So here is the good news: The Rockies scored 8 runs last night, meaning everybody can get four tacos for a dollar at Taco Bell today.

Now the bad news: Everything else.

At the juncture the Rockies hit the seven run mark or as we like to call it
here-----taco time-----they had a 7-3 edge on the Padres Monday night at Coors Field. That would get bumped up to 8-3 on a hit by Troy Tulowitzki (Yes, he actually got a hit). After that, it all went south and in a hurry. Then, speaking of heading south, Manuel Corpas came in and on the last day of June 2008 channeled his June 2007 alter ego, a month which he was replaced by Manuel Corpas after a month that Barry Zito would consider tough.

When the Rockies had escaped the Fuentes fallout, it was an 8-8 game. The Padres then went on to score seven more and win it 15-8. They scored the final 12 runs of the game and the Rockies were dealt their eighth straight loss. They did not win at all on their recent road trip and home sweet home does not seem to be the cure for their baseball blues.

However, despite losing again last night and ending June in a swoon, they are only 10 games back in the National League West. They have a 32-51 record and their .378 winning percentage is the second worst in MLB behind the Mariners at .376. To help alleviate the issues in the Pacific Northwest, Seattle fired their GM and manager. The chances of that happening here? Probably none at all. Yes, Dan O'Dowd deserves credit for sticking to his plan and seeing 2007 bear that fruit, though, it is starting to look more and more like a hot streak instead of a season that finally got hot. I admire Clint Hurdle, I think his style his very underappreciated. The ability to grow into the job as well as mature throughout his seasons in the dugout has been enjoyable to view. He understands how any other franchises would most likely have let him go before the 2007 season. They did not and it paid off in a huge way.

They are struggling to keep up in a division where last week, one of the teams won a game without getting a hit. Blame goes around, nobody gets the sole responsibility, nobody is off the hook entirely.

Any organization will tell you that with success comes expectations and in that regard, neither of those two, nor Tulowitzki, Jeff Francis, Todd Helton, Franklin Morales, and Corpas among others, has lived up to the challenge. Their last great memories in a Rockies uniform came in 2007, however, astonshingly, the chance to turn around 2008 isn't done yet......For further proof, look no farther than the division standings and most importantly, their 2007 run itself. Think positive, Rockies fans, it's not over yet.

-"z"

What do the Colorado Rockies have in common with real estate agents?

It's all about location, location, location.

A prime piece of real estate---barren---can be a future goldmine----if it's in the right spot. When I was a kid growing up in New Jersey, a small town named Hoboken wasn't the most attractive spot in the Garden State. It was known as the birthplace of Frank Sinatra and that's about it.

Though, there was on thing Hoboken did have going for it. It was right across the river from New York City. It was a short train ride away from the greatest city in the world. So, eventually, Hoboken used its proximity to its advantage. Today, the small town is far cry from what it used to be. It's a packed, high energy landing spot for many young professionals who work in the city and reside in Sinatra's birthplace. It seemed as though, with that prime location, it was only a matter of time before Hoboken became a household name and a household for many in New Jersey.

That long story said, yeah, I know, probably way too long, leads me (somehow) to the Rockies. They are the proud (maybe) of a 37-52 record. That, incredibly, puts them just seven games out of first place in the National League Worst.....make that National League West. They have been without Todd Helton (back), Jeff Francis (shoulder), Troy Tulowitzki (immature), and Franklin Morales (overrated). Without their best player ever, best pitcher (Aaron Cook is on line four to complain), their prized shortstop (Tulowitzki would be on line five but for some reason he can't hold the phone in his right hand), and their young fastball pitching stud, they are right in the race.

Last season at the All-Star break, they were five-and-a-half games out. This year, as mentioned, they are seven out of the chase. So how can anybody count them out?

They have been discussed as potential sellers at the trade deadline, though why is that even being discussed? Brian Fuentes, despite his struggles, could provve to be valuable down the stretch. Matt Holliday has been so good after a quiet April that even discussing trading him would tell the fans all they need to know about the long term views of ownership. Where would the Rockies be without him?

Despite their overall weak performance this season, they just happen to have the good fortune of playing in a weak division and they better take advantage of it soon. Massive injuries, poor execution, sloppier than normal defense (in their defense, no pun intended, it couldn't seemingly match last year), they have a legitimate shot.

There is not one team in the National League West that has won more games than it has lost. The Rockies may have lost their way a little, but a lost season? Not even close to that yet.

-"z"

They are 38-52 so far this baseball season.

That record currently puts them six-and-half games out of first place in the National League West.

Those are facts. The prevailing opinion, however, was that this division was going to be the most competitive in baseball-----and in a way, the experts have been vindicated. The play of all five teams has been so incredibly underwhelming (Arizona's hot start not withstanding) that the inability of any of these teams to separats themselves into even mild respectability has kept everyone in the race but out of the sphere of real contenders.

