Last season, Franklin Morales was a snapshot of the Rockies late season run.

He was not much of a known commodity, then Rocktober happened and everything changed. He,like the rest of the team, became household names from Limon to Lodo. Now, everything has changed again----though, this go around, it's not for the better.

On Tuesday, Morales was sent down to Triple-A Colorado Springs---the very place he left to make his mark in Denver last season. He's back for an encore and this demotion is deserved.

Outside of his first start ( 6 IP, O R and 3 K) it has been a downhill slide for a pitcher who can't find his slider or much else these days. In his last four starts, he hasn't had an ERA in any outing under 6.00 and has given up 18 runs in those four subsequent starts.

Much of the Rockies early season struggles have been focused on the sophomore slump of Troy Tulowitzki, which has largely drowned out the struggles of Morales.

To me, Morales will be back soon. His pitching ability is solid, but Tulowitzki is discovering with the bat, what Morales is learning on the mound: The game of baseball, at this level, is all almost about adjustments.

Last season, Morales was a bit of an unknown commodity in baseball. The advantage usually goes to pitchers when they first get called up to the Major Leagues. Hitters aren't familiar with new pitchers, thereby putting them at a disadvantage at least initially. However, as that pitcher makes more starts and batters, coaches, managers, scouts, and analysts get more video of him and get to watch, study, and break down his technique----that advantage the pitcher had has now been more or less mitigtated.

This, in my opinion, is what has happened to Morales. He had a head start and now almost everyone has caught up. The question these days is can Morales get back out in front again?

See you on Friday everybody.

-"z"

Last Monday, Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler turned 25 years old. Three days after celebrating his birthday, word came out that Cutler has type one diabetes.

Until rather recently, type one diabetes was referred to as juvenile diabetes, since this form of the disease was often discovered in children at an early age. However, as medicine evolves, so do our opinions. As Mike Klis pointed out in The Denver Post, actress Mary Tyler Moore, now 71 years old, found out she had type one diabetes in her 30s. Others that lived publicly with type one diabetes included baseball's Jackie Robinson and ice hockey's Bobby Clarke.

Type one is considered the most serious form of diabetes, though through proper care, allows those afflicted with it to live long, productive, and healthy lifestyles. One of those people is former CU All-American Jay Leeuwenburg. Jay played for the Buffs from 1989-1991 and nine years in the National Football League. Last night, Leeuwenberg stopped by the News 2 studios in Greenwood Village after the news about Cutler emerged and reiterated his thoughts about the diagnosis not affecting Cutler's athletic ability, much like it did not restrict his.

Last night Cutler told a Denver television station he had lost weight and as far back as last October said he felt that he had difficulty in the ability to gather his normal strength. He also felt the lack of strength as he attempted to pass the football.

The best news for all involved is Cutler has been now properly diagnosed and what he has is very treatable. Even though he has only been in town since 2006, the city's most scrutinized athlete has been generous in his civic endeavors in our community. This Saturday, Leeuwenburg is hosting a gala event for the area's juvenile diabetes chapter at the Denver Marriott City Center. Knowing Cutler and his penchant to reach out and give back, it may not be long before diabetes has two high profile Denver sports figures raising awareness about it.

Have a great day.

-"z"

To many of us that have seen him, it appears that the Broncos have no problem at the quarterback position and will not for many seasons to come.

It just seems that Jay Cutler can be that good of a player.

On Thursday night, when word surfaced that Cutler had been diagnosed with type one diabetes, the initial reaction focused on Cutler's current physical condition, well-being, and his prognosis to live a healthy life from that point forward. A scary thing to think about for anyone, especially when you turned just 25 years old earlier in the week.

The medical community seems to agree that tremendous strides have been made in treating type one diabetes over the past several years and with proper management of his newfound diagnosis, Cutler can continue to thrive on the football field and in life.

All of that is great news. As I look at the events of the last few days, I do have one question.

How could the Broncos team doctors not have done a more thorough job in trying to figure out what had ailed Cutler for much of the latter part of the 2007 NFL season?

In his press conference on Friday at Dove Valley, he said he had lost 35 pounds (some of which he's since regained), was constantly tired, and felt the need to urinate often. He said he lost eight pounds the first week and 2-3 pounds in subsequent weeks. Isn't that something the medical team should have been checking out? Also, he mentioned there were times he would run a play and come back to the huddle nearly out of energy. How could any of that happen and not be investigated more thoroughly?

