The cupboard is bare

After Peyton Manning was let go, the Colts have decided to make a few more changes. Dwight Freeney is on the block. Indy cut Melvin Bullitt, Joseph Addai, Gary Brackett and Dallas Clark. Oh, and Curtis Painter. Let me touch on each of thse players individually.

Dwight Freeney - My favorite Colts player, maybe ever. A monster at Syracuse, he wasn't highly regarded coming out of school because of his size. Nevertheless, the Colts drafted him, and he became a star. Now, he is perhaps the only viable trade chip on the team. Hey, they have to get something this offseason, right?

Melvin Bullitt - I find it difficult to get attached to anyone who ever played for the Colts secondary. Because they are very bad, you see.

Joseph Addai - There are a lot of things Addai might be good at. Needlepoint. Baking apple turnovers. One of them is not "professional NFL running back". The only reason he ever looked competent is because he was propped up by a hall of fame QB. With Manning out of the picture, so is Addai. Mercifully.

Gary Brackett - Have you ever noticed in highlight clips of Brackett, it's always in games against the Texans? Do you know why that is? It's because in all the other games he is garbage. Watch him against the Chargers. Just awful.

Dallas Clark - When you no longer have any wide receivers (Reggie Wayne and Pierre Garcon are free agents) it's really hard to run a spread offense. Dallas Clark isn't really a component that fits anymore. Sorry Dallas. Hell, no I'm not. You don't have to play for the Colts anymore.

Curtis Painter - It's Painter's fault. Everything is Curtis Painter's fault. If Dan Orlovsky can come in and make the team look competent, you have to wonder about the guy he replaced. I do wonder. Well, no I don't. Painter is the worst QB to ever play in the league. Ever. And he played for most of a season. Worst. Ever.He should never have been drafted. If he was remotely competent, the Colts are drafting top ten, but not first overall. Manning sticks around, and they just reload for another run. But no. Curtis Painter was so incredibly, aggressively terrible that he changed the course of Colts history by being so bad. In fact, the only thing he could have done is go to his coaches and say "Listen, guys, you know that I'm awful, right? Shouldn't be in the league? Why are you starting me?" Go away Curtis Painter. Go away and never come back. I never want to hear your name again.

(All in all, positive developments form the Colts, even if it hurts a little Good to see the team moving on)

Thank you, Peyton Manning

I think things have been handled poorly over the past month or so with the Colts and Peyton Manning, but I am glad Manning is leaving without ill will towards the Colts. Best of luck, Peyton.

Now that I think about it...

Why not keep Peyton Manning? Rumors of his health, or even retirement have surely sabotaged his value. And then, there is that number one draft pick for a "surefire" prospect in Andrew Luck. That's a pick that, no matter what, still has value. The Colts are quite obviously more than a quarterback short. The idea of getting rid of Manning, in my book, isn't all that palatable if the Colts get nothing in return.
So, again, if the Colts can, perhaps, grab multiple first round picks, grab a player like Justin Blackmon to replace the likely to depart Dallas Clark and Reggie Wayne, and a linebacker like Dont'a Hightower, because the defense sucks, and take your chances with Manning's health next year, while drafting a quarterback in the later rounds and adding, say, Colt McCoy from the Browns with the same trade of the #1 pick.
Sure, it's a risk. Of course it's a risk, but so is letting a hall of fame quarterback walk for absolutely nothing.

My personal top 5 rivalries

Last night, Dick Vitale spent much of the evening saying how there was no argument that Duke-UNC was the greatest rivalry in the world. Well, I think there is an argument. First off, it depends on your definition of what makes a rivalry great. Is it the number of people involved with a rooting interest? Well, then it's probably an international soccer rivalry, like China versus Japan. Lots of people in both countries, and historic animosity. And really, more people hate both teams than pick a side with Duke-UNC. Is it the level of animosity between the two sides and their fan bases? More than 70 people were killed after a match in Egypt this past week. When was the last time there was that kind of an incident at Duke-UNC? (This is a good thing that this hasn't happened, for the record).
No, the greatest rivalries are all personal. I couldn't care less about the Yankees and Red Sox or Duke and North Carolina. These are rivalries I actually care about. Matchups that, when they occur, really get my blood boiling, because of my own personal experience.

