Jim Caldwell expects Marvin Harrison to return in 2009

by Brad Wells on Feb 19, 2009 4:01 PM EST in Colts News

Jim Caldwell spoke with the media today for the first time since his introduction as the new head football coach in Indy. As we are seeing with Caldwell, he is not one to beat around the bush. When asked about free agents Marvin Harrison and Jeff Saturday, Caldwell seems to suggest an alternative to Adam Shefter's proclamation on Marvin Harrison's future with the Colts. From ESPN's "blogger" Paul Kuharsky*:

[Caldwell] indicated he expected Marvin Harrison would be back and said "we did not see any diminishing in terms of his skills and ability" in 2008.

18 to 88 wrote a piece recently on how re-signing Kelvin Hayden (and the way he was re-signed, without needing the franchise tag) actually leaves the door open to bring Marvin back. Caldwell's assessment of Harrison's skills obviously does not jive with the numbers, as Harrison had his worst statistical season since the 1998 season (Peyton's rookie year). However, after watching games like the Baltimore game, it was clear to me that Marvin had not lost any of his speed or quickness. He did look rusty and unsure, but that might have been because he missed so much time in 2007, and spent a lot of last off-season rehabbing.

In any case, Caldwell has no reason to lie about Harrison's skills, and both he and Polian have said that Marvin hasn't lost his skills as a WR. I mean, it's not like they can trade him and his huge cap hit.

Caldwell also had some interesting comments regarding free agent Jeff Saturday:

The veteran center has been a key piece to the offense, and Caldwell spurned questions about how the team would go forward without Saturday.
"That's a bit premature, just in that you're beginning to act if he's already gone," Caldwell said. "I'm looking at it from a different perspective. He's with us until otherwise indicated. Yeah, he's been, and certainly we anticipate will continue to be, a very, very important part of our offense."

In the coming days, it will be very interesting to see how the Colts deal with Marvin and Jeff.

*I like Paul Kuharsky, and I think he does a great job writing for ESPN. But the Worldwide Leader is Gossip Journalism's idea of "blogging" is pretty silly. Guys like Kuharsky aren't bloggers. They're beat writers.

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Good point

on the beat writer thing. These guys are hybrids not unlike Phil B. The ESPN blogs do contain opinion (which pure beat writers aren’t allowed to give usually). Kuharsky at least is on the scene for a lot of things though, and functions like a beat writer.

I know the media gets a lot of crap (and deservedly so) from bloggers, but I have nothing but respect for the guys who pound the pavement everyday to get the quotes and just report the facts. We need the Chappels, Wilsons, Richards, and even the Kuharskys of the world.

Now the Kravitz’s of the world…that’s a different story.

18to88.com

by deshawn zombie on Feb 19, 2009 4:11 PM EST reply actions

I’ll be amazed if they can manage to keep both of them on top of signing Hayden. I’m hopin they can do it, but not holding my breath.

This line will remain in my signature until the Colts draft Rashad Jennings in 2009.

by KingRichard on Feb 19, 2009 4:34 PM EST reply actions

Same here

I mean, we all want to see him back but it aint easy…i wpuld love to see Edge back too but man, all we can do is hope

by BlueMark1821 on Feb 19, 2009 7:01 PM EST up reply actions

Check this out:

over the past 20 or 30 minutes this story has exploded all over the internet…

I thought the UPI was actually a NEWS wire?!?

"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007

by peytonsthebest on Feb 19, 2009 4:36 PM EST reply actions

they are citing Schefter who didn't have any inside info, he was just speculating from their cap situation

I ain't tryin' do you, I'm just tryin' do me
Last album did two, I'm just tryin' do three.
-Young Jeezy "I Luv It

by shake n bake on Feb 19, 2009 4:41 PM EST up reply actions

I love how this stuff gets started...

/sarcasm.

"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007

by peytonsthebest on Feb 19, 2009 4:44 PM EST up reply actions

"Harrison, 36, played in just five games in 2008 because of knee and hamstring injuries."

Dumb Shits right under their logo it says 100 years of journalistic excellence. First they are reporting someone else’s opinion as fact. Second one of the few factual statements in the article is worng. Journalistic excellence my ASS!

Dun nuh nuh nuhhhh!!!! Super Mathis

by hoosier in sodak on Feb 19, 2009 5:42 PM EST up reply actions

AM i the only one that doens’t want Marvin back? He costs way too much for no productivity. I’m sorry he just doens’t have it anymore.

by Bleed Blue and White18 on Feb 19, 2009 8:03 PM EST reply actions

He costs 7 mil no matter what so the real cost to keep him is however much he is costing over 7 mil

so it’s 6.4 million to keep him.

I ain't tryin' do you, I'm just tryin' do me
Last album did two, I'm just tryin' do three.
-Young Jeezy "I Luv It

by shake n bake on Feb 19, 2009 8:06 PM EST up reply actions

And from what I understand

from monstersbox and shake, it would actually be cheaper (to the cap) to do a new deal.

"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007

by peytonsthebest on Feb 20, 2009 11:29 AM EST up reply actions

Correct

This line will remain in my signature until the Colts draft Rashad Jennings in 2009.

by KingRichard on Feb 20, 2009 12:15 PM EST up reply actions

if he takes a big enough pay cut

from 9 mil to anything less than 4.7mil would be cheaper.

I ain't tryin' do you, I'm just tryin' do me
Last album did two, I'm just tryin' do three.
-Young Jeezy "I Luv It

by shake n bake on Feb 20, 2009 3:41 PM EST up reply actions

joseph addai

what they need to worry about isnt really marvin harrison. he is gettin old and a little slower these days.. they need to worry about a good running back situation.. I dont forsee them keep dom but they need an upgrade from joe addai. He recently had knee surgery about a week ago to clean some stuff out but he isnt playing with any heart.. They need to sign edge back>> even though he is older he still plays with alot of heart and he isnt as big as a thug and joe is

by cmoney2222 on Feb 19, 2009 9:45 PM EST reply actions