The team doctors thought these problems could be attributed to being a player starting in his first full season as a quarterback in professional football as well as the stress that goes along with it. I am not a doctor, but even if it was stress-related and not type one diabetes, isn't it worth checking out as opposed to just trying to surmise a reason?

At his availability on Friday, Cutler did mention that he was scheduled to take a blood test, however, they never got around to it. That is not Cutler's fault-----it is the fault of the medical staff. Simply put, no matter how busy almost anyone is, having time to take a blood test should be simple. If the President has time to get an annual physical while serving in the White House, than a quarterback, no matter how bogged down with game films, can, too.

I understand the mentality of an athlete. They do not want to see doctors or be in the training room. However, it's the job of the medical staff to override those concerns to make it happen. Football players are paid to help win games. Medical staffs are paid to make sure they are able to play.

To think that somebody's career and life could have been in peril, due to a guess, on the part of a staff smart enough to know some of Cutler's symptoms were quite serious and couldn't be written off as part of a rigorous schedule is a little hard to fathom.

Have a great week, hope to see you on Tuesday.

-"z"

Then again, it could be June too.

Allen Iverson has until before July 1 to decide if he is going to opt out of the final year of his contract with the Nuggets. Of course, if this is many of us, there is no decision regarding this decision. Simply said: If Iverson walks, he relinquishes a $20.84 million salary for the 2008-2009 season.

The Nuggets first must decide if Iverson is a part of this team's core moving forward. From a surface level perspective, that seems like an easy question to answer. However, even though he led the NBA in minutes played at 32 years old and shows no sign of aging, there are some questions to ponder.

1) Should Iverson return for the final year of his contract, how much pressure is on the team's executives to sign him long term? He has become a fan favorite, but just as importantly, if he plays out 2008-2009 on his current deal with no new extension, then the Nuggets risk losing him with no compensation at the end of next season. That makes very little sense......until you consider this next theory.

2) If they let Iverson walk away at the end of next season, they are essentially saying that they need to change their philosophy in regards to contending or that they simply can't afford to pay a 32-year old nearly they what they pay Carmelo Anthony (23) and Nene Hilario (26). What is the long term benefit of signing an aging player who has tremendous skills but had almost no discernable impact on the team and its playoff pursuit since he arrived?

3) They can try to move Marcus Camby or Kenyon Martin, then sign Iverson, offer a smaller extension to J.R. Smith, and hope to be in be in better shape in regards to their salary structure. Camby has value and Martin has performed better than anyone expected coming off of microfracture surgery. Losing either wouldn't have the effect that losing Iverson would-- from a talent standpoint--- however, it could be more harmful in another way, namely from a defensive perspective. We came to see that this team's deficiencies on defense prevented them from a serious Playoff run. Those two bring a presence on that end of the floor (though Camby struggled towards the end), that would be difficult to replace.

4) Coming into the season, two years ago, the Nuggets badly needed an outside shooter. They had all season to sign a shooter, trade for one, or find one somewhere on the roster. They weren't able to do so and that lack of perimeter marksmanship cost them in the Playoffs. Last season, the issue was defense. They all say they want to play better defense as well. They said that after being eliminated last week, they said in training camp in Durango, they said it a lot, though the question remains, will they actually do it?

5) George Karl is going to come back. After falling behind 3-0 to the Lakers, it looked as though Karl and Iverson were not pals. After the fourth game, Iverson indicated he has no problems with Karl. To me, it stands to reason that, Karl may have issues with players. How tough can Karl be? His guys don't play much defense, however, they try to compensate by turning it up offensively. The proof is there, they have two of the top five scorers in the NBA but if they don't play defense, Karl can't punish those dissenters, simply due to the numbers saying those same guys keep the Nuggets in games due to scoring. He can't frown on their defense since it may cost him offense by sitting those not exerting proper defensive effort. At least Karl, is coming back. As for the case with Allen, who really knows?

See you on Wednesday.

-"z"

The Broncos are off this the rest of this week before returning to Dove Valley next week.

On May 19, they begin quarterback camp. We will hear from the rookies on May 22 and May 29. With that in mind, let's take a look at some issues that might come up once May 19 arrives.

Cutler's Medical Condition.
An issue that has been at the front of the sports news here will come into fruition when we first get to see Jay Cutler actually somewhat simulate football action while doctors will monitor his blood sugar levels. The intensity of these camps are, as expected, much lower than that of a regular season game, but this is a whole new process for Cutler and the team, so to see how this situation will work or how they at least plan to address it, will be interesting.

