http://www.indystar.com/article/20091126/SPORTS03/311260001/Polians-contracts-with-Colts-extended-through-2012

Chris Polian was named the Colts GM today.  He has worked his way up through the ranks to the front office, and will succeed Bill Polian when he leaves.  This insures a smooth transition when Bill Polian leaves.  I cannot think of a better person to continue what Polian has done than someone who was trained by Polian.   Hopefully, when the time comes, they will find a capable replacement for # 18.  If we are able to accomplish that, we can continue our level of excellence for the next 10 to 15 years.

It's been a while since Tennessee has recorded a win.  The last win they had was when they beat Pittsburgh at the end of last season.  Why is that so significant?  That was the game where Lendale White stomped on the "terrible
towel" at the end of the game.  Since then Tennessee has done nothing.  I guess that is what happens when you don't treat your opponents with respect.  Looks like the football gods have taken their revenge on the Titans.

Seriously, this is an excellent opportunity for the Colts to start eliminating the options for the other teams in the division.  While we cannot eliminate anybody next week, we can make their path to a division title very difficult.  This team is getting better in every area each week, and our offense has the potential to be as good as any offense the Colts have ever had. 

One thing we might look out for is Tennessee turning to Vince Young.  They really have nothing to lose, as a loss will pretty much end their shot at a division title and make a wild card shot a long shot possibility at best.

A win in Tennessee and a 5-0 record going into the bye week would be sweet.

Sources at WTHR are saying that Dwight Freeney will be out at least a month.  This is really not bad news and means that Freeney's season will be shorter.  We don't have any critical games coming up (except for the Tennessee game), and it will just same him from further injury.  Hopefully, the defense will not suffer while he is out.  My feeling is they won't, as they have been putting a tremendous amount of pressure on the QB with their blitz packages.

Interesting read from Bill Simmons on the Patriots.  The part that he finally gets is the part after undeniable truth # 5 about Manning.  In fact, we as Colt fans are shocked when we see Manning not come through in the clutch.

http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/columns/story?page=simmons/patriots/090925

After reading this article, he raises some very valid points about the Pats, especially the part about the Jets trash talking and the Pats not responding.  Can't wait for the Colts-Pats game this year, but there is a lot of football to be played before then.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4206440

According to ESPN and the NFL, Moore and Mudd can return to the Colts immediately as paid consultants as long as they are not employed by the Colts. 

Apparently, Mannings comments lit a fire under the NFL anf forced them to clarify the situation.  Now, we will see what the Colts will do since they now know what they can and cannot do. Can't wait for training camp.

 Once again, Kravitz has stuck his foot in his mouth.

http://www.indystar.com/article/20090515/SPORTS15/905150326/1034/SPORTS15/Anonymity+of+blogosphere+is+turning+us+into+a+culture+of+weenies

With the retirement of both Moore and Mudd, Kravitz chooses to write an article attacking ... bloggers??  Now, to put this incredibably stupid editorial in perspective, let's talk about Kravitz's recent interview with Peyton Manning.  For years, Kravitz wrote how Peyton choked in the playoffs, how Peyton wasn't a big game QB, etc.  So when Kravitz interviews him on the radio, he doesn't ask Manning about any of this.  Why?  Because he wants to talk to Manning again.  Kravitz prefers to use the safety of his column to do his dirty work, and when he has to talk to someone in person, he puts on a different face.  However, bloggers are wrong for hiding their name, he is right to act nice to someone in person when he has attacked them in print.  Sounds to me like a double standard.

However, he has just given Stampede Blue and 18-to-88 a big publicity boost.  You guys just got some free advertising and will likely see many new readers.  Because, after reading Kravitz's 2 times a week column about nothing in a lot of cases, more people will now see what insightful commentary on the Colts really is.  When you start a business you plod along and survive until your name gets out and people really want your product over a competitors product.  But in order for that to happen, people have to know about your product.  Thanks to Kravitz, people will now know about your product.  So, while this post didn't start out looking favourably on Kravitz, we should all thank him for giving us advertising that we couldn't have purchased on a "shoe" string budget.

While it is never good to have turnover in coaches, especially as good as the Colts coaches have been, we need to remember the philosophy of the organization which is "next man up".  We have had Caldwell in waiting behind Dungy for 2 years.  We have understudy's for both Moore and Mudd for 5 years.  We have a Quarterback who is almost a coach on the field, and we have a Center who understands and calls the blocking assignments.  Obviously, both Moore and Mudd were going to leave within the next 2 years.  It would have been great to see them stay another year to help in Caldwell's transition, but if it doesn't happen the team will have to move on.

We have to remember, the offense and the offensive philosophy will not change if Moore's and Mudd's understudys are promoted.  They might be some minor adjustments from the change, but everything else will remain the same.  Had we not resigned Saturday, then I believe there would be cause for concern.  This team has excellent veteran leadership, has a winning attitude, doesn't quit in games, and understands what it takes to win in the NFL.  The Colts, as an organization, have set a very high standard since the arrival of Polian and Manning, and will continue to carry that winning attitude even with the coaching changes.  We may experience some rough spots this year while the new coaches adjust, but we will be OK.  If I had to choose between veteran players or veteran coaches, I would take veteran players.  Both Christensen and Metzelaars know the system, and our on field leadership should buy them enough time to adjust to their new roles.

So, Colts fans, while there may be cause for concern, I believe we will be OK at the end of the day.  Other teams have made coaching changes and went from losers to winners.  If the Colts can make the transition this year to a new coaching staff, we have an excellent chance to win at least one and maybe 2 Super Bowls in the next 5 years.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/apr/09/maryland-raises-the-stakes-on-preakness/

Do these guys ever learn.  If the Preakness was considering leaving Maryland, they are certain to leave before this bill passes.  Do these politicians even have a clue as to how their actions affect businesses and people. 

Honestly, I wouldn't even read this.  But there is nothing going on in the NFL right now, and all of the other sports are boring.  Can't we have a NFL spring league so we wouldn't have to wait so long for football season to start.

The Colts get a 4th round draft pick (# 136) this year.  Most people thought they would get just a 6th or 7th round pick.  Might be a good pick to use on Nate Davis, if they are interested.  Getting a plan in place for Peyton to leave would be a good thing.  Since the Colts were the only team to be at Nate Davis' workout, they obvoiusly have some interest.  He could play behind Manning for the next 6 years and then settle into a long pro career.

Channel 8 news is reporting that Darrell Reid has signed a 3 year contract with the Denver Broncos.  Apparently, Reid is "no longer an Indianapolis Colt".  If he is trying to get into a bar in Indianapolis after 1:00, he should probably use a different line.  This is a loss for our special teams, but maybe the change in coaches will make up for it.  I don't really think the Colts were interested in resigning him, becaus they didn't make him an offer.