Do Colts Higher Ups Want to Lose?

It’s no typical midweek during the NFL season. Not for the Indianapolis Colts. For a team that is 2-13, a phenomenal amount hangs in the balance. The Colts are a loss away at Jacksonville from locking up the number one pick in the NFL draft. The number one pick, with the highest rated quarterback since John Elway, yes even higher than Peyton Manning.

The Colts shouldn’t even be in this situation. At 0-13, they held a virtual 2.5 game lead for the top pick with three games to play. But after two stunning victories, and no help from St. Louis, that lead is down to .5 games. The Colts get the number 1 pick if they lose to Jacksonville, or the Rams beat the 49ers, but don’t hold your breath, the Niners are 12-3 with a first round bye on the line.

But, as every Colts fan (with an inkling of knowledge how the NFL works) will be rooting for the guys in blue to lose, perhaps those that know it the best want a victory. Perhaps Chris and Bill Polian and Jim Irsay want the Colts to win.

Will Andrew Luck be a Colt? Or Rams Trade Bait?

Think about it, if Indianapolis has the number one pick, the Polian Irsay triangle has a monumental decision. Possibly one of the toughest decisions in NFL history. Do you A. ditch quite possibly the greatest QB in NFL history? B. Ditch the chance to get the next Peyton Manning for 15+ years? Or C. Take on both of their hefty salaries, and likely lose the chance to sign either of Mathis or Wayne?

Either decision could turn out great. The Colts could still be Super Bowl contenders with Manning, and drafting Luck could provide the Colts with unheard of stability for 15 more seasons.

But getting the decision wrong would be catastrophic. Imagine Peyton Manning going to Washington and winning a Super Bowl, while Andrew Luck busts. Or, the Colts stick with Manning, who goes 8-8 in his final few years, while Andrew Luck takes the league by storm.

If Bill Polian messed this decision up, it would be a gigantic black mark on his resume. It would likely be the most memorable decision made by a man that has turned around three terrible franchises remarkably fast, and has one of the best records in NFL history.

So what could solve all this? The Colts go into Week 17 as business as usual. Business with Dan Orlovsky, that would have likely won them 5-6 games if he started all year. Business with Reggie Wayne who suddenly looks in 2008 form. With a Colts defense that teams all of a sudden can’t move the football on. And vs. whom? A Jacksonville team that will also be drafting in the top 8; The Colts easiest game in the past 3.

They win, St. Louis loses, Colts pick 2. Polian and Irsay can’t screw up the decision, because they don’t even get their chance to screw up the decision.

They’re fine with the status quo. Use the pick on OT Matt Khalil, WR Justin Blackmon, or even CB Morris Claiborne, and attempt to put a decent team around Peyton Manning.

The difference between the one and two pick, in this scenario is phenomenal. Even if the Colts don’t want Andrew Luck, they could probably get 3 high first round picks for him, and maybe even more. But perhaps the Polian’s and Irsay don’t care. Perhaