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Krieger: Terrapin tempts Broncos

Published April 17, 2006 at midnight

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Musings for a Monday morning on possibilities, both real and imagined . . .

• The Broncos are not doing much to disguise their fondness for draft prospect Vernon Davis, a 6-foot-3, 250-pound tight end expected to be among the first six picks of the NFL draft.

• A variety of sources in a variety of places say if the Broncos trade up, it will be to get Davis. The Broncos understand they would have to trade up to at least the fifth pick because the 49ers are widely expected to take Davis at No. 6 if he gets that far.

• The former Maryland Terrapin is a remarkable athlete and pass catcher, one of those rare 250-pounders to break 4.4 in the 40 at the combine (by one stopwatch, anyway). If the Broncos make a move for him, it will be an attempt to replicate the playmaking of Shannon Sharpe.

• Cecil Lammey of Football Guys.com says Davis' closest NFL comparison is Alge Crumpler, who had 65 catches for 877 yards last year, leading the Falcons in both categories.

• If the Broncos stay where they are, at Nos. 15 and 22, the popular consensus at No. 15 seems to be wide receiver Chad Jackson of Florida.

• ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. has Jackson rated just ahead of Ohio State's Santonio Holmes as the best wideout in the draft; Lammey has Holmes just ahead of Jackson.

• The main rap against Jackson has nothing to do with Jackson. The history of highly touted Gators wideouts in the NFL is underwhelming.

• It includes Taylor Jacobs (No. 44 to Washington in 2003); Jabar Gaffney (No. 33 to Houston in '02); Reche Caldwell (No. 48 to San Diego in '02); Travis Taylor (No. 10 to Baltimore in '00); Jacquez Green (No. 34 to Tampa Bay in 1998); Ike Hilliard (No. 7 to the Giants in '97); and Reidel Anthony (No. 16 to Tampa Bay in '97).

• If few of these names ring a bell, you have put your finger on the problem.

• In fact, the Broncos are familiar with the Florida Flop Phenomenon. Nineteen years ago, they drafted Ricky Nattiel at No. 27. He had 121 catches.

• In his career.

• The other popular scenario at wide receiver is a trade for the Packers' disgruntled Javon Walker. Walker has the advantage of being from Florida State, not Florida.

• Jackson's closest NFL comparison, according to Lammey?

• Why, Walker, of course.

• Two weeks out, Kiper has the Broncos staying where they are and taking Jackson at No. 15 and running back DeAngelo Williams of Memphis at No. 22.

• A tip of the Rockies' gray-billed, alternate cap to Aaron Cook, who pitched perhaps the most efficient game in Coors Field history Sunday, made a single mistake to Ryan Howard, and lost because of it.

• The 1-0 pitcher's duel is a rare treat, especially here.

• Anyway, with the Rocks still over .500 two weeks in, I am working on a Todd Helton reality show concept.

• After all, Barry Bonds is hitting .174. Helton is hitting .385. Bonds has drawn 11 walks. Helton has drawn 17.

• Bonds has a corner of the -Giants' clubhouse to himself. Helton has a corner of the Rockies' clubhouse to himself, except for Matt Holliday.

• Bonds no longer has a recliner in his corner of the clubhouse. Helton doesn't, either.

• Granted, I lack the financial wherewithal to produce my concept, so I will need some backing. This is why I'm going public with the idea.

• "I think the time is right," said Rockies broadcaster Jeff Kingery in what I consider a key endorsement.

• My working title is Helton on Helton, although I am open to suggestions.

• "It'd be like Jackass on Jackass," Helton said.

• He did not just pull this out of the air. He and Johnny Knoxville, star and producer of Jackass: The Movie, are both Knoxville natives.

• If Helton is willing to wear a panda suit, his reality show might qualify as a Jackass sequel.

• Note to self: Don't let Clint Barmes participate in the speeding golf cart scene.

• This just in: Players no longer watch film. Players no longer watch tape. These clichés must be kept up to date.

• How does Helton scout opponents and check his swing?

• On a video iPod.

• "You can watch your at-bats. Every pitcher you're about to face. Holds 150 hours," said Johnny Knoxville's pal.

• Just in case I need a backup plan for my reality show, I asked Clint Hurdle if he had any good stuff going on in his house.

• "I'm teaching Junior how to flip his underwear off and catch it with his right hand, the Hurdle way," he said. "Everybody's got their own style."

• "That'd be a great shot in a reality show," I said enthusiastically.

• "I'm sure it would," Hurdle said, "but we're going to keep that in- house."