5) Purdue vs Wisconsin (college football): This is a matchup that will likely only ever appear on my own personal list, but since I grew up in Minnesota and learned to hate Wisconsin, and then had the team rip out my heart in 2004, thanks to a Kyle Orton fumble and subsequent Wisconsin touchdown return, they have always been a source of anxiety, every time I see them on the field.

4) Purdue vs Indiana (college basketball): Purdue is a basketball school, first and foremost, and their annual games against the Hoosiers are always a highlight. I learned early that the Hoosiers are not to be trusted.

3) Twins vs White Sox (Baseball): The Twins are my favorite team in all sports, and I have a high level of disdain for all American League Central teams (and the Yankees, but that's not really a rivalry, so much as a complete destruction), but having lived near Chicago for a few years, and having a team that more or less is on the same overall success arc as the Twins over the last decade pushes the Sox to the top of my "greatest rivalry" list. Well, in baseball, anyways.

2) Wild vs Canucks (Hockey): Ever since Matt Cooke, I just can't ever take it upon myself to wish anything but harm on the Canucks. I actually hate Vancouver so much, that I am glad the NHL is realigning, so I don't have to see their ugly faces as much.

1) Colts vs Patriots (Football): I am a pretty mellow sports fan, especially when it comes to the NFL. I am what you might call coldly analytical. I am OK with watching games in silence, because I usually do. That would be the reason for surprise when I yell at my TV whenever the Colts and Patriots play. While this Super Bowl proved to me that I don't unconditionally hate the Patriots, it did prove to me that I do feel that way about Indianapolis. Why else would I feel so passionately about the Colts beating New England? There is no greater feeling than the Colts beating the Patriots.

At least, not in my book. Like I said, this is all about your own perspective.

How not to conduct yourself

Indianapolis is the host of the Super Bowl this year, and much like St. Paul when the Republican National Convention was in town, they are proud to have a national and narrow international spotlight aimed at their town. Fortunately, residents of St. Paul and the owners of the Xcel Energy Center didn't make the trip about themselves. In fact, I would say St. Paul came off looking well, with the anarchist protesters and the Republicans being the only ones that embarrassed themselves in any way (depending upon your political affiliation). The point is, St. Paul played the gracious hosts.
It's been slightly different in Indianapolis. The city is equally excited to represent itself to the world, and is generally a gracious host during other major events, like Big Ten Tournaments or Championships and the Indy 500, but that doesn't quite hold a candle to the Super Bowl, does it? From what I've heard, the city and the residents are having a great time, but the Colts and Peyton Manning are being selfish prigs.
First, there were sources saying that Manning had been cleared to play, perhaps in response to the reports earlier in the week that he was done for his career. Manning didn't come out and say anything, of course, but sources near him heard it, and I'm not foolish enough to think that he didn't have a hand in the process. Of course, doing this while the Super Bowl is in HIS town means that coverage will be on him. While it's a tactless move had this happened anywhere, in any Super Bowl, it's especially tacky in his home town with his brother playing in the game.
Compounding matters is owner Jim Irsay. He could have quickly come out with a statement to the press or on the Colts website. Instead he tweeted a denial at 130AM, local time. Super Bowl aside, that's just boorish behavior. Despite the game being in Indianapolis, and all the kudos before the game for the beautiful stadium and the team that got it built, Irsay and Manning are destroying any kind of good will.
It's to the point that I now believe that the winning years of the past decade were the exception. The Colts are a bad organization that got lucky when they picked Manning. They might get lucky with Andrew Luck as well, but it's increasingly clear it's not something the Irsays deserve.

DAMMIT ROB LOWE!

