Plus, it wasn't as if Polian had a pattern throughout the season of bashing the offensive line. He often defended the unit and the rushing game at times when a unit that ranked 32nd in the NFL was being criticized. One important point here is throughout the season, when people around the Colts – coaches, players, personnel officials, etc. – the theme was that statistics didn't define the unit. Rather, it was the ability to run when needed – late in the game, short yardage. Among the key plays in the Super Bowl was a 3rd-and-1 in the second quarter the Colts couldn't convert. A season before, they couldn't convert 3rd-and-2 in a postseason loss to San Diego.
A final thought may seem strange with the debate over the issue, but it's possible this is being overplayed just a bit. Just as it's important to hear Saturday's tone, it's important to remember this about what Polian said that night: it was two sentences in an hour-long show, and it wasn't said in a vindictive, they-cost-us-the-game tone. Polian throughout the season analyzes each game on his show, and he has been pointed and honest analyzing many games in the past. Listening to him that evening, it sounded less like Polian “calling out” a particular area than offering what he considered an honest analysis. Polian isn't without flaws and the Colts aren't without areas to criticize, but in an age where the media and fans often bemoand players and coaches for saying little in interviews, let's not automatically criticize what may have just been an attempt at honesty. . . .
Interesting piece by Karen Guregian in the Boston Herald this weekend about Colts MLB Gary Brackett . . .
“Gary Brackett has spent all of his football life on the Indianapolis side of the heated Patriots-Colts rivalry,” Guregian writes, adding, “Set to become an unrestricted free agent March 5, would the 29-year-old middle linebacker even consider changing into enemy colors? Brackett didn’t hesitate with his answer: 'Absolutely.' The Colts did not apply the franchise tag to the heart and soul of their defense. Brackett has expressed a desire to retire a Colt, and said his agent, Brian Mackler, was currently in talks with the team in hopes of coming to terms on a deal. But if an agreement isn’t reached by the March 5 deadline, 'then I’m free and we’ll see what happens,' Brackett said.”
Brackett then goes on to discuss his respect for Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick, and how business is business in the NFL. Interesting stuff, and an interesting concept: Brackett in a Patriots uniform.
The reality? This is all stuff that gets said during negotiations, as were Polian's comments to NFL Network over the weekend that nothing is imminent. The most telling comments came from Colts Owner and Chief Executive Officer Jim Irsay, saying the Colts were prepared to make Brackett an offer that “will be competitive with some of the top-notch guys at his position.”
Hard to imagine hearing that that Brackett will be anywhere but Indianapolis next season. . . .
With that, we move on to . . .
“The thought of doling out $25 million to $30 million annually for one athlete would frighten most executives,” Jason Cole of Yahoo Sports writes, adding, “As the Indianapolis Colts work on inking Peyton Manning to such a potentially lucrative deal this offseason, one observer put the situation in perspective: '“I wish I had this problem.' Cole quotes another agent, “He’s probably the second athlete where you could say he can name his price. The only other athlete who could pretty much name his price was Michael Jordan when he was with the [Chicago] Bulls.”
Interesting in the story, too, is one executive saying, “You figure he’s good to play at this level for another four, five, maybe six years.” . . .
What was interesting in this piece wasn't so much the numbers Manning will command, but the comments of the players regarding Manning's worth. It has been trendy since the Super Bowl to find flaws in Manning, and to discuss his declining legacy.
The reality is there are still few players – past or present – as valuable to a team and as respected within the league.
NFL SCOUTING COMBINE
THE QUARTERBACKS. HERE.
THE RUNNING BACKS. HERE
REPORT: COLTS TO MAKE BRACKETT AMONG HIGHEST-PAID LINEBACKERS. HERE
COLTS ADDING TURNER AS ASSISTANT COACH. HERE.
DAILY DIGESTS:
BILL POLIAN WEIGHS IN ON NFL DRAFT. HERE
SUNDAY DIGEST: TOM MOORE. HERE.
WRAPPING UP POST-SUPER BOWL TALK: HERE
A REFRESHINGLY ACCURATE READ ON PEYTON MANNING. HERE
ON TEAM OF DECADE AND ED JOHNSON. HERE
A LOOK AT THE GARY BRACKETT NEGOTIATIONS. HERE.
ON THE DOUBLE-AGENT THEORY. HERE
TAG OR NO TAG, SIGNING BRACKETT RIGHT MOVE. HERE
THURSDAY SCOUTING COMBINE. HERE
CASSERLY: BEST DRAFT CLASS IN 30 YEARS. HERE
OFFSEASON PRIMERS:
THE QUARTERBACKS. HERE.
THE RUNNING BACKS. HERE.
THE WIDE RECEIVERS. HERE.
THE TIGHT ENDS. HERE.
THE OFFENSIVE TACKLES. HERE
THE OFFENSIVE GUARDS. HERE
THE CENTERS. HERE
MORE COLTS NEWS
POLIAN: THE PAST IS PROLOGUE. HERE.
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