Will Clady Be All Right At Left Tackle?
The day he was drafted, Ryan Clady said he wanted to compete for the starting job at left tackle, a position made available by the retirement of stalwart Matt Lepsis. Clady has put forth some confidence and an admirable approach in saying he expects to try and win the job. You have to like that if you are a Broncos fan. However, how easy is that really going to be? The Broncos are going to give him every chance to win the job but the position is too important (protecting the blind side of Cutler) that they can't hand it to him based solely on his draft status. How he responds, to me, next to Jay Cutler and the return of wideout Brandon Marshall will be the biggest story of training camp.

More on Clady on Thursday.

Have a nice day.

-"z"

This may sound a bit strange, though, it is probably accurate.

The longest tenured member of the most popular team in our area is somebody you might pass on the street and maybe not even recognize. Think about it: Tom Nalen has been with the Broncos since they picked him in the 7th round of the 1994 NFL Draft, but because of where he plays----on the offensive line----he may go abit under the radar. In itself, this seems a bit perplexing becuase you could argue Nalen helped lead the unit that allowed the Broncos to be the rushing envy of every team in the NFL for many years. Although, when you play a position that goes barely noticed, you get barely noticed.

It looks as though that is about to change.

The Broncos have a huge hole at left tackle and need somebody to fill it. Ryan Clady, the team's first round pick, has said he is prepared to compete for that starting spot. That sounds great, but whoever wins the position better play great, since it will be quarterback Jay Cutler's blindside he will be charged with trying to protect.

Will we see the highly skilled but barely experienced Clady start? If we do, is there any reason for concern? Let's check.

Clady was picked 12th overall by the team in April.

In the last ten NFL Drafts, these players were picked at the tackle position at or higher than Clady was. Overall draft number is denoted in the parentheses.

2008- Jake Long (1).

2007- Joe Thomas (3) and Levi Brown (5).

2006-D'Brickashaw Ferguson (4).

2005-None Picked Higher Than Ryan Clady.

2004-Robert Gallery (2).

2003-Jordan Gross (8).

2002-Mike Williams (4) and Bryant McKinnie (7).

2001-Leonard Davis (2).

2000-Chris Samuels (3).

1999-None Picked Higher Than Ryan Clady.

With that, only 10 players drafted on the offensive line in the last decade have been higher selections than Claddy was. The results of the previous group are mixed.

From an analytical standpoint I would rate them this way:

Highly Above Expected Level: Thomas and Davis.

Above Expected Level: Gross and Samuels.

At Expected Level: Brown, Ferguson, and McKinnie.

Below Expected Level: Gallery and Williams.

Incomplete: Long, until he plays a down in an NFL game.

Of those players, only two have performed way above expections, in my personal estimation. Only five total were at least at the immediate expected level of performance. Two of the ten struggled. Those two teams, Oakland and Buffalo, still are looking for a combination that will work. I guess what I am trying to say is that this is a spot you just can't miss at. You can take a tackle that fails to flourish and move him elsewhere on the offensive line to give you security at another position. Though, even with that, you still have to fill that hole at tackle once the player moves over to another place on the interior line. Free agent tackles are very expensive, but worth the cash. Walter Jones received.$52.5 million from the Seahawks and Steve Hutchinson got a $49 million offer from the Vikings. In that span, Shaun Alexander and Adrian Petersen have been able to shine playing behind Jones and Hutchinson respectively.

As the Denver line continues to fade, so has their rushing attack. They need Clady to perform well, to not just protect Cutler and help the running attack, but to be a indicator of measured team success for many seasons to come.

Have a nice day.

-"z"

At this time last year, at least behind the plate, the Rockies had a constant.

It probably wasn't the constant they wanted, but the had no choice. Much like the second base position this year, the Rockies had a player they wanted to win the spot----only one little problem---he couldn't do it.

Well, as they say, that was then and this is now.

Back at the start of 2007, Chris Ianetta was seen as the Rockies catcher of the future with a chance to learn in the present. Yorvit Torrealba was a career transient, just lookiing to make the team. He won the job and the prized prospect went to down to Triple-A Colorado Springs.

With the personable Torrealba calling the signals, the Rockies went to the World Series. His background in Spanish helped im work effectively with young pitchers Manny Corpas, Ublado Jiminez, and Franklin Morales.

He also came up with some key hits to help spark what is now known in these parts as "Rocktober".

