After Bill Polian's meltdown on the radio following the Colts now-infamous handling of the Week Sixteen game against the New York Jets in 2009, the Colts have blocked the call-in radio program named 'The Bill Polian Show' from Internet listeners. This show features Colts vice chairman Bill Polian, and it allows regular Colts fans to call-in and ask him questions which he, frequently, gets annoyed answering. It is the only Colts content that is not streamed live on the net. Thus, because Colts fans outside the Indianapolis area cannot listen in on the show, we provide highlights from the program, which often include Bill Polian saying things he later claims he did not say. However, since the Colts and Mr. Polian do not provide fans or media with recordings of the show, you'll just have to take our word that what we write below is indeed what Mr. Polian actually said. Hope you enjoy.
Stampede Blue live-tweets the highlights while the show is happening.You can follow Stampede Blue on Twitter at @stampedeblue.
Recaps like this week's are the reason why we do what we do each week for 'The Bill Polian Show.' Regardless of whether or not the Colts play a game on Sunday, that doesn't stop the Colts vice chairman from going on the radio and saying outright lies and subtle half-truths in a seemingly desperate attempt to retain credibility as the football franchise he built inches closer and closer to an 0-16 season.
If you listened to tonight's show (and if you lived outside Indianapolis, you couldn't), Bill Polian told you that free agency is useless, Donald Brown is a terrific player, and that Marvin Harrison conducted the single greatest workout of any wide receiver he's ever seen prior to the 1996 NFL Draft. Bill said that he and personnel executive Dom Anile were blown away by the workout, that Harrison was a once-in-a-decade player, and that they wished they had had the opportunity to draft Harrison when both worked for the Panthers in 1996.
Bill failed to mention that he did have a chance to take Harrison, but instead took runningback Tim Biakabutuka with the 8th overall pick in the 1996 NFL Draft.
The Colts, and then-vice president Bill Tobin, took Harrison 19th overall. So, despite having 'the single best workout of a WR than any other WR he's ever seen,' Polian passed on Harrison and took a mediocre runningback. SI's Will Carroll was following along with our live tweet tonight, and posted these zingers on Twitter:
So if "best ever" WR (per Polian) is Marvin Harrison and he went mid-1st in draft, what case can be made for drafting anyone higher?
And by passing on him, they filled the need in the next draft with … Rae Carruth!
#heckuvajobbrownie
Again, it's for moments like these that we follow and recap the show.
Here is the recap:
- Bob Lamey started out the show by discussing Marvin Harrison and how he will be inducted into the Colts 'Ring of Honor' this weekend. Bill Polian said that, back in 1996 when he was general manager of the Panthers, Harrison had single best workout of a WR than any other WR he's ever seen.
- Polian said the Panthers worked Harrison out the year after Carolina went to the AFC Championship Game. Thus, they didn't have a chance to draft Harrison. Polian said he wished he'd had a chance to take Harrison. (Reality: Not true. Harrison was drafted in 1996. Panthers had the No. 8 pick in the draft that year, and passed on Harrison. Colts took Harrison 19th overall in '96.)
- Bill Polian called Harrison the best WR he's seen in 15 years. Called him a 'clutch performer,' and he should be a first ballot Hall of Famer.
- Bob Lamey asked Bill what he thought of criticism that Marvin Harrison couldn't play well against the New England Patriots. 'Come on!' Bill said. 'Who says that?' Lamey then responded, 'New England.' Polian then said, 'Well, let's deal in facts.'
- Polian stated that he, and the coaches, were the ones who told Harrison to always 'go down' instead of taking a big hit.
- A caller asked about Kerry Collins contract and why didn't the Colts pursue David Garrard. Polian responded that it was well known throughout the industry that Garrard was not healthy at start of the season. He also said the Colts paid 'the going rate' for a backup QB when they signed Collins. He once again stated that the hit which gave Collins the season-ending concussion that absolutely no one believes he received was an illegal hit. Polian failed to identify the hit, when Collins got it, or who delivered it.
- Polian said he assumed that, back in August, Collins would play 4-6 games in 2011 and then Peyton Manning would be back. Then, a week after signing Collins, Peyton had spinal fusion surgery. The surgery was a 'complete surprise,' says Bill.
- SI's Will Carroll, responding to Polian's comments about Peyton's 'surprise' surgery: 'So, you knew the Jags QB wasn't healthy, but weren't sure about your own.'
- A caller asked about the free agency market, why Colts haven't signed free agents recently. Also, the caller had a question about the Colts conditioning and whether it is causing the Colts the ridiculous string of injuries they've had the last four years. Polian responded that he is very weary of free agency. It's not an answer to anyone's 'critical needs.'
- Polian said the Colts study the free agency effect in basketball and baseball. Said FAs make a difference in baseball and basketball, not football. FAs do not help football teams in any way.
- Polian said Colts owner Jim Irsay is the reason the Colts do not venture much in free agency.
- Polian said the Colts study every injury a player gets and then run the statistics through a computer. Based on this, Polian said his opinions are 'based on hard, statistical fact.' (Reality: I thought Bill Polian hated stats.)
- Polian: Conditioning is 'not a factor' in the Colts ridiculous string of injuries.
- Polian: I'm as frustrated by the injuries as fans are.
- A caller asked if Darren Evans would get more carries this week. Bill Polian responded by talking about how supposedly wonderful Donald Brown. Polian called Brown 'a terrific player.'
- Great tweet from a follower: 'Lesean McCoy has rushed for more yards through 10 weeks than Brown has in his career..Brown drafted ahead of McCoy.'
- A caller, who likely doesn't run a corporation, stated that everyone wants to second guess the Polians, and if anyone knew how to run a corporation like the Colts, they won't second guess them.
- Polian: 'We've never failed to rise' when the Colts has gotten knocked down.
- Polian took his seemingly weekly shot at 'draft gurus.' According to Polian, the draft gurus though Ryan Leaf was the 'greatest QB of all time' this time back in 1997.
- Stephanie Stradley of the Houston Chronicle: 'B Polian said free agency is useless for NFL teams>>> FWIW, Johnathan Joseph is having a All Pro type yr for
#Texans.' - Polian: Colts must play great defense to beat Panthers
Thanks to all those who followed along last night. You can follow along too @stampedeblue.