If anyone still doubts there’s too much...

If anyone still doubts there’s too much idle time before the game, the hot topic Friday was the trash talk between Denver receiver Shannon Sharpe and Atlanta cornerback Ray Buchanan.

Earlier this week, Sharpe--perhaps mistaking Buchanan for Dennis Rodman, who is also in Miami--told Buchanan, “to put the eyeliner, the lipstick and the high heels away. I’m not saying he’s a cross-dresser; that’s just what I heard.”

Buchanan was no angel, calling Sharpe ugly, comparing him to Mr. Ed and saying he expected Sharpe to greet him Sunday by whinnying.

With players no longer available for interviews, it was left to their coaches to sift through the verbal debris.

Falcon Coach Dan Reeves, in discussing his team’s injuries, said all was well and added, “We haven’t had any incidents as far as our players are concerned except maybe some of them said a few more things than they should have, but you can’t keep that from happening. Or I can’t keep that from happening.”

Denver Coach Mike Shanahan, accustomed to Sharpe’s brashness, laughed at the latest fuss Sharpe has caused.

“Shannon Sharpe is a pretty sharp cookie,” Shanahan said. “He can get under people’s skin. But more importantly, he can play the game. He plays the game at a high level. . . . If we didn’t have Shannon Sharpe, everybody in this [news conference] would be complaining there’s nothing to write about or talk about, so you should be thankful we’ve got a guy like Shannon Sharpe on our football team.”

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Ronnie Bradford will start at cornerback for the Falcons, regaining the spot he lost after he separated a shoulder Dec. 27 against Miami. Michael Booker had started in his place against San Francisco and Minnesota. Defensive end Lester Archambeau and tight end Brian Kozlowski, who had been slowed because of ankle injuries, resumed regular practices and are expected to play Sunday.

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Shanahan revealed his secret weapon in keeping his players dedicated to an off-season training program: Bronco players are paid $60 a day to work out.

“All of a sudden you add that up, and it’s $240 a week they never tell their wives about,” he said. “They’re in trouble now. . . . You’d think these guys get all this money and they don’t care about $60. This is mad money they don’t have to claim. So that’s one of the reasons we get them [to show up].”

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Shanahan also said he still believes Bronco quarterback John Elway will retire after Sunday’s game, regardless of the outcome. “He has had a great career. His body is a little beat up,” Shanahan said. . . . Reeves was asked to compare the Falcons to other teams he has guided to the Super Bowl. “Well, I hope we’re a lot better,” said Reeves, who was 0-3 as coach of the Broncos.