Polians Must Go!

by Bradman721 on Jul 28, 2011 1:29 PM EDT

It appears to me that it is time the Polians go. I appreciate what Bill has done through the years, he truly built a winning franchise. And now Chris seems to be of the same mold. The problem with this mold is its one that it does not win super bowls. The Polians are like boring gamblers who go to vegas and bet small so in case they lose they don't lose much. In order to win big you gotta be willing to risk big. And luckily in the NFL that doesn't always mean money. Lets take Albert Haynesworth for instance.

It cost the Patriots a 5th round draft pick....in 2013! They take the risk that Albert decides he doesn't want to give them his full effort and they have to cut him next year. If that happens whats the big deal they lose a 5th rounder 2 years from now. But the best that could happen is they get one of the most dominating DT's in the league and changes their defense from pretty mediocre into a defense that might once again be one of the league's best. Hell if he plays like he did 2-3 years ago they get the BEST DT in the league.

But thats just one example. The Rams are a team much like the Colts in regards to cap space. But they realize they are in position to win now and they've made signings and continue to inquire about other free agents and trades. These players may make the team much better and take them into the playoffs or the players could all be busts. But they take the risk because what they do know is if they did nothing their team is not good enough to either make the playoffs or win a game in the playoffs (due to crappy division they could trip into the playoffs).

The Jets are finding every way possible to get Namdi. Sure they're going to break the bank between him and Revis which is a risk in regards to their ability to sign or resign players in the future. But they are in the win now mindset and know Namdi makes the team better possibly even enough to get them past the AFC Championship hump. If they get the deal done I still bet they aren't done, they'll go after more and probably get it because they have the people running the organization that go all in.

The colts are very much in a win now phase. Peyton is getting older by the damn it seems now that we have this neck issue to deal with. Who knows how many more off seasons Peyton will want to get a pinched nerve operated on or a bursa sac. We all know without Peyton we stand no chance of winning anything let alone a Super Bowl. So why not do what it takes to win now. Why not go all in and take the risks it takes to get back into the big dance. Why not give Peyton what he deserves which is the chance to win more rings for his legacy since he's already done so much for us. We fell into a Super Bowl once, it will not happen again. Its not necessary to come in year after year with the same players except for the new undrafted free agents we sign. Lets for the love of god go ALL IN!

But my bet is a Polian will never go all in. Chris did better in the draft and it looked good. It made me believe he might not be of the same mold as his father. Thought maybe he'd be aggressive. But clearly I am wrong. As a die hard blue blooded Colts fan I have had enough.

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.

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Redskins. That way of doing business has woked out just great for them hasn’t it. What have they won the past 10 years, 4, 5,6 supe-oops GAMES.

by Medicblue on Jul 28, 2011 1:46 PM EDT reply actions

Exactly

And the Patriots haven’t won a super bowl since they’ve snagged those free agent gems like Welker and Moss, either. The Rams? Please.

The Colts have been a model of consistency, annually fielding a playoff team for a decade (longest streak). We were in the big game two seasons ago, and last year was riddled with injuries. We still made the playoffs. We are doing just fine. The big free agency teams have demonstrated a worse track record than otherwise.

This is the typical preseason panic by some Colts fans. We will all be fine by mid-September. We just need to stay calm until then.

by coltsfanawalt on Jul 28, 2011 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions

...because the Redskins have Peyton Manning.

by SoCalHoosier on Jul 28, 2011 9:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Jets won't get Nnamdi.

Revis wouldn’t accept being paid a couple million less than his counterpart.

