From Sideline Chatter in The Seattle Times (catching up from earlier in the week):
• Broncos tight end Shannon Sharpe, to The Denver Post, on his academic career: “I was a terrible student. I graduated ‘Thank You Lawde.’ ”
• Chris Dufresne of the Los Angeles Times, on the Pac-10’s stance on adding an extra national-title game to football’s bowl season: “The conference is adamantly opposed to extending play beyond the regular season, and proved it this year in the NCAA basketball tournament.”
• Mike Bianchi of The Orlando Sentinel, on Jessica Simpson singing the national anthem at this year’s Indianapolis 500: “At least we won’t have to worry about the (exhaust) fumes killing any of her brain cells.”