OFFICIAL NFL week 16 thread

[Fingolfin269]

Biggest Colts fan in this thread right here. At least for one more week that is.

 

[BoomerD]

While I understand the reasons that the Colts SHOULD have lost tonight's game...I still rooted for them. It was a hell of a game. Plenty of fuck-ups, mistakes, and blown plays...but they didn't give up...and kept fighting right to the very end.

(If only the Packers and Steelers would have fought as hard this past week)

I also was surprised that they kept Painter so long in the season. The guy just doesn't seem to have what it takes. Maybe its the pressure of being thrust into a starting position when he wasn't ready...maybe he'll never be ready, but this certainly wasn't a good season for him...or his team.

 

[a123456]

Again, VERY short sighted, if they get Luck, Luck will still be throwing behind Manning. Kinda like how Rogers was throwing behind Favre? A QB needs time to develop, and the few years that Manning has left, will be needed to develop that next franchise QB.

Most Colts' players could care less about Luck. Look at Dan Orlovsky. He probably just earned ~4M by winning those 2 games seeing as how someone crappy like Collins signed for that amount as a semi-crappy starting/backup QB. Painter, on the other hand, probably gets cut as his reward for "trying to lose" and ends his career now or with league minimum for another year.

So option #1 is earn 4M at some other team by trying to win and doing well. Option #2 is to get cut from playing like crap. Not a hard decision for a vet. All NFL players are short sighted by the nature of the game. You can get a season ending injury and get cut at any time with no guaranteed contracts so helping a franchise "over the long haul" makes no sense since you won't be around. Only owners who have staying power care about the long run.

If the Colts pick #2 or #3, they'll probably spend it on D or get that USC lineman since Luck will be #1. Of course, Luck needs a few years to develop but if you're near the end of your career, you'd rather get a position player than get Luck. The *only* players/coaches on the entire who want Luck are maybe long-time young guys like Garcon but even he might move to another team by the time Luck develops. Caldwell, already on thin ice, might get fired before then so he'd rather win now.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

BTW IndyColtsFan, *told you so that Barkley would stay at USC for one more year.



* in one of the weekly NFL threads a month or so ago I believe.

Yes, you did, and he is making a big mistake in all likelihood. I hope it works out for him and he doesn't become another Leinart.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Most Colts' players could care less about Luck. Look at Dan Orlovsky. He probably just earned ~4M by winning those 2 games seeing as how someone crappy like Collins signed for that amount as a semi-crappy starting/backup QB. Painter, on the other hand, probably gets cut as his reward for "trying to lose" and ends his career now or with league minimum for another year.

So option #1 is earn 4M at some other team by trying to win and doing well. Option #2 is to get cut from playing like crap. Not a hard decision for a vet. All NFL players are short sighted by the nature of the game. You can get a season ending injury and get cut at any time with no guaranteed contracts so helping a franchise "over the long haul" makes no sense since you won't be around. Only owners who have staying power care about the long run.

If the Colts pick #2 or #3, they'll probably spend it on D or get that USC lineman since Luck will be #1. Of course, Luck needs a few years to develop but if you're near the end of your career, you'd rather get a position player than get Luck. The *only* players/coaches on the entire who want Luck are maybe long-time young guys like Garcon but even he might move to another team by the time Luck develops. Caldwell, already on thin ice, might get fired before then so he'd rather win now.

Colts players were visibly pissed when asked about drafting Luck throughout the entire season. I can promise anyone that if you seriously think that players like Wayne, Clark, Mathis, Freeney, Bethea, Angerer, and Saturday intentionally took key plays off, you're nuts. The only thing that fueled the "Colts losing intentionally" conspiracy was the fact that Caldwell kept playing Painter so long and I think that order came from Polian because Polian made assinine comments about how good Painter was and how Painter had "vindicated his choice" with a couple of early strong games and after shitty performances, Bill's ego just wouldn't settle until he played better. That never came so I wouldn't be surprised if Irsay stepped in and said to bench Painter.

The only way Painter survives this season is if they need a third-string QB (ie, they draft Luck and want to keep a third QB on) because his salary his probably lower than Orlovsky's salary (too lazy to check; I might be wrong here). Otherwise, Orlovsky has played well and if you watched Painter and Orlovsky, especially in the context of the same game, you see a huge difference. Orlovsky looks like an NFL QB, while Painter looks like a scared kid trying to get rid of the ball.

And don't underestimate Coyer being fired either. That guy was awful and was a big reason we lost to the Saints in the Super Bowl. I predicted earlier this season in many of the NFL threads that Coyer would be the first person fired and that I was fearful he would be the scapegoat and Caldwell would be retained. Guess what? Rumors are going around that Polian will keep Caldwell another year. I hope Irsay fires them both.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Also, Irsay made a point to say that if Manning can play next year, it will be for the Colts. Polian and Manning have been having a passive/aggressive war in the media so this is a relief that Irsay is siding with Manning.

 

[PingSpike]

Again, VERY short sighted, if they get Luck, Luck will still be throwing behind Manning. Kinda like how Rogers was throwing behind Favre? A QB needs time to develop, and the few years that Manning has left, will be needed to develop that next franchise QB.

