I’ll Tell You This: Sports Rumor Mill – Dungy, Gruden, Quinn, and More!

In this week’s “I’ll Tell You This” I jump into the realm of the Sports Rumor Mill. Take a look and brew up some comments or rumors of your own!

1. Tony Dungy to Return to Coaching?

Recent rumors have placed Tony Dungy back at the helm of the struggling Tampa Bay Buccaneers as early as next season. Tampa Bay is 0-5, and has shown no signs of life this season, and its coach, Raheem Morris, is no doubt on the hot seat.

There seemingly will be a change in Tampa in the next couple of years, if not before.

I’ll Tell You This:

… Continue Reading

Archie Manning Says Peyton Thinks Tony Dungy Will be Back in 2009

Interesting tidbit I just caught on SI.com.

Archie Manning, father of MVP Colts QB Peyton Manning, appeared as a guest on Dan Patrick’s show today and among the topics discussed was the future of Colts head coach Tony Dungy.

Rumors have been swirling ever since the Colts were eliminated from the playoffs that Tony Dungy is leading towards retiring. Similar rumors have swirled for the past few offseasons, but Dungy has obviously come back each time. The Colts have many questions heading into the 2009 season, and none is more important than who is manning the head coach position. (Nice pun, huh?)

Here is the blurb from SI.com:

Archie said that Peyton told him that he thinks coach Tony Dungy is coming back. Both Dan and Archie are slightly surprised, because they thought Dungy was leaning toward retirement.

I think probably everybody is surprised at that comment from Archie Manning, because pretty much everyone has been under the impression that the retirement of Tony Dungy was a foregone conclusion. Who knows how credible this information truly is, because only Tony Dungy really knows, but it is certainly a positive sign for Colts fans. The vast majority of Colts fans seem to want Tony Dungy back, unlike their clueless columnist at the Indianapolis Star, Bob Kravitz, who foolishly thinks that it is time for Tony Dungy to go.

The Tony Dungy retirement watch continues, but chalk up a tally on the “He’s staying” side with the comments of Archie Manning. Colts fans can only hope more tallies are to come — and that Dungy ultimately is back on the Colts’ sideline next season.

Tony Dungy Retirement Rumors Escalate – Bob Kravitz Column Way Off Base

I actually have to get back to day job today, so updates will be a little more sparse. However, I’ve seen some news this morning regarding the escalating rumors of Tony Dungy’s possible retirement.

I have already gone on record as saying that I hope Tony Dungy does not retire. Bob Kravitz of the Indianapolis Star obviously disagrees with me; and from the looks of the comments section of the article, he disagrees with about 99% of the Colts fan base as well.

An email exchange I had with a major sports blog earlier today summed it up the best. I emailed them a link to Kravitz article as a tip, hoping they would post it so sports fans around the world could view Kravitz’s drivel and realize what sports fans in Indy have to put up with. Their response: “What a buffoon.” I couldn’t have said it any better myself.

One line in particular stood out to me in Kravitz’s article about Tony Dungy: “As much as we all respect and like the man, the numbers cannot be ignored.” Kravitz then follows this up by discussing Dungy’s disappointing playoff record. The truth though is that Kravitz is right, the numbers cannot be ignored, he was just right for a reason in opposition of his main point. Tony Dungy’s record as Colts head coach, the numbers, make it implausible for any Colts observer to say the franchise is better off without him. Six straight 12-win seasons, a plus-.750 winning percentage, a Super Bowl championship — the numbers are in Dungy’s favor, not working against him.

And, of course, Bob Kravitz seems to contradict himself by essentially saying that Colts fans would be stuck with Jim Caldwell, and that “the Colts should understand turning to Caldwell will be a tough sell.” Why then is it in the team’s best interest for Tony Dungy to go? If the already determined successor is “Tony Dungy Lite” and would prove a tough sell, how does the franchise improve by Tony Dungy leaving?

Is Bob Kravitz confusing anyone else? If I’m off base here, please tell me. My head was spinning after reading the Kravitz column because it just did not seem to make any coherent sense.

Mike Florio at ProFootballTalk has an interesting take on the issue, while claiming that sources around the Colts say its about 70-30 that Dungy will, in fact, retire:

In a city where the Colts often keep the primary newspaper in town on a choke chain, Kravitz (in our view) wouldn’t be sliding out onto that specific limb unless he already knows what Dungy is going to do.

