La Canfora: Colts not even close
As much as Peyton still talks about his love for Indianapolis -- and playing for one team his entire career -- staying with this franchise doesn't add up for him, either (contract aside, perhaps). The Colts must restock a weak offensive line. They lack a powerful run game. They can't stop anyone on defense. And how awkward would it be to see Manning competing with a rookie for snaps? Not to mention, he may have to grasp a completely new system with a new coaching staff in place. Is this really what Manning wants at this stage of his career, after all he has accomplished?
Peyton's all about winning, and the Colts just don't have the makeup of a contender anymore. Even if Manning returns to health -- a big if, at this point -- would Indy really be back to hanging with the Patriots, Ravens and Steelers among the AFC elite in 2012? Not likely. Which brings us to potential landing spots for Peyton in free agency.
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"They lack a powerful run game. They can't stop anyone on defense."
Hmm sounds like some team i know. Oh ya, the patriots...
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La Canfora is NOT a person whose opinon I give much creedence too. But its systemic to the Mainstream media system
I heard Herm Edwards saying today on ESPN, "What if Peyton comes back and "struggles", then you have the fans Calling for Luck to play, what do you do then"
Ok. First whenever has PEYTON MANNING EVER "struggled"? If Peyton comes back then hes completely healed and ready to go. So why would you expect anything less from him? Especially to the point we, thr fans, would call for Luck, its utterly laughable
As obvious as this statement is, the Mainstreamers wants Peyton out of "hick Indiana" and in one of their big markets
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That's actually a really good article about the psychology and the realities of the situation. But I agree that LaCanfora - as with most of these reporters - has no business referring to himself as anything more than "reporter."
Manning alone makes any team a contender. LaCanfora seems to have missed the fact that all the teams he mentions there as the powers are deeply flawed and very beatable. Hell, these Colts almost beat two of them with their crappy backup QBs.
But no, they're nowhere near a top tier team as presently constituted, and it'd take some luck to win 3-4 playoff games, especially against the vastly superior NFC teams. And now they're going to lose a lot of key pieces. But that's hardly news.
But they got rid of two things that were really holding them back that would (and did) hurt them in 2012, so now they're back on the right track.
You are right to a point. I still believe they had pieces of the puzzle in place. Just needed to tweak a few spots, maybe a new head coach. But not gut the whole franchise. If I was Peyton I would porbably lookk else where for my next SB ring.
Besides the franchise's You mentioned didnt gut there teams into complete rebuild. They may have remodeled a few area's
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Waitaminute...
<blockquote>... he may have to grasp a completely new system with a new coaching staff in place</blockquote>
... so therefore his best options are to go elsewhere? Say what?
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@AJ_ This is a perfect example of someone having an opinion first and then using information to support it, rather than using information to formulate an opinion.
Also he's wrong about the offensive line and the run game. Terrible article all around.
@JoeBRogers@AJ_ Indeed. Nothing else to say but terrible, shoddy, barely readable piece of uninformed nonsense.
That must be the most poorly researched article I have ever seen. The Colts' biggest problem is the salary cap, and that should be able to be worked out.
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Tired of the line-blurring between "insider" and "expert." La Confora doesn't know more about the Xs and Os of football than anyone posting here (and frankly, rarely convinced that he knows more about being an "insider" than some posting here).
His definition of "being close" to a Super Bowl is W-L record. He has no context or reasoning beyond '2-14 herp derp". If you can't look at the Colts 2011 season and realize that they'd most likely win the division with 16 weeks of a healthy Peyton Manning, the closest you should come to being employed by "THE NFL NETWORK" is some sort of janitorial position.
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@GregC Are you kidding? Other than not taking into account that the colts played much closer to a 4 win team, that Manning is worth a MINIMUM of 6-7 wins over Orlovsky/Painter, that the defense showed signs early and late of being much closer to "average" than normal (especially when the Colts Defensive scheme rose above the level of "flustercuck"), that the Run blocking was actually, you know, good, and that the offensive line is a few less injuries (and better QB play) from being a real strength, this is the best article I've ever read.
/s.
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@gbearrin@GregC Seriously, he obviously did minimal, if not ZERO research. All he had to do was go back one year and he'd find a couple draft picks named Costanzo & Ijalana. Restock the OL? Not that these guys are instant HOF players, but for rookies, they showed some serious promise.
Greg's point of expert & insider is spot on. But I'd say that the line is beyond blurred - it just doesn't exist anymore. It's like they're handing out insider/expert status with the purchase of a happy meal nowadays.
