Posts tagged ESPN
Implications of New Salary Cap on 2011 Colts Roster
Jun 27th
ESPN recently reported that the players and owners may agree on a proposal to increase the NFL salary cap to around $120 million. If this is the case, it is important to know exactly how far under the cap Indianapolis sits, as it has also been released that the tenders issued by the Colts to players who were formerly restricted free agents are no longer valid. Coltzilla just added a salary cap feature in order to help readers identify where the team stands financially.
Although Peyton Manning is currently on the books under an exclusive franchise tag, and is slated to make $23 million in 2011, Coltzilla predicts that Indianapolis will reach a permanent long-term contract with Manning shortly after the new collective bargaining agreement has been finalized. If no long-term agreement is reached, Indianapolis is set to have $14.5 million in cap space. If he does sign a new deal, the cap may increase by approximately $7-9 million — based upon the approximate $14.7 million yearly average of his 2004 deal (leaving $21.5-23.5 million in cap space). More >
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ESPN Video Interview with Colts WR Reggie Wayne
Jun 25th
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Colts Running Game on Verge of Breakthrough?
Jun 23rd
Paul Kuharsky of ESPN’s AFC South Blog reported on a story by KC Joyner discussing the state of the Indianapolis Colts ground game. Joyner noted that the difference between a respectable running game and the bottom of the league is relatively small.
The separation between the 15th ranked running game and the 29th ranked running game is only a few percentage points of yards per rushing attempt behind good blocking. Joyner believes the additions of rookie tackle Anthony Castonzo and guard Benjamin Ijalana are likely to make up that ground.
If he is right, Indianapolis’s offense should be as potent as ever. Consider how much more dangerous Indy would be with the option to run on short-yardage, save Manning’s arm, and command more balanced defensive attention that allows receivers time to get into their routes. It could be an interesting year.
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Why It’s Easy to be an Indianapolis Colts Fan: Professionalism and Community Service
Jun 22nd
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For a lot of people in the Midwest, particularly in Indiana, it is just as important that professional athletes positively reflect the city, state, and community off of the field as it is that they achieve on-field success. Hoosiers will not tolerate a professional team that includes players who are continually public nuisances, break the law, and generate press that negatively reflects on and negatively impacts the community. Players like Pacman Jones, Vince Young, Albert Haynesworth, Cedric Benson, and Brandon Marshall are not the kind of players off-field that the Colts will typically target in free agency.
Consider how positively most Colts players display community service, professionalism on and off of the field, intelligence, and a hard work ethic. While no team is perfect, as players are human beings and make mistakes too, very rarely will any kind of repeat offenses be tolerated. Key defensive tackle Ed Johnson, who was arguably the most talented nose tackle in Indianapolis after Booger McFarland’s career ended, was charged with speeding and marijuana possession and was cut less than 24 hours later. The team took a chance with Johnson from the get-go, as he had a history of drug related problems in college and informed him that he was on a one-strike and your out policy. Head Coach Jim Caldwell was willing to give him a second chance a year later but he was cut after only a brief stay. More >
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In the Training Room: Colts’ QB Peyton Manning
Jun 2nd
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Last off-season, Colts fans held their breath at news that their ever-durable QB Peyton Manning had neck surgery to address what was described as intermittent discomfort. After he proceeded to throw 761 times in the next 22 games (including pre-season, post-season and all 5 attempts in the Pro Bowl), it could easily be assumed that his neck was healthy and the issue resolved. But questions lingered – a rumor surfaced early in the season that Manning was still injured (or re-injured), eyebrows were raised when he wore compression sleeves on his elbows, and TV analysts commented that he didn’t look to have the same strength or precision as usual.
