FanPost

Open letter to the Colts, Phillip Rivers and Stampede Blue fans and posters


Dear kind and gentle Colts' fans,

First and foremost, through thick and thin, I'm a rabid Colts' fan. I have been since the day the moving vans rolled in that snowy night back in 1984. I have been since those first futile years rooting for scrub QBs, the likes of; Mike Pagel, Mark Hermann, Art "What's the line' Schlichter, Jack Trudeau, and my personal favorite, The Strike Buster, Gary Hogeboom.

I was first in horror as Irsay traded the farm to bring in local hero, Jeff George. Then thrilled as he worked that magic arm those first couple of seasons bringing hope that we finally had found our QB savior. And then let down as expected, after he turned heel and crushed the hopes of his hometown forcing his way out of Indy.

I watched and cheered when an unlikely scrappy Captain Comeback swooped in ("..who the hell is Mel Kiper??") and took the Indianapolis Colts to their first taste of NFL relevance and within a dropped pass in the back of a Three Rivers Stadium end-zone, of a Super Bowl.

And then HE strolled across the NFL Draft Stage into our lives. The Sheriff: The Man who Built Lucas Oil Stadium: The Greatest Colt of All-Time: PEYTON freaking MANNING. He molded a generation of Colts' fans into expecting greatness from the QB position and the Colts being a legitimate contender every season for over a decade. He led Indy to two Super Bowl appearances, bringing ultimate glory to the Circle City in 2006. he broke all the records and set the standard for NFL QBs of the time.

I was saddened when HE was forced to say goodbye to the city that revered him. I was depressed watching a cast reject from Point Break bumble his way to a historically bad next season. But the reward was one of my favorite Colts of all, Andrew Luck.

Luck teased us with his seemingly natural ability to will his teammates to victory, game in and game out. It was amazing to watch. And it seemed inevitable that he would lead those Colts teams to multiple Super Bowls. But, as 'luck' would have it, it was not to be. Injuries deprived us of witnessing Andrew's full potential and rightful ascension to Peyton's Thrown of Colt Greatness. The proverbial athlete with the feet of clay retired far too soon.

We became spoiled with nearly 20+ years of QB greatness. We expected far too much from Jacoby. Honestly, he did as well as he could with the team around him and the tools he possessed. He was Jack Trudeau v 2.0. A great guy as your backup, just good enough as a starter to keep the franchise from cratering into the cellar of the division. He'll likely never lead the team to ultimate glory.

And that brings me to Mr. Rivers. A hated rival. A man that once argued pettily on the sidelines with Colts' fans and spiritedly mocked our Great Peyton with 'who's yer rocket armed QB now...' or something to that effect. He was the Charger's Reggie Miller. A guy everyone else loathed, but his own fans loved him. I'm on record saying nasty things about him, even on this site. And now...he's a Colt.

So....he is now one of us. He's now the QB that I will root for. I will always be a rabid Colts Fan. I will always root for the Shoe and the man who sits behind center for my team, whether it be Scott Tolzien or...even Philip Rivers.

On behalf of all Colts fans, I wish to welcome you and your family to Indy, Phillip. The Colts have a long and glorious, if not sometimes dubious, history of QB play. Now, step in and go shot put your way to your own Colts' glory!

Sincerely,

Coltsforu88

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Stampede Blue's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Stampede Blue's writers or editors.