my point is, I don’t understand the angst. It was more understandable during the season: The team was in the middle of a seemingly special season, could still have made it a championship team, etc…

But now, are fans still upset reading it? I can’t stand the ‘move forward’ comments – what do we have to move forward to? I’m not on the team. My discussing whether or not the Colts GM pissed players off in week 16, and what the comments from Saturday mean, have no bearing on the Colts ability to do their jobs.

No one on this site is involved in the draft, the day to day operations (or any operations) for that matter. If you don’t want to discuss it, clearly, thats fine, but acting as if discussing it is living in the prologued past seems like faulty logic at best.

As fate would have it…yes we LOST. So in a sense it was destined. Quit trying to look for an argument. You wont’ find it here.

geez man, get a grip.

This is correct. I don’t think the Colts players were thinking about week 16 during any of their games.

It did, however, clearly irritate some of the players. I think that is something worth discussing. During the time all of this took place, a lot of people said it wasn’t a big deal, etc…

Well, if it irritates your players, that seems like somewhat of a big deal.

and as Spaz said, certainly the better coached team. Sean Payton had us all figured out. I almost wonder if they spotted us the lead on purpose knowing we’d go to “conserve the lead” mode…

who the heck knows if he’ll even read it, but at least I felt like I finally communicated to the guy who can make a difference, and not just to the scrubs like me on this board! :-)

My next letter might be to the entire coaching staff about being more aggressive next year. I’m sure that will be shredded upon receipt, LOL.

Dear Mr. Torine,

I am writing to recommend a few changes or additions to the team’s strength and conditioning program, specifically with respect to: stretching techniques; yoga / pilates; and nutrition.

I am a bleeding blue Colts fan who is concerned by the injuries suffered by this team year after year. I appreciate that your role with the team is your chosen profession, that you have 15 years’ experience, and that my understanding of sports medicine, exercise, body mechanics, and the like, is limited to what I’ve experienced as an amateur athlete. From that perspective, I fully understand that I don’t have access to all the information about what you already do, and write solely to offer an alternative that may improve team health and help achieve the ultimate goal – getting to and winning a Super Bowl.

First, a compliment: I noticed this year a distinct change in the philosophy surrounding player health. Coach Caldwell seems to have really paid attention to how players feel from week to week, and while I don’t have any statistical data, my gut tells me that players with injury risk were limited or held out of games that in years past they might have played in. Players have been quoted in the press acknowledging the fact that Caldwell asks them point blank how they’re feeling and offers them the opportunity to rest if they really need it. Nobody knows his body better than the athlete himself, so as long as there isn’t an undercurrent of peer pressure to step up and play, this is an excellent development.

And now my questions:

1. Stretching. Having attended a few games in person over the past few years (I live in California, so getting to games can be a challenge!), I noticed during team warm-ups that players often bounce in their stretches. Even as an amateur, I know that you need to engage your muscles in long, slow stretches, especially if you’re doing so after a period of no activity. I am not privy to what warm-ups or stretches might be done in the locker room before the players come out on the field, but if these stretches are the first they do, I suggest making sure there is no bouncing.

2. Strengthening. Have you considered incorporating yoga or pilates into the athletes’ routine? Many may laugh at the idea, but a 90-minute Bikram yoga session every few days can result in improved muscle length and pliability, flexibility, balance, and core strength. Despite not involving weights, it is also a very tough workout, and one that promotes good, deep sleep. If you haven’t tried it yourself, I highly recommend it – I’ll bet there are 120-pound housewives out there who can outlast the toughest athletes!

3. Nutrition. I know that professional athletes have extremely high metabolisms, but I’ve seen several instances of players "Tweeting" that they’re eating McDonald’s food. Obviously that’s fine every once in a while, but hopefully this doesn’t comprise a regular part of their diet.

Thanks for the opportunity to comment, and I appreciate that given the nature of the game, you’ve probably done more to prevent injuries than the typical fan realizes. My aim is simply to improve results so we can see the star players on the field more.

GO COLTS!

I say deport him. NOW.

Sam Giguere is. So I blame him.