Denver’s season opener matches one of the league’s best cornerbacks against one of the best talkers.
Champ Bailey, get ready for an earful from Chad Ochocinco.
The Bengals receiver was already flapping his mouth days before the game, saying he was ready to embarrass a cornerback whom he deeply respects. Bailey just laughed.
“A lot of people talk,” Bailey said. “I hear a lot of people talk who are good, and some who aren’t supposed to be opening their mouths. It never gets to me.”
Never? It hasn’t in games against the Bengals, anyway. Bailey has been chosen for the Pro Bowl eight times, tied for second most in NFL history at his position, and has excelled in games against Cincinnati. He had an interception in each of the last two games against the Bengals.
“He’s probably the best in the game, hands-down,” Ochocinco said. “When we talk about NFL corners, you talk about a complete corner, if there’s somebody you want to aim to be like, if it’s not Deion (Sanders), it’s Champ.”
Wait, here comes the trash.
at excitement back to Cincinnati,” Ochocinco said.
Bailey has heard Ochocinco’s shtick and finds it amusing. He wasn’t offended because he thinks the receiver respects his opponents, but likes to have fun with them. Bailey has a clear standard for when he’ll return insults.
“It all depends on who it is,” Bailey said. “If it’s a guy who I haven’t heard of before that week, then I won’t say anything to him because he’s not worth talking to. Some guys you know, you talk back-and-forth, but it’s all in fun.”
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HERE, TAKE A LOAD OFF, BRETT: Much has been made of Brett Favre’s age – he’ll be 40 in October – and one of his new Minnesota teammates decided this week to play a little prank.
A rocking chair was placed in front of Favre’s cubicle in the locker room, a not-so-subtle dig at the gray hair that covers the top of the head of the NFL’s all-time leading passer.
“I don’t know who put it there,” Favre said, smiling after feigning surprise at the trick.
Favre is fond of such boyish shenanigans. A quick survey of the team revealed few clues about the prankster’s identity.
“It wasn’t me. I plead the fifth. I know who did it, but I’m not telling,” defensive end Jared Allen said.
Kicker Ryan Longwell called himself the “lead investigator on the case,” but didn’t sound like he was as up to speed as Allen – other than to rule himself out.
‘ Longwell said.
Tight end Visanthe Shiancoe sounded a little more in the loop.
“It was placed there by an unknown player. Somebody’s trying to mess with him. A little initiation there for him,” Shiancoe said.
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MIGHTY MEN: Every one of the 53 players who made the final roster of the Baltimore Ravens received a jacket to commemorate the feat.
The black jackets proclaim the final 53 to be the “Mighty Men of Baltimore,” a term coach John Harbaugh often uses to describe his players.
“We have had some requests from coaches and scouts and other people around the building for a similar jacket, but it only goes to the players,” Harbaugh said. “It’s a pretty big accomplishment to make an NFL team, especially this one.”
Several of the players wore the jackets after practice Wednesday.
“I wear it because I appreciate it,” said Ray Rice, now in his second NFL season. “I got drafted second round, but there are no guaranteed spots on the team. You have to prove yourself every day. That’s what these shirts mean to us. It doesn’t matter if you were a veteran or a guy coming in, we think it’s special to make this team.”
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MANNINGS’ MANUSCRIPT: During the offseason, when they had no concerns with studying playbooks and game plans, Peyton Manning and younger brother Eli Manning spent time compiling their own book.
r star quarterback Archie Manning also contributed, is geared for elementary school children. It follows the young Manning boys and older brother Cooper on a car trip from New Orleans to Drew, Miss., and includes lots of backyard football games for the trio – long before any of them headed to college and stardom.
The book, illustrated by Jim Madsen, is part of a charity effort. Participating classrooms read 100 books and, in turn, Scholastic Book Clubs donates books on their behalf – up to 1 million – in the Manning family name to children who might not otherwise have access to quality children’s books.
“For us, books and reading were synonymous with childhood; they helped shape who we are,” said Peyton, a three-time NFL Most Valuable Player.
“The charity element was also huge,” added Eli, the 2008 Super Bowl MVP – one year after Peyton won it. “ClassroomsCare will put 1 million books in the hands of deserving children next year. If that doesn’t make you smile, we don’t know what could.”
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LION-SIZED ODDS: You can get odds on just about anything in the NFL. Few would have wagered that the Detroit Lions – or any team – would go winless through September, October, November and December, yet they did in 2008.
So what are the odds on who will become Detroit’s first victim since 2007? Presuming there will be a team that falls to the Lions this season?
bet, on Nov. 1, at 5-to-2, according to BetUS.com. Of course, that means Detroit will lose its first six games.
Next most likely to fall to the Lions at 7-to-2 are the Seahawks, who host Detroit on Nov. 8. The least likely to lose to Detroit? The Super Bowl champion Steelers, of course, at 15-to-1. Pittsburgh is at Ford Field on Oct. 11.
Will the Lions be the final team to win a game in ’09? The odds favor them at 5-to-4, with the Chiefs next at 3-to-2 and the Rams at 5-to-2.
While we’re at it, New England is the top choice to take the championship, 9-to-2. Pittsburgh is next at 9-to-1, and San Diego is 10-to-1.
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CAPTAIN DOLPHIN: Coach Tony Sparano smiled when asked what the selection of the Miami Dolphins’ four team captains said about those players.
“Besides that they’re all old?” Sparano said.
Sure enough, the captains are the Dolphins’ oldest players: 35-year-old Jason Taylor, 34-year-old Jason Ferguson, 33-year-old Chad Pennington and 32-year-old Joey Porter.
“One thread that they all have in common is that there’s great character in those four people,” Sparano said. “They all kind of do it a little bit differently and bring a little something different to the table.”
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AP Football Writer Barry Wilner and Sports Writers Joe Kay in Cincinnati, David Ginsburg in Baltimore, Steven Wine in Miami and Dave Campbell in Minneapolis contributed to this story.
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