Kyle Rodriguez moves to Eli Manning in his continuing evaluation of clutch quarterback play.

A big thank you to CA reader TrueBlue87, who did a fantastic job recapping his part as the Colts' representative for the MockingTheDraft live mock draft. Discuss!

Last spring, I wrote a series on what to expect from the 2011 draft class. It's time to revisit those expectations and see how they did.

Earlier this week I asked Colts Authority readers to share their personal Colts stories with us. I have to admit, I was a bit nervous that no one would respond, perhaps not wanting to be 'the first' to put themselves out there. My fears were quickly alleviated as many of you have already shared or said you will soon share your stories with us. My deepest thanks to all of you! 

Our first submission comes from reader Nick, a Colts fan living behind enemy lines in New England. After the jump, we'll read his story.

Kyle Rodriguez continues to evaluate the so-called "clutch" performances of Tom Brady in a series of studies on clutch quarterbacks in the NFL.

Scott Kacsmar completes his opus on the historical oddities that make up the Colts' 9-10 playoff record in the Peyton Manning era.

Join Greg and Laura as they discuss the latest Colts news!

(Ed. note: I've replaced the word surgery in both the headline and story with the more precise word 'procedure')

The latest bombshell in the mysterious case of Peyton Manning's health was unleashed by Don Banks of Sports Illustrated today.

In it, he claimed that Manning had an additional procedure (note: I originally used the word surgery) beyond what was reported, and that the Colts fear his neck issues could become chronic.

He also gave details of Manning's December workout the week before the Colts first win of the season against Tennessee. Banks description of Manning's lack of velocity and fatigue match what I personally have heard about the workout.

Manning's intent was to show his ability to throw late in the season by running a red zone offense for the Colts as his range was limited under 25 yards. The plan was quickly scuttled as team doctors shut him down after the labored workout. The session was not encouraging, and the Colts gave up hope that he could see the field in 2011.

Clutch doesn't exist. 

There. I said it.

Ever since the 2011 playoffs began, I've been barraged (as have you) by the notions of "clutch" quarterbacks. Whether it was Tim Tebow in the Wild Card round, Alex Smith in the divisional round, or Eli Manning and Tom Brady since, the word clutch has gotten tossed around more than the "Peyton's a choker" moniker did in 2003. 

After reading a few interesting/frustrating articles and fan threads, I've realized just how much of a misconception "clutch" really is. While it's entertaining to think about, and can be fun to idealize about, the stark reality is that "clutch," at least in the ways we often think of it, makes little sense when evaluating quarterbacks. I'm not sure as of now what I think of it as a whole, but for quarterbacks, "clutch" is something that is created in our heads, but in reality has very little, if any, bearing.

Who doesn't love a good story? From the moment we're born we're serenaded with fascinating tales of far away lands. As we grow older, we continue to explore our love of stories in books, poems, movies, and songs. But the best tales, the ones that really leave their mark on us, are the ones told by the ones we love - our friends and our family - where their real, emotional connection to the details transforms their words into something special.

At Colts Authority, we have two goals. The first is simple: provide the best possible Colts content and present it in a reasoned, educational, and entertaining voice. The second - and equally important - goal is to create a community where our readers not only feel welcomed, but realize that they contribute every bit as much to the success of the site as the writers.

With that in mind, we are introducing a new weekly segment for the 2012 off-season: The Horseshoe Diaries. The Horseshoe Diaries will be a collection of stories from Colts Authority writers and readers, where we share our deepest, most personal Colts experiences - good or bad - with each other.

If you'd like to share your experience, we'd love to hear from you. Please email your submissions to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and put "Horseshoe Diaries" in the title. I will print them out and read them on the train tracks with my dog, Stella. (If you get this reference, HIGH FIVE) Not a professional writer? Not to worry, neither are we! Just write your story from the heart and share it with us. We'll post selected stories on each Friday of the off-season right up until our draft coverage kicks into high gear.

I look forward to reading your stories!