Late in 2007, Ianetta received a call up and while he contributed, it was less than what Torrealba had given them with the bat and the glove. Strangely enough, as spring training began, it seemed like it was Torrealba's job lose.

He had an off-season signing with the Mets declined due to a failed physical and came back to Colorado, where management would seemingly have an upper hand in a deal for a new contract. Still, if he outperformed Ianetta, Torrealba would continue to stunt the development of the can't miss prospect who seemingly can't get on the field.

To state it once more, that was then and this is now.

The pendulum has shifted. As of Thursday night, Ianetta is batting .353 with 3 home runs. His two-run triple in the eighth Wednesday was the reason the Rockies finally defeated the Cardinals after much frustration.

His competition, Torrelba is batting .235 and it seems clear Ianetta's hot play of late has been the spark this team needed. In addition,Torrealba's ability to communicate with the team's young pitchers appears a light concern, at least momentarily. Morales is headed back to the minors. Corpas lost his job as closer. Jiminez is the only one left but has been shaky at times.

I think it's safe to say the shaky part of Ianetta's career may have come and gone.

Have a great day.

-"z"

With the way things have ended the last five seasons, almost nobody is going to accuse the Denver Nuggets of being visionaries.

After all, anybody who claims to be a visionary, by definition, has vision. Having vision on a basketball court means the willingness to pass and I think we know how the Nuggets feel about passing the basketball.

That said, give the Nuggets credit for being the first team to discover the man who would change the way the NBA plays basketballl and the fans better-late-than never reassmilitation to a game that used to proclaim itself as "fantastic".

That word---fantastic---might be the way to describe the resume of Mike D'Antoni. The word that is the opposite of "fantastic" might be a good way to describe his tenure with the Nuggets.

The strike-shortened 1999 season in Denver was the first NBA head coaching experience for a man who on Saturday agreed to a $24 million contract to coach the New York Knicks. Anybody who was around in 1999 would have put the odds on D'Antoni landing that deal about as long as this current Nuggets squad playing defense.

He lasted one year. He was 14-36 and on the day before his second season was about to begin, Dan Issel decided he could do better and put himself on the bench. Nine years later, D'Antoni left Denver for the desert, won an average of 58 games over the last four years, and went to two Western Conference Finals. Oh, yeah, and that $24 million contract. Issel? He resigned under controversial circumstances. He was replaced by Mike Evans, Jeff Bzdelik, Michael Thompson, and George Karl. That worked out out pretty well, huh? Well, at least it did for D'Antoni.

The biggest knock on D'Antoni is his playoff record. They were 26-25 in his tenure in the Valley of the Sun. The Nuggets in that same span? They were 3-16 in the Playoffs. Never stretching a series longer than five games. Never out of the first round.

With all that, give the Nuggets some credit. They saw the abilities of D'Antoni before anybody, but weren't willing to be patient enough to see it through. Considering that, how strange is it that these current Nuggets wanted more than anything to play the offense popularized by the Suns...coached until last week by, yeah, D'Antoni.

Coincidence?

Have a wonderful Monday.

-"z"

The ace of the Rockies staff coming into the season was Jeff Francis.

It is safe to say, that after Tuesday night, he is unquestionably the biggest disappointment on the pitching staff.

It is May 14 and the man the Rockies were relying on...has been unreliable. He is 0-4 with a 6.27 ERA. What is the deal?

After their loss to Arizona last night, manager Clint Hurdle laid the blame on himself and on the team--but not on Francis. "We have to find a way to stir some things up and that comes into my lap, on my desk," Hurdle said.

Then, more blame to go around--this time for the team--but not for Francis. Said Clint, "we have to put a better product on the field."

How about putting a better effort forth on the mound from a player they expected to be better?

A good move by Clint to not lay it all on Francis--after all, he must be as frustrated as anybody, but blame needs to be laid on his shoulders, a least a bit, don't you think?

At the start of the season, the biggest question marks were said to be the progress of Morales and Jiminez. They have been as inconsistent as many thought they might be as they began their first full seasons. After all, they provided a boost last season, though that's before everyone--including the opposition--had an off-season to analyze their deliveries and try to accentuate their flaws. Safe to say, they never thought Francis was going to be much of a concern.

Well, now, it's safe to say he is.

Have a great day, everybody.

-"z"

"We really got the guy we wanted." Sound familiar?

