Are all colts fans this delusional?

[ironwasp]

Did you drink my koolaid?

I'm not crazy about Kool-Aid, whatever colour it comes.

But the Colts have earned my respect for the way they came through difficult times last season; the way they have sustained a play-off team in the tough salray cap era circumstances, and - Napolian apart - for the the way they have conducted themselves throughout.

I wish it were not so, of course I do, but the Colts are the Champions and we're playing catch-up. Hats off.

 

[JoeSixPat]

If I were a Colts fan I'd probably be rationalizing as well - and if I were a Pats fan coming off a Super Bowl I'd probably be happy keeping the majority of my team intact.

Some of the Colts losses are mitigated by the fact that people like Stokely were injured so they had adjusted already. Although I wouldn't want to lose my complimentary RB (as we did with Dillon) that's not the end of the world either. They made the right move in tagging Freeney and beyond that don't have the cap space for much more. If I were them I would have wanted to keep June and other players, but we all know the reality that especially after a SB players leave for the highest paycheck.

But that's not a "master plan" - that's just the reality that they have no money... so they shouldn't delude themselves about that, nor should they feel like they no longer have a competitive team - they most certainly do!

 

[bradmahn]

You haven't paid much attention to a Colts offseason before have you? They do this nearly every year. They pick and choose who they resign and who they let walk. They have let several of their starting linebackers walk. All of whom you could argue are better than Cato. Heck, that's how Cato got his job. They Colts draft well and let use that draft depth to allow free agents go. June has Kieaho behind him and the Colts staff is really high on him. Harper has one 1st rounder (Marlin Jackson, who is now the starter) and 2 second rounders behind him. And Addai is now the man at running back. So while those losses will have an impact, they were all planned for and should not be crippling. The Colts rarely go out and spend a whole lot in the FA market. Corey Simon was one of the exceptions. AV was too, but you could say that was a wash since the Colts were paying Vandy close to that number and would have had to if they resign Vandy instead of AV.

I hate to nitpick, but if Keiaho wasn't good enough last year to unseat June while the defense was terrible, what makes you think he's going to be a huge upgrade this year? They need a lot of work on that defense, and putting in the second stringers isn't exactly a sure-fire plan.

 

[ironwasp]

But that's not a "master plan" - that's just the reality that they have no money... so they shouldn't delude themselves about that, nor should they feel like they no longer have a competitive team - they most certainly do!

It's not? Why not? Who's to say they hadn't planned to be in roughly this position? I'd say they'd always managed the cap and their roster reasonably well over the years.

 

[BradyManny]

I wish it were not so, of course I do, but the Colts are the Champions and we're playing catch-up. Hats off.

Do you honestly believe the Colts were a better team than us last year?

 

[JoeSixPat]

It's not? Why not? Who's to say they hadn't planned to be in roughly this position? I'd say they'd always managed the cap and their roster reasonably well over the years.

Actually no - unless Polian had inside information that the cap would largely go through the roof, they did not plan to be in this situation.

The Colts payroll wasn't solely determined last year after the new CBA. It was slated to grow this high at a time when, under the old CBA they'd be lucky to see the salary cap in the mid $90 million mark.

They are very very very lucky to be in this good a position. If not for the new CBA (which of course no one could have predicted which way the owners collectively would go on that) they would probably have had to cut another $15-$20 million in player payroll this year - and might not have had AV kicking for them last year either.

 

[ironwasp]

Do you honestly believe the Colts were a better team than us last year?

Yes, I do. Call me old-fashioned but the results more or less speak for themselves. The beat us twice. First time around, it was not as close as the score suggested. The second time around, we were more or less evenly matched, but they came though in the clutch.

Their biggest weakness over the season was a lousy run defence, and when the season came down to the wire, we couldn't run on them.

 

[fair catch fryar]

The Colts are the champs until next February. I, personally am obsessed with talking about the Colts because it helps me in my recovery from the way they handed our arses to us in the 2nd half of the AFCG!