According to the LA Times and their sources, Peyton Manning may be done playing in the NFL. This never would have happened if it weren't for Rob Lowe.

But seriously, I hope Manning can come back and coach. And also, I hope that Rob Lowe will pick lottery numbers for me.

Indianapolis' answer at quarterback

Yes, I am proposing that the Colts add Colt. Hear me out.
The problem with Indianpolis this season wasn't so much that Peyton Manning was injured, but that Curtis Painter was an absolute embarrassment. I can't see the Colts moving Peyton Manning, or keeping Manning and assumed first pick Andrew Luck, but it's very clear that the team needs an additional QB on the roster. It just so happens that the Browns are likely in the market for an upgrade at quarterback, own two first round picks (including one in the top 5) and have a player on the roster that would be an obvious upgrade for the current Indianapolis QB depth.
The Colts have been respectable with Dan Orlovsky at the helm, which is mind blowing, and goes to show just how terrible Painter is and was. Orlovsky probably played himself into a job elsewhere. The Colts likely realized that a having a quarterback on the roster that wasn't an utter disaster is key. Some people have said the Brown could move their top two picks for the third pick and take Robert Griffin. What if they through in Colt McCoy and nabbed the number 1 overall selection? I think the Browns would jump at the chance, and I, personally, would love the move.
McCoy seems like a smart kid, and has been a starting QB for 6 years when you include his time at Texas. He would be more than capable of stepping in and leading the team to a .500 record (or so) if Manning were injured for a few games again. Then, the Colts would also have two first rounders. Looking at available players at those spots according to Walter Football, the team would be much better if they had, say, corner back Dre Kirkpatrick and defensive tackle Brandon Thompson? Or a better running back? Or a younger wide out? The defense has been a problem for years. The quarterback has been an issue for one. Hear's hoping the Colts (and Colt) can take steps to solve both.

Sorry, I am enjoying the Colts' winning streak

Two thoughts on the Indianapolis Colts and the winning streak that, should they defeat the Jaguars next week, will cost them Andrew Luck.
First is this: Curtis Painter is absolutely atrocious. The Big Lead's Jason Lisk did the research earlier that insisted a Hall of Fame quarterback was worth only a hand full of wins. A replacement level quarterback is pretty much the definition of Dan Orlovsky, and he won games for the Colts. Painter was a disaster. He is worth negative wins when compared to an average quarterback. I have claimed he is a bad quarterback, and has been ever since college. The evidence is getting more and more tangible.
Second, I have noticed that nobody is saying that the Colts should go after Robert Griffin or Landry Jones with their pick if they don't get Luck. Both are top 5 picks. This simply suggests what I have been saying all season... The Colts don't need a quarterback. If the Colts win next week, the team will fill a position of need in the draft, such as any other position but quarterback. That's a good thing.

The Colts might have to make a tough decision

I have been in staunch opposition to drafting Andrew Luck. If nothing else, because the Colts are terrible everywhere, as they demonstrated last night. (62-7!) If anything, they should trade the first pick in the draft for more picks and fill MORE holes, like the offensive line, wide receiver, running back or any position on defense.You know, the entire team. Trading out of the first pick would likely reap a bounty that  could be used to develop a lot of players going forward. Seems like a pretty decent draft to do that with.
Of course, now Tony Dungy brings up another idea. Maybe the Colts should trade Peyton Manning. I actually like this thinking, even thought it seems completely implausible. Manning would also bring a slew of picks, as well as, perhaps, other compensation. If you can extricate yourself from the emotional impact of a move like this, it does make a certain bit of sense going forward. You have a sure fire quarterback prospect fro the next 10-15 years instead of three or four. But of course, you would also have to gradually build a team around him, a la Manning of the early 2000s, rather than inserting him into a ready made team, if you were to keep Manning and rebuild the team under his guidance.
I think either way would work. Regardless, the Colts should add a quarterback in the draft in the early rounds with an eye for the future. There are one of two ways to do it. Either keep Manning and trade their early pick for more picks, or keep their early pick and trade Manning. Whatever happens, they will end up with Manning or Luck, but certainly not both.

