Tanuvasa hopes to
‘meet’ Bledsoe again

By Pat Bigold
Star-Bulletin

Maa Tanuvasa is hoping to become even better acquainted with Drew Bledsoe on Monday night at Mile High Stadium than he was last year when the Denver Broncos blasted the New England Patriots, 34-8, at Foxboro.

In that game, Tanuvasa, the former Mililani High and University of Hawaii star, registered one of his five career sacks against the quarterback of the defending AFC champions.

"Hopefully, we can get 'reacquainted,' " he said with a sly chuckle.

Tanuvasa's job on third-and-long is to rush the passer, and he considers going up against Bledsoe to be one of his toughest challenges.

"Bledsoe's been throwing to a lot of different people and not keying on anybody, so we have to help our DBs and put pressure on him," he said.

Another Bronco from UH, kicker Jason Elam, is injured and will not play Monday.

Denver is 5-0 and the Patriots are 4-0.

BACKTOSIDELINES:Kaipo McGuire, the former St. Louis School and BYU star, expects to lose his spot in the four-receiver rotation with the winless Indianapolis Colts for Sunday's home game against the New York Jets (3-2) because veteran Sean Dawkins is back from the disabled list. But he's just happy to play on special teams.

"If that's my role, I'm happy doing that, but you never know in the NFL, so you have to be ready."

It was only three weeks ago that McGuire was called up from the Colts' practice squad, to which he was signed as a free agent. To date, he has had only one pass thrown in his direction. It was a low throw from Jim Harbaugh in last week's game at Buffalo after Harbaugh was flushed out of the pocket.

McGuire has had an ongoing role in helping to prepare the Colts for each opponent. He gets to be some of the most dangerous receivers Indianapolis must face.

"This week, I'm Keyshawn Johnson (Jets), last week I was Andre Reed (Buffalo Bills), and the week before, I was Joey Galloway (Seattle Seahawks). When we played the Patriots, I was Terry Glenn."

McGuire said he plans to try to talk with the two Jets players with Hawaii ties - running back Adrian Murrell (Leilehua) and lineman Siupeli Malamala (Kalaheo) after the game. He's never met them, before.

McGuire has committed himself to a quiet daily routine.

"I don't go out much. I mostly go right home, eat, watch a movie and go to bed. This is my dream and I want to take care of it."