Here are some more opinions, hopefully more accurate than the prognostication of National Leaue West greatness and balance.

The Rockies Have Almost No Choice But To Match Matt Holliday's Highest Bidder
The chances of the words "Rockies" and "Highest Bidder" being used in the same sentence are rare, though, in this particular case, it is not only appropriate but also imperative. Where would this baseball team be without him? He is batting .345 with 14 home runs and 51 RBI so far. He is one of the few guys in baseball who can change the game with one swing. The Rockies opened up the vault----proportionately---yes, for Troy Tulowitzki and Manny Corpas. Tulowitzki got $30 million or about one-sixth of what Holliday may get if the market is particularly ambitious in 2009. The reality is the numbers between Tulowitzki and Holliday are far and wide, but in terms of practicality------give the edge to Tulowitzki. Nobody that has ever played in the Major Leagues for less than two years, has gotten the contract he got. Said in another way, Holliday, who has proven himself over time, is getting less attention and gratitude from the team than Tulowitzki, who had just one nice season thus far.

The Fans Now Can Equate Holliday's Signing To Ownership Direction
The signing of Tulowitzki is a nice move but if you truly want to convince the fans you are serious about winning and winning today, there is no better proof than to sign Holliday. Yes, they have been burned by Denny Neagle, Todd Helton, and Denny Neagle. However, the loyal fans have showed, if you place a competitive product out on the field at Coors, they will turn out and in very large numbers to boot. More filled seats, means more revenue, means more money to invest back into the team, and there is no better way than to invest than in Holliday. He provides short term results and long term credibility to fans.

Buyer Beware (Do It Anyway)
From one viewpoint, I do understand why Brian Fuentes may be traded but if the Rockies are going to be sellers in regards to relief, they need to be buyers in regards to starters. How does this starting five sound to you? Aaron Cook, Jeff Francis, Ubaldo Jiminez, Mark Redman, and Greg Reynolds. Sounds that bad to me too. I though Jiminez pitched very well Monday night, though for every gem, you can find a downer. The only guy I trust is Cook. You can't have one guy and expect to win in the postseason. Actually, watching their opponent last night, The Brewers, pick up C.C. Sabathia, was somewhat bittersweet because the Rockies could use some starting help themselves.

Long Odds On This, Though Take A Risk
The Sabathia move is very interesting because in order to get him the Brew Crew had to part with four prospects in return for what may be a slightly more than a half-a-season of work. He becomes a free agent at the conclusion of the 2008 season and who really can tell whether he will come back to pitch for them in 2009. However, that risk is one the Brew Crew is willing to take and the Rockies should pay attention. Yes, they have been very clear in their measured approach to contracts and players but if you came so close last year as the Rockies did, you feel like if you can sneak in once more, anything can happen. Go for broke, guys because if it works, being broke is the last thing your organization will end up being. See you tomorrow.

-"z"

The greatest player in franchise history is hitting .266. He has been battling a back problem for the last six years. Worse yet, earlier this week, what was thought to be, well, another back problem, turned out to be a leg problem. Not just any leg problem, however. It has been reported Todd Helton has felt numbness in his leg.

The cycnics in the baseball intelligentsia would say a little of that numbness has spread to his bat and maybe into the psyche of the team's manager also. Helton has lost enough power in his swing that he was dropped from cleanup up to second in the batting order. Clint Hurdle isn't out to hurt feelings or particularly win them over. He is paid to win baseball games. Safe to say, he may not be doing any of the above this season.

There has been no better person to represent the Rockies than Todd Helton. Drafted by the team, he has only donned one color in his career-purple. After a quick look into a possible trade last season, Helton, throughout his tenure in Colorado------good times and the bad----has never asked to be traded. Even last season, Helton said he would be open to a trade but never did demand one. He has been the quintessential loyal company man. Of course, when you have $56 million left on your deal, the idea of being loyal seems easy for anyone.

That, in an unfortunate way, has been become the issue. The Rockies, as it now stands, must pay Helton that exorbinant salary for not so exorbinant statistics. That is unless, someone else wants to do so. Then again, is diminishing power and a frail body worth $56 million to anyone?

Here is the reality of the Helton quandary. He is a lifetime .328 hitter which is tremendous. However, that means this season he is batting 62 points below his career average-------a big decline. He has seven home runs and 29 RBI which begs the obvious: How could Hurdle have not pulled him from the fourth spot in the batting order earlier?

The true power, both on the diamond and in the dugout, belongs to Matt Holliday. With Helton slipping and Troy Tulowitzki injured, the quiet and steely confidence of Holliday is this team's palpable ingredient for potential long term success. That seems slightly ironic because Holliday is so low-key, he often goes unnoticed------that is-----until you look at his numbers.