Who get's blown out by more?

It's a simple question... This week, Minnesota takes on the best team in football, divisional rival Green Bay, who may feel the need to run up the score on the Vikings. The Colts are playing on the road against New Orleans, who may not be as inclined to drive up the point total, but are clearly the better team. So, vote below. Who gets blown out by more?

The Colts are terrible

There is no escaping it. The Colts are just a tremendously bad team. I was in denial before the season, but really, they truly are a dreadful team. Other people have noted this as well, and have suggested that the Colts may be so bad that they could be in the Andrew Luck sweepstakes. I think that would be a very bad idea, drafting Andrew Luck.
Peyton Manning will play again, no doubt about that, and will likely do so for a couple more seasons. The Colts, however, have proved, to me anyways, that they are more than just a quarterback short of a competitive team. Should they draft a quarterback? Absolutely. There are just too many holes on the team to dedicate that spot to a QB, when a cheaper one could be developed while Manning is still at the helm. Use this year to acquire the missing pieces that already litter roster, be it at running back, wide receiver, offensive line, defensive line, linebackers, or defensive back. You know, every position, since they all suck, on the roster. (And yes, WR sucks. Reggie Wayne will be retired by the time QB X will be ready to take over, Austin Collie might be dead, and the rest of the corps is extremely average.)
 Now is the time to think about building towards the future, but for once, that shouldn't mean starting at the quarterback position.

Bad news, Vikings fans

Charlie Johnson sucks. The Colts made it a point to draft a left tackle to protect Peyton Manning's blindside this offseason (Anthony Castonzo), with the express intent of dumping Johnson.Sure, he was better than Tony Ugoh, but my geriatric dog is better than Tony Ugoh. He will not be an improvement over Bryant McKinnie. Well, last year's version of McKinnie, I mean. You have a hole at left tackle.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

How I won 100 bucks from the Colts

As I am sure you all know at this point, we have a Twitter account, @victoriawxtimes, and I follow a great many people, though at this point I don't have anyone in particular to direct you to (OK, Kevin Schultz, Loser Domi, the 7th inning Stache, Boiled Sports, Beth, and, just for the hell of it, son of Ozzie Guiellen, Oney Guillen). One of those people I follow is Colts owner Jim Irsay, who I am slowly coming to find might be a little insane.
When Irsay isn't quoting The Who or pimping his team, he likes to have little contests with his followers. In the middle of the draft, he offered the following challenge (in so many words): 100 dollars and a case of steaks for the person who correctly identified the next quarterback off the board. Guess what? It was ME.
So I have been in contact with the Abby in question (she works in the marketing department for the Colts, as it seems) and after some confusion about my address I will be getting a check (I think?) sent from Indianapolis and a case of steak from who knows where couriered to me. That's right, courier.
Also, according to Abby, the steak is going to be packed in dry ice and left at my front door. I was originally worried that I wouldn't be home to receive the Colts' meat (....) but now I am worried about the potential for a steaming, unidentified case waiting at my doorstep. Hopefully, the Eagan bomb squad doesn't come out. Does Eagan have a bomb squad?
Anyways, that's how I ended up with 100 bucks and some steak from the Indianapolis Colts. Too bad I didn't have that steak just a little bit sooner....

Football is stupid

I am somewhat depressed

Right now, this is where my teams stand:
Minnesota Wild - Lost last night to Colorado
Purdue basketball - Lost last night to Richmond (ugh)
Purdue football - Lost yesterday AT HOME to Indiana (double ugh)
Indianapolis Colts - Lost last week to New England
Want me to keep going? How deep do you want? Let's go overseas.
Rosenborg BK, my favorite soccer club, from my grandmothers home town - Lost to Atletico Madrid in the Europa League, but hey! They tied with Aalesund in the Norwegian league finale
Blackburn, my EPL team - Lost yesterday to Manchester United, 7-1
Further? OK
Minnesota Twins - Swept by the Yankees in the postseason
Heck, my high school, Benilde St. Margaret's - Lost to Totino Grace in the Sectional quarters.