That was the phrase coming straight from then Nuggets General Manager Kiki Vandeweghe upon drafting Carmelo Anthony on June 26, 2003. Almost five years later, Carmelo is still looking for his first playoff series win and Vandeweghe is running the New Jersey Nets with Rod Thorn.

The question now is will be there a reunion betweenCarmelo and the man who drafted him in Denver out in New Jersey? Sound a little crazy? It most likely is.

Although, there is at least some traction to this unlikely scenario.

To me, it sounds like a little much. Yes, Carmelo has been among the top scorers in the NBA and one of the most beloved stars in the League. However, as good as he has been in terms of scoring points and marketing items, he has been less than stellar as a teammate, has not been a defensive force, has not become the leader his Draft day colleagues LeBron James and Dwyane Wade have, and unlike King James and "Flash" has not become a major threat in the NBA Playoffs.

We should say that Carmelo is 23 years old and because of that I think you cannot trade him. There is tremendous talent in him that has been displayed and tons of potential that yet has to be discovered. His ceiling is so high it is frightening. You just can't give up on some like that. Ever. Well, maybe not ever, but 23 is too young to give up on a player you think can be your bedrock for the next decade.

Also, take a look at the Nets. How many guys on that roster do you want if you are a Nuggets fan? Not many, at least in my estimation.

Just the thought of.this though, shows how nobody on this team is untouchable. In a way, it is refreshing to see that no stone will be unturned in an effort to turn the this organization around. To me, though, there is one guy who should be an untouchable player.

See you on Monday.

-"z"

Turns out, the Rockies do have a winning record----kind of. Sort of.

The Rockies take two of three from the Twins this weekend and their record now stands at 2-1, their interleague record, that is. Hey, at this juncture, we'll take it.

Overall the team is at 17-27, which going into Monday night action was good enough for third place in the National League West. Also, good enough to be 11 games behind the Diamondbacks. Yeah, 11 games back in May.

The good news? The Giants, a half-game behind the Rockies, are in town tonight.

The bad news? Winning the division, a goal of this squad in spring training, is going to be doubly difficult. For one, they are, as we mentioned, 11 games back of a team that looks like it has some staying power. Second, if they hope to make some noise in either the division race or the wild card spot, they are going to have to do it against teams that, so far, for the most part, they have struggled against.

With regard to their current standing and prospects, it stands to reason that the quickest way to catch the competition is to be far more competitive in the division. A win for the Rockies, a loss for an NL opponent, a two-game swing, so to speak. Since you play your division rivals more than anyone else on your team schedule, it's the fastest way to catch up to the leaders.

So let's find out how easy this might be for them.

The first place team is the Arizona Diamondbacks. They are 28-16 overall. The Rockies are 1-5 against the Diamondbacks. They have twelve games left against one another in the regular season.

The second place team is the Dodgers. They are 22-21 overall. The Rockies are 1-5 against the Dodgers. They have twelve games left with the Dodgers.

The Giants are 17-28 and are in fourth place. They are at Coors Field tonight. They are 1-2 so far against them. Fifteen games to go against them.

The Padres are in the basement with a 16-29 record. They have, so far, split six games. Twelve more to go with the Padres.

The bottom line is that even though it is a rather small sampling, the Rockies are just 6-15 against the NL West with 51 division contests still left to play. They know playing well in the Division is the fastest way to gain an edge. Doing that, as we have seen, is something they haven't fully figured out just yet. Then again, they were late to the party last year too and that did not turn out too badly.

Enjoy the week.

-"z"

The following scenario seems hard to imagine, but it seems like it's coming true. A top level NBA player, already a star at 23 years old, the face of a franchise, and the voice of the basketball youth movement is possibly on the verge of being traded and the reaction is casual and collective indifference of opinion.

That player is Carmelo Anthony. A player who led Syracuse to an NCAA title in his one year on campus. A man who dominated the NCAA Tournament as if the stage was his own private showcase. A player who has taken the Nuggets to the NBA Playoffs every year since arriving in Denver. A player who signed a $79 million deal with the Nuggets to become the face of the franchise. The question now can be asked, Is Anthony about to become the face of a different franchise?

With a follow up story to the one printed last week, Al Iannazone adds more detail to rumblings that Anthony may be traded to the East, not back near his hometown of Baltimore, though instead, to New Jersey. The idea that this is even being discussed makes me wonder about two factors.

