A few days ago something unremarkable happened... the Colts lost a playoff game.
The New York Jets came into Lucas Oil Stadium, and ended the woeful season that was for the Indianapolis Colts.
It was a hard game to watch as a Colts' fan. Colts running backs continuously were tackled behind the line of scrimmage, defenders were unable to make any sort of stop in the air or on the ground, and Reggie Wayne was shut down yet again (1 catch for 1 yard if I remember right). The coaching was particularly atrocious with Jim Caldwell making some of the more confusing decisions I have ever seen, and quite frankly should be let go. Special teams, as I'll get to it, was ultimately the killer for the Colts' season.
The Jets on the other hand weren't exactly great. They couldn't cover the tight ends or the slot, and their quarterback, Mark "the dirty" Sanchez, was seemingly unable to complete a pass to his receivers without them having to leave orbit just to put their finger tips on the ball. However, they could run the ball with ridiculous ease, and that's how they were able to stay in the game.
Yet, through all this, the Colts were kicking off the ball with a 16-14 lead with less than a minute to go. Antonio Cromartie, who was returning kicks only because Brad Smith was injured, burned the Colts' special teams for a run back right around midfield. I knew the game was over then. Add a few simple completions by Sanchez with Indianapolis playing the "cover no one" defense, and the Jets were in field goal range. After a confusing Caldwell timeout (which NBC cameras caught Peyton Manning on the sideline throwing his hands up in the air in disgust), the Jets pushed a little further allowing for a game ending field goal. The Colts are post-season failures yet again.
This brings me back to the title. Throughout the years I have been watching Colts football, I have always believed that Peyton Manning was the best quarterback I have ever seen much like Lebron James is arguably the most talented basketball star. Much like Manning, Lebron spent most of his career on awful teams that were only great because he was on them. Just think of this, if Peyton Manning left the Colts, they would be putrid much like Lebron's former Cavaliers team is now. Even if Manning were traded for another good quarterback, say Aaron Rodgers of the Packers, the Colts would be much worse while the Packers would be Super Bowl favorites. Manning is the only reason why this team is good, and it's so obvious that he has to know it.
Manning, like Lebron, just finished the last year of his contract.
Now before you get into the franchise tag argument, try to remember what happened with Eli Manning on draft day, and you will understand that Peyton won't play in Indy unless he wants to.
So, here's the scenario...
Manning, fed up with the miserable excuse for a team by which he is continually surrounded (like Lebron), decides he, at very least, wants to "test the waters" of free agency. He signs with the Baltimore Ravens (a team that could actually play defense). He takes his new team to 15-1 record annihilating the Patriots in an AFC championship game, and he ends it with a Super Bowl victory. Would you blame him?
Could all this happen? no, probably not, but the fact that there's a chance is disturbing enough to me.
(Posting without proofreading!)
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