As teams like the Colts continue to lose, more and more questions will be raised regarding whether or not they will intentionally 'suck for Luck' as the season drags onward. Fans have already begun to openly root and cheer for their team to wilt, hoping that, at the end of the year, the Colts will have a chance to take Luck No. 1 overall in the 2012 NFL Draft.
Not surprisingly, all the talk about #SuckForLuck is making the Standford quarterback a bit uncomfortable and, in a way, somewhat testy.
That fans are rooting for a collapse — especially less than one-third of the way through the season — speaks to the appeal of Luck, who has consumed the N.F.L. even as he has flown somewhat under the college radar this season. The Cardinal will not play a highly anticipated game until Nov. 12 against Oregon. But even in what is expected to be a strong 2012 quarterback draft class, the ardor for Luck is not surprising. He would have almost certainly been the top pick if he had left Stanford last season. The fan campaign seems to have sprung up organically, before he announced that he would stay in college.
"I am aware of it," said Luck, who becomes awkward and uncomfortable whenever the N.F.L. is brought up. "A couple of guys told me about it. I think it’s stupid. Simply put."
While Luck thinks that rooting for your favorite team to lose is silly, the reality is that for teams like the Colts and Dolphins, the 2011 season is over. The rest of the games going forward this season are merely a formality, and fewer fans care whether or not their favorite team will win. The focus is now on 2012, and for a team to improve dramatically, getting Andrew Luck is a fast step in the right direction.
So, whether he likes it or not, Andrew Luck better get used to NFL cheering for their team to lose so as to get the best shot at drafting luck in April 2012.