His career averages consist of .322, 23 home runs and 117 RBI. This year in 73 games he has a .345 average, has hit 14 home runs and has 51 RBI. To me, hs most telling statistic might be his 100 hits. Yes, I understand that Holliday is 28 and Helton is six years his senior, so his production won't be up to that of the crown jewel of the 2009 free agent class. However, in sports, fair or not, we live in the here and now. What is current is what matters. I am not saying that is right or fair, though, it is reality.

Mentioned this in my blog earlier this week. The Rockies took care of Helton, they gave Tulowitzki the richest deal for a player with less than two years of Major League experience, and they even took care of Aaron Cook and Manny Corpas. When are they going to placate Holliday? I know, his deal dwarfs that of what they gave to Tulowitzki, Cook, and Corpas, though, each day they wait, the price just keeps going up and when is the last time the Rockies were victorious in a bidding war for a player?

Hope to see you on Wednesday, everyone.

-"z"

Two years ago, when the Broncos opened training camp, all eyes were on the newly drafted stud of the moment and quarterback of the future, Jay Cutler. However, if you were out there each and every sweltering day that summer, you noticed somebody else, who didn't have the hype of Cutler and really didn't need it. That's because Stefan Fatsis, unlike Cutler, was only planning to stick around for three weeks.

Who is Stefan Fatsis?

He is a writer for The Wall Street Journal and for three weeks in 2006, a player trying to survive training camp in a Broncos uniform.

Fatsis was given permission by head coach Mike Shanahan to spend the duration of training camp with the team and the stories that developed from his tenure are all in his new book called "A Few Seconds Of Panic: A 5-foot-8, 170-pound, 43-year old Sportswriter Plays in the NFL". A bit of a elongated title but the description leaves nothing to the imagination, right? I remember interviewing Fatsis that summer and he was excited to be part of the team but didn't let on to just how much inside information he was getting from players. His book, two seasons removed, makes those previously undisclosed matters rather public.

The idea that training camp is an exercise in boredom and overkill is a popular one. However, is it an accurate one? That is just one subject on which Fatis provides many provocative quotes from players. The quotes that follow were used in a story about his book in the July 14-21 issue of Sports Illustrated on pages 20-21.

Some of the following quotes from players are very surprising and it makes you wonder why they would reveal such personal feelings on the sport to Fatsis, a man many had probably never met, until he one day, he just showed up at the facility. The reason, Fatsis writes is "my teammates saw me as a megaphone: I could correct the vast public misconceptions about what they do."

Fatsis said he teammates described Sundays as "terrifying and exhilarating" but the rest of the week was nothing to shout about. Part of the week included "reminders from coaches that their jobs are on the line, distrust of their bosses, disgust over being scheduled like preschoolers, unfathomable psychological pressure."

Former Broncos wide receiver Charlie Adams said of training camp, in general, as "just seeing the worst part." He then added "the season kind of sucks too."

The Broncos parted with linebacker Ian Gold this past offseason but the relationship started to sour in 2006 if you listen to what he told Fatsis of the team and its ways, saying the organization was "looking for your replacement the day you step foot in this door."

As we have come to assume, players in the NFL are expected to be tough, though Fatsis says what they really want it is "compassion and communication. They get pressure and paranoia instead."

A very specific example of that lack of empathy was evident to Fatsis in the case of former CSU star and Broncos second string quarterback Bradlee Van Pelt. Fatsis says Van Pelt "crumbled before my eyes" in training camp. A reason for the meltdown? Van Pelt said the coaches "could calm your fears or calm your anxiety." Though, he said of the staff "they don't choose to do it."

Yes, the NFL is a super competitive business and these stories almost make you have sympathy for these athletes making way too much money to play a game. Almost, but not quite.

Exactly how much stress and competitive drive is in these guys? In March, the NFL meetings took place at The Breakers, one of the country's top resorts, in Florida. The moment the meetings ended almost every team executive could not get out of there fast enough. Why the rush to leave? Who wouldn't want to spend as much time as possible at a luxurious place like that considering how hard these guys work during the NFL season? The reason is simple. Each moment these guys aren't thinking about how to make their team better is a moment somebody else is focused on making another team better.

As Fatsis says, a lot of players worry about what they will do after football. Though, in the meantime, while the players may not love the sport, he says of their mindset, you may not "want to be on the field, but you can't think of anyplace else you'd rather be."

-"z"

This was a topic we discussed on the 9:00 P.M. broadcast last night, but it is worth revisiting. Only in professional sports, can somebody earning $11.5 in salary be seen as a bargain.