Of course, there’s also a chance that Kravitz has gotten a nudge from G.M. Bill Polian, who might want to use the transition to a new head coach as cover for the team’s looming struggles in the last capped year under the current CBA, which for the Colts will be the day of reckoning after years of pushing cap dollars into future seasons.

I suppose a gentle nudge from Bill Polian might explain what I consider to be a pretty nonsensical article by Bob Kravitz, but I am having a hard time believing that would be true. Of course, Florio has posted some pretty unflattering remarks about Bill Polian in the past, much to the dismay of some Colts supporters. I’ll be honest and say that I don’t know enough about the situation to accurately comment; but the notion that a GM would give a “nudge” to a local columnist to write a negative article about the most successful coach in franchise history is, well, interesting. I’ll put it that way.

The Colts obviously have some questions heading into 2009, none more important than the status of their current head coach and if he will be there next season. As the Tony Dungy retirement rumors continue to escalate, I just hope we do not see any more stories like the one penned by Bob Kravitz. Tony Dungy deserves far more respect, and not just because he is a good and decent man; but because he is without the question the best person to lead the Colts as head coach for next season. Colts fans and interested observers like myself are anxiously awaiting his final decision, and hopefully we don’t have to sift through any more Kravitzesque drivel while keeping up with the latest Tony Dungy updates.

What do you think? Is Bob Kravitz off base in his criticism of Tony Dungy?

Are the Indianapolis Colts better off without Tony Dungy as head coach?

• No
• Yes

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As Indianapolis Colts 2008 Season Ends, There Are Major Questions for 2009

Last night, the 2008 season of the Indianapolis Colts came to a grinding halt in San Diego as Philip Rivers, Darren Sproles, and the Charges upended the Colts in overtime 23-17.

The Colts have been amazingly consistent this decade, with this past season standing out because of its roller-coaster nature. Peyton Manning had to have knee surgery during the preseason, the team stumbled to a 3-4 start, they never found a consistent ground game, dealt with injuries all season long, and somehow racked up nine straight wins, another MVP for Manning, and cruised into the playoffs once again.

After going 3-13 in 1998, the Colts have had only one losing season in the last ten (2001, 6-10). And 2008 marked the team’s sixth straight season of tallying 12 or more wins. Tony Dungy, who took over the Colts from former head coach Jim Mora in 2002, has compiled an 85-28 record in Indianapolis; that’s a winning percentage of greater than 75%.

Wow.

As the 2008 season of the Indianapolis Colts ends, however, there are many questions heading into 2009. The answers to these questions will ultimately provide the answer to overriding question facing the Colts franchise: Can the Colts possibly continue their incredibly consistent year-in, year-out performance?

Let’s run down a few of the most pressing questions:

1 — Will Tony Dungy return as coach?

Tony Dungy has made no secret of the fact that he has considered retirement every year since the Colts won the Super Bowl. As the Colts playoff game against the Chargers approached this past week, speculation about a potential Tony Dungy retirement began swirling again. Dungy has said that we will take at least a week to unwind from the season and see how he feels. If he does decide to retire, the Colts have already named Jim Caldwell the head-coach-in-waiting.

There is no doubt that if Dungy decides to retire, his imprint will still define the Indianapolis Colts in 2009. I have read a few different places that the Colts may just be ready for Tony Dungy to retire, in hopes of avoiding a Favresque Will-He-or-Won’t-He scenario. I don’t really buy that. The Colts have a succession plan already in place, and will move in that direction should Dungy decide it is his time to go. But they will welcome him back with open arms as long as he wants to continue coaching. I hope that he does, and I know that Colts fans everywhere agree.

2 — What will happen with Marvin Harrison?

Mike Florio at Pro Football Talk posted an interesting item earlier today regarding Marvin Harrison’s exorbitant cap number for next season. Currently, that cap number is $13.4 million. If he was the Marvin Harrison of old, one of the best receivers in the NFL, that amount might be palatable. But for the declining version we saw this season, a shell of the dominant receiver Colts fans remember, there is no way the Colts can afford that much for Harrison. By cutting Marvin Harrison, as Florio points out, the Colts could free up $7 million in 2009.