First, are the Nuggets ready to give up on Anthony at the age of 23 years old? They signed him to a $79 million contract to be their building block for years to come. Have they soured on him as quickly as the Nets seem to be infatuated with him? How much of this has to do with the way the Nuggets were eliminated from the NBA Playoffs, a series in which they got dismantled and barely showed signs of life and emotion. The series will always be remembered here for Carmelo's "We Quit" comment. Have the Nuggets quit trying to persuade themselves that they should wait it out and see if Anthony becomes the player on and off the court they hoped? His contemporaries from that 2003 NBA Draft, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade have already passed him by. Are the Nuggets thinking about doing the same?

Also, how is this possible blockbuster not getting a lot of play in the press? You barely hear about it hear in town. Maybe trading the player who could turn out to be the best that ever wore the powder blue and white and barely a mention? Seems strange to me.

Possible reason for that scant amount of press coverage could be because it seems hard to imagine that the Nuggets would part ways with Anthony, who despite some off the court issues, remains one of the NBA's best and most popular players.

Here are some reasons that the trade has a little merit. Not reasons for advocating the move, just some thoughts on why it might be more than just talk at this point.

The Kiki And Carmelo Show
He drafted Anthony in Denver and presently is helping to run the basketball operation with Rod Thorn out in New Jersey. Have to think that common bond between the franchises may give this scenario more juice, since after all, who knows Anthony better than Kiki?

The Point Guard Glut
New Jersey has two point guards. The Nuggets have none and they need one. They have Chucky Atkins but Coach George Karl's reluctance to play Atkins down the stretch, to me, is somewhat telling. I know he was injured, but with Karl begging the team to make the extra pass, why wouldn't Karl play somebody who thinks pass first if he could? To me, Karl is not bullish on Atkins. The Nets can offer Marcus Williams to the Nuggets and keep Devin Harris.

Draft Delight For New Jersey
They have a 1.4 percent of grabbing the top overall selection, though they do have two first round picks. One of those is the 21st overall pick. If the other somehow becomes a high first round selection, that might be another part of a possible trade proposal to Denver. This year's NBA Draft looks to deep with talent and the chance to draft high enough to find a possible franchise player to maybe replace Carmelo should not be ignored either. Will that player turn out to be better than Carmelo? Who knows? Will be be cheaper? At least initially, yes.

A lot still needs to happen for this to even take the next step. The exact position of New Jersey's pick will be determined at the NBA Draft Lotery tonight, but just thinking about this series of events and possible scenarios, is equal parts fun and puzzling. Pretty sure the latter adjective sums up Anthony's view on all of this.

Enjoy your Tuesday.

-"z"

Not exactly the title of that 1970s sitcom, then again it is 2008 and the NBA is way different than it was in the 1970s. The shorts are longer and so are the odds someone will trade for Carmelo Anthony.

So I guess the headline of the blog today isn't entirely accurate considering Carmelo never actually went anywhere so the "Welcome Back" part of it might as well be "Welcome To Stay".

On the subject of trade rumors, the thought initially was that if the Nuggets wanted to even consider dealing Carmelo, they would have to get an offer so attractive and impressive, that they would more or less be forced to listen.

As we have come to see, it looks like it could have been possibly the other way around. Not only were the Nuggets, according to a report, shopping Carmelo, they were having premilinary talks with the Nets that in my opinion, wasn't going to offer that much in return. The Nets were looking at sending Richard Jefferson, Marcus Williams, Keith Van Horn, and a high lottery pick (both teams hoped) to the Nuggets for Carmelo and Marcus Camby. Last night, when the Nets got the 10th overall pick in the NBA Draft, the deal most likely fell apart.

The Nuggets needed or at least were hoping that the Nets could buck the odds and land a top three or at worst, a top five selection. That would allow them to draft a player that could possibly replace Anthony, as well as acquire Williams to play point guard, a position they have had issues filling since trading Andre Miller in December 2006. That would allow Allen Iverson to switch back to the shooting guard spot (if he does not opt out of his current deal), and try to contend that way. In my opinion, if the deal had gone down, the Nets would have gotten the edge. Carmelo is a proven player in the NBA and one of the best talents to arrive on the scene in recent memory. Marcus Camby struggled in the NBA Playoffs but is still a great defender, a trait any team could use.

The draft pick falling into place was the key. When that didn't occur, neither did continuing possible trade talks. Is it over? Not entirely, I guess, but the guess here is that George Karl and Carmelo are back with one another again in Denver-----instead of Carmelo and Kiki reuniting in New Jersey. Stay tuned, however, we still need to see what Allen Iverson will do.

Have a nice Wednesday, everybody.

