FanPost

If the Colts Brass Tanked This Season, Can You really Blame Caldwell?

While this year's dismal Colts season winds down, it's interesting to see all of the chatter for a new HC begin to rise in Indianapolis. Although many have been calling for the head of coach Caldwell since the SB loss two years ago, I can't help but point out what to me is the elephant in the room: "This season was tanked intentionally." When you look at all of the moves (As well as lack of moves) the Colts front office made this year, it seems quite obvious that Polian and Co had their eyes on a bigger prize from the beginning. That prize is Andrew Luck. Let's start with the "top secret" neck surgery of Peyton Manning. I don't know about any of you, but as soon as the SB against the Saints was over, why didn't Manning have his neck surgery done within a week or two following the game? Does this not seem "odd" to anyone? Yeah I heard the excuse of "The lock out kept him from using his preferred physicians for physical therapy." Come on now. When you're "Peyton freakin Manning" you can get the best physicians money can by. Sorry but I'm not buying that one. Still don't smell a fish yet?

OK lets move on to the teams moves once the season started. 1st they wait til the last possible minute to sign Kerry Collins to "hold the fort down once Manning comes back" even though they knew Manning wouldn't be back at all this season (See Drs reports for turn around times on fusing nerve vertebrae for neck surgery). Couple that with the untimely release of Justin Tryon (Who some how "lost his job" to Jacob Lacey of all people) and adding Terrence Johnson. So why wouldn't the organization come out and tell us their real expectations with Manning? Well now you can't sell tickets to fans who know without Manning the team doesn't have a chance in hell now can you? So give the front office credit for giving the illusion that Manning may return this season in order to keep fans supporting the team (and putting money in Ersay's pocket). Now that brings us back to coach Caldwell. Think real long and hard about this people. If the organization's ultimate intent is to throw the season in order to come away with next year's ultimate draft prize is it really the fault of the HC? after all, he's only "following orders."

The sad part about this is the fact that Caldwell will indeed be the fall guy and with his most likely replacement being Jeff Fisher coming in. This will make all of his (Caldwell's) haters very happy no doubt but if you really want to place blame for the outcome of this season, it needs to go to the front office for duping you all into thinking it's "the coach's fault." BP and company knew exactly what they wanted to do this season and it's very obvious: Prepare for the future at QB. Honestly, I may be one of the few people who are on board for tanking this season. If I were a GM I would have done the same thing (minus blaming Caldwell). I know this would make a lot of people upset and angry. I can hear the "Oh you should NEVER tank a season!" mouths already. I know the truth about all of you though. As soon as Luck takes over it won't even take half of his career to shut you all up. In fact, most of you will be on your way to get Luck jerseys once the Colts start winning again. Luck will give this city something very few teams have had the luxury of having ever: 30 years (Manning's 15 and Luck's 15) of consistent QB play at a high level.

See, winning cures everything. Once the Ws start coming in again all of the naysayers will be back on the band wagon praising Polian as if he's God's gift to football because that's what most of you were doing before this season. While the Colts were winning 12 games or more for 7 straight years there was not a peep coming from any of you. You all praised Caldwell as well when the Colts went to the SB his 1st year on the job and didn't have a bad thing to say about him until after the Colts lost to the Saints. Although I'll admit I would be happy to see Fisher as HC here, I won't blame Caldwell for the demise of this year's team. I blame the front office for that.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Stampede Blue's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Stampede Blue's writers or editors.