More importantly, at least I think, is will Marvin Harrison even be a free man when the 2009 season comes around? Do not forget that there are still pending charges against Marvin Harrison for a shooting that took place in his hometown of Philadelphia in March of 2008. Colts fans always get mad when I bring this up, and many think this is a closed case simply because the DA’s office in Philly has not yet pushed forward, but make no mistake: this case is not over.

I am keeping an eye on this case, because sources close to the investigation say it could come to a head sometime during the first few months of 2009. Just as the New York GIants face uncertainty with the legal status of Plaxico Burress, the Colts face similar questions with Marvin Harrison; and in the end, these issues could actually make the Colts’ decision regarding Harrison’s cap number quite simple.

3 — What will the Colts do to get under the 2009 salary cap?

Another post by Mike Florio at PFT today goes into a little more detail regarding the effect of Peyton Manning’s monster contract on the Colts’ no-so-good salary cap status heading into 2009. Peyton Manning’s $21.2 million salary cap number for 2009 accounts for 17% of the team’s expected spending of $123 million; and makes Harrison’s cap number seem miniscule in comparison. (Of course, Peyton Manning is still highly productive and playing at an MVP level, while Harrison is nowhere close to being that valuable to the team.)

As Florio points out in the Marvin Harrison post, the Colts are projected to be $2.5 million over the expected $123 million cap for 2009. This is not unexpected, of course, as the Colts’ philosophy is to build their team around highly-paid superstars (Manning, Harrison, Wayne, Freeney, Sanders) and then fill in the gaps with younger players playing closer to the minimum. The drawback to this strategy is the expected reduction of depth, but the Colts proved this season that they were able to develop solid depth even with younger, lesser-paid backups.

Luckily for the Colts, most of their key players are signed through next season. Their free agents after the 2008 season, all unrestricted, are Matt Giordana, Keiwan Ratliff, Dominic Rhodes, Jeff Saturday, and Josh Thomas. You have to think that the Colts will want to resign Saturday, but for how much? He is getting up there in years and has been more prone to injury lately. Dominic Rhodes proved to be a very valuable backup to the oft-injured Joseph Addai. And Keiwan Ratliff and Matt Giordano provide good depth in the secondary.

Oh yeah, and the Colts have to sign their rookies too.

Thus, the Colts will be in dire need of the $7 million they can save by cutting Marvin Harrison, and may have to ask stars like Peyton Manning to take less money in 2009 for the best interest of the team. These monetary concerns, and how the Colts decide to deal with them, will define what the Colts look like in 2009.

4 – The running game

The Colts struggled all season to run the ball effectively. Part of this was due to injuries along the offensive line, as well as nagging injuries that seemed to hinder Joseph Addai all season long. The lack of a consistent running game made life that much more difficult for the Colts offense and Peyton Manning. Manning’s ability to overcome the inconsistent running attack was one reason why he won the MVP; but something tells me he would much rather have the luxury of a dependable running game in 2009.

Obviously, these are only a few of the many questions that the Colts must answer heading in 2009. But they are probably the most important. The first domino will be Tony Dungy, and then we’ll have to see how the rest of them fall from there.

Time to go watch the Dolphins. Have a great Sunday everyone.

Colts-Chargers Wild Card Preview, Prediction, and Injury Updates

Wild Card weekend is upon us, with four games to try to satiate America’s insatiable appetite for the NFL. (Follow the think for a breakdown of the TV schedules, announcer lineups, and point spreads of each game this weekend.)

There is one clear marquee matchup this weekend though, and it will take place Saturday night at 8:00 in San Diego, California when the Indianapolis Colts take on the San Diego Chargers.

Why is this game the marquee matchup of the weekend?

1. These are the two hottest teams in the NFL. The Colts started 3-4 and then won 9 straight to finish 12-4 and capture the Wild Card. The Chargers started 4-8 and then reeled off four straight wins to finish 8-8 and win the AFC West. That’s 13 straight victories between the two, and proof that I have elementary math skills.
2. The game features superstars on both sides of the ball for each team. Peyton Manning is now a three-time MVP winner, while the Chargers have a former MVP of their own in LaDainian Tomlinson. Bob Sanders is a former NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Philip Rivers rubs some people the wrong way, but has had an outstanding season. Antonio Gates, Antonio Cromartie, Reggie Wayne, Dwight Freeney…yeah, there are stars all over the field.
3. The Colts and Chargers have a history of playing great, meaningful games against eachother in both the regular season and the playoffs. Earlier this season, the Colts beat the Chargers 23-20 in a game that helped turn the Colts season around. They have played three times in the last two seasons, and each game has been decided by four points or less.
4. It is possible that this could be Tony Dungy’s last game on an NFL sideline if the Colts fall short Saturday night.

