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Indianapolis Colts QB Peyton Manning (left) and New England Patriots
QB Tom Brady (Darron Cummings/AP Photo)
THE DAILY DIGEST | Indy Football Report Editor John Oehser takes a look at what they're saying about and what's going on around the AFC Champion Indianapolis Colts . . .
The topic was inevitable, and just because the Indianapolis Colts and their fans might not like it much, didn't mean that wasn't true.
At the end of each decade, decades and sportswriters being what they are, sportswriters inevitably rush to sum things up.
It's an easy, obligatory topic, this Team if the Decade stuff, and one of far more interest to fans of teams who have been very good in a decade than fans of teams that have struggled to win games. As such, the whole Team-of-the-Decade thing drew the interest of Colts fans late this past season, when the team was marching toward the Super Bowl and it seemed possible their case would become substantially stronger by season's end.
As it was, the Colts did made the Super Bowl, but lost there to New Orleans, thereby making inevitable the following story in USA Today Tuesday:
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft sat in his office recently and reflected on his team’s accomplishments to begin the millennium. Says Kraft, "At the risk of sounding immodest. I believe we are the team of the decade.” Nothing immodest about it. Facts are facts. In winning three Super Bowls from 2001-04, among numerous other shining accomplishments, New England secured its place as the NFL’s Franchise of the Decade. USA TODAY’s dozen NFL editors and reporters did not have to think long before giving the Patriots that honor, 11 of them granting New England the nod. The lone dissenter chose the Indianapolis Colts, citing New England’s involvement in the 2007 “Spygate” scandal which cost coach Bill Belichick $500,000 and the club its 2008 first-round draft pick. IFR Analysis: It’s hard to take issue with installing the Patriots as Team of the Decade. They won three Super Bowls, made four and were the dominant team of the time period — until 2004. The reality is they were signficantly less dominant in the last five years of the decade than the first five, and Colts followers have a reasonable complaint when they note that the Patriots and Brady are never accused of choking in the Super Bowl following the 2007 season, even though they lost that game after entering it 18-0. Had the Colts lost in that situation it would be viewed by many as yet another black mark against Manning while Brady — having already won three Super Bowls — does seem to get something of a pass despite losing that game with what many considered the best offense in NFL history. Credit, too, for the one dissenter at USA Today who cited Spygate. The league obviously thought the Patriots guilty enough in that situation to levy hefty penalties, and it should be included in the dicussion. That said, the Super Bowls still count and they’re still the ultimate measure, and when history judges the decade, the Patriots indeed will be the team that defines the decade.
There was more to the USA Today coverage of the Best of the 2000s. The Colts were second to the Patriots in the decade power ratings, and Patriots QB Tom Brady edged Colts QB Peyton Manning for QB of Decade. Here.
It's the debate that has been debated to death not just in recent weeks, but much of the decade. Colts-Patriots. Manning-Brady. Patriots-Colts. Brady-Manning.
The Colts are already in an intriguing conversation, and being in the conversation is a major accomplishment. A victory two weeks ago would have made it even more interesting from the Colts' perspective. They didn't get it, and while that means being No. 2 in the eyes of many, it was by any measure a wildly successful decade, the end of which doesn't nessesarrily mean the end of a run. . . .
And finally, this from the Associated Press:
The Carolina Panthers have signed DT Ed Johnson to a one-year deal, adding depth to their line and taking a chance on a player with a checkered past. The 6-foot-2, 296-pound Johnson started all 16 games in 2007 as an undrafted rookie with Indianapolis under current Panthers defensive coordinator Ron Meeks. The Colts waived Johnson early in the 2008 season following his arrest on a marijuana possession charge. He was re-signed, then cut again early last season because coach Jim Caldwell said his play had slipped. The 26-year-old Johnson also ran into trouble at Penn State, where he was temporarily kicked out of school and later suspended from a bowl game. He'll provide insurance for Carolina as Maake Kemoeatu recovers from a ruptured Achilles' tendon.
A couple of quick things: Colts President Bill Polian said following Johnson's release this past October the release was directly related to his weight. Colts players, coaches and personnel people liked Johnson, and there is little question he has big-time ability if motivated and focused. For whatever reason, that motivation and focus never was sustained in Indianapolis. If he can't sustain it in Carolina, you wonder how many more chances he'll get.
MORE COLTS NEWS . . .
DAILY DIGESTS:
WRAPPING UP POST-SUPER BOWL TALK: HERE
A REFRESHINGLY ACCURATE READ ON PEYTON MANNING. HERE
ON TEAM OF DECADE AND ED JOHNSON. HERE
OFFSEASON PRIMERS:
THE QUARTERBACKS. HERE.
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