-"z"

In life, when somebody gives you a vote of confidence----it, well, makes you feel confident.

In the world of sports, if you get that same vote of confidence, you might as well start planning your exit strategy.

On Tuesday, Calvin Andrews, who represents Carmelo Anthony, said to The Denver Post that the team was not looking to move Anthony. A recent report had him as the headliner in a trade with New Jersey. Despite the comments of Andrews, Mark Warkentein, Nuggets Vice President Of Basketball Operations, declined comment.

To me, that decision is a little puzzling. If there is speculation that a player that you claim you covet and want to build around (not to mention gave a $79 million contract to) is not on the trading block, then why not just come out and say that? It puts everyone at ease, particularly Anthony, who at 23 years old is already going through the most trying year of his professional career, after the criticism of yet another early Playoff exit and his off the court issues. Tell everybody that they are keeping him and let this team, who has had one issue after another all season long, have some peace. The drama that engulfed this team all season long didn't help them, so why bring additional problems to the table with the refusal of the team's front office to address the Anthony trade situation?

To me, the reason that they are not so forcefully responding is maybe, even despite the assurance of Andrews, the Nuggets are still looking for a dance partner.

Have a nice Thursday, see you on Friday, everyone.

-"z"

As we have heard over the last few seasons, if you're competing for a roster spot with the Denver Broncos, you are going to have to that earn that position. Mike Shanahan won't hand you anything---except, a chance.

Players that the team drafted low have become stalwarts (Tom Nalen and Terrell Davis). Other players, drafted high, failed to meet those loft goals (George Foster and Willie Middlebrooks). These players, of course, are representative of just a small sampling, but it is worth noting.

If the model at Dove Valley was set based upon those parameters, that production will almost always win out over praise and pedigree, then the words Shanahan spoke of when describing Ryan Clady's position were particularly insightful. He said Clady, the team's number one draft pick in 2008, is for the moment, the starter at left tackle.

As we get further into minicamps and eventually start training camp, that can all change, however, I suspect it will not. Clady has a lot of pressure on him here and so does Shanahan for handing him the starting spot so soon. Other than quarterback, you could say the most important position on any team---especially on a team with three right-handed passers--- is left tackle. Most days, you are only as good as your quarterback and it is the job of the left tackle to make sure his blind side is protected. The Broncos will go as far as Jay Cutler can take them, but if Clady cannot protect Cutler, then a problem arises.

With a rookie comes promise, but also a lack of experience. Safe to assume, the rush coming from the edge in the NFL will be much faster than anything Clady saw in college at Bosie State. Shanahan thinks he can handle it. Although, if Clady struggles, can Shanahan deliver little more slack to Clady and his spot? Sure, after all, he is a high draft pick and the staff desperately wants to prove the selection was worthy. However, that cannot be at any cost. If the struggles are lengthy, then a change has to occur. It's for the good of the team, one person's standing cannot get in the way of everybody else.

We should know more soon. Maybe he shines and the pick becomes a big success. That would go miles in helping the Broncos reinvigorate the run game and provide enough protection to help the passing game. If it doesn't, then maybe naming a starter before they do anything to secure the position, could be reconsidered in the future. Maybe.

See you on Tuesday, I hope.

-"z"

It is hard to argue that no rookie in the NFL this upcoming season will be more scrutinized than Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan.

From interviews I have heard with him, he seems like he is upbeat and ready for the challenge at hand---and he knows---it is a very big one. Replacing Michael Vick, in a city that came to, at one time adore him. Replace Vick, who led the Falcons from mediocrity to meteoric heights. He did it all with such style and an athletic sensibilty almost never seen before. Then, it all started going wrong.

These days, the face of Falcons is no longer the man who handed Green Bay their first ever loss at home in the postseason, it's instead a fresh face from Boston College, with loads of potential and perhaps even greater pressure.

With the topic of pressure, comes expectations. This is where I don't think Ryan is even the most scrutinized rookie with the name "Ryan"----seriously. To me, that falls to Ryan Clady, the offensive tackle drafted by the Broncos in the first round of the NFL Draft this past April.

