What Glenn's potential loss means

by Brad Wells on Jul 23, 2007 10:08 AM EDT in Colts Analysis

This is Charlie Johnson. We may see more of him than anticipated this year.

There is still an outside chance that all this Tarik Glenn retiring stuff is bunk, and that Glenn will indeed report to Training Camp. Or, perhaps he has changed his mind, and willing to suit up for one more year before riding off into the sunset, tutoring his eventual successor, Tony Ugoh, along the way. Who knows. That said, there are some pros to Tarik leaving to go along with the obvious cons. One pro is Glenn's absence would create $4.5 million in cap space. The other is we will see immediately whether or not Tony Ugoh was worth a first round pick. Bill Polian was very high on this guy, and he was drafted to replace Glenn next year. The Colts also have a lot of faith in Charlie Johnson. They also have a great o-line coach in Mudd. So, unlike what Terry thinks:

no way Colts repeat now
losing what BBS terms a future HOF LT is too much to overcome. Its a really huge loss.

Sorry Terry, but even without Tarik Glenn, the Colts still have a far superior o-line to a team like, say, the Cowboys. And they have a better shot at making the Super Bowl than the Cowboys, even though Dallas plays in the putrid NFC. The Colts are still in great position, roster-wise, to repeat. Does this belittle the potential loss of Glenn? No. Unlike what the moronic football punditry says, prior to Tarik's alleged departure, the Colts hasn't really lost anything. Cato June stunk; Doss, Reagor, and Stokley hardly played; Rhodes was a back-up; Harper didn't play in the Super Bowl, and his replacement sealed the game. You can make an argument for Jason David, but I've always felt Kelvin Hayden would eventually push him out of the starting spot.

Glenn is different. And unlike the guys I just mentioned, he is indeed a significant loss. But this team is resilient enough to overcome such loses. After watching them lose player after player last year and still win it all speaks wonders for how tough and resourceful this team is.

Another issue I want to address, which was raised by MadTownColtsFan:

Glenn was a great player. But retiring in July is letting his teammates down.

Sure you can retire whenever. That's his right. July. Week 7. It's up to him.

But if/when a player decides to retire they really should let their team know before the NFL draft. The Colts could have used his $4.5 mil in cap space to sign someone else (I think, not super sure on the details) or may have done something differently in the draft. That's why I was always upset the way Barry Sanders retired. Give your teammates some respect and let the organization plan ahead.

Now maybe the Colts knew all along and that's why they took an offensive lineman at No. 2 last spring. Maybe he told them he was leaning heavily that way in Feb. or Mar. and just wanted to keep it quiet. If so, then I'd have a lot more respect for him.

I really have to disagree with this assessment, somewhat. There is no issue of team respect. Tarik is one of the most respected players on the roster. And if he just feels he can't do it anymore, no one on the Colts would begrudge him. Family and life first. Football second. That's the motto, and it's a motto more clubs should take to heart. Football players go through a tremendous amount of pain during and after a season. Maybe Tarik just can't deal with the pain anymore. Maybe he's tired of waking up every morning with swelling in his ankles, or stingers in his neck. If Tarik feels he's made enough money, and is tired of all the pain, it's his prerogative to walk away.

And, incidentally, if he'd told the Colts he was retiring in March, who would the Colts have gotten in free agency? Leonard Davis? HA! They likely would have done exactly what they did in April: Draft someone like Tony Ugoh ;use someone like Charlie Johnson to hold the fort until Ugoh is ready.

The only thing that makes this hurt is that we fans were caught off guard. Here we were, ready to gear ourselves up for another great season (hopefully), and we get this turd dropped in our punch. That's what makes this hurt the most.

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Comments

SI.com ...

Looks like they have it a bit more accurately, even if their headline is bunk "Pro Bowler Glenn informs Colts he will retire"... They say

...he's seriously considering retirement and that an announcement on his decision could come as early as next week.

Glenn told the station that he did not want to talk about the issue now.

Sounds like there is nothing official yet. This is not a final story, by any means.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/football/nfl/07/21/glenn.colts.ap/index.html

by PaytonMenning on Jul 23, 2007 11:08 AM EDT reply actions

$4.5 mil

Not sure they could have signed a replacement left tackle for $4.5 mil, but if they had that to work with ... maybe they sign someone else at another position, lock up a player, extend a current guy longer ... just saying gave them flexibility if they knew ahead of time.

http://www.rotowire.com

by MadTownColtsFan on Jul 23, 2007 1:36 PM EDT reply actions

disagree BBS

I'm so confident in my opinion, that I'll write a diary stating how great and knowlegable you are, just like you did about me when the Cowboys kicked your butts last season.

Without Glenn, you can try to talk yourself into believing your scrub backup will do the job, but thats just blind faith, won't happen.

The LT position is an extremely critical position and you know it. To say losing your future HOF LT will not have a detrimental effect on the team is simply ignoring reality.

by Terry @ Stampede Blue on Jul 23, 2007 2:01 PM EDT reply actions

Two things ...