It appears that questions were answered a couple weeks ago when Manning announced that he had undergone a second neck surgery in as many years. The issue is… what were the right questions? Paul Kuharsky posted a great analysis pointing to what we should be asking. With answers to these questions, we’d understand better whether it was one particular disc that was a recurring issue, whether this is a broader issue with Peyton’s health, and whether his contract (whenever it comes) will represent a smart investment by the Colts. More >
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Colts Part Ways with Legendary Offensive Coordinator Tom Moore
May 10th
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Although no official word from the Colts franchise has confirmed it, Paul Kuharsky of ESPN’s AFC South blog has done some digging and found that legendary offensive coordinator Tom Moore has slipped out the back door. This is disheartening news for any long-time Colts fan as Moore had the great honor to introduce Peyton Manning to the NFL and collaborate with him to operate one of the greatest offenses in league history. Moore’s exit coincides with the off-season decision handed down by Jim Caldwell and the Colts front office to part ways with legendary running back coach Gene Huey. Farewell Tom and thank you for all of your contributions to the greatest run of success in Indianapolis Colts team history.
The bad news about Moore’s departure is — as Kuharsky’s story points out — that Tennessee Titans Head Coach Mike Munchak nearly lured Moore away from the Colts to take over there as offensive coordinator (imagine him running the offense for a team in the AFC South) and that Moore met with the New York Jets to discuss red-zone scoring. This is certainly not good news for Colts fans, and while it hurts to know that both within the conference and division, Moore may be meeting with opponents who seek knowledge they would have previously not been able glean — as Moore has been the Colts Offensive Coordinator (or special assistant) since Manning entered the league in 1998.
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2011 Colts NFL Draft Reaction
May 4th
The 2011 NFL Draft has come and gone, and while it is ridiculous to hand out letter grades on players that have yet to take a snap in the NFL, let alone reached their prime, it is reasonable to assess what the Colts draft may mean for the long and short term of the franchise. We will try to keep the cheerleading to a minimum.
The first thing that stands out about the Colts draft is that, while the Indianapolis only had five picks to work with, they seemed to make every one of them count. Each of the Colts five draftees is a skilled, talented player that fits their on-field philosophies. In fact, the biggest question marks seem to revolve around the off-field issues of their sixth round pick, Chris Rucker (DB – Michigan State).
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Colts Vice Chairman Polian Says Good Draft Hit Rates are Lower than Many Expect
Apr 8th
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Our friend Paul Kuharsky of ESPN’s AFC South Blog, discussed what a good draft batting average is between Colts Vice Chairman Bill Polian and Titans General Manager Mike Reinfeldt. Below are a couple of interesting quotes from Polian but the full story the read at ESPN.com.
I think you have to divide it into top 12 and bottom 20. If you’re in the top 12, it ought to be in the .640 range. That’s about 4.5 guys on average per year out of the seven. You measure that at the end of three years and what you are measuring is whether or not those guys become winning players, guys that contribute to wins. Bottom 20 is .571, that’s four out of seven… You either make it or you don’t. We’ve been above the .570 mark when you count collegiate free agents like Melvin Bullitt who come in and play, and they count. So we’ve been above the .570 mark. This past year we could get close to the .640 mark drafting 31st but it’s early.
Do you judge yourself harshly? The answer is yes. The guy either is a winning player or he’s not.
See a chart illustrating Polian’s break down between top 12 picks and bottom 20 picks at the link to the full story above. With all of the discussion in recent years regarding the Colts draft success in the early rounds and whether a draft is a hit or a miss, the discussions and different perspectives from two men who head their teams draft day operations are rather insightful.
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The Colts May Soon Need Dungy to Play a Role
Apr 6th
Today is a big day for the owners, players and fans of the NFL – the lawsuit levied by the NFL players to remove the lockout order will begin to be heard by U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson. No matter the immediate outcome, most everyone is hopeful that today’s ruling (should it actually come out today) and any subsequent rulings will eventually lead to the owners and players returning to the bargaining table and hammering out some sort of agreement. (I won’t call it a CBA because as of now, there is no “collective” with which to bargain!) People are still hopeful that the season is not in jeopardy, neither in full nor even partially.
For now though, the owners and players remain cool at best, and angry/hurt at worst. It was inevitable that this fight got personal – football is the lifeblood for the owners and players, and for many, has been an integral part of their lives since their Pop Warner days. And it got personal torward the end of negotiations – players’ wives had labor induced early so as to ensure medical coverage, Carolina Panthers’ owner Jerry Richardson openly and derisively questioned QB Peyton Manning’s ability to understand a simple profit and loss statement, and there was the to formal negotiations that precipitated the union decertification and owner lockout. More >
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