AzPatsFan
Veteran Starter w/Big Long Term Deal
- Joined
- Sep 15, 2004
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The Colts were indeed heading for CAP Hell, but Polian addressed the problem this past off season. He did relieve the coming CAP hell, as Miquel will attest.
To do it, he took a long-odds, calculated gamble and is predictably losing that bet. What he did was to let 8 to 10 of his veteran starters (and their high salaries), depart in Free Agency and replace them with their backups, who were trained, and in some cases pushing for playing time, like his CBs.
When he did this though, it meant that the new starters backups would have to be raw rookies or UDFA free agents. He gambled that his starters would not get injured; he gambled that his low round draft picks would be extraordinarily successful. He gambled that he could get away with this lack of depth for a couple of drafts, until he could rebuild his team's depth.
Polian thought he would get away with it, because the team had not suffered from injuries the past few seasons, and he reasoned that the finesse, speed, game they played, led to fewer injuries than playing power football.
In the end, he gambled because he essentially had no choice. If he did nothing, then the Colts would descend into the CAP Hell that forced the Titans and 49ers to dismantle their Teams. he would have to start doing that in 2008 and 2009. Now he doesn't anymore, at least for a few more years.
But a couple of things intervened. A very good player Tarik Glenn retired. Marvin Harrison started to act like a brittle 35 year old that he is. Both have big DEAD CAP money due, and they will be payed whether they play or not. And Peyton is 33 and he is already entering the declining years of QBs. He has only five more years at best as a top QB.
To do it, he took a long-odds, calculated gamble and is predictably losing that bet. What he did was to let 8 to 10 of his veteran starters (and their high salaries), depart in Free Agency and replace them with their backups, who were trained, and in some cases pushing for playing time, like his CBs.
When he did this though, it meant that the new starters backups would have to be raw rookies or UDFA free agents. He gambled that his starters would not get injured; he gambled that his low round draft picks would be extraordinarily successful. He gambled that he could get away with this lack of depth for a couple of drafts, until he could rebuild his team's depth.
Polian thought he would get away with it, because the team had not suffered from injuries the past few seasons, and he reasoned that the finesse, speed, game they played, led to fewer injuries than playing power football.
In the end, he gambled because he essentially had no choice. If he did nothing, then the Colts would descend into the CAP Hell that forced the Titans and 49ers to dismantle their Teams. he would have to start doing that in 2008 and 2009. Now he doesn't anymore, at least for a few more years.
But a couple of things intervened. A very good player Tarik Glenn retired. Marvin Harrison started to act like a brittle 35 year old that he is. Both have big DEAD CAP money due, and they will be payed whether they play or not. And Peyton is 33 and he is already entering the declining years of QBs. He has only five more years at best as a top QB.