Do I think Clady has more pressure on him than Ryan? At least in the short term, I do. Matt Ryan will have more pressure on him over long haul, but since the Falcons have struggled so mightily as a franchise over the last year, I think Ryan, like a lot of rookie quarterbacks will get a momentary break from scrutiny. After all, Troy Aikman was 1-15 his rookie year and Peyton Manning was 3-13 in his first year. Both went on to win the Super Bowl, in Aikman's case, he won it three times. However, even those two guys got the chance to grow and develop. Ryan, on a team many think isn't that talented to begin with and is starving for fans at the moment, should get a free pass at least this season. The odds really are stacked against his chances for instant football success and the timetable for a proper evaluation should reflect those obstacles, which will possibly take years to fix.

With Clady, the impact should be more clear. Mike Shanahan has named Clady the starter. They have not done that with Ryan in Atlanta yet. Clady will be expected to protect the blind side of Jay Cutler. I think its fair to say, that this team, may go as far as Cutler can take it. Clady's effectiveness in learning the team's system will be a huge factor in determining how successful Cutler can be this season. The way Shanahan more or less handed him the job, at least for the moment, shows they are expecting a huge year from Clady in 2008. The Falcons are expecting a huge year for Matt Ryan as well----maybe in the 2013 season.

See you on Wednesday, I hope. Have a great day.

-"z"

On Tuesday, the Broncos bolstered their running game by signing Michael Pittman.

This can be viewed as a positive, though in some respects, to me, this appears to be a precautionary move. Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan has always looked at competition as nothing but healthy. In addition, Shanahan's offensive schemes, especially in the rush game, can never be underestimated. He can flat out decipher talent at that spot. Terrell Davis, Mike Anderson, Reuben Droughns, Clinton Portis, and Selvin Young are a few names that come to mind. Not one of them was a first round selection.

The signing of Pittman helps to, at least momentarily, ease the loss of Travis Henry, out with a hamstring inury. Pittman will be entering his 11th year in the NFL, so his productivity remains an issue, as does his ankle. When healthy, he can be a force. The real question remains, how healthy is he? Healthy enough to compete with Selvin Young, the player currently taking carrying the football with the Broncos first team offense? We will see shortly.

Also, other than the depth the position gains with Pittman's signnig, comes yet another question. How much of this signing has to with depth and how much of it has to do with not being able to totally trust your first-team players? Henry has had issues with the Broncos and at this stage, really cannot be counted on. Pittman, while perhaps not as dangerous of a threat as Henry, at least is far more dependable.

This same type of issue seems to be the case at wide receiver. Brandon Marshall is the most talented of the group, yet seems the most likely to find himself involved in some situation that he should not be involved with. As a possible result, the team drafted Eddie Royal and signed Samie Parker and Darrell Jackson to compete and push Marshall and Brandon Stokley.

The question should be asked. If Henry is fully healthy and reilaible, do they sign Pittman? If Marshall doesn't suffer his accident, do they sign a group of wide receivers? That is hard to tell, but it's not to see how fragile some of this team's starters are.

See you on Thursday.

-"z"

We know two things about Travis Henry.

One, when healthy, he can be a productive running back. He led the NFL in rushing after four games last season.

Two, when he isn't healthy or is involved in some sort of dilemma---an accurate way to describe most of his 2007 season-he can be more trouble than he is worth.

You get the prevailing notion, and Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan feels the same way. He signed Henry to a $22.5 million contract about a year ago and you can almost sense he regrets it already.

Why else would he bring in Michael Pittman? A guy who has been in the NFL for ten years absorbing tough hits, is not a guy who is your answer for the long term.

Then again, it's possible that rookie Ryan Torrain might be. Then again,the idea of mixing the Pittman experience factor with Torrain and his fresh legs, just goes to show that they might not be able to depend on Henry and if that is the case they hope to have the necessary personnel to go on without him.

To this point, Henry has missed workouts due to a hamstring injury. Shanahan is most likely going to hold it against him. It was just two years ago that Ron Dayne was the team's top running back in training camp. Then, Mike Bell made a push and got the temporary nod. Today, Dayne is out of Denver and Bell is here, though is more or less out of the mix. The lesson in that? With Shanahan, anybody can rise up his depth chart, so just because Henry has a recognizable name, it may not get him anywhere.

This is a big year for the organization and it would be beneficial if Henry played an active role. However, Shanahan cut Henry's financial deal so much, it makes you wonder that if Selvin Young, Pittman and Torrain can be sufficient replacements, do they even need Henry and the issues that come along with having him? One thing seems certain. Every quarterback needs a strong run game. There may no other coach in the NFL who has been as talented in finding them than Shanahan. However, one thing remains uncertain. What role will Henry play in that run game?

Have a graet weekend, hope to see you on Monday, everyone.

-"z"