Looks Like the 'Wopper' WR Jim Irsay Wanted To Sign Isn't Worth Getting Excited Over

At some point, you'd think we'd learn our lesson. You'd think we'd learn that whenever Jim Irsay gets excited on Twitter, when he adds 27 exclamation marks after a sentence that looks like it was written by a sugar-high-raging-six-year-old, that we'd know that the news just isn't as exciting in real life as it is in Jim life.

While many of us have had visions of playmakers like Victor Cruz or Larry Fitzgerald dancing in our heads after reading Irsay's tweets last week detailing the Colts efforts to reel in a "wooper" of a wide receiver, the reality is the player Irsay got everyone jazzed up about is likely someone a lot less talented or interesting.

One thing we also know: The deal to land "wopper" was never a potential trade.

Mike Chappell and the Indianapolis Star recently had a little phone chat with Irsay, before the NFL Owners Meetings ended on Wednesday, and Irsay was kind enough to update them as to the status of the Colts landing 'wopper':

"We want to add another wide receiver if we can," owner Jim Irsay reaffirmed during a phone call from the owners meetings in Phoenix, Ariz.

Irsay first broached the subject publicly over the weekend via Twitter. He revealed during his conversation with The Indianapolis Star that the team was close to signing a veteran free agent — not arranging a trade for a player under contract — but the negotiations hit a snag.

It was going along pretty decent," Irsay said, "but you know how it goes. It’s a roller-coaster ride. He declined to identify the targeted player.

So, why would you run to the Star to detail all this anti-climatic info, Jim? Why not take it to Twitter, as you've done the last ten days or so?

This update came two days after Bob Kravitz of the same newspaper as Chappell reported that the Colts were still in play for 'wopper.' Now, it looks like it's dead, and even if it wasn't, it looks like it really isn't worth getting excited about in the first place.

The only veteran free agents are are even passably decent at the WR position are guys named Brandon Lloyd and Laurent Robinson. Lloyd was just cut by the Patriots.

Really? All this hype over scrubs like Lloyd and Robinson? These types of players required over 10 days of negotiations?

In general, it's encouraging to see the Colts actively trying to improve an area that needs help. Reggie Wayne is old, in terms of NFL playing years. It's unrealistic to expect him to catch 90 balls in 2013. T.Y. Hilton is a deep threat, not a No. 1 receiver. LaVon Brazill has talent, but isn't starting caliber, yet. Griff Whalen is completely unproven, which means anyone saying he can start isn't basing that off anything tangible.

With Donnie Avery bolting for the Chiefs, it's important that Indianapolis bring in a receiver or two to fill his production. Avery dropped a ton of balls in '12, but he also had a career year, snatching 60 receptions for 781 yards and 3 TDs, including the game-winning TD against Detroit with no time left on the clock.

With pass rusher being a much bigger need in the draft than wide receiver, it makes little sense for the Colts to use their No. 24 overall pick on a player like DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson.

Going forward, it will be interesting to see how the Colts address these glaring needs. They've overspent on marginal talent upgrades in free agency thus far during a time when very talented players were available for cheap prices.

It's only fair to let this play out, but it's also fair to point out that Jim Irsay should have a bit more self-control over his Twitter account. Sensationalizing can be fun, but the trick is you gotta deliver. If you don't, you deserve tomatoes thrown at you. You can't get the crowd all warmed up, frothy, and excited... and then deliver them second-hand news, via the Star, that the player you were probably targeting was Brandon Lloyd, or someone like him. That's just poor showmanship. Even worse is when Irsay got defensive on Twitter last week after fans called him out on his sensationalizing of marginal talents like Erik Walden.

Can't have it both ways, Jim. Sorry. If you get folks excited about a steak dinner, but instead deliver us a plate of dog food with a mint garnish, you don't have the right to get defensive.

That's show business.