Sunday, April 30, 2006

The Rest of the NFL, Part II

In the previous post I tackled my feelings on the AFC East. Now I'm going to move over to the NFC East.

NFC East
Dallas Cowboys
They're the Yankees of the NFL. If you're not a Cowboys fan you have to hate them. I do. I didn't get to see the Cowboys when they had seemingly stand-up guys like Roger Staubach. It probably would have been harder to hate them then. Fortunately, I knew the Cowboys at the end of the Landry era when they were terrible and into the Jimmy Johnson/Barry Switzer years. They were winning everything except for their court battles. Michael Irvin, Leon Lett were constantly getting busted for drugs and for being general assholes. Now they have Terrell Owens. This team is easy to hate.

New York Giants
Here's a team that I probably should hate but don't. I don't root for them, but I don't root against them. They're just another team in the league that rises to the top every now and then. They had some despicable characters in the '90s - Lawrence Taylor comes to mind - but were not necessarily hateable for a Colts fan. I'll hate them more if they pick off the Colts in the season opener this year.

Philadelphia Eagles
My college roommate was an Eagles fan (still is) so I have a certain affection for this team. I've seen the suffering of the Eagles fans up close. Because of my roommate, this team became my "NFC team" for a while. The Eagles fans have a reputation for being tough, but also smart. They will boo the hell out of you, but only if you half ass or consistently suck. Rarely does a player get booed for one mistake. As it stands, I root for the Eagles to make their way to the Super Bowl to get whipped against the Colts so that I can rub it in to my old roommate.

Washington Redskins
Let's see. Fat guys in dresses and pig noses. An overpaid and aging Deion Sanders. Steve Spurrier recently coached them. Some of the most mediocre championship teams of all time. Ugh. This is a team that sneaks up and wins Super Bowls in years that no one else seems to want them. They won the Super Bowl with Mark Rypien at the helm. Are you kidding me? How did this happen? I'll tell you. The rest of the NFC rolled over and the Buffalo Bills showed up in the Super Bowl, that's how. Christ. I'm going to go punch a tree until it dies.

Stay tuned for the next installment coming up after my thoughts on the Colts' draft.

Tuesday, April 11, 2006

The Rest of the NFL

As NFL fans we don't live in a fan vacuum. We have our team and we're loyal to our team. Ideally, we'd root for our team every week and against whoever they play. Unfortunately, it's not that simple. You see, we humans have something called "memory" and this "memory" allows us to recall things that have happened in the past. These "memories" stick with us and we then attach them to other teams in the NFL. Because of this, you'd be hard pressed to find an NFL fan that doesn't have feelings about every other team in the NFL. Including me.

This is the first in an eight part series on my feelings on the rest of the teams in the NFL. I'll start with the AFC East.

AFC East
Buffalo Bills
The AFC East is the Colts old division. Lots of bad blood with these teams. It's hard to forget the early 90's when the Bills consistently put the smack down on the Colts in a big way. Sure, I'm still bitter. Still, it's hard to hate this team too much. They're bad and they'll be bad for a while. Plus, they have some of the ugliest uniforms in the league.

Miami Dolphins
This team doesn't actually have fans. Just people who live near the stadium. You'll never meet a Dolphins fan who will get in fight for his team. Hell, Hootie is their most well-known fan. I don't even think Dan Marino roots for the Dolphins. People only wear this team's gear because they like the color aqua. This is a non-team. They're not even worth my hate.

New England Patriots
This seems like a no-brainer. I should hate these guys, right? Yeah, I should. I don't. They've owned the Colts up until last season. That's enough to make most Colts fans hate them. However, this is a team that just plays great football. They also play with class. Hard to hate that. I respect these guys, but I still love beating the hell out of them. Of course, I didn't admit it to any of the Pats fans I know. Just another win, I said.

New York Jets
You almost have to fell sorry for this team. They've been hovering around mediocrity for as long as I can remember. This is a franchise that should be at the top of the conference every year. I mean, they're a New York team for Christ's sake. Yet, every year they come up short. They either miss the playoffs altogether or blow it in the first game. You know, I think I do feel sorry for them. That's probably the most insulting thing you can say to another team's fans.

Not a lot of love for the AFC East. Stay tuned for the next installment.

Tuesday, March 21, 2006

An Upgrade

ESPN.com is reporting that Adam Vinatieri has agreed in principle to a deal with the Indianapolis Colts. I'll go over that again. The Indianapolis Colts. Adam Vinatieri. Working together. A Patriot hero is now a Colt.

It's like Michael Jordan in a Detroit Pistons uniform.

