Why Len....why?

[Warhorse]

"Isn't football supposed to be an outdoor sport?"

Not necessarily...
Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, Seattle Seahawks, Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans all have domes or a retractable roof. That is a significant number of teams that disagree with your question.

 

[Big_Os_Hometown]

I'm sorry, but that pic above my post is hilarious.

Dear Pats fans, I stated plenty of times in this thread I respect your 01' and 04' Super Bowl teams. It's just the 03' team I have a problem with.

Which year Colts team do you have a problem with?

 

[Lloyd_Christmas]

Oh please!!! I'm getting all weepy about the Patriots.

The Colts are fun to watch, 38-10 the last three years and are not thugs.

The fact that Manning is given more responsibility than the beloved 4th round hall of famer who wouldn't have made the team if Damon Huard didn't get hurt, or Michael Bishop passed on a cellophane bag really sticks in the craw doesn't it ?

Dropping 40 in your house turned this board into cricket central until you guys got hot and crushed the Saints Bills 2X Jets 2X and the warm weather Bucs. I'm not sure anyone can beat you guys after cutting through that tough schedule.

Face it, 3-6 against teams over 500. With that record why shouldn't Brady be MVP?

Are you pulling my leg with this post? Brady was a 6th round pick in 2000, not a 4th round pick. Huard was nothing more than a servicable backup with no prayer of starting (he couldn't even beat out Fieldler in Mia), and Bishop? OMG - are you serious. He had a couple decent preseasons... nothing more. After we cut him, he went to Canada and failed there too. If you want to say Brady wouldn't have gotten a chance if Bledsoe hadn't have gotten hurt, then you would at least have a sane argument.

I agree that 3-6 against teams over .5 is pretty bad, but we had plenty of injuries and a tough schedule early on. The improvements over the 2nd half of the year are *partly* due to an easier schedule, but I would not dismiss the role that players returning from injury played.... also, there were some players like Hobbs that started playing better as they gained experience.

I'm no homer. I know that the Colts were the best team in the AFC this year and that we have an uphill battle to get back to the SB. However, I think we have improved and have a decent shot. Assuming that Bruschi and Samuel are all right for the playoffs (they got hurt 2 wks ago), I think we have a reasonable chance.

I look forward to seeing the Pats play Indy

 

[coltshater]

"Isn't football supposed to be an outdoor sport?"

Not necessarily...
Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, Seattle Seahawks, Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans all have domes or a retractable roof. That is a significant number of teams that disagree with your question.

My point is that you can't blame the elements for a loss. If a team is good enough to win, it should be able to do so regardless of the elements. If you go to the football hall of fame, you will see that football was originally played exclusively outdoors. I don't think playing the game at 72 degrees indoors on an artificial surface was a part of the original equation. I am not saying that it makes it better or worse, but it does seem to make it difficult for dome teams to play in real weather conditions.

 

[Warhorse]

Other than the Patriots, the Colts haven't had any problems playing in inclimate weather. The Patriots just had our number. I wouldn't sully the game that way. The Colts have basically the same record on the road as they do at home with Tony Dungy as coach.

 

[shmessy]

Originally Posted by shmessy
Peyton Manning = Barry Bonds

Tom Brady = Bill Russell

'Nuff ced.

Your analogy would make a lot more sense if you equated Peyton with Wilt Chamberlain.

Wrong. Wilt won a Championship.

 

[shmessy]

PATSNUTme - "OK that was two years ago. What is the excuse last year? Oh, the weather, I almost forgot."

I am not offering up excuses, so don't go attacking me for it....... .

I'm sorry. Who wrote "The Colts O rely on timing and messy fields can ruin that...so can strong wind. Our oline does zone blocking it really isn't made for power running."??????????

Messy fields, indeed. The biggest mess every January is in your QB's pants.

 

[shmessy]

BTW, Horse, the Patriots have won two of their three SB's (That's Super Bowl - it's kinda like the NFL Championship game for those of you who haven't gotten that far) IN DOMES!!!!!!!!!!

Last time the Pats played Indy in their DOME, the Pats won.

All terrain vehicle versus the hothouse petunia.

 

[spacecrime]

Being ranked in the bottom 5 in Defense is Bullish?
Put Tom Brady on the 03' and 04' Colts we don't even sniff the playoffs not alone a berth to the Super Bowl. A choker is a person who cannot perform under pressure. In Peyton's third season with the Colts we play Miami in the playoffs it's tied at 28 if my memory serves me correct.

A minute and change left on the clock. Peyton drives us down the field against a Dolphins team with a good defense and put us in Field goal range. Vandy misses the game winning field goal we go to overtime and lose .

So you are saying you have two chokers on the team? Manning and Vanderjerk?

I see your point. Manning chokes and can't get it in the end zone, and Vanderjerk chokes and misses the FG. Interesting.

 

[PATSNUTme]

I've already stated the Pats beat us fair and square last year in the playoffs along with the wind.[/QUOTE]

What friggin wind? There was a slight breeze. Both teams played in it.

The only wind that was out there was the wind that Peyton was breaking just before he **** his pants.

 

[DaBruinz]

I guess the tuck rule didn't help Brady out. He's been spoiled with a defense in NE. Peyton just got one.*News Flash* Peyton is not a choker New England fans.

Yes, Peyton IS a CHOKER. Sorry, we've seen it plenty of times. The guy has NEVER won a championship at any level that matters. Not College. Not the Pro level. Peyton choked last year in the play-offs. You can't blame the Colts defense for their offense only soring 3 points? Well, maybe YOU can, but that would just show your lack of true football knowledge.