I'm not sure aging veterans need anything other than short sight. Their long sight probably sees themselves doing athletic wear commercials or opening a BBQ chain.

 

[mvbighead]

So just to be clear, you are saying that the Colts are stupid and/or short sighted for not intentionally losing the game? A QB drafted #1 basically has a 50/50 chance of making it BTW if you go back and look at the draft history.

I do agree Manning and Luck could have coexisted ala Farve/Rodgers, never understood the rhetoric from the media and fans that if Luck were to end up a Colt, Manning would have to go. Been meaning to ask IndyColtsFan about that.

The only problem I have with this Favre/Rodgers to Manning/Luck ideal is that Rodgers was the 24th pick in the 2005 draft. You look at guys like Cam Newton, Sam Bradford, and Matt Stafford. Each of them entered the league and started right away. If Luck is the best thing to come out since Manning, it would be an absolute waste of talent to let him ride the pine for 2 years or so while Manning finishes out his career.

Further, unless the Colts are able to get Manning to rework his deal, the odds of them paying Manning a 28 million dollar bonus, plus a 10+ million dollar salary, plus a 5-6 million dollar salary to Luck... well, lets just say that they'd be paying a boatload at the QB position.

To me, if the Colts are going to keep Manning around, and if they end up with the #1 overall pick, they need to seriously look at trading it. Trade it for a top 10 pick this year, plus a 2nd or 3rd, plus a 1st next year. I would figure the numbers to work out somewhere around there.

In any case, I still look at Luck as an unproven commodity. People were all hot to trot on Sam Bradford's pro-day performance, and where is he at in his second year? His completion percentage is worse than Curtis Painter's. He's 3rd from the bottom in terms of passer rating, and he's thrown a measly 6 tds this year.

So, with all the hoopla of the Colts screwing themselves... I don't see it. Luck may be the best passer in the league in 5-10 years, and he may be out of the league in 5-10 years. There is no guarantee with college players, just ask Ryan Leaf, who some considered a better prospect than... GASP... Peyton Manning.

Personally, I would like to see the Colts draft a player than can contribute to this team while Manning is still on the roster. If they lose Wayne, I could see Justin Blackmon being a decent pick. Morris Claiborne or Dre Kirkpatrick could shore up the secondary which seems to be one of the weak links on the team. Looking throw mocks, I don't see any standouts at DT, which is something the Colts really, really need, but that position could be addressed with the 2nd round selection, which will be extremely close to a late first which they are used to using anyway. Then, address Manning's backup / potential replacement in the 3rd (possibly Russel Wilson or Brandon Weeden).

I guess I just have a hard time seeing how Luck is a lock at being superb. There were even questions about Manning early in his career. As a Colts fan, if there is a legitimate opportunity for Manning to return and play next year, I don't want to see a 1st overall pick used on a guy that won't be given many opportunities to contribute if Manning remains healthy. Instead, address a weakness on a 2-13 team that can't seem to do anything when missing their one franchise player. I seem to recall a certain Patriots team that succeeded (mostly) when their franchise player was on the pine.

 

[weirdichi]

Is Dave Rayner related to Scott Norwood?

 

[The Boston Dangler]

anyone watching these saturday games? apparently, the pats thought the game was tomorrow, too.

 

[SSSnail]

anyone watching these saturday games? apparently, the pats thought the game was tomorrow, too.

They're playing to beat themselves.

It's looking horrendous all around. I don't think they want to win.

Also, whatever the outcome, count on the Colts being a stats team within the next few seasons.

 

[hclarkjr]

i bet vikings fans are holding there breath now, AP is hurt

 

[SSSnail]

Here we go again, stupid Buffaloes playing prevent already.

 

[ElFenix]

i'm going to guess i don't want to see peterson's injury

 

[MotionMan]

i'm going to guess i don't want to see peterson's injury

I'd rather watch Joe Theismann.

That looks bad.

MotionMan

 

[rcpratt]

These NY teams blow.

 

[ElFenix]

uh, that was a catch and fumble. should be new york football giants ball.

4th down anyway

 

[hclarkjr]

explain to me how the skins spank the giants one week and lose the next week to the vikings

 

[hclarkjr]

sexy rexy at his best!!!

 

[SSSnail]

Trolololololololololololololololololing @ Teblow winning in Buffalo.

Edit: I forgot, Jesus is on vacation this week...

 

[SSSnail]

explain to me how the skins spank the giants one week and lose the next week to the vikings

That's because the Skins have one thing going for them that is very consistent - you can ALWAYS count on them to suck, hard.

 

[hclarkjr]

here comes a sexy rexy interception

 

[TheVrolok]

lol @ Jests... and then Eli throws a pick as I'm typing this. NYG are really giving the Jests every opportunity.

 

[Shlong]

lol @ Tebow and his 4 picks.

 

[angminas]

lol @ Tebow and his 4 picks.

Yeah, great quarterbacks never get embarrassed in terrible games.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195512260ram.htm

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196611130min.htm

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199911250dal.htm

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199212270min.htm

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200711110sdg.htm

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198509290sfo.htm

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198312180kan.htm