David Ramsey   Gazette sports columnist David Ramsey offers opinions, views and thoughts on the world of sports

I know. I know.

$65 million is a lot of money. That’s how much money is on the table for Carmelo Anthony for the next three seasons if he decides to play basketball for a living in Colorado.

But Carmelo has reason for his discontent. Unless you’ve been living in a cave, you know that Carmelo has declined to sign his mega-contract and has been scheming to find a way to depart  Colorado. Various reports say he wants to play for the Chicago Bulls or New York Knicks.

And his scheme makes sense.

As the 2008-2009 season ended, Anthony and the Nuggets were on the brink of ruling the NBA. They were the league’s second-best team behind the mighty Lakers. They played suffocating defense and needed a couple fresh pieces for a chance to rule the basketball universe.

Since then, the Nuggets have done essentially nothing. Yes, they signed Al Harrington over the summer, but that’s not the move required to vault the Nuggets to a title.

Owner Enos Stanley Kroenke has created a strange situation in which it’s never clear who exactly is in control of his  franchise. Anthony is wise enough to take a look at the state of the Nuggets and see it makes good sense to flee to a more  sane destination.

Anthony, if he departs, will be abandoning a team that could again win 50 games.

But he’s not departing a title contender.

He wants a ring.

And there’s little reason to believe he could win one anytime soon here in Colorado.

Josh McDaniels has an interesting response to those who suggest using rookie quarterback Tim Tebow when the Broncos drive to within the shadow of the goal line.

“We’re not going to do that in short yardage,” McDaniels said. “People who mention that, I don’t know, that’s ridiculous.”

Coach, it was ridiculous that your team failed to score from the 1-yard-line on four plays against the Colts. Three runs by Laurence Maroney gained nothing. One run by Tebow would have gained something. This failure doomed the Broncos to a 27-13 defeat.

Tebow scored 57 rushing touchdowns at the University of Florida. Tebow would bring a 240-pound frame and the threat of a pass. At worst, Tebow would ease the Broncos lack of punch when it matters most.

At best, he might deliver a few victories to the Broncos, who have lost 10 of their last 13.

Ridiculous?

It’s ridiculous not to use  Tebow.

Air Force’s Kevin Fogler looks more like a stork than a sleek wide receiver. He’s not fast, not especially quick, not blessed with a menacing frame.

And yet …

He’s a craftsman who runs precise routes. He’s an expert at outbattling defensive backs for the ball. At times, Fogler goes to the very edge of the rules in his battles with defensive backs.

He’s crafty. He has a knack at fooling defensive backs and then running right by them.

“I can get them to stop their feet,” Fogler told me last season, “and I’m faster than guys when their feet aren’t moving.”

The Falcons have lost Fogler, a senior, until at least November after a knee injury, and that appears to be the best-case scenario.

That means Air Force must tangle with Navy without a vital part of their attack.

Fogler gave the Falcons a deep threat. Yes, he was an unlikely deep threat, but he forced opposing defense to wonder if Tim Jefferson might launch a long one. Remember, Fogler averaged 22.7 yards per catch last season.

With Fogler watching from the sidelines, that deep threat appears done unless someone – Mikel Hunter? Jonathan Warzeka? – steps up.

You can be sure about this:

Austin Collie enjoys his trips to Colorado.

In 2008, Collie ransacked CSU’s defense on his trip to Fort Collins as the star receiver for Brigham Young. He caught nine passes for  156 yards and three touchdowns in a 45-42 win.

Later the same season, Air Force’s defense was able to slow down Collie. He only caught seven passes for 130 yards against the Falcons. He clinched a 38-24 BYU victory with a 45-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter.

On Sunday, Collie demolished the  Broncos defense with 12 catches, 171 yards and two touchdowns, including a 23-yard TD that clinched the Colts 27-13 win.

In his last three trips to Colorado, Collie has collected 28 catches, 457 yards, five touchdowns and three victories.

Collie talks about his performance against the Broncos:

http://www.indystar.com/article/20100927/SPORTS03/9270342/Back-up-receivers-step-up-in-big-way-for-Colts

Gambling on fourth down has been the sports theme of our weekend. Air Force gambled its way to a 20-14 win at Wyoming on Saturday, but after the game coach Troy Calhoun made sure to mention that a coach has to be prepared to get smacked if his gamble doesn’t work.

Fast forward to Sunday.

The Broncos gambled twice on fourth down, lost the gamble twice and got smacked with a 27-13 loss to the Indianpolis Colts.

The first gamble made sense. The Broncos were on the shadow of the goal line in the second quarter and almost – almost – grabbed a touchdown. Laurence Maroney came within an inch or so of the end zone.

The second gamble made no sense. The Broncos could have cut the lead to 20-16 with a field goal in the fourth quarter but McDaniels, for reasons that might forever remain mysteriious, gambled on fourth and 3.

Kyle Orton’s pass fell harmlessly to the turf.

Game over.

Remember, gambling can be dangerous.

Air Force clawed its way to a 20-14 victory over Wyoming.

But honest Falcons fans have to admit this uncomfortable truth.

This level of effort will not be enough to defeat Navy.

The Falcons limped into the fourth quarter with only seven points on the board.

True, they finished strong. The fourth quarter was a dogged, impressive effort.

But they started slow.

Extremely slow.

And a repeat performance will put Air Force in a massive hole against Navy.

We already knew Navy had this week off as the Midshipmen prepare for next Saturday’s game against Air Force.

Who knew the Falcons would take off a half against Wyoming?

Air Force has looked sluggish, soft, confused and imprecise. The Falcons were fortunate to walk into the locker room tied, 7-7.

This trip to Wyoming lacks the drama and the big-time feel of last week’s journey to Oklahoma. This trip to Wyoming lacks the revenge factor of next week’s game against Navy.

But this trip to Wyoming has a chance to tank this season.

Hope you can stop by.

Otto Graham ranks among  the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. From 1946-55, he led the Cleveland Browns to a 105 victories and only 17 losses.

He also ranked as one large baby.

Graham weighed 14 pounds, 12 ounces at birth.

For more on Graham:

http://espn.go.com/classic/obit/s/2003/1217/1688946.html

There are all kinds of reasons why Air Force leads the nation in rushing: Tough, determined running backs. An athletic, tireless offensive line that gets better as the game wears on. An overwhelming – for opponents – array of formations.

Here’s another reason:

Tim Jefferson’s precise, daring operation of the attack.

And Jefferson is a master of the pitch, a crucial weapon in the Falcons option offense.  He can pitch with either hand, and he’s comfortable making what appears to be blind pitches to trailing halfbacks.

Jefferson told me last week that those pitches are not really blind.

Just almost blind.

He takes a quick glance to make sure the halfback has not fallen down and then lets go.

He realizes how important the pitch is.

A properly timed pitch can add, he says, 10 yards to a run.

Or a pitch that holds up the halfback can rob the runner of that same 10 yards.