There are plenty more reasons, but there is no need to state the obvious any more. Everyone knows that this will be the best game of the weekend, and I can’t wait to park myself on the couch and watch it Saturday night.

If you are looking for some solid analysis of the game, here are a few relevant links for you:

USA TODAY Colts-Chargers Preview and Prediction

Scouts, Inc Colts-Chargers Preview and Prediction

Stampede Blue – a great source for up-to-the-minute Colts news and notes

Now, let’s discuss for a minute one of the most important factors leading up to this game: injuries. The Colts have been hampered by injuries all season long, but are relatively healthy heading into this game. Oft-injured superstar SS Bob Sanders will play, as will RB Joseph Addai, although he only has one carry over the last three weeks. As of right now, only Gary Brackett is listed as out on the injury report. CB Keiwan Ratliff is questionable, but participated fully in the most recent practice.

On the San Diego side, the injury outlook is a little less clear and positive. Both Antonio Gates and LaDainian Tomlinson are questionable as of the most recent updates on the injury report. According to ProFootballTalk.com, they both have a 50-50 chance of playing. Obviously, the availability of stars like Tomlinson and Gates will have a huge impact on the game.

(Update: Just heard John Clayton say on ESPN that Tomlinson should be able to play, despite not practicing all week. Antonio Gates, however, is “more questionable.” Norv Turner was reportedly more pessimistic after the most recent practice and Gates will be a game-time decision.)

Now let’s get down to the nitty-gritty. It’s prediction time. I will come right out and say that I think the Colts are winning this game. Who do you think will win?

Who will win Saturday night's Wild Card Playoff game between the Indianapolis Colts and San Diego Chargers?

• San Diego Chargers
• Indianapolis Colts

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Here are my reasons for liking the Colts on Saturday night:

1. The Colts’ superstars are healthier. Playoff games are won by stars, and with Tomlinson and Gates hindered, it is a huge advantage to a Colts team that has gotten healthy at just the right time.
2. Who do you have more confidence in: Tony Dungy or Norv Turner? I thought so.
3. Who do you have more confidence in: Peyton Manning or Philip Rivers? I thought so. (And let me just say, this is no disrespect to Philip Rivers, who is proving to be an outstanding quarterback. But Peyton Manning won the MVP for a reason, and he has proven more in the postseason than Rivers.)
4. The Chargers are 3-7 against teams outside the AFC West. And remember, the AFC West sucks. If the Chargers were in any other AFC division, they most likely would not even be in the playoffs.

However, this is not going to be any type of cake walk for the Colts, regardless of whether Gates and Tomlinson play. Peyton Manning has always struggled against the Chargers defense, and the gap between Manning and Rivers is actually closer than you might think. Plus, you have to give San Diego a slight bump because of the homefield advantage.

Still, in close games, I always go with the coach and QB I trust more. And regardless of whether you think Manning or Rivers is playing better right now, I don’t think anyone can argue that Tony Dungy is a better coach, and specifically a better big-game coach, than Norv Turner. For that reason in particular, I’m taking the Colts.

Colts-Chargers Prediction:

Indianapolis Colts 31 | San Diego Chargers 30

(And this, of course, means that you should go run and put money on the Chargers. I would say that my success predicting games this year has been bad, but I don’t want to overstate my abilities.)

Enjoy the game everyone, and then get ready for the Dolphins to upset the Ravens on Sunday. It’s happening.

Could Saturday’s Colts-Chargers Game Be Tony Dungy’s Last Game as Colts Head Coach?

Colts fans most likely do not want to be reminded of this, but there is a very real chance that tomorrow’s Colts-Chargers game could be last game of Tony Dungy’s illustrious head coaching career.

If the Colts lose to the Chargers.

And if Tony Dungy does, in fact, decide to retire.

How real is the possibility? According to a report by Ed Werder on ESPN.com, the possibility, at least, is very real.

When the Indianapolis Colts conclude their season, coach Tony Dungy intends to spend the first full week of his offseason deliberating whether to return or retire from the NFL.