Sports suck. I need something to improve my mood.

Ah, I'll always have you, sad Brett Favre

The most important injury news in the NFL

Haha, no, I'm not going to be talking about the geriatric quarterback for a team that is already out of contention, or even a younger quarterback for a team that is further out of contention. This is about Dallas Clark. Sure, it might be overstating it to talk about a tight end, but I don't think Clark is just any tight end.
Look at Clark's numbers. In 2008 and 2009 he had 77 and 100 receptions for the Colts, emerging as a new receiving candidate as Marvin Harrison's time with the Colts was winding down. Then last year Anthony Gonzalez went down and Clark became a force on a Super Bowl team. Now this year, Austin Collie is nicked up, Gonzalez hasn't been at his best yet and Pierre Garcon is recovering from an injury. Who will emerge across from Reggie Wayne now? Jacob Tamme? Blair White? Who ARE these people?

I have no doubt that Peyton Manning will find his way out of this jam. I mean, Donovon McNabb still shone without ever having a wide receiver in his career. Maybe Manning can prove once and for all he is a brilliant quarterback, not someone that has simply been blessed with skilled receivers.

Come on Twins, I need this

The Twins find themselves down 2-0 in their series against the Yankees. Nothing new. I have always been able to take solace in the fact that when their season ends, I will have something to look forward to. Let's break down the Minnesota rooting interests (and my own, for that matter) with the Twins, once again, on the brink of elimination.
Vikings - They started the season 1-2, just reacquired a wide receiver that everyone seems to forget was run out of town half a decade ago, and now their geriatric quarterback is involved in a sexting scandal. At the very least, they could go on a run and annoy the hell out of me before eventually breaking the hearts of Minnesotans.
Gophers - 1-4. Lost to South Dakota. Lost to Northern Illinois. Just an awful team.
Wild - The Wild started their season yesterday, and after today's game will be returning winless. It would be wone thing if they had lost to a good team, bu they lost to the Carolina Hurricanes, who were even worse than the Wild, not winning until February (if memory serves). And it wasn't even fun hockey. It was sloppy, miserable hockey that nobody in their right mind would want to watch.
Timberwolves - They hoped to cash in by putting a billboard up on the Target Center for the Twins postseason run. Oops. The team is entirely new once again. Corey Brewer is the longest tenured Wolf, and frankly the entire team is mostly forgotten.
Gophers basketball - The Gophers hoops team is pernnially frought with controversy. So that's fun. And they also tend to occupy the middle of the Big Ten standings. Only one more season until Nebraska joins! Easy wins!
And now, more personally...
Purdue football - Yes, they are 2-2, but they beat Western Illinois (narrowly) and Ball State (narrowly.. Ball State then lost to Iowa 45-0) but lost to Notre Dame and Toledo, worse than the Gophers have lost any of their games. Toledo also had the worst offense going into the game before scoring 31 points in West Lafayette. So the defense sucks. And the top two choices at QB are hurt, as is the top receiver. They play Northwestern this week, then a clash of the Titans with the Gophers the next. That's going to be a tough ticket.
Colts - Also 2-2. One thing about Indy is that, with their faulty defense, they have always needed the breaks to fall their way. Houston used to throw a late interception or miss a field goal, the Jaguars used to have late personal fouls on the secondary that would give Indy new life. This just hasn't happened this year. Without homefield advantage in the playoffs, I really don't think Indy is a legitimate threat in the postseason.
Purdue basketball - My only hope. The Boilers are returning almost every one of their key players from the past few years, except for Chris Kramer, who is surely hustling his way around the Brownsburg Staples. My entire winter will depend on the Boilers basketball team. No pressure. Unless, of course, the Twins can turn it around, in which case I'm in good shape!
Ugh

