MIAMI -- As the NFL's self-proclaimed king of candor, Shannon Sharpe has strict rules regarding conversational etiquette.

	Shannon Sharpe's mouth was open almost all the time during Tuesday's media session.

There are a few topics even the Denver Broncos' Sharpe-tongued tight end won't touch.

"I won't talk about someone's mother. I won't talk about their girlfriend or their wife," Sharpe said Tuesday. "But if you have a deformity, I would talk about that."

And talk he did, to all who would listen among the Media Day gathering at Pro Player Stadium. If Sunday is the Super Bowl, then Sharpe is the Super Mouth, out of which pours a constant flow of unapologetic opinions, comical quips and sudden outrageousness.

He rarely paused during the 60 minutes he and his Denver teammates were allotted. The only time he stopped talking was when the public-address announcer provided updates on how much time was left in the Broncos' media session.

"I don't like to be interrupted while I'm talking," said Sharpe at one point, irritated he wasn't allowed to complete a thought.

Dark sunglasses shielded his eyes from the media and the Florida sun, but Sharpe hid nothing else.

What about the controversy surrounding his return to Miami? How about the "loser" comments about local icon Dan Marino? What about the predictions he made, that the Broncos would be using the Dolphins' facilities and that Mike Shanahan would be using Jimmy Johnson's office?

Bring it on.

"As long as I make plays, (my teammates) can really care less what I say," Sharpe said. "And they know I'm able to go out there and back it up. My teammates really don't have a problem with me saying anything, be it good or bad. That's my opinion. I'm entitled to my opinion. They can choose to agree or disagree.

	"	I've always been a talker. You just don't wake up one morning and say all of a sudden I think I want to talk a little more. I'm good at it, and I like doing it. "
		-- Broncos TE Shannon Sharpe

"I've always been a talker. You just don't wake up one morning and say, 'All of a sudden I think I want to talk a little more.' I'm good at it, and I like doing it."

Sharpe, 30, is proud of his accomplishments this year. Not only did he catch 64 passes, score 10 touchdowns and make his seventh straight Pro Bowl, he also made an impact in other ways.

"Think about what I've done this year," Sharpe said. "I got a guy suspended (Derrick Thomas). I got one guy cut (Wayne Simmons). One coach resigned (Marty Schottenheimer). Another (Jimmy Johnson) thought about resigning. I'm pretty good. I might need to go into politics."

Washington might not be ready for Sharpe's in-your-face brashness on the House or Senate floors. He displayed his debating skills when reporters separately suggested Vinny Testaverde had a better season than his quarterback, John Elway.

"Do you believe that?" Sharpe asked the reporter.

"These are quotes ..." the reporter said.

"No, no, I didn't ask you for the quote. We aren't playing horseshoes here. Do you believe this season that Vinny Testaverde was better than John Elway?"

"It's tied."

"This is a Super Bowl game. You can't have a tie on the final game of the season. Yes or no?"

"Vinny was better this year."

"OK. Michael (Wilbon of the Washington Post), do you believe this guy?"

As if he were gunning for a guest spot on "The David Letterman Show," Sharpe kept the crowd entertained, offering some of the following gems:

About Ray Buchanan, who wore a dog collar to Media Day and has guaranteed an Atlanta victory: "Had anybody heard of Ray Buchanan before he got to Atlanta?"

About growing up in Georgia and hating the Falcons: "I've pretty much been in Atlanta my whole life, and I never liked the Falcons. What was there to like about them? They lost all the time. If you had a pair of cleats on and you were in Fulton County (Stadium), they'd put you in the ballgame, they were so bad. For $20, you could sit in the luxury box with the owner."

About the four people he'd invite to a dinner party: "Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, Michael Jordan and Halle Berry. I'd talk to Gates, Buffett and Jordan first, and then me and Halle would go get another table in the back that's candlelit. And I'd let them discuss whatever they want to discuss."

About the Falcons' backup quarterback situation: "Are they the same team without Chandler? Probably not. But obviously Billy Joe or whoever their backup is -- Graziani or DeBerg . DeBerg is old enough to be my father, and he's still in the league. How old is DeBerg, 105?"

About Falcons tight end O.J. Santiago: "Santiago? Who, Benito?"

About Eugene Robinson, another player with a gift for gab: "He can't out-talk me or cover me. He went to Colgate, but I'm smarter than he is. I might bump into him. I know he's not going to be covering me one-on-one. We know that's not going to happen, don't we?"

When the hour was up, Sharpe grabbed his camcorder and left his table for the field for the Bronco team picture. And he was still talking.