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This past weekend was pretty crazy in terms of Colts news. Amazingly, the game they played Sunday was the undercard for all the other bombshell-type news we received. I'm still processing all the craziness, but in case you missed it:
- ESPN's Sunday Countdown said that if the Colts drafted Andrew Luck, Peyton Manning would leave the team 'peacefully.'
- The Indianapolis Star wrote a scathing critique of Colts G.M. Chris Polian, citing several unnamed former-Colts employees who view Chris as a 'toxic' element within the organization.
- Bill Polian once again lost his mind on the radio after a loss and ranted against supposed 'rats who lie about people.' It's assumed he was referring to either the Indy Star, their sources for the Chris Polian article, or both.
- Jim Irsay ended the eventful day with an angry-sounding Tweet that should make everyone who works within the organization (the Polian's included) tremble.
Oh, and in case you still care, the Colts got blown out against the Falcons at home.
The Colts are in a free fall as an organization. As our writer David Deitz also note, in an excellent and informative article, the Fall of the House of Polian is also in full swing at the West 56th Complex. Colts fans are in revolt against the front office. Now, they are showing up to home games with Colts jerseys with 'Andrew Luck' written across the back.
It's a crazy, crazy time to love the clue shoe.
This isn't just a 'spoiled' fanbase that is reacting poorly to losing after ten-plus years of winning consistently. That is a simplistic conclusion, and simplistic conclusions to natural human behavior are for the simple-minded.
Anyone who know the city of Indianapolis and its relationship with the Irsays and the Polians know that this animosity had been oiling for some time. It's boiled over a few times before, most notably in December of 2009. But, when it's all said and done, fans cannot stand the Irsay and the Polians, with the Polians receiving much of the ire. Bad public relations and a bully-like mentality with the media have fostered this for years. Everyone always said the 'chickens would come home to roost' when the Colts started losing again, and they have. Big time!
Winning does not forgive bad behavior, especially if that bad behavior gets WORSE when the losing starts.
So, for you fans out there who are mad, it's OK. You should be. Personally, I think there is something wrong with fans who aren't upset. I also think there is something wrong with folks who are mad at the fans who are mad. I mean, come on! If people who paid full price for yesterday's stinker want to come into Lucas Oil Stadium and boo their heads off while wearing an Andrew Luck jersey, what's wrong with that?
At the end of the day, we all want this team to be respectable. Respectable to fans, media, and in the 'win' column. And since this titanic collapse is the worst in NFL history, it's totally understandable if people are like WTF! right now.
So, yeah. Crazy weekend.