That figure is what Matt Holliday will make in 2008 and 2009 for hitting home runs and patrolling the outfield for the Rockies. That is, unless, he is traded and performs those baseball tasks for some other team.

The chances of that being the case seem to be getting a little greater each day. The reason is simple. Holliday wants to win and he wants to play for a team that is a title contender. The Rockies proved that they could contend for a World Series last season, though they have taken a big step backward on the progression scale in 2008 so far.

Holliday has said before he would like to stay here and there have been indications that he would take a little less money to remain in Denver-----provided the Rockies were fielding a consistently competitive ballclub with a chance to make a postseason run. Holliday saw how close they came a year ago, so to see the depths to which they have fallen this season, has to be a shock to his system.

Is there any way the team's front office can convince Holliday this ship can be righted? Well, perhaps, though does it really matter?

Those questions need to be asked since Holliday is represented by agent Scott Boras, known for squeezing the most amount of dollars out of any team looking for his client's services. You don't hire him to negotiaite anything other than money. I am not saying Holliday is greedy but having Boras on your side draws a clear line in the sand on where you stand on matters finanacially. Speaking of finances, it seems unlikely Colorado could win a bidding war for Holliday. Their history of being burned on term signings seems to indicate not only will the Rockies not win a bidding war, they may choose to not even partake in one, if they feel Holliday is gone after 2009 on his own volition when he becomes a free agent.

To me, the mere idea that Holliday would ever be allowed to file for free agency seems remote. If the Rockies feel they can't sign him, they almost have to trade him or risk getting no compensation for a player that could have gotten them some solid value on the trade market.

To that particular end, the question becomes, when do you trade him? If you trade him now or rather quickly, you are telling the fans to give up on 2008 and that 2009 may not be much better since Holliday is likely to be traded for high level prospects not yet ready to make an immediate impact.

If they wait until the offseason, Holliday's trade value is still high but will be lowered slightly because whoever gets him will have him for one year before Holliday can opt out with a new team. Any team that goes after Holliday, would most likely want his services as long as they can at the $11.5 million per year clip because he may attract up to $20 million a year on his next deal. So if that is the case, trading for him now gets you 1.5 years of Holliday at a "bargain" rate instead of just one year of Holliday if you wait until the season ends.

The one spot the Rockies cannot put themselves in is trading him when it becomes far too late. Sure, the longer the Rockies hold on to Holliday, the more production they can squeeze out of him. However, if it starts to get to the point where they know they have to trade him, teams are going to drastically lower what they will offer in return, full well knowing the Rockies would be better accepting a lowball bid than simply letting Holliday walk away.

To me, somebody is going to get a short term bargain on Holliday. I just hope that team is the Rockies. See you on Wednesday.

-"z"

I am going to guess you had a similar reaction to me when you first heard that the Nuggets had traded Marcus Camby to the Clippers for a second round draft pick.

Bizarre.

Crazy.

Why?

All seemingly logical trains of thought, all emotions I felt last night. Then, it got even more (if I can borrow one of my above adjectives) bizarre.

The trade was Camby to the Clippers for the right to swap second round picks in 2010----even more weird.

Do the front office executives in Denver think that a former defensive player of the year is worth just a second round selection? On the surface, that is what this trade sounds like, although, with further inspection, it begins to look like the Nuggets aren't that---if I can borrow another adjective from above-----crazy.

The move of Camby off the roster will give the Nuggets some salary cap relief. The team had one of the highest payrolls in the NBA and Stan Kroenke has not seen much return for that investment. The Nuggets were not going to win the NBA title with this current corps of players so if some tweaking is inevitable, then why delay?

The Nuggets had decided to keep Carmelo Anthony, resisting the trade overtures cast in their direction. He is only 24 and has his best years ahead of him. Camby, on the other hand, is 34 years old.

Allen Iverson decided not to test the waters and not opt out of his contract. He is one of five players----along with Anthony, Kenyon Martin, Nene Hilario, and Camby making at least $10 million. Of those five, Camby was the most likely to be traded.

Anthony is far too young and talented to lose.

Iverson had a player option to come back.

Martin has been impressive in his return from microfracture surgery but the size of his contract and size of his temperature rising is enough to scare off most teams.

Hilario is only 26 and in many ways the Nuggets need to keep him, if for no other reason, to compenstate for the void of losing Camby.

Camby had a lot of trade value. He is 34 years old but his defensive abilities are still formidable. The Nuggets will miss his presence on that end of the floor. The Clippers lost Elton Brand to free agency so Camby becomes not a comparable, but instead, a suitable replacement.

