Colts Sticking With Painter, In Full 'Suck 4 Luck' Mode

by Brad Wells on Nov 23, 2011 4:43 PM EST in 2011 Colts Analysis

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - NOVEMBER 13: Curtis Painter#7 and Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts watch the game action in the Colts 17-3 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 13, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Jim 'deadman walking' Caldwell decided to inform the media today that the Colts are opting to keep the third worst rated quarterback in the NFL behind center for the Colts. Curtis Painter, despite regressing quite rapidly in recent weeks, will get to keep his starting job even though it's been over a six weeks since he threw a meaningful touchdown pass.

All throughout the bye week, there was speculation that Painter would get bneched in favor of Dan Orlovsky. Painter was pulled in the fourth quarter of the Colts last game, a 17-3 yawner to the Jaguars on November 13th. Orlovsky (67) had almost as many yards passing on one drive in the fourth quarter of that game than Painter did in three quarters (94).

Obviously, Dan Orlovsky is not someone who is going to light up the scoreboard. But, we know what Curtis Painter is at this point. He stinks as an NFL QB, and he has no future with this organization. Why not try Orlovsky and see if he can spark something? Keeping Painter is just maintaining the same, silly formula that has the team at 0-10. Changing nothing means nothing will change. Why not give Orlovsky a shot? You're 0-10! What have you got to lose?

That is, unless, the Colts are clearly trying to lose games in order to lock up the No. 1 overall pick in 2012, which will be Stanford QB Andrew Luck. By not claiming Kyle Orton, who was let go by the Broncos yesterday, and by keeping Painter as the starter, it's pretty clear the Colts are in full 'Suck 4 Luck' mode.

Tweet Comment 20 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Can we all move on now?

“I cant believe the Colts are tanking the season” The front office decided to tank the season before week 1 even began. If you are still suprised by the level of suck that this team is displaying week in and week out you need to go get your head examined. Get over it already. Just cheer for a loss each week and get ready for the most exciting offseason we as Colts fans have ever witnessed. #suckforluck2012

by pattymac on Nov 23, 2011 4:53 PM EST reply actions

On a positive note...

Most of the guys on this team, especially the offensive ones have essentially had an entire year off. Their bodies should be in great shape for next season because they are only on the field 3 plays at a time. We’re gonna have an improved O-line next year as well as a much more effective running attack. If we can pick up a couple DB’s and a saftey we should be back to playing solid Colts football. I, for one, am truly excited to see what next year brings. Whether it’s #18 behind center or #12, 2012 is certainly going to be exciting!

by pattymac on Nov 23, 2011 4:58 PM EST up reply actions

thisny

by mlc2656 on Nov 23, 2011 5:36 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

It's not like Orlovsky is some newcomer that's an unknown.

If anything, we know more about Orlovsky than we do Painter, and that is that he’s an awful quarterback as well. Why in the world would we want him starting?

by James Broschat on Nov 23, 2011 5:41 PM EST reply actions

Why bench Painter twice in two weeks

and then give him the starting job again?

by FatDT on Nov 24, 2011 12:57 AM EST up reply actions

Wow...I just can't understand

I understand not going after Orton, BUT how do you stay with Painter ? The guy has done nothing, his passes are bad and he has no awareness. I’m no pro coach and have been a youth head coach for years, I just do not understand why Orlovsky can not get a chance. Is he the answer, no but how many times are we going to do the same thing and expect a different outcome

by armycolts25 on Nov 23, 2011 5:42 PM EST reply actions

realize the desired outcome in April.

Stay the course.

by mlc2656 on Nov 23, 2011 5:48 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Either way

I think the outcome is still the same…..colts will go 1-16 and have the first pick. Maybe 0-16, but I do think we’ll get 1 win, probably against Jacksonville. Orlovsky doesnt excite me any more than Painter does honestly.

by BiggRedd on Nov 23, 2011 5:59 PM EST reply actions

but let Orlovsky start

HE cannot be any worse that CP

by OBGYNOSUPREME on Nov 23, 2011 6:37 PM EST up reply actions

The only way the Colts go 1-16...

Is if Roger Goodell spots us a “pity win” for our bye week.

/snark
//yes, I know it was a typo. Sue me.

