I’m kind of sick of hearing these words. After nearly a month here in Denver, I’m beginning to think that statement is the battle cry for teams in this city.

The words have mainly referred to Broncos coach Mike Shannahan, in reference to his teams’ interest in troubled receiver Terrell Owens and ex-con running back Jamal Lewis. However, Nuggets coach Geroge Karl has also been the subject of this statement, mainly in the days following the Nuggets trading for registered sex offender Ruben Patterson. And let’s not forget last season. After the Broncos drafted Maurice Clarett, I heard this whole “If anbody can/Shanahan can” thing all the way back in Michigan.

Here’s something you might not have noticed: Winning - at any cost - is everything. The days where a player’s character were as important as his level of talent have vanished. Get the “W” and everything else will work itself out.

Two years ago, Rasheed Wallace was mentioned in trade talks in Detroit. At the time, Wallace was thought of as a team cancer, and a trouble-maker. I remember writing a plea to Pistons’ President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars, asking him to pass on the idea of bringing in Wallace, and to stick with his group of good guys, instead. Dumars had a quote in one of the local papers that caught me off guard. He said (I’m paraphrasing) “Hey, you can’t have a team full of boy scouts.” The Wallace trade was a big gamble, and it could have severely damaged the core of a championship-contending team. As the world now knows, the trade more than worked out for Detroit, as they won the title that year, and just missed it the next. Don’t get me wrong, I still see that trade as a gamble. It just so happened that it paid off big.

But what about Owens and Lewis? Owens and his imitation of a 2-year old last season helped to destroy what should have been another Super Bowl season for the Eagles. They were a popular preseason pick to make it back to the big game, and instead Owens found himself suspended for the last several games of the season, and the Eagles didn’t even sniff the playoffs. Just like Rasheed Wallace in Detroit, putting Owens in a Broncos jersey could prove to be what moves the Broncos to the next level. But he could also deside he’s worth more than he’s getting paid, talk badly about his QB to the media, and destroy a team that was playing in the AFC title game just two months ago.

As for Jamal Lewis, he served four months in prison for helping to arrange a drug deal, and he’s never been thought of as too great of a teammate. He had an average year at best last season, actually being out performed by new Ravens runing back and former Bronco Mike Anderson. Anderson, a former Marine (and a class individual) rushed for 1,014 yards in 15 games, compared to Lewis’ 906 in the same span. Anderson was cut, and the Lewis rumors instantly popped up. Makes sense. Cut the 1,000 yard class, bring in the 900 yard (insert humorous rhyming word here).

Listen, I’m not as naive as this post makes me sound. I’m really not. I know that you have to bring in talent to compete - in any sport - no matter what baggage that talent might be bringing with him. As a Pistons fan, I love what Wallace brought to Detroit, and if Owens and/or Lewis came in, behaved, played inside of the team and produced, I’d likely end up liking them, too. But that doesn’t change the fact that I find it somewhat sad that players need somebody to “keep them in check.” And it doesn’t change the fact that class and character are no longer part of the big picture when it comes to bringing players in.

I guess it’s a good thing I’m not a GM.