“I’ve really enjoyed the season,” said Dungy, who acknowledged having three-time league MVP Peyton Manning at quarterback and a team with 12-win talent makes leaving difficult. “It was really a unique challenge to be 3-4 and then see our team really come together the way that it has to make the playoffs.”

Dungy said when he leaves the NFL he will do so with the expectation of never returning. That’s the reason he wants to take his time, preferring to make a logical choice rather than an emotional decision he might later regret.

Dungy has taken this same approach the past four years. Each time, Dungy acknowledged, he began the playoffs with the belief he would retire at the end of the postseason. But he has changed his mind each time.

There is more interesting stuff in Werder’s report if you follow the link above. As Werder reports, and as many Colts fans know, Dungy has been commuting back and from Tampa to Indianapolis so that he can watch his son Eric’s football games. This was one of the arrangements offered by Jim Irsay to convince Dungy to stay another season.

As observed by Mike Florio at Pro Football Talk, there was talk among many in the league the Colts’ 3-4 start to this season might have had something to do with the speculation that Dungy already had one foot out the door. Obviously no one is saying that now, as the Colts have won nine straight, are in the playoffs, and once again had an MVP season from Peyton Manning.

From Werder’s report, it does not necessarily sound like Tony Dungy is leaning one way or the other. I am sure that every Colts fan, and most NFL fans, would love to see Tony Dungy stay in Indianapolis. As Florio also observes, Tony Dungy is often treated with kid gloves by the media. But you know what? I think in a lot of ways that Dungy has earned it.

Tony Dungy is proof positive than an NFL coach does not need to spend 20 hours a day at the office, and does not need to be a surly jerk to gain the respect of his players and peers. He is, by all accounts, a good a decent man who has also received a tremendous amount of much deserved sympathy after the tragic suicide of his son a few years ago. Tony Dungy treats the media (although perhaps not the injury report) with respect, as opposed to condescension; if that earns him a little more leeway from the media, then good for him.

As many of my Indianapolis friends know, I am not a Colts fan. In fact, I grew up in Indiana hating the Colts. I grew up a Dolphins fan and have become a die-hard Browns fan over the last decade. Obviously I am not rooting for the Browns in the playoffs (what a laughable thought after this season), but I do have the Dolphins to root for. But if the Dolphins are out of it, I will officially become a Colts fan.

I would love to have Tony coach my team any day, and I cannot think of a better story (other than the Dolphins winning the Super Bowl after going 1-15 last year) than the Colts rising from 3-4 to win the Super Bowl, and then Tony Dungy riding off into the sunset, awaiting his call for the Hall of Fame.

So I sincerely hope that the Colts beat the Chargers tomorrow night, and that it is not Tony Dungy’s final game either way. If for some reason it is, Tony Dungy will forever have my respect and appreciation as a football fan for being a great coach, a great man, and a great role model. Most NFL coaches earn respect based on their wins and losses. Tony Dungy is one coach who has everyone’s respect and admiration regardless of the Ws and Ls.

The fact that Tony Dungy wins more than just about any modern coach, except for maybe Bill Belichick, is just icing on the cake. In terms of class and integrity, of course, Tony Dungy and Bill Belichick cannot even really be compared. It wouldn’t be fair to compare Bill Belichick to someone who is so obviously out of his league.

So get a W tomorrow Colts, and then a few more after that. If this is the last go around for Tony Dungy, I’d like to see it last as long as possible.

Colts-Jags Preview and Injury Updates on Marvin Harrison and Joseph Addai

The Indianapolis Colts take on the Jacksonville Jaguars tonight on the NFL Network. The game will begin at 8:15 ET, with the usual NFLN duo of Bob Papa and Chris Collinsworth announcing.

At the beginning of the season, this appeared to be a great late season game for the NFL Network, but that was before the Jacksonville Jaguars pissed all over themselves and completely fell apart. It all started with Matt Jones getting busted with his nose in a pile of cocaine, then continued with a rash of injuries to the offensive line, and ultimately has culminated in Jack del Rio laughing and pointing elsewhere to divert attention when someone accuses him of dropping ass (picture, right). It’s okay coach, you’re on a football field. Drop ass all you want. Just don’t mess around with axes anymore.

Anyway, enough about the insignificant and pathetic Jaguars.