And Haynesworth’s issue isn’t his pay, it’s his carcinogenic effect. I really don’t want Nevis “learning” anything from that guy. Besides, we need a run stuffer and he wants to rush the QB, and if he doesn’t get his way. Well, you know what happens. Why get a guy that doesn’t want to do what you need him to do?

by ActionOxford on Jul 28, 2011 1:57 PM EDT reply actions

Yep

by coltsfanawalt on Jul 28, 2011 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Evidence

Can you give any evidence that the Rams are in a similar cap situation to the Colts. Everything that I have seen has them way under.

by ColtsPensacola on Jul 28, 2011 2:08 PM EDT reply actions

really colts fans?

so you’re all ok with just sitting on our hands and letting our hands and watching all good players go bye bye. You think our team is that good where we dont need anyone? We don’t need Hayden, release him. We have to bite the bullet and release Diem. Cap space right there.

And no I’m not saying lets turn into the Redskins. I’m not saying sign any and all big names. I’m saying certain things are obvious and we could improve them, so why not do that. Tell me why not use a 5th rounder to get Haynesworth? If he acts like an ass fine we cut him after the season and we lost a 5th round draft pick, so what. We could use another lineman as well. We could use another safety thats for sure. Whether you agree or not we definitely need another WR.

Basically what you are all telling me you’re ok with going into this season with pretty much the same team as last year besides a few rookie lineman? Even though Peyton has a few years left you still want to build through the draft and undrafted free agents that take time to get good. Time that may not lead to after Peyton is gone.

I guess I’m just a fool.

by Bradman721 on Jul 28, 2011 2:20 PM EDT reply actions

there is a reason why these guys are UFAs

Its because the other teams don’t really want them. Most successful FA signings have actually come through trades and they normally require a ransom to acquire

by metal_militia on Jul 28, 2011 5:09 PM EDT up reply actions

CALDWELL FIRST...and we need to hire this guy

by PeytonIsGOAT on Jul 28, 2011 2:23 PM EDT reply actions

Ha ha!

Then fire him via Twitter. Ya haven’t changed Corso, but the technology to fire you has.

by ActionOxford on Jul 28, 2011 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions

not getting it

I’m not saying for us to sign those players. Although i still would have taken Fat Albert. I’m just citing examples of teams doing what it takes to put them in a better position than the previous year. While the Colts have just stayed with the same players seemingly year in and year out. Yes i have very much enjoyed our crazy decade of success. But that only led to one super bowl. Every year we didnt win i just said well atleast i know we’ll be good next year and after so maybe we’ll win again. I can’t say that many more times because time is very much running out. Once Peyton is gone, say goodbye to division titles and playoff appearances for a few years. We have most of what it takes to go all the way now. Obviously we can win it anytime since we do have Peyton. But i think in recent years as well as this year and the rest of Peyton’s career more needs to be done. More sense or urgency to get the rings.

by Bradman721 on Jul 28, 2011 3:41 PM EDT reply actions

The problem is they can't do anything......

And teams are paying stupid money for free agents. Stay calm let them get Peytons contract done and see whats out there. These teams that are splurging will end up paying for it.

by VERNON HOWELL on Jul 28, 2011 3:58 PM EDT up reply actions

You have one point

The Patriots are exceedingly and disgustingly good at managing, trading, and utilizing draft picks. A 5th for Haynesworth is just another example, right on the heels of a 4th for Randy Moss… but the Pats locker room is very different from the Colts locker room. Belichick is a stunningly non-conforming genius. He’ll bench Brady if he feels like it would further his authority. For the Colts, Peyton is the unquestioned leader, not a coach or exec. Taking a psycho like Haynesworth, who very likely would find taking orders form a QB highly problematic, could cause unnecessary rifts in the Colts fabric. Yes, Haynesworth for a 5th is a steal, but not a steal the Colts needed to make.

by Teacher317 on Jul 28, 2011 5:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Polians Must STAY!!

Unless and until the Colts become something other than the #1 winningest team in any decade, the most consistent team in playoff appearances, etc etc etc, anyone buffoon who wants to make major wholesale changes is either really young, really short-sighted and impatient, or a fan of another team likely in the AFC South.