Glenn hasn't retired yet ... It's just opinion at this point, nothing official.
The "scrub" you refer to played in the SB at RT, and did an admirable job.

Once again, you prove how little knowledge you have of the game and "our" team.

by PaytonMenning on Jul 23, 2007 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions

and once again you have proven

how little knowledge of the game you actually have because anyone with even a little football knowledge knows there is a huge difference between LT and RT position.

If you knew football, which by your comments you obviously don't, you would know that LT has to be very nibble and athletic with very quick feet. They are out on an island against the opposing team's best pass rusher.

RT don't have to be as athletic with very quick feet as they often have help from the TE in pass protection.

You will see this on Aug 9 when D Ware spins this Johnson kid around like a top while your boy Manning runs for his life. Now that will be funny.

by Terry @ Stampede Blue on Jul 23, 2007 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions

You're delusional ...

I do understand the differences between LT and RT ... Where did I make that a point at all? I was simply pointing out that he has played in the biggest of all games - and did a fine job.

by PaytonMenning on Jul 23, 2007 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions

you made it a point

by saying he played RT okay in the SB, big freakin' deal. Like I said, he had help from the TE, he won't have any help at LT, it will be him all alone against the best pass rushers in the game. Considering Ryan Diem has pass protection issues himself, you can't help both tackles.

If you think Johnson can play as well as Glenn, you're the one thats delusional.

by Terry @ Stampede Blue on Jul 23, 2007 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Never said that ...

did I? It's all their in black and white. And you, as usual, putting words in people's mouths.

Tell you what Terry, why don't you just argue my point for me, since you're always right?

by PaytonMenning on Jul 23, 2007 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions

black and white, okay

Two things ...

1. Glenn hasn't retired yet ... It's just opinion at this point, nothing official.

2. The "scrub" you refer to played in the SB at RT, and did an admirable job.

Once again, you prove how little knowledge you have of the game and "our" team.

by Terry @ Stampede Blue on Jul 23, 2007 5:19 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm confused

Are you saying that Payton Menning's comment that Johnson did an "admirable" job at RT in the Super Bowl is the equivalent of him saying that Johnson is as good as Tarik?

by ctnyc on Jul 23, 2007 5:50 PM EDT up reply actions

no

I'm saying that playing RT is nothing like playing LT. Just because Johnson played ok at RT doesn't mean he'll play ok at LT. Huge difference between the two, which is why LT get paid much more.

by Terry @ Stampede Blue on Jul 23, 2007 9:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Don't try and follow him ...

It only makes sense in his own little world.

Never, not once, in the postings above did I say that CJ was an equivalent replacement for TG. TG is one of the best LT's in football right now. All I said was CJ played well in the SB at RT ... Terry's just inferring whatever he wants to out of it.

by PaytonMenning on Jul 24, 2007 1:52 AM EDT up reply actions

I never said or infered once

that you said or infered Johnson as as good as Glenn. You stated Johnson played good in the SB at RT and I said RT is not LT.

Get your head out of your arse.

by Terry @ Stampede Blue on Jul 24, 2007 8:49 AM EDT up reply actions

Two things...

21-14 is hardly a 'butt kicking', especially when we were leading through 3 quarters and had 2 chances at the end, but couldn't get it done. A win for you guys, yes. A 'butt kicking', hardly.
You sure take a lot of pride in the preseason. I couldn't care less what happens in that game, even if you guys play well. We won't see you until the Super Bowl, which you might just be lucky enough to get to sine you play in the mighty NFC.

by Colt4Life on Jul 23, 2007 8:49 PM EDT up reply actions

no, not preseason

just the drives that first team offenses and defenses play, thats all I'm interested in.

by Terry @ Stampede Blue on Jul 23, 2007 9:30 PM EDT up reply actions

pointless

even drives with first teamers are largely pointless in the preseason. usually you end up with some first teamers out nursing injuries and teh ones that stay in are either playing just vanilla plays and not using the whole playbook, or running specific scenarios they want to work on.

if you take anything away from preseason, even if it is just drives with first teamers, it shouldn't be comparisons of the strength of one team vs another in the game. if you do that you're more deluded than I ever thought.

Charlie Weis Ate My Baby

by jdb on Jul 24, 2007 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions

Future HOF?

Look, I'm a big Tarik Glenn fan and think his not playing this season will be a large hole, but I think Charlie Johnson can do an adequate job there. Howard Mudd is the Dave Duncan of the NFL, meaning he figures out a way to get the most out of people. He won't play at a Pro Bowl-level, but Peyton Manning releases the ball faster and feels pressure in the pocket better than just about any QB in the NFL. It hurts, but it's not devastating. And since when was Glenn a future HOF-er? He was a great tackle, no doubt, but he only went to three pro bowls and was never generally regarded as the best at his position. Great player, yes. HOF-er, no.