I see great things in baseball. It's our game - the American game. It will take our people out-of-doors, fill them with oxygen, give them a larger physical stoicism. Tend to relieve us from being a nervous, dyspeptic set. Repair these losses, and be a blessing to us. ~Walt Whitman

by Chopaholic on Nov 24, 2011 2:42 AM EST up reply actions

surprise surprise Another great coaching move!!

by toolman94 on Nov 23, 2011 6:23 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

I had to rec this.

It made me snort-chuckle.

by Chopaholic on Nov 24, 2011 2:43 AM EST up reply actions

just let him throw 30 passes none more than 10 yards a lot of bubble screens and screen passes

this is their last good chance to win, the next chance after this one will be the last game at J-Ville Jan 1st,,, just want to get thru the rest of the season with no significant injuries to the remaining few good palkyers who are still healthy this season the best thing about the game tomorrow will be honoring marvelous MARVIN- in his prime there was no one better!!!!!

by OBGYNOSUPREME on Nov 23, 2011 6:36 PM EST reply actions

Hey the good news

Coach Cadwell say’s he needs to be better at calling plays to Painters strengths…Wow it only took 10 losses to figure out that Manning is not playing QB. We may only lose by 14 this week.

by armycolts25 on Nov 23, 2011 7:16 PM EST reply actions

I kind of agree with BBS

Bench Painter. He fooled me. I thought he was actually decent and had a shot at staying with the team next year, but I guess I was wrong. If they didn’t go after Orton I understand. There was not enough cap for him, so that’s understandable. However, whoever plays QB sunday, they cannot be allow to throw 30-40 passes, they must run the ball, even if it’s 50 times like the Broncos.

by fanatik on Nov 23, 2011 8:03 PM EST reply actions

Catch 22

Those who want Orton must think we can win a game or 2 with him or they wouldn’t want him. If we can win games with Orton, then our team isn’t as bad as this board says it is. If our team is truly bad, then we shouldn’t waste our team with Orton because he won’t be a big enough difference maker to help us win a game. So, enough with this Kyle Orton stuff. He’s a good backup QB and an average starter.

by GrizzColt on Nov 23, 2011 9:51 PM EST reply actions

Uhh...

Orlovsky is more of a proven product than Painter.

Painter’s production has been lousy, but I still see him as the obvious starter if you’re trying to win.

Let’s watch him out- scramble Cam Newton this week…

That is Bach and it rocks, its a rock block of Bach

by Prince Lawrence Waverly on Nov 23, 2011 9:52 PM EST reply actions

This team drives me crazy.

Caldwell is such an effeminate yes man. Ya know, I’d like for the Colts to at least win one game. Have some pride and at least look like you want to win a game and not go the way of the Detroit Lions. I dont blame fans for bailing on this team after they laid down vs the Jets and now appear to be purposely trying to lose. If I wasnt from Indy I would probably would have left a long time ago.

by Odin1980 on Nov 23, 2011 10:47 PM EST reply actions

There's no need to actively Suck4Luck

cause we won’t win a game either way. the #1 draft spot is pretty much secured thanks to our great effort thus far. We really messed up the beginning of the season where we had defeatable opponents- the remaining schedule is tough and if we lose to the panthers the 0-16 is kinda fixed.
only chance is that our division rivals try to lose against us in order to avoid us picking Luck. the emphasis in my last sentence is on “try to lose” cause a hard time they will have trying lose against this team ours.

by Martin Steinkogler on Nov 24, 2011 2:48 AM EST reply actions

Derpdy Derp Derp

Claiming Orton would have put the Colts on the hook for $2.6MM of his remaining contract. He wouldn’t have been ready for this Sunday so that’s spending $2.6MM for five games. If you’re KC and only two games out in the braindead AFC West, that kind of makes sense. If you’re Indy and already mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, it’s idiocy.

Unless you plan to sign Orton to a new contract and make him your QB of the future. Anybody want to argue for that plan? I didn’t think so.

Why not give Orlovsky a shot? I dunno, maybe because he had a shot in 2008 for the Lions and sucked almost as badly as Painter does today? He’s our third-string QB for a reason. Change for the sake of change isn’t clever, it’s desperation.

Painter was benched in the Jax game because he went into full Steve Blass mode. But he’s already had two games this season where his passing should have been good enough to win (TB and KC). It’s not crazy to give him one more chance before throwing him under the bus.

Never approach a vast undertaking with a half-vast plan.

by szquirrel on Nov 25, 2011 12:59 AM EST reply actions