The Colts may have just replaced the most accurate kicker in NFL history (Vanderjagt) with the most clutch kicker in NFL history (Vinatieri), they may have stolen a Patriot leader and hero and they may have shocked the world with this move. None of that matters. What the Colts did with this deal was add a champion and a winner to the roster. The addition of a player like Vinatieri will have a greater influence on this team than any kicker has ever had on any team.

This is a man who won three Super Bowls. In two of them he kicked the winning field goal. He knows what it takes to win. He knows the pressure of playing in a big game. He knows how to compose himself in crunch time. That's contagious. The rest of the team will pick up on his attitude. He believes he'll hit that field goal if given the chance. He won't get rattled if things get bad. This will rub off on the rest of the team. He's the anti-Owens.

This is a better team with Adam Vinatieri.

Thursday, March 16, 2006

More Shuffling

Linebacker David Thornton and defensive tackle Larry Tripplett are no longer Colts.  Both free agents decided to sign elsewhere this week.  Thornton will be playing for Tennessee and Tripplett signed with Buffalo.  Here's what the free agency tally looks like right now:
 
Gone
Edgerrin James, RB - Arizona
David Thornton, LB - Tennessee
Larry Tripplett, DT - Buffalo
Mike Vanderjagt, K - Unsigned
 
Kept
Reggie Wayne, WR
Gary Brackett, LB
Raheem Brock, DE
Jose Cortez, K
 
It doesn't look like the Colts will have the NFL's 11th best defense this year.  Unfortunately, the offense took a step backwards as well with the loss of James.
 
What's that sound?  Oh, that's the Jaguars knocking on the door.  For the first time in a few years, it looks like it's going to be a dogfight for the division title.  Of course, it's still early and Polian could work some draft-day miracles.  I'm not holding my breath.
 
I can't say that I'm sad to see Vanderjerk go.  He's the Terrell Owens of kickers.  His replacement won't be as good, but he'll probably keep his mouth shut.  Do you think Hunter Smith is sad that he won't have anyone to do the head swoop with after field goals?
 
 

Monday, March 13, 2006

James to Arizona

Sometimes it's all about the money.
 
The Colts just didn't have enough.  Edgerrin James signed a 4-year deal worth $30 million with the Arizona Cardinals.  It's no surprise to anyone who has been paying attention.  Polian has been bracing us for this all week with is talk about how little cap room the Colts actually have.  Of course, that didn't stop us Colts fans from holding out hope that we might be able to retain the franchise's all-time leading rusher.  No such luck.
 
You certainly can't blame James for taking the kind of deal that he deserves.  He's put in seven fantastic seasons in the NFL and he deserves a big payday.  Unfortunately, that was something the Colts couldn't provide him.  We are all lucky for the opportunity to watch James play for the Colts and I wish him well in Arizona - unless they're facing the Colts.
 
Now what?
 
Obviously, the Colts don't have much ability to fill this gaping hole through free agency so they'll probably have to rely on the draft to find a new feature back.  Polian is historically great at finding the right talent in the draft, but the tailback position is tough to fill.  Even if Polian manages to find the next James in this upcoming draft, there will be the standard adjustment period for him to get up to NFL speed.  The biggest concern will be the rookie's ability to recognize pass coverage and pick up the blitz.  This will be the one thing that the Colts will miss most about James as they adjust to the post-James era.
 
Let's just hope that Polian has something up his sleeve.

Sunday, March 12, 2006

The CBA

The NFL and Players Union finally agreed on a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). All hail Paul Tagliabue! The NFL is saved! The Colts won’t have to cut Peyton Manning!

What does it really mean?

Mostly, it means that we don’t have to wade through boring columns with phrases like “salary cap”, “prorated” and “revenue sharing.” We don’t have to worry about Gene Upshaw for another eleven years. And we no longer have to pretend that we understand any of this.

Unfortunately, this doesn’t clear anything up for the Colts. Nobody seems to know if the Colts will be able to keep Edgerrin James or not. Most writers seem to think that the new agreement gives the Colts a better chance of keeping him. However, Polian insists that he has no idea if that will be the case. His strategy is to sit back and see how the market reacts. Hopefully, he doesn’t sit so far back that James waltzes his way to Arizona.

Polian also wants to re-sign David Thornton. He doesn’t know if this will happen, either. The Colts are about $8 million under the cap right now. That money needs to be allocated to James, Thornton and any rookies they want to sign. Eight million isn’t much to go around. To keep James and Thornton they’ll need to be creative.

I don’t know much about the cap, but it seems to me that many teams try to skirt cap issues by creating “incentive-laden” contracts. If that is the case, my suggestion is that you give James a ridiculously low salary and include a large amount of easy to reach incentives. For example, you pay him $1000 (minimum) per rushing yard. James easily knocks out 1000 yards a year (last year he had 1506 yards) so he’s pulling in an easy million there. Do the same for each catch and yard gained after the reception. Of course, this all goes straight in the toilet if he gets hurt, but so does the Colts’ season. Again, I don’t know squat about the salary cap or contract structure so this is all probably a huge waste of your time.

