After the Indianapolis Colts 34-7 beat down Sunday in Houston, already media and fans are talking about the teams’ chance to draft Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck as the eventual successor to Peyton Manning.
Are you kidding me? Sure, it sounds great but it’s not realistic.
What we saw Sunday from the Colts was flat out awful, and they’ll be the first to admit it. The Colts can’t be that bad–the first game had to be an exaggeration…right? Yes.
Colts quarterback Peyton Manning underwent his third surgery in 19 months last week, having a single level anterior fusion done. He remains on the team’s active roster and medical experts believe he is out at least 3 months.
So, what should the Colts do until Manning’s possible return? A new popular twitter hashtag, at least in Indianapolis, is #SuckForLuck. Fans want the Colts to tank the season and draft Luck No. 1. Pretty ridiculous after just one game.
With Kerry Collins heading the offense instead of the NFL’s only four-time MVP, things are very different and not at the same level.
Today Colts owner tweeted a positive outlook. “Peyton’s gonna heal n have 3 or 4 years of a final period of greatness,we’re gonna host an amazing Sup Bow,we’re gonna improve n play better.”
If true, Manning can finish out his new five-year contract which he signed just before training camp. This isn’t just positive news for the Colts but also the league. The NFL isn’t the same with Manning out–sales are down, fantasy players are hit and tickets are much easier to obtain.
With numerous years ahead for Manning, drafting Andrew Luck in the 2012 draft would be a mistake. It would be special to watch him learn behind No. 18, but like we saw in Peyton’s debut in 1998, immediate playing time is a necessity. Time to learn, time to make mistakes, and time to get hit. That’s where anyone learns best, in the element.
Many members of the media made a big deal of Colts Vice-Chairman attending the Stanford at Duke game Saturday. But did you know Polian still owns a house in Charlotte, and his son Brian is an assistant coach for Stanford. Polian and others never quit scouting so don’t look too much into this one.
One of these days, Indianapolis management will have to turn their focus towards the future but not yet. Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark are 32, Dwight Freeney is 31, and Robert Mathis is 30. The Colts aren’t getting any younger and must be worry about the present rather than thinking long-term.
Combined with Peton Manning, this is a special and one-of-a-kind group that we will never see again. Bill Polian and the team have not drafted well in recent years. Just look at Anthony Gonzalez, Tony Ugoh, Donald Brown, Jerry Hughes…etc.
The door is closing but if Manning returns next season with his core pieces, (it’s worth noting Wayne and Mathis will be free-agents) the Colts will make another run at the Super Bowl.
Peyton Manning may go down as the best quarterback in the history of football. It’s not the time to start building for the future–instead, the Colts must continue to surround him with top talent and a functional defense.
If Indy does have a terrible year and lands a top draft pick, they certainly shouldn’t waste it on a player that will sit the bench for three years. There will be the right time to draft the quarterback post-Manning, but not yet.
And once he’s gone, the Colts will be forced to rebuild anyways.