The surface level view of all trades is how they cosmetically affect the look of a roster. However, there is a deeper reason this deal works for both teams. Simply said, it's all about money. The Nuggets get cap relief, although, if they feel the need to add an impact individual to replace Camby, they have a $10 million mid level exception, if they do choose to use it. However, signing anyone to those parameters could end up costing them $20 million due to the luxury tax. With that a distinct possibility and the team trading Camby to lower salary payroll in the first place, I would think the Nuggets will choose not to do anything with that mid level exception, but you never know.

Although, one thing I do know is that Anthony and Iverson will most likely not be pleased. Sure, this trade gives the team some flexibility for the future, but those two---especially Iverson, want to win now. The bottom line is that the Nuggets appear to be far better with Camby than without him.

-"z"

The city of Denver has some beautiful buildings but the architecht of a sports team is the person getting all of the attention today.

With the exception of Allen Iverson, the current makeup of the Nuggets can be traced to one man, Kiki Vandeweghe He was the person who drafted Carmelo Anthony. He signed Kenyon Martin to a $91 million deal. He brought Marcus Camby over in a trade. It is Mark Warkentien's job to build a winner, though the reality is he has to do it with Kiki's players. Although, as Warkentien has seen, while this roster looks impresssive, its actual on court performance is somewhat less than that.

Warkentien decided to start his rebuilding phase of the roster by trading Camby. Two teams, the Clippers and the Grizzlies, had the best chance to obtain Camby. He ended up going to Los Angeles for the chance to swap second round picks in 2010-------still a strange compensation agreement, in my estimation.

While really only two teams had a viable chance to grab Camby, there was one other team that had interest but no real leverage. That team would be the New Jersey Nets. Their General Manager? Kiki Vandeweghe.

The interest in Camby is yet another example of Kiki trying to build his new team with guys from his old team.

The buzz around a possible Carmelo Anthony trade earlier this summer all began when right around The NBA Draft Lottery, the word began to circulate that Kiki was interested in trading for Carmelo, the man he drafted in 2003. He wanted Anthony to follow him to New Jersey. The Pistons and Lakers also had interest. That was rendered a non-issue whe the team told Anthony he was not going to be traded, but you had to notice Vandeweghe's initial interest.

His next attempt to raid the Nuggets team roster was more low-key but much more successful. He was able to sign Eduardo Najera to a contract, taking a fan favorite and hustle player out of the Rocky Mountains and into the traffic of the Turnpike. The move was seen as sound, since Najera is a player who brings high energy whenever he is on the floor, certainly a trait that any team, particularly one building a new foundation, like the Nets, can use.

After missing on Carmelo and hitting on Eduardo, the pursuit of Camby was next. It came up short but Vandeweghe's long term goals became pretty apparent. That is to say, keep doing in New Jersey what he did in Denver and maybe make the Nuggets pay for not seeing his plan through.

See you on Friday. Have a great day.

-"z"

Many Nuggets fans will take a look at the headline and probably think "I was not aware the defense did anything but rest." Partially true and totally funny.

Two days have passed since Camby was traded to Los Angeles and it has been one day since the hurt displayed in Camby's comments became palpable to anyone paying attention. The wound is still fresh but as we look beyond the next two days to the next two months, it will become even more apparent that in the short term, at least in my estimation, the Nuggets will be worse off without Camby.

The move did allow them to get a $10 million midlevel exception. Putting that to use and signing somebody of respectable significance may lessen the blow of losing Camby. That being said, due to the luxury tax and it's dollar for dollar penalty in exceeding it, anybody they sign for $10 million is actually a $20 million hit against the cap. That makes it more and more likely they will not sign anybody under this guideline. So, the situation remains the same. They lose the 2006-2007 Defensive Player of The Year and get maybe nothing in return.

A salary dump is completely rationalized by the Nuggets here, but how can they justify losing their best defender when their most glaring overall weakness is defense? They want Nene Hilario to step in and help inside, but how long must they wait for him to develop? I ask you, who is a better bargain? Camby at $10 million or Hilario at $10 million? Obviously, judging by who the Nuggets chose, I must agree to disagree on with them on this one.

-"z"

The following may only be of interest to those interested in the media, but to me, it made Marcus Camby stand out. Then again, when you are an NBA center, you tend to stand out anyway.

It is rather safe to assume that calling the Nuggets 2007-08 season a "trying" one, would not be labeled as farfetched. They had Carmelo's arrest, Nene's Hilario's health scare, Carmelo's "We Quit" comment, and saw their best regular season record in 20 years accepted in town with a yawn.

Through it all, the one player you could almost certainly turn to for a comment was Marcus Camby. When the going got a little tough, the players got going.....as in going right out the door. No talking to the press. We had some questions, they had some other ideas about answering them.

