Notes over easy . . .
The Men of Mac playing Europe? Get ready, London. You haven’t seen a team that fades likes the Broncos since the German army in World Wars. . . .
So you’re wondering if age will catch up to Brett Favre this weekend, as it did in his only season with the Jets. Well don’t. It was an injury thing, not an age thing. But don’t take my word for it, check out the numbers: Favre in the first half of 2009: 16 TD passes, three INTs. Favre in the second half of 2009: 17 TD passes, four INTs. . . .
All good streaks must end, including these two, me thinks. Favre is 0-3 vs. the Cowboys in the playoffs, and the Colts have lost three consecutive after earning a bye week. . . .
Did you hear? The Colts’ second- stringers have told coach Jim Caldwell to play them or trade them. . . .
Stuff happens in the Not For Long. To wit: Oh-9 marked the seventh consecutive season with at least one team going last to first in its division. That would be the Saints, whose defense in 2008 was, well, think Paris Hilton at bar time. . . .
Not that the Broncos were, like, totally average this season, but their final record read like this: 8-8 overall, 3-3 in the AFC West, 6-6 vs. the AFC and 2-2 vs. the NFC. Before you go thinking they scored the exact same number of points as their opponents, they didn’t. They outscored them 326-324. . . .
Hey, I’m trying to stress the positive around here, people. And while we’re on the subject, anyone notice that the Local 11 was the last team to beat the Chargers? . . .
Don’t look now, all you Norv Turner bashers, but the next time you throw him under the bus, it might be leading a Super Bowl parade. . . .
Ex-Bronco Mark Schlereth, now an ESPNer, on Turner: “I’ve always respected him as an offensive coordinator, but can you lead a team? Obviously those were the big question marks. He’s changing a lot of people’s position, to be sure, including mine.” . . .
Say it ain’t so, Munchmeister. According to the recruiting pipeline, CU quarterback recruit Munchie Legeaux is checking out the U of Arizona to see if the sand is greener in the desert. . . .
Just wondering: Does Avs rookie Brandon Yip get nervous when he’s standing over a birdie putt? . . .
I’m going to go out on a limb here and predict that, when the Avs play the Flames on March 17 at the Pepsi Center, the Avs will win 3-2. Just like they did Jan. 11. And Dec. 13. And Nov. 17. and Oct. 28. And you wonder why the Flames came out a little chippy the other night. . . .
Bumper sticker waiting to happen in SEC towns not named Knoxville: “Honk if you haven’t turned down UT.” . . .
Word out of Oakland is that Tom Cable is pondering his future on the Raiders’ sideline after a sitdown with Al Davis. Yo, Cable Guy. What part of ‘You’re so fired’ don’t you get? . . .
Memo to David Stern: I know you’re tending to a little, um, PR hiccup in D.C., but could you please make sure Chris Bosh doesn’t land with the Lakers? . . .
A heartfelt thanks to Mark McGwire’s PR staff for that sincere apology earlier this week. Which reminds me. Three words I never thought I’d be typing: I believe Canseco. . . .
They say it’s your birthday: A.J. Foyt (75), Roy Jones Jr. (41), could-be Nugget Jeff Foster (33) and the one, the only, Albert Pujols (30). Don’t suppose you noticed Matt Holliday got $120 million, huh, Albert? Nah, didn’t think so.
Jim Armstrong: 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com or catch him weekdays from 7-10 a.m. on The Score with Armstrong and Shapiro on Mile High Sports Radio KCKK 1510 AM.
Five fearless predictions
The NBA is approaching the midway point of its season. Here are five semi-guarantees for the remainder of the year:
5. The Grizzlies will finish above .500 and miss the playoffs by four games, marking the most significant development in Memphis since Elvis discovered quaaludes.
4. The Celtics will finish with the best record in the East, narrowly beating out the Cavs. Doc Rivers’ reaction? “I don’t have one. I mean, have you seen how lousy the East is? The ’86 Celtics could have won this thing, and half of them have plastic knees.”
3. The Nuggets will finish with the second-best record in the West.* (*Assuming J.R. Smith quits shooting like Mark Macon.)
2. Chris Bosh, below, will join the Lakers, and the Nuggets’ second-place finish will get them nowhere.
1. Oklahoma City will make the playoffs, but its postseason opener will be played before a half-empty arena. How’s that? The Sooners’ spring game, bubba.
High voltage
The Front Range’s presence figures to be felt Sunday in San Diego.
If Our State’s Own Vincent Jackson doesn’t beat the Jets, former U of Wyoming star Malcom Floyd could.
Jackson has had your basic career year, catching 68 balls for 1,167 yards and nine touchdowns in the Chargers’ big-play offense. Not that he has taken his career to the next level, but Jackson has increased his catch and yardage totals every season since his rookie year of 2005.
His season-by-season catches: 3-27-41-59-68. His receiving yardage: 59-453-623-1,098-1,167.
But then, the Bolts figured Jackson would become a player. They drafted him in the second round. Floyd? He went undrafted in 2004. Like Jackson, he had a breakout year in 2009, establishing career highs in catches (45) and yardage (776).
And according to Charlie Joiner, a Hall of Famer who doubles as the Chargers’ receivers coach, Floyd’s best years could lie ahead.
“He’s the real deal,” said former Broncos safety John Lynch, now a Fox analyst. “I talked to Charlie down on the field and he said, ‘John, he may have the highest ceiling of all our guys.’ ”
