” The House That Ruthless Built.
If a playoff isn’t possible, what is the possibility of the MWC becoming a BCS conference? And take Boise State, Fresno State and either Hawaii or Nevada, add them to the Mountain West. There wouldn’t be much left for the BCS to worry about concerning outsiders. Maybe a team occasionally from the Conference USA. The MWC and Boise State are set to be constant headaches for the BCS powers that be.
— Pat, Laramie
Pat – The BCS deserves all the grief it gets. In a playoff, you would have had Florida, Texas, Utah and Southern Cal. Now you’re talking.
, and I can tell you that there’s no hope for a tournament, but there is hope before next season of another team from a non-BCS conference. So Utah or Air Force or Boise State will have a better chance.
The Mountain West is happy with its conference and doesn’t want to add anyone. The Western Athletic has recovered from the mutiny of the schools that formed the Mountain West, and I know this because both conference headquarters are in Denver. Ultimately, there will have to be a playoff, and Utah or a BYU or CSU will have a chance. Until then, the BCS should have a hangover headache.
What is the purpose of the thin bands football players have been sporting on upper arms and calves this season?
— Jenne Kerallah, Fort Mill, S.C.
Jenne – It is a way of protecting muscles, biceps, hamstrings, etc. It is placed in a position to try to prevent strains and tears. If nothing else, they think the bands will help. Guys still get hurt, and trainers and doctors still try to come up with ways to help.
Offensive linemen have been wearing knee braces for years, and quarterbacks wear flak jackets, and the helmets have been improved. I think the game has become so violent because of bigger, faster bodies that injuries happen more often, and I also think that there will be improvement in equipment — and bands — that will be preventative.
I am a Broncos fan and I like watching Jay Cutler, but I think that both Cutler and Philip Rivers are equal in the punk department. Can you think of two more high-profile athletes with the combined immature body language and crybaby capacity that these two have?
— Jamie, Denver
Yes, Jamie, but they lead the league for quarterbacks. They’re both cocky, confident guys, and they don’t like each other and what’s happened between them and the two teams. I wish Cutler would be a bit more accommodating to the fans, and even to the media, and I wish Rivers wouldn’t be such a diva, but I’m fine with that. My feelings aren’t hurt, and yours shouldn’t, either. You don’t have to deal with them, as I do. Just watch them on the field. Would you rather deal with the T.O.s of the world? I didn’t think so.
I love you on “Around the Horn.” Are the winners already decided before the show?
— Larry Lawson, Ellerslie, Ga.
No. I think the loser (me) is. We never talk about it, honestly. It’s just what Tony Reali is feeling that day, and he’s usually feeling against me, since I give him (stuff) during the commercial breaks, and I don’t treat him as king. I know it bothers Mariotti when he doesn’t win. But it’s not fixed, Larry. I promise.
I do think, although he hasn’t told me, that Reali spreads the victories around, except to me, but I lead in total victories, anyway. I can’t tell you how many because I don’t keep up with it. Write Mariotti. He’ll tell you exactly how many he has and I have.
Woody – I think the Broncos should shift to a 3-4 defense, move Champ Bailey to FS, draft USC linebacker Rey Maualuga, draft or sign a beast nose tackle, draft or sign a beast SS, and sign Ray Lewis. That would go a long way to solving our defensive problems. What do you think?
— MJ, Phoenix
Well, MJ, they are switching to a 3-4; they are not moving Champ (I think he’s 31 or 32), at least not soon, and I think they should draft Maualuga, although I’m not sure he’ll be available at No. 12, and I think they should sign a beast nose tackle (but neither of us knows of one available in free agency), and I think they should sign two safeties, and they won’t sign Lewis, and I don’t think they should. He’s not leaving Baltimore, is getting old, and is on the downside, honestly. I’ve already given my ideas on the defense, but you and I are on the same Paige. Sorry.
Woody – What was your favorite sports story of 2008? Mine is a tie between and the Miami Dolphins. Thanks.
— Mike, Denver
Good question, Mike. Tiger Woods in the U.S. Open for me, Michael Phelps in the Olympics. The Miami Dolphins and the Atlanta Falcons were feel-good stories. I liked the Celtics winning for Kevin Garnett.
In Denver, Chauncey Billups’ return was my favorite story, not only because he made the Nuggets a factor in the West, but also I’ve known him since he was a kid (and graduated with my daughter from high school), and he’s always been a great young man, then a mature adult, a great player (after getting off to a slow start because the Celtics and the Nuggets didn’t know what to do with him and gave up on him) and a decent human being who loves Denver, helps his alma mater and assists a whole lot of young people and charities. What more could you ask from a guy?
I was happy for , happy that , but I was amazed by Tiger and walked alongside the fairway for the last two days, and what he did was incredible. And when we met, just the two of us, a couple of hours afterward, he told me his knee was worse than he was letting on.
Dear Mr. Paige – We get “Around the Horn” here in Israel, and I have become a big fan of yours over the past three years. So much so, that I have named my fantasy football team “Would he Paige?” We play in an ultra-competitive, 14-team league with people who are football junkies. And guess what? “Would he Paige?” have been crowned champions! So thanks for inspiring a great championship team. Who knows? Perhaps you could do the same thing for the Nuggets and help them become bound for glory this season. From your biggest Israeli fan.
— Tal, Jerusalem
Tal – I’ve always wanted to come to Israel, until I found about the fantasy football team and that name.
I’m humbled; I’m honored. But please change the name to something more appropriate than “Would he Paige?” Congratulations on the championship. I may still come, but first I’m going to Iraq to visit the troops and, I hope, make them smile.
Jerusalem? I’ve heard of that. Did something happen there? It’s hard for me to imagine that “Around The Horn” is shown in Israel, Turkey, Australia, Russia, and I hear from people in probably 50 countries. It’s stunning. I should not be on TV. I should be living under a bridge with my predictions. As many would agree.
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 .