Although, any day I was at practice, the routine for Camby always seemed to be the same. First guy to walk off the court, head towards the exercise room, stop just short, turn around, back to the wall, and answer all of our questions. Carmelo and Allen? Honest answers when they talked ("We Quit") is pretty frank but not always as readily available as Camby. It is something we in the local press appreciated. I mean, yeah, there are guys that would probably talk every day if a microphone was shoved in front of them, but there are only a few people are audience cares to hear from.

To us, the day that Camby left, not only did the Nuggets fans feel disappointed, the media did as well.

See you on Thursday, everybody.

-"z"

On Wednesday afternoon at Coors Field, Rockies pitcher Brian Fuentes made history. Soon enough, he may be history as well.

It seems as though there are more rumors flying about Fuentes than A-Rod (if that is even possible). Yesterday, he recorded his 102nd save in a Colorado uniform, putting him in a tie with Jose Jimenez for the most in franchise history.

However, even with Fuentes riding one of the hottest streaks in recent Rockies memory, the question seems hard to fathom, but easy to ask: Will he even be around next month?

The Major League Baseball non waiver trade deadline is July 31 and many teams are interested in acquiring Fuentes. Why not? A left-hander who can close games for you or be your set up man? Sounds like a good pickup for any team in the race.........you know, like the Rockies.....Sure, Fuentes is a free agent after this season and the team has already given a large contract to Manny Corpas, but with the NL West heading south in a hurry, why not hold onto Fuentes?

Well, this is where I get hit with the e-mailers calling me nuts. I very well may be, but hear me out. Yeah, if they keep Fuentes, they risk losing him for potentially nothing if he becomes a free agent. It also precludes the growth of Corpas. Those are two valid points. However, as strange as it seems, without Todd Helton, without Troy Tulowitzki for much of the year, and with mostly inconsistent pitching (except for you Aaron Cook), this team is still in it. They are looking up at teams that people laugh at, not fear, in the National League West divison.

If this team gets hot (they have gotten hot before, see Rocktober 2007 for proof), they have as much of a chance as anybody in the National League. Their overall record, even with a strong second half, will be underwhelming, but it doesn't matter. Get into the postseason and funny things tend to happen. You know, like a team that had never won a playoff series going to the World Series.

To me, it would make the most practical sense to trade Fuentes, but if the Rockies make a run, who knows, maybe Fuentes stays. Maybe they trade Corpas if they can convince another team to see in him what the Rockies did when they offered him his new deal in the offseason. My gut says they will trade him for top level prospects. The three teams interested the most in Fuentes----- the Red Sox, the Rays, and the Yankees------have great farm systems. If he goes, I would like to see the Rockies acquire a fifth starter. They need one. Then again, to me, they need Fuentes too. Either way, this time next week, we should know the answer.

-"z"

At training camps around the NFL, optimism is as high as Devin Hester's ceiling.

That same upbeat and positive atmosphere is the mood at Dove Valley as well. Although, even though no games have been played, I want to throw a dose of reality into the mix here.

First, let me state what I like to call the NFC South exception. (Editor's Note: This is a little used theory I will throw out here to absolve myself of any responsibility of being wrong about the Broncos....which I am......often).

Every team in the NFC South has won the division the year after finishing in last place. That is pretty remarkable but unlikely to happen in the AFC West anytime soon. The NFC South was loaded with talented teams. The difference between being great, good, average, or below average, as in all divisions, is quarterback play. Each team in the NFC South has had great quarterback play and very bad quarterback play. So, it's no surprise that each team has seen its fair share of glory and desperation.

That being said, sure the AFC West could end up being as unpredictable, though, I wouldn't think it will be. So where do the Broncos rank overall?

I know you may not like this, though, I see them as the fifth best team in the Conference---at best. Since only six teams make the Playoffs, I see them as a fringe type contender. If everything goes right, I think they could be third or fourth. However, I will stick to my initial prediction for now. Who is better? Who appears to be worse? Here are my thoughts.

Top Level: New England, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, and San Diego.
To me at this juncture, all of those teams are far better than Denver. The Patriots actually have lost their last two games against the Broncos, though, they have gotten better since, Denver has failed to make the postseason since their Divisional Round win over New England. The Patriots won 17 straight regular season games last season. Denver has gone 9-14 in their last 25 games. They draft rather well and have great chemistry. Denver's biggest problem last year? Chemistry in the confines at Dove Valley.

The Colts are the one organization that makes the Broncos shake more than any other. It is a bad matchup all the way around for them. They can pass, they can run, and they are suffocating on defense. So is San Diego, especially on the latter. Last season, in two meetings against the Chargers, Denver scored no touchdowns.

The nudge to put Jacksonville in this tier was slow but steady. They have a ferocious defense and David Garrard proved to be a credible performer last season. They defeated the Broncos last season in Denver and even though the final score (23-14) was not indicative of a totally one-sided contest, it felt that way. The jaguars just dominated the tempo and ran the football at will over a defense that the Broncos refused to admit was severely flawed in scheme.