Tonight’s game does have huge ramifications for the Indianapolis Colts, and for fantasy football players across the country who are participating in their league’s championship round this week. With fantasy studs like Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne, Maurice Jones-Drew, Reggie Williams…wait, never mind on that one, Dallas Clark, and Joseph Addai on the field, this game will either get people off to great starts in Week 16 or leave them in a huge hole. And as you look to set your rosters (or if you are just an interested Colts fan), you need to know the latest injury updates regarding Harrison, Addai, Clark, and Sanders.

That’s why we’re here.

Injury Update – WR Marvin Harrison

This one is the easiest to definitively reports. Marvin Harrison will not play for the Indianapolis Colts tonight, as he did not even make the trip to Jacksonville, as reported by ESPN. No one knows exactly what the injury is to Harrison; Tony Dungy says it’s a hamstring, while others claim Harrison hurt his knee against Detroit, while some bozos are still trying to make a story out of comparing Marvin Harrison’s shooting to Plaxico Burress’s shooting. So who knows exactly why Marvin Harrison is out. Everyone rips the Patriots for not being forthcoming about injuries, but most people give Tony Dungy a free pass (although PFT does not, and good for them). I say who the hell cares. I don’t like the Colts, I don’t have Marvin Harrison in fantasy, and I don’t gamble on the NFL. He’s out. Bench him. That’s it.

Injury Update – RB Joseph Addai

Joseph Addai has a shoulder injury as continues to be listed as questionable. According to IndyStar.com, Tony Dungy is optimistic that Addai will be able to suit up, but he will be a game-time decision. If you own Joseph Addai, you’ll just have to monitor this up to kick off. The guy I am playing in the championship round of one league has Addai, so I’m hoping he does not get to feast on Jacksonville’s struggling defense. But even if Addai does play, he has not carried more than 16 times or gone over 70 yards since week 11. That was also the last time he scored a touchdown.

Injury Update – SS Bob Sanders

The perpetually questionable game-time decision Bob Sanders is…listed as questionable and a game-time decision, according to Tony Dungy. As with Joseph Addai, Tony Dungy is optimistic that Sanders will play. Jack Del Rio, Maurice Jones-Drew, Maurice Jones-Drew fantasy owners, and the rest of the Jaguars are hopeful that Bob Sanders will sit this one out. We’ll have to wait and see, as usual.

Injury Update – Indianapolis Colts Roster

Based on the official injury report, listed on NFL.com, it appears as if the Colts team is questionable and a game-time decision to even be on the field tonight against Jacksonville. 12 players are listed as questionable, many of whom are starters and for whom there is no indication that they will not play. Additionally, three other players are listed on the injury report with “Not Injury Related” next to their name.

So…let’s get this straight. They are on the injury report, but it’s not injury related. Yep, makes perfect sense.

This is one reason, other than their silly fans, that I stay away from owning Indianapolis Colts players in fantasy football. Trying to assess their injury situation is like trying to see your reflection in the Wabash River. Impossible.

As far as a prediction for tonight’s game goes, I just don’t see Jacksonville winning it. They will most likely cover whatever the spread is and play the Colts tough, but Peyton Manning is not losing to David Garrard this late in the season with so much on the line. Obviously, having Addai and Sanders would be a boon to the Colts chances, but either way I see them winning a tight game thanks to Peyton’s excellence.

Colts 27 | Jaguars 24

Indianapolis Colts Have Rebounded to Become AFC Contenders Again

Okay, I’m fed up.

After watching the Colts win their fourth game in a row and six of their last eight, I have had to suffer through yet another day of people telling me about how another team let the Colts off the hook. And while I agree that last night’s game could have gone the other way for a few different reasons, I feel that the Colts are simply being disrespected and overlooked and I can’t seem to figure out why.

I listen to excuse after excuse for why other teams have lost to the Colts. What about how the Colts have won games with superior effort and sheer will on both sides of the ball? Is it because they started the season a little differently than they have over the last few years? Is that why 7-4 looks so bad? Yeah, 9-0 three years in a row sets a pretty high bar. Maybe that’s it. Maybe the expectations are too high. Maybe the Colts have already peaked. Are you kidding? They’re more consistent than JoePa’s bedtime. More efficient than Al Gore’s hybrid bicycle. But credit, no way, not for the blue and white.

So, why?