Pretty much the same team

So I have had a lot of people ask me what is wrong with the Colts this year. My answer? Nothing. This is the same team as it was last year. There were no major changes. They just haven't been getting the lucky breaks they did last season.
The Texans probably should have beat the Colts in Houston any of the past 3 or 4 years, save for a missed field goal here or there, and one infamous game featuring Sage Rosenfels. The Jaguars are always the thorn in the side of the Indianapolis, for whatever reason. This time around, they ended up defeating the Colts. It's two things that should have happened any number of times the past several years, and it just happened to happen twice in 4 weeks. The Colts will still get theirs. They have 2 wins on only 1 home game. I still say they get a solid 10 wins and make the playoffs. It's going to be tough in the playoffs without that homefield, however.

I guess I will analyze some drafts: Indianapolis Colts

After going offense offense offense last year, the Colts did something that they have needed to do for years: Pick stout linebackers. I was ecstatic watching the draft, even if they picked players that weren't generally tabbed as the best available at their position.
Jerry Hughes, their first pick is a good stand up pass rusher. He was more of an outside line backer at TCU, which is something I think the Colts could use. They never blitz, the Colts, so perhaps this will indicate a change in philosophy and take some pressure off the coverage line backers, like Gary Brackett, who is tough to watch sometimes.
Pat Angerer, besides having an awesome name, is one of the best run stuffing linebackers in the draft, again filling one of the team's greatest needs. I am looking forward to Angerer shoring up the defense and making me more comfortable in late game situations.
Kevin Thomas has a perfect name for someone that will play in Indiana. He also plays a great position, corner back, where the Colts were ravaged by injury last year, and replaces some of the guys lost to free agency, like Marlin Jackson.
Jacques McLendon will eventually replace some of the older linemen for the Colts, I imagine, but there is nobody yet tabbed to take over for Jeff Saturday and his beautiful eyes.
Brody Eldrige was the second tight end at Oklahoma, and now will be the second tight end for the Colts for however long Dallas Clark is in town.
Ricardo Matthews, Kavell Conner and Ray Fisher, 7th round picks,will all supply more depth to the various components of the Colts defense, which is undersized and prone to injury. Not a bad strategy.
In the end, I was pleased with the draft, but I am surprised that the only offensive players selected were a backup guard and a backup tight end. Still, depth and competition for our defense is going to make the team stronger and a more legitimate threat to return to the Super Bowl.

Tough break

I don't want to to tell you I told you so, but... I didn't. Well, I did if you talked to me in person, but I never wrote it up here. People told me frequently how they though the Colts would not only win, but would do so convincingly in the Super Bowl tonight. They would be stunned when I told them that I didn't think so. The Colts might win, but it certainly wouldn't be a blow out.
As it turned out, the Saints ended up winning outright. The various flaws that any analytical Colts fan saw with every game they played was still there. They couldn't play defense when they played an elite quarterback. They were lucky enough to avoid playing any really good  quarterbacks for most of the year. The best they have played, namely Tom Brady and Kurt Warner, were played at home or didn't have an elite ground game to go with them.
The Saints were able to exploit the Colts crappy defense, because they actually had an offense. When the nerves settled, they were able to pick apart the coverage linebackers (Clint Sessions was atrocious) and the cornerbacks struggled to wrap up on tackles. The offense was kept off the field for about two straight quarters because the Saints were completely able to dominate ball control.
Peyton Manning, no doubt, is the only thing keeping the Colts from being a 6-10 team. Unfortunately, this year, limited by less skilled wideouts, he has been forced to to throw into heavier coverages. That has meant a lot of interceptions, and that was the ultimate undoing tonight. Playing against an opportunistic defense only compounded the problem.
It was a wake up call to many people who thought the Colts were invincible going into the game. Hopefully it didn't give teams the blueprint for beating them the next couple of years. Oh well. I still have Purdue and the Twins. I'll get 'em eventually.