Any complaints or disagreements with these choices? Let me know at zmehenti@kwgn.com

Tomorrow: The Broncos are in that next level of teams, below these four. Who joins them on that list? Find out on Tuesday. See you then, have a great day.

-"z"

On Monday, I listed four teams who I thought the Broncos were going to have trouble passing in the AFC Standings.

On that logic, I thought that they were no better than the fifth overall seed in the AFC Playoff picture. I think they could sneak up to third or fourth, if everything falls their way. However, I think in the end, the Broncos are a team on the rise, but not yet ready to contend with the elite. There is, in my estimation, a top tier of teams in the AFC that includes New England, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, and San Diego.

The next level of teams includes the Broncos. In that same cluster, I would say are the Steelers, Bills, Titans, Browns and Texans. Each of those teams, like Denver, have major question marks. If the Broncos can somehow rectify their biggest problem, a shoddy run defense, they could be set to vault ahead of these teams. Let's take a look at each of these teams and their one main weakness.

Pittsburgh
This is the one team in the group that has the best overall potential to vault into that top level. However, many agree that they have one of the toughest, if not the most brutal schedule in the NFL this year. Check out the whole schedule here. In addition to two games against up-and-coming Cleveland, they play the Eagles, Redskins, Ravens, Jaguars, and Patriots on the road. At home, they have to face the Cowboys, the Chargers, and the Colts. That just seems almost unfair to me. So, while they have great talent, the teams they play are far tougher than the opposition Denver will face.

Buffalo
This is a team that should make a nice leap this year. Young playmaker at running back and at wide receiver. However, the biggest issue with any team is the quarterback. Safe to say, the Broncos feel better about Jay Cutler than the Bills do about Trent Edwards. He played well last year but still needs to prove he can be the man. He split reps last year with J.P. Losman. This is team is his now. That can be a lot of pressure for any quarterback, particularly a young signal caller.

Tennessee
The main issue here is also quarterback but in a different way. Vince Young said this offseason he thought about leaving football. He lost his enjoyment of the game. He later somewhat was able to clear up any misconceptions about his desire but if your most important player is ever wavering, it does not bode well for anybody.

Cleveland
All about taking the next step here. They finished with ten wins and zero playoff experience. That is how tough the AFC was last season. Much like Buffalo and Tennessee, they have quarterback issues. However, this one is interesting for a different reason. Derek Anderson put up big numbers but many seem to question if he can do it again. He has Brady Quinn waiting in the wings should he struggle and struggling is possible thanks to a tough schedule. The team seems to be firmly in Anderson's corner but one bad season could negate the progress of 2007. A lot of pressure for that reason right there.

Houston
Last year they finished at 8-8, the best mark in franchise history. They are run by former Broncos Assistant General Manager Rick Smith and are coached by former Broncos assistant Gary Kubiak. They have former Broncos players Nick Ferguson and Ron Dayne. They have Former Broncos offensive line coach Alex Gibbs. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Mike Shanahan should be expecting a boquet soon. Quarterback is the question here as well. They want Matt Schaub to be their man but he has been injury prone. In his place, Sage Rosenfels played well last year. There is a big investment in Schaub so he gets the nod but Rosenfels helped them to their string finish. In either case, they are moving forward, but their biggest obstacle may be the AFC South. Case in point: They finished with their best record ever and it was good enough for last place.

So the Broncos, armed with a rather favorable and relatively easy schedule could benefit if everything goes right. See you tomorrow, everyone. Have a great day.

-"z"

As you can tell, I meant to say the other "shoe."

Though, simply for the sake of thematic purpose, please give me a pass here, after all, we are discussing a wide receiver.

We should soon know if NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is as tired of Brandon Marsahll as many of us are. Simply put, it is a little bit unsettling to hear the loud cheers Marshall is receiving from what appears to be a shrinking crowd that comes to Dove Valley to watch him catch passes every day.

The question now is how much longer will be be catching them?

If there is one certainty with Goodell, it's that he will not tolerate behavior that puts the NFL in disrepute. He realizes running a totally clean and incident free sports league seems idealistic at best. However, make no mistake, when it comes to handing down a severe punishment, idealism gives way to reality. Goodell realizes how bad behavior leads to bad business.

In that particular respect, he has used his far reaching power to discipline players not based solely on the conviction of a crime but instead of on the totality and overall complexion of a player's incident history. In other words, you don't have to be charged with any crime to be guilty in the eyes of Goodell. Poor judgement alone is not a punishable offense but in the law interpreted by Goodell, it may as well be. That is why Marshall looks to be facing some sort of suspension.

