Now for the 10 Things I Think I Think, the final edition of the
year:
1. I think the way the Denver Broncos reinvented themselves into two-time
Super Bowl kings will be emulated around the league. Take bargain free agents
and give young draftees a chance -- and make sure your quarterback's the real
answer.
2. I think San Francisco owner-in-hiding Eddie DeBartolo is really
steamed at commissioner Paul Tagliabue for handing the ownership reins to
his sister, Denise DeBartolo York, for the 1999
season.
3. I think Boomer Esiason will seriously consider a pricey
overture from a team to get him back into uniform. San Diego is first in line.
But the Bengals still have Esiason under contract, and they'd have to be
compensated. It'll take a good offer to get him out of the ABC booth, even
though he's not nearly as happy in that job as he thought he'd
be.
4. I think the only receiver Miami really wants to go after in the
free-agent pool is whining Cincinnati stud Carl Pickens. The Dolphins would be
willing to part with a first-round draft choice in a trade if the Bengals are
willing to do what they did last year with defensive tackle Dan Wilkinson,
trading him to Washington for two high
picks.
5. I think, also, that if you have any doubts about how serious Jimmy
Johnson was about leaving the Dolphins, consider this: Johnson called
aide-de-camp Bob Ackles into his office the night the news leaked that he
was quitting three weeks ago and asked him to load his personal belongings into
his Blazer. Ackles and Johnson moved eight boxes. Then Ackles, Johnson and
trainer Kevin O'Neill , perhaps the coach's closest confidante in the
world, went out for a farewell dinner and beers. No tears. Lot of chips and
salsa and beer in little green bottles. But no
tears.
6. I think this was the most disappointing Super Bowl I've covered, if
you look at it this way: I thought Atlanta was better and I thought Chris
Chandler was
cooler.
7. I think Denver isn't the best team I've ever seen. It is, however, the
most selfless great team I've ever been
around.
8. I think I'm glad I was at John Elway's last
game.
9. I think Bubby Brister starts the opener for Denver in September, with
Brian Griese as the backup. Jeff Lewis will be traded (pick a team: Carolina,
Minnesota, Seattle?) before the
draft.
10. I think this is my last column of the season. Thanks for reading.
You've been a great
audience.