My point is that the Colts should do everything they possibly can to keep James and Thornton. Even if it means creating ridiculous contracts for a year or so until they can restructure enough contracts to make room for some serious deals for these guys. Or win a Lombardi Trophy. Whichever comes first.

Saturday, March 04, 2006

The Next Level

We all know that the action on the field is the centerpiece to the entertainment that the Indianapolis Colts provide, but it is not the only ingredient in an enjoyable experience at the RCA Dome.  We mustn’t forget the Indianapolis Colts Cheerleaders.  These ladies are also an important piece to the “Colts Game Experience.”  Now it is time for them to renew, refresh and hopefully improve upon their squad – just like the Colts should be doing during this time.  While the Colts are forced to wait until the free agency period starts (it has been delayed for three days while they try to hammer out a CBA), the Colts Cheerleaders have already taken the first step towards improving their squad.  Auditions have been scheduled.

Ladies, I want to see a good turnout for these auditions.  I attended the Colts game versus the Titans in week 13 and was able to see the Colts Cheerleaders live.  I liked what I saw.  They had a good energy and all of them seemed to really enjoy being on the field dancing, supporting the team and firing up the crowd (Of course, I don’t need to mention that they all looked great as well).  However, I’ve seen better.  The Colts Cheerleaders performed well, but they didn’t put on a show like, say, the Adrenaline Rush Dancers (of Arena Football’s Chicago Rush).  These ladies really know how it’s done.  On the sidelines they are always sharp and together with their dances, very professional.  They really shine once they hit the field for their halftime performances and features.  These aren’t just pretty faces, folks.  These girls can dance (especially Dee – my girlfriend).  Sure, I might be biased but these girls were a lot more fun to watch.

Anyone with any knowledge of professional cheerleading squads knows that I am comparing apples and oranges when I put the Adrenaline Rush Dancers up against the Colts Cheerleaders.  The NFL squads tend to focus more on cheerleading than dancing and the AFL and NBA squads focus more on performance versus cheerleading.  In fact, most of the dancers on the Adrenaline Rush Dancers are former Luvabulls.  I’m sure you’ve noticed that the NBA squads focus most of their energy on dancing and performances during the breaks.  The NFL squads tend to have smaller sideline routines and end zone features.  There’s quite a difference between the two.  It doesn’t have to be this way.

I’m calling for the Colts Cheerleaders to take the lead and mold themselves after the NBA squads and focus on really delivering spectacular performances during the breaks.  Let’s break some ground here, people.  The Colts Cheerleaders have got one hell of a great squad right now, but I’d like to see it improve.  Just like the Colts, the Colts Cheerleaders need to take it to the next level.  Let’s start with these auditions.

Thursday, March 02, 2006

Lucas Oil Stadium

Yesterday, the Colts announced that the new stadium due to be complete for the 2008 season will be named Lucas Oil Stadium. Lucas Oil is based in California but has a plant in the former state capital of Indiana, Corydon. Lucas Oil’s website states that they are, “one of the fastest-growing additive lines in the consumer automotive industry, featuring a line of oils, grease and problem-solving additives.” Priority Number One: check Lucas Oil’s problem-solving additive list to see if they have one to create more cap room to re-sign Edgerrin James. Priority Number Two: find an additive to keep Peyton from choking in playoff games.

Monday, February 27, 2006

The Edge

Free agency starts this Friday. Dark days are ahead for the Colts.

Edgerrin James will be a free agent. The Colts don't have the money to sign him to a long-term contract and they won't slap the franchise tag on him for a second season in a row. This was looming over the entire season. The consensus was that the 2005-06 season was the best chance for a Colts' Super Bowl championship. They finally had a decent defense and James would be gone after 2006. It's 2006. James is leaving.

Sure, there is a remote to non-existent chance that James could return. The Collective Bargaining Agreement mess will probably make for a slow free agent period this season, but there are enough teams out there with sufficient potential cap room and great big holes in their running game that James will be headed elsewhere.

What does this mean for the Colts?

First, the vaunted trio of Peyton Manning, Marvin Harrison and Edgerrin James becomes the unremarkable trio of Manning, Harrison and Dominic Rhodes. It has the feel of the late eighties Broncos. You know, those teams that won so many championships.

Second, it puts Peyton Manning on the hot seat. Well, he's already on the hot seat. It puts him directly in the ninth circle of hell. All the weight will be on his shoulders. Unfortunately, this is not when Peyton is at his best. Manning will press all season trying to make up for the loss of James. His touchdown numbers will go up, but so will his interceptions. We'll see a lot more of pouty Peyton on the sidelines in 2006-07.