Many think he may get a four game suspension, a possibility that remains on the table, but for some strange reason has very few Broncos fans nervous. I do understand that feeling paranoia on a hypothetical is counterproductive, however, look at the issue at it's core level: The Broncos maybe without Marshall for 25 percent of the season. Sure, the Broncos have depth at receiver, though, by their own given admission, have nobody with the ability of Marshall. He caught 102 passes in his second NFL season, a might impressive statistic. How much does the possible loss of Marshall affect the ability of Jay Cutler to progress this season? Once again, a suspension has not even been meted, but just the prospect of it is scary.

There is a chance part of the reason there is little panic at the team's headquarters in Englewood is that Marshall may not be suspended at all. Goodell is in charge of disciplinary action, though can also decide that in some cases, it may not be warranted. Seeing this case as one of those seems a reach for me. Marshall has just had too many issues to be ignored. The accusations range from alleged domestic violence, driving without a license, having police being called to his home in Highlands Ranch at least ten times, and a DUI charge. Too many problems for Goodell to overlook.

Goodell has not shown a lot of mercy to those who have decided to put themselves in bad predicaments. Under the Code Of Conduct policy, Adam Jones missed the entire 2007 season. Former Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry missed the first eight games. Following that, Tank Johnson was given a ten game suspension. Then came the indefinite suspension of Michael Vick.

Will any of those have any effect on Marshall? Hard to say but one factor is easy to decipher. If indeed there is suspension, I wouldn't expect much leniency from Goodell.

Hope to see you back here on Wednesday.

-"z"

Only one player in NFL history has been to more Pro Bowls as a safety than John Lynch.

Four of those nine trips to Hawaii came with the Broncos. If there is to be a tenth trip for him to the 50th state or for that matter, even another game in his future, it won't be as a representative of the orange and blue.

The reality of that is sad because in this area, the hard hitting safety is as well known for his bone crushing collisions on the field, as he is for community service off of the field. His John Lynch "Star Of The Month Program", an event recognizing the achievements of local students, was an ambitious endeavor. I had the privilege to attend one of his monthly Award ceremonies at the Broncos headquarters at Dove Valley, as well as his "Stars Of The Year" program at Invesco Field At Mile High.. Kids from all over were recognized for their hard work in the classroom. What made the event really stand out was this: Three of the most high profile Broncos, Jake Plummer, Rod Smith, and Lynch were in attendance---that said, the stars of the luncheon were not the star athletes but instead the star students. The most amazing aspect of these efforts by Lynch, his wife, Linda, and staff was that they never seem orchestrated or in any way contrived. To me, Lynch cared about these kids, even when the cameras weren't rolling.

With all of these accomplishments, it's not pleasant to think that while his star in the community continued to shine bright, on the field, it was beginning its twilight----not to
mention what some might think is the twilight of his career. The signs may have been there. Lynch signed with Denver on February 29 after a long talk with owner Pat Bowlen. Lynch had said prior to that he was so close to leaving, he had a statement on departing the Broncos set to go. He was apparently swayed to remain by Bowlen. However, how Shanahan swayed him to take a big paycut and make the nine time Pro Bowler to earn a starting spot may still be a mystery.

If you do not come in as the starter, it goes without saying your repititions will most likely be rather limited in training camp, meaning less of a chance to prove yourself. Lynch had played little since the squad reported last Friday. He missed a Tuesday night meeting and was excused from practice on Wednesday.

Lynch is going to, we hear, speak to the press today and maybe sort out some of the ambiguity in his release. Was he really forced by Shanahan to go? Unlikely and even if so, even more unlikely that Lynch would ever admit that much. He is just too classy and would always choose to take the high road. Did he willingly ask to be released so he could pursue other opportunities? If so, could he have gotten this frustrated this early? Did Shanahan essentially tell him to look elsewhere, a sure sign that his days were numbered?

These are all legitimate questions. I have two more. First, will Lynch consider his hometown San Diego Chargers? If so, could we see him twice this season but this time on the other sideline. In a twist, it was former San Diego safety Marlon McCree that has outplayed Lynch so far in camp, possibly paving a way for John to return to San Diego. Also, how serious is he about retiring?

To me, I just got the feeling the parting was mutual. Even with a pay cut, Shanahan could not justify paying Lynch this much to step on the field sparingly. Lynch wants to play and going into his 16th season, most likely wants to go to a Super Bowl contender. As much as it hurts to say this, in 1997 and 1998, this was the place to be. In 2007 and 2008, not so much.

The botton line is really this.

Al Wilson. Gone.

Rod Smith. Gone.

Lynch......he is gone, leaving leadership to be found where exactly these days in Denver?

Good question. Fortunately for Lynch, that is not his problem any longer.

Thank you for all of the memories, John. Take care.

Hope to see you all on Friday.