As far as the way they are dealing with FA signings, or lack thereof, I have to assume that they were just building to win one SB and didn't think far beyond that. Now that they have won, they probably realize they're going to play with what they have now and draft well!! I foresee them managing their cap better in the future, as long as Manning is at the helm.

The Colts fans that really believe the Colts are going to win back-to-back SB's are definitely delusional! One only needs to look back at the Pats after winning SB XXXVI and how we fared that season only to learn from it and come back stronger. Then again Bill Polian seems to let his arrogance get in the way. This alone could be the reason why they end up as one and done!

 

[lutontown_fc]

BTW, you guys sure seem obssesed with the Colts.

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/showthread.php?t=52680

Here's a friendly tip from one football fan to another - don't call fans of one fanbase 'obsessed' with your team...when you are the one posting on their board.

I know you post on Indystar - so you know what im talking about.

 

[workhorse]

I hate to nitpick, but if Keiaho wasn't good enough last year to unseat June while the defense was terrible, what makes you think he's going to be a huge upgrade this year? They need a lot of work on that defense, and putting in the second stringers isn't exactly a sure-fire plan.

Last year he was a rookie. Now he has a full season of learning the NFL game and the Colts' system. All of the defensive problems can not be laid at the feet of June. The big turn around in the defense came with Bob Sanders getting healthy and the addition of Rob Morris as the strong side linebacker. The line backer position is one spot where the Colts continually reload. That's how June got his spot.

 

[ironwasp]

Actually no - unless Polian had inside information that the cap would largely go through the roof, they did not plan to be in this situation.

The Colts payroll wasn't solely determined last year after the new CBA. It was slated to grow this high at a time when, under the old CBA they'd be lucky to see the salary cap in the mid $90 million mark.

They are very very very lucky to be in this good a position. If not for the new CBA (which of course no one could have predicted which way the owners collectively would go on that) they would probably have had to cut another $15-$20 million in player payroll this year - and might not have had AV kicking for them last year either.

Although the result of the last year's CBA debate was no foregone conclusion for sure, had it not gone through then 2007 would have been a cap free year, but 2006 would have been a disaster, both for the players and for a number of clubs, and on that basis I think most people concluded that an extended cap for '06 and a CBA agreement for the foreseeable future was a reasonably safe bet.

Perhaps the Colts over-played their hand a little and came through somewhat overloaded. Perhaps they were a little lucky. But you roll with the punches.

 

[workhorse]

depth isn't a concern when you never have significant injuries

I can't even believe that I forgot to mention Sanders. Everyone saw what a difference there was in the defense when he came back.

 

[workhorse]

Although the result of the last year's CBA debate was no foregone conclusion for sure, had it not gone through then 2007 would have been a cap free year, but 2006 would have been a disaster, both for the players and for a number of clubs, and on that basis I think most people concluded that an extended cap for '06 and a CBA agreement for the foreseeable future was a reasonably safe bet.

Perhaps the Colts over-played their hand a little and came through somewhat overloaded. Perhaps they were a little lucky. But you roll with the punches.

I think that the Colts were prepared for that possiblity, but it would have forced them to renegotiate several of their big deals more so than have to cut people loose. They actually redid a couple deals before the agreement was reached and then reded them again to be in line with the new CBA.

 

[Michael]

BTW, you guys sure seem obssesed with the Colts.

So I wonder who the Colts fan who frequents a Pats board is obsessed with?

 

[JoeSixPat]

Although the result of the last year's CBA debate was no foregone conclusion for sure, had it not gone through then 2007 would have been a cap free year, but 2006 would have been a disaster, both for the players and for a number of clubs, and on that basis I think most people concluded that an extended cap for '06 and a CBA agreement for the foreseeable future was a reasonably safe bet.

Perhaps the Colts over-played their hand a little and came through somewhat overloaded. Perhaps they were a little lucky. But you roll with the punches.

I think you need to review what happened last year... the cap free year was a MAJOR poison pill which, indeed, once enacted would have meant the likely END to a salary cap forever... destroying the NFL as we know it...

I guess if anyone's going to build a team assuming the worst case scenario it would be Polian but I give him a little bit more credit than that. Yes it was possible - but only if everything else fell through. Not something one plans for.