This has been the most upside-down, prediction-failing, franchise-changing season in recent memory, and I want to say that if someone claims to have seen this coming, I’d like some of whatever they were smokin’. There are more questions than answers in this year’s NFL. The Falcons are competitive? The Titans are 10-1? The Jets, uh-hmm, let me clear my throat here, are looking like a force to be reckoned with in the AFC?

Can I catch my breath?

I understand some of it, sure. But the Colts, the only team other than the Pats who are consistently a team to beat in the AFC, are looking the role again. So why the disrespect? Let me give you a few reasons, not excuses, on why the Colts are still my favorite to represent the AFC in February.

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Peyton Manning for MVP

After starting the season on a surgically-repaired knee (that he never made any excuses for), Peyton Manning has returned to form. I know there are others that will garner more attention for the MVP award this season, but no one does more for a team than Big P (Well, maybe Drew Brees). He does have a great receiving corps, so they would be fine with anybody under center, right? Ever watch the Colts offense with Jim Sorgi? Hell no, not even close. And with the league’s worst rushing attack (78.9 yards per game) and a defense that is injury-depleted, the Colts still sit at 7-4. Why? Hmmm…

Ace in the Hole Bob Sanders

When Chuck Norris goes to sleep at night, he checks his closet for Bob Sanders. I’ve seen interviews with his parents, but I still swear he was built in some kind of laboratory. Bob is one of the baddest dudes in the league, but he doesn’t scare offenses from the sidelines. Last year he proved his worth by getting a much deserved Defensive Player of the Year, and this year we see why. Don’t get me wrong, the Colts defensive efforts have been great: they don’t give up, they play their collective ass’s off, and they can still get it done when they have to. But the can-o-spinach with dreadlocks has not yet made his presence felt.

Two years ago the Colts could not win a Super Bowl, would not win a Super Bowl, because they couldn’t stop the run, because they were too small up front, because they were too inexperienced in the secondary. Well, guess what? Sanders comes back to play at the end of the season and the Colts defense goes from ghastly to nasty. Larry Johnson will run all over them. Nope, didn’t happen. The Patriots offense will destroy them. Nah, not this time. So when it comes down to it and #21 is in the lineup, the Colts D can stop anybody.

Tony Dungy

If there is a more calm and collected guy in the NFL, please tell me. This guy wouldn’t sweat in the Sahara. So when the Colts started the season not looking like they typically do, do you think he was worried? Doubt it. I’m not going to talk about how much of a class-act he is, or about the barriers he has broken down for African American coaches, those things get plenty of press. Instead, I give you simply facts: The Colts under Dungy have produced six playoff appearances, five AFC South Titles (in a row), two AFC Championship games, and, oh yeah, a Super Bowl title. They are also the only team in NFL history to win at least 12 games in five consecutive seasons. Lucky? Nah, Dungy.

I know that not everyone believes in the Colts right now, but this year has been exactly what I have been hoping for: a chance for the Colts to show the world that they are not the same underachieving team as years past, but a group of over-achievers that are ready to take on all comers, no matter what the stakes or circumstances. This is just our year, I can feel it, and I’m only giving the heads up now because I don’t want anyone spitting Pabst Blue Ribbon on their Zubaz come February.

You want to talk about how other teams have not when they should have? Well, I want to talk about how the Colts have when they should not have.

[tags]indianapolis colts, peyton manning, tony dungy, bob sanders, nfl[/tags]

NFL Quick Hits – August 9, 2008

by Jerod Morris

A few random thoughts about the NFL…

Aaron Rodgers (pictured below, dressed up as Scott Stapp for Halloween), the new undisputed starting QB for the Green Bay Packers, really just doesn’t seem to get it. If you haven’t seen his comments that came out today where we was basically whining that fans yell at him and he’s heard kids cussing at him, read them here. Why even go there? He is already facing an impossible task…replacing a living legend. Just ask Jay Fiedler how easy that is! Fiedler was actually a decent quarterback, who led the Dolphins to a few playoff appearances. But he was never even partially accepted by Dolphins fans. Why? Because he wasn’t Dan Marino. (And look at the Dolphins now…they haven’t had a QB as good as even Fiedler ever since!) The point is, if Rodgers displays this poor judgment with the media…and remember his comments from a few weeks back where he said the fans should “shut up or get on board”…it makes you wonder if his judgment on the field will be any better.

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