Seriously, there is ZERO reason to doubt Bill Polian. He took over a Bills team that was 2-14 each of the previous 2 seasons. In his 7 years there, they went to 4 SBs. He took over an expansion franchise, and they were in the NFC title game within his 3 short years there. He took over the Colts, dropped Harbaugh and Edge against all advice, and put the Colts on near-dynasty status for over a decade.

If the Colts miss the playoffs twice in a row, and it isn’t because of our annual massive injury reports, THEN you might have a case for ejecting the Polians. Until then, sit back, have a beer, and enjoy the show. I trust Polian far more than any other pro sports executive in existence. ’Nuff said.

by Teacher317 on Jul 28, 2011 5:05 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs

Polian and Free Agency

“Under Polian’s watch, the Colts have signed undrafted or waived rookies such as Jeff Saturday, Dominic Rhodes, Terrence Wilkins, Raheem Brock, James Mungro, Gary Brackett, Ben Utecht, Ryan Lilja, and Melvin Bullitt. Polian also signed Nick Harper and Mike Vanderjagt as free agents from the Canadian Football League.”

“Polian has rarely signed established free agents away from other teams through big money contracts. He has said that the Colts have no interest in the annual sweepstakes for veteran free agents.”

Notable exceptions include Corey Simon and Adam Vinatieri. He’s batting .500 on the big-name and big-money guys

by Teacher317 on Jul 28, 2011 5:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Well said!

by coltsfanawalt on Jul 28, 2011 5:44 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm not for axing the Polians, but a different approach has to be considered.

We make the playoffs every year, and all too often we flame out early. The reason is we are not a good playoff team, we are a good regular season team. We draft small players who are more injury prone, and have to deal with not having key players every postseason. We have horrible special teams. We have difficulty stopping the run. We have difficulty with 3rd and shorts. We have below average coaching. We field a team of “smart” players, who seem to lack the intensity to amp it up in the playoffs. We have never been a team that puts people away when we have the chance.

Granted, we have a lot of great talent and 18. They have gotten us numerous wins in the regular season. But when the stakes escalate and teams can take some time and really focus, they find a way to beat us. It is normally because we put 2-3 times more on peyton than any other team puts on any of their players. I’m not saying scrap the whole plan and do an about face, but revise what we do and go for a better result than the settling we seem to have fallen into.

by strandedincarolina on Jul 28, 2011 9:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Finally, some reason.

Your points are all valid. But, for me…. axing the Polians would be great. In that event we might be able to actually correct some of the yearly recurring deficiencies caused by small, injury-prone players, adopt a more aggressive ‘rip-their-head-off’ philosophy in the heat of games, and put a coach on the field who would actually help the team instead of hurt them. Maybe some people are content to see Peyton continually bail this team out, but I’d like to see management aim higher from the get-go.

by Ayrshire on Jul 29, 2011 1:10 AM EDT up reply actions

Reguardless of what everyone thinks axing the polians would only come from Irsay

…And I don’t see that happening (although I also think he is getting frustarated with the way things have worked out as well) I know what your saying bradman. And BBS would agree with you too. Problem with your theory is tqo fold. One…. like others have said the colts have limited cap room and they aren’t sure what part manning will take…you could blame the hold up on mannings contract as to why the colts have been conservative. Hard to buy something new when you have a big expense definitely coming but don’t yet know the amount. Second problem whether they will admit it or not is coaching…Albert, ochocinco (who wouldn’t have been huge cap problems ) require good coaching/guidance to be effective… which in my opinion is not top notch right now under Caldwell.
But even I have to tell myself to relax….we weren’t bad last year excluding injuries and barring injuries this year we should still be good. I laugh at people who say we won’t be able to win SB…SB winners aren’t always the top team each year even going into the playoffs…ie the year the colts won…they were expected to lose the first game, second game and third game of the playoffs because of the defense….defense stepped up albeit with help from sanders and we won. We may just need someone to step up again and we could get there again.

by nighttrain551 on Jul 29, 2011 11:32 AM EDT reply actions