When putting together a team you plan for neither the worst, nor the best case scenario -you look at the average. A prediction that the cap would rise at a slightly higher rate under the new CBA than it had previously would be a reasonable prediction - but that alone wouldn't have allowed the Colts to stay together.

Given the majority of the owners opposition to the total revenues being included at the time that the Colts were putting this team together, I think most Colts fans would agree that they are very very lucky the Salary Cap rose by $30 million over 3 years.

I really don't think Polian was banking on that happening. Like a lot of teams he paid for a team in the present, knowing that cuts would likely be made in the future. It's not unusual, but what is unusual is that Polian didn't have to disassemble his team last year - or to a degree this year.

The colts are very lucky indeed - but it is what it is. Luck is part of the game.

 

[workhorse]

So I wonder who the Colts fan who frequents a Pats board is obsessed with?

Since I post mainly in Colts' thread, I would say the Colts. Btw, there are far more Pats fans that frequent the Indy Star's Colts' board than there are Colts fans here.

 

[Michael]

Since I post mainly in Colts' thread, I would say the Colts. Btw, there are far more Pats fans that frequent the Indy Star's Colts' board than there are Colts fans here.

Well, I'm definitely not one of them.

 

[coltsfan]

Do the colts fans know the lack of offseason movement is due to them having no money, because they spent it all? I would think colts fans would be smart enough to decipher not having any money to spend (because you spent it all) , from having money to spend, and using it wisley to improve your team. Who the heck is paying Adam V ? Did they draft him, lol. Are they sure they let Cato June go because they knew they could replace him, or was it because they did not have the money they needed to keep him? Not sure how having money to use in the offseason to fill holes on your team AND DRAFTING WELL is not better then just drafting well. Guess that is the whole 1 is better then 3 logic they have going on down there. I guess the colts would be a worse team if they had a lot of cap money, used it effectivley to improve some of there immediate weaknesses, and then backed that up with a good draft. I forgot, anyone who has a lot of cap money is the Yankees of football!!!! The only problem with that is there is a SALERY CAP in football. Judging by there situation, ob they don't know that. No one can outspend anyone else. Every team has the same amount of cap space. It is how you use the money that dictates how much you have, duh. If you have no cap money you should learn how to manage your cap better. It can only be an advantage for us, if you back up a solid free agency, with a solid draft you come out that much stronger. Still wondering how having a lot of cap money, using it effectivley, and then having a good draft, is not better then just utalizing the draft. The last part is the best. "Who is the winningest team in the league since '99? What team is the only one to go to the playoffs six out of the last seven years? Which team just won the Super Bowl?" Hahah, these guys crack me up. Brutal failure from 99 to 2006, and all the sudden they are the best team to ever live. After winning one superbowl. A superbowl they where handed. If anyone was ever handed a superbowl it was the good ol coltsters. The team that won them a ring was not a very good one. They still have a good offense, but the team as a whole (with all those players they lost) was not that great. They better have a amazing draft. The draft can be a crap shoot. I like how they are banking on the draft so much. While we utalize the draft AND use our cap money to improve. I think the patriots won something like 3 of the last 6 superbowls. The first one with 17 free agents on the roster. How is the pats PLAYOFF record? How did the pats do in the draft over the years? Cracks me up. God, Polian is a genious (put's down crack pipe). I wonder if he can get us some rules changed this year. It has been 2 years, we need another superbowl.

I believe that the Colts have enough money where they could have kept one of those guys if they wanted to. Last year they didn't have a lot of money after re-signing Wayne, but they found a way to re-sign Raheem Brock and sign Viniatieri b/c they wanted to. They just aren't going to keep guys that aren't vital. June was let go b/c he was a liablity against the run. Watch the Colts play, and that was obvious. Yes, the Colts are going to have to have a good draft.

Everything else in your post just looks like a flame.

 

[ironwasp]

The colts are very lucky indeed - but it is what it is. Luck is part of the game.

That, I think, we can agree on.

 

[ironwasp]

Everything else in your post just looks like a flame.

I'm impressed you even read it. He could do with locating the return key.