 

[DaBruinz]

I respect the 01' and 04' Pats. The 03' Pats the one who beat us for the AFC championship cheated their way to the SB they stole that game away from my beloved Colts. I blame the refs more than the Pats though.

*ROFLMAO* Damn. Cry me a river. How about all the PUSH-OFFS that Marvin Harrison gets away with? Or Reggie Wayne? How about all the false starts that MANNING gets away with. And Delay of Game penalties not called on him?

Good teams overcome bad calls or non-calls. Face it. The Colts weren't a good team in 2003. No matter what you claim.

 

[DaBruinz]

Only a homer couldn't see all the holding the 03' Pats did in that Championship game again the Colts. 4 & 10 with the potential to drive down the field and tie the game. Pollard runs down the middle of the field with a Pats Safety or Lineback holding the back of his jersey. For the refs to not call that a penalty is plain ole wrong. You guys just kicked our butts in 04' plain and simple.

Only someone who didn't watch the game wouldn't know that it was Roman Phifer on both plays that Marcus Pollard was held on. And only someone who didn't watch the game wouldn't know that for the rest of the entire game, when Manning threw his 4 interceptions, that the Pats were actually in a ZONE defense and none of the Colts receivers were getting touched except for being jammed at the LOS.

So, PLEASE, until you have actually watched the game, you aren't in a position to comment.

 

[DaBruinz]

Mr. Pats fan are you telling me offense alone can win a championship in today's NFL?
The Colts O rely on timing and messy fields can ruin that...so can strong wind. Our oline does zone blocking it really isn't made for power running. That has changed this year though. Snow isn't a factor just look at the Colts-Broncos game on Sunday night football in 02'. If Peyton played for the Pats in these past few seasons you would have more than 3 SB rings my friend.

Actually, no, the Patriots wouldn't. But I wouldn't expect you to know that. In 2002, the Patriots didn't have adequate speed on defense and their LBs were better suited for the 3-4. However, the Pats didn't have an adequate NT and the speed in the secondary was lacking with Lawyer Milloy and Tebucky Jones back there.

If Manning was on the Patriots, the Patriots probably wouldn't have had the 3 rings because Manning chokes so much and because Manning's ego is bigger than his abilities. And that is Manning's biggest problem. He thinks he is so much smarter than his coaches and the coaches he plays against. And its why he's been made to look like a fool just about every time he's played against the Patriots.

Also, you can thump your chest about the MNF win this year, but make sure you have your facts straight. The Colts didn't play a healthy Pats team. No Matt Light. No Richard Seymour. No Rodney Harrison. A Tedy Bruschi that wasn't at full strength. No Ty Poole. No Randall Gay. An injured Corey Dillon. No Kevin Faulk. No Patrick Pass. Makes a HUGE difference in the scheme of things.

 

[DaBruinz]

I guess that's why the league enforced the no holding after 5 yards rule after you guy hoisted the trophy.

Yep, and during the discussions, the almost ALL of the league examples were of the Miami Dolphins Surtain and Madison. But, far be it from you to use facts.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

I don't fault BB for calling his gameplan the way he did. I just believe the game should be called the same way it is all year long. The NFL shouldn't "let them just play" after the regular season is over. It changes the dynamic of the game, and a team that made it to the playoffs playing a certain way shouldn't have to gameplan for the refs. They should only have to gameplan for the opposing team.

Strange as it may seem, Belichick has made it a 'point of emphasis' for the Patriots to recognize and play within the officials' standard for each game. It's called being prepared, adapting to your environment, and understanding the dynamics of human interaction. You criticized Dungy's game management in this post, recognize that one coach is teaching his players to think beyond the player across from him, the other coach is content to bemoan an unfair universe - it is amazing how closely Polian's and Dungy's remarks parallel the diaries of the DoDo birds.

Congrats to the Colts for earning a week off and freeing their fan base up to visit a Championship Organization for some pointers. :rocker:

 

[Patriotic Fervor]

I guess the tuck rule didn't help Brady out. He's been spoiled with a defense in NE. Peyton just got one.*News Flash* Peyton is not a choker New England fans.

Actually, after that seasonthe Rules Committee revisited that particular rule at the insistence of Al Davis.

After reviewing that playoff game and several others, they decided that the tuck rule was a good rule, and left it unchanged!

That is where the matter stands presently.

 

[Patriotic Fervor]

...so tell big Willie to start taking his acting lessons so he can fake his injuries again.

Heh, you just warn Edge that Big Willie is coming! Willie's not the one who needs to make excuses!

 

[Patriotic Fervor]

Like I typed earlier I respect the 01' and 04' Pats. The 03' Pats are thugs and those refs should be fired for not calling the game fairly.

This is the Polian Theory of Revisionist History. Repeat it loud enough and long enough and maybe somebody will believe it.

Maybe...

 

[Patriotic Fervor]

Mr. Pats fan are you telling me offense alone can win a championship in today's NFL?
The Colts O rely on timing and messy fields can ruin that...so can strong wind. Our oline does zone blocking it really isn't made for power running. That has changed this year though. Snow isn't a factor just look at the Colts-Broncos game on Sunday night football in 02'. If Peyton played for the Pats in these past few seasons you would have more than 3 SB rings my friend.

This is Pat Riley saying, "We play basketball the way I think it should be played" before the annual destruction of the Lakers by the Celtics.