Third, it puts pressure on Bill Polian. He has to find a replacement for James if the Colts are to win a Super Bowl in the Manning era. He dealt Marshall Faulk when Faulk was untouchable and managed to replace him with James. He chose James over Ricky Williams in the draft. It paid off. He doesn't have much time. The Colts have locked up Manning and they need to keep Dwight Freeny. They've got some young talent on the offensive line but the leaders, Jeff Saturday and Tarik Glenn aren't getting any younger. Move quickly, Mr. Polian. None of us are getting any younger.

Doom, doom, doom. Death, death, death. Woe is Colts. There won't be much optimism from the Colts fans going into this season. Many feel like the best shot the Colts had and will ever have was last season. Maybe it was. Maybe it wasn't.

I do know that the 2006-07 Colts team will not be as good as last season's Colts team because Edgerrin James won't be in the backfield. I don't know that the Colts will never have another shot at the Super Bowl. I think this season will lay the foundation for that possibility.

Author's Note: I'm working on making updates to the template to make it more Colts friendly. At the very least I'm going to make it blue.

Sunday, February 26, 2006

Super Bowl Sickness

I thought I'd start this blog with a post about my feelings at the end of this season:

Super Bowl Sunday is always a sad day for me. It’s the day the NFL goes into hibernation for the spring and summer. It’s the day a team hoists the Lombardi Trophy and gets to call themselves champions. In my thirty years, that team has never been my team. In fact, my team has never even been to the Super Bowl in my lifetime. Every year I walk away from the game sad that the season is over and indifferent to the outcome. It would seem that this year would be no different, but it was.

This was it. This was finally the year that my team was going to get to the big game. I watched the Colts go 13-0 (thanks to my girlfriend I got to witness win #12 live) and believed that this was finally the year that all the pieces had fallen into place. Instead, I watched them choke again in the playoffs. I was heartbroken. For days afterwards, I could not talk about it or even think about it rationally. I wondered if Manning and Dungy would ever win a championship. Will their legacy be that they can’t win the big one?

Weeks passed and my anger and sadness subsided. Suddenly, Super Bowl Sunday was upon me. I had made my plans to go to a Super Bowl party. Usually, I would look forward to hanging with friends and having a few laughs during the game. This time as the game crept closer I wanted to be a part of it less and less. Every little thing annoyed me. I saw a friend with a Steelers shirt. I wanted to punch her. I watched an interview with Mike Holmgren’s wife who was on a volunteer mission in Africa. I wanted to punch her. I saw a shot of Ford Field with the Steelers and Seahawks logos hanging outside. I wanted to punch them. People said to me, “You seem grumpy. Is everything okay?” I would make up some excuse about being tired or not feeling well. I knew that I couldn’t tell them that I was still heartbroken about the Colts. They wouldn’t understand. They would think I was a sore loser.

I’m not a sore loser. I’ve accepted the defeat. The Colts were beaten by the better team that day. They choked. They had their shot and they blew it. Accepting the defeat does not make the pain go away. The feeling I got when I heard the words “Super Bowl” was the same feeling you get when you have to say, “We broke up” to a friend after you just got dumped. The acceptance of it makes it worse. Seeing another AFC team in the Super Bowl was like seeing your ex-girlfriend dating another – better – guy two weeks after she dumped you. You say you’re happy for her, but you’re not. You’re angry because it should be you, not him, going to see Brokeback Mountain with her. Instead, you’re stuck in the row behind them watching them make out the whole time. That’s what it felt like watching the Super Bowl.

Then I started thinking. What if that was it? What if that was the best shot the Colts will ever get? Maybe Manning goes down with an injury. The linemen retire or get hurt. Receivers retire. We can’t replace James. This disappointing season may be as good as it gets. People tell you that there is always next year. It’s like hearing that there are more fish in the sea. But what if there isn’t? What if that was the one chance? For the rest of your life, you only go out with girls your mom sets you up with. Sure, you’ll be okay but you may never find that true love. That’s something that only happens when everything is just right, and you blew it.

That’s why I couldn’t explain to anyone why I was in a bad mood.

Kickoff

As the title suggests, I'm a Colts fan and I live in Chicago. This is my blog.

Last season, I found myself writing a lot about the Colts and their fortunes. Mostly, this took place on a bulletin board in the context of discussions with my football-loving friends here in Chicago. I was the lone Colts fan. Those discussions inspired me to start blogging about the Colts in my own space.

I figured that the best time to start blogging is during the off-season so that I can follow all of the developments leading up to the 2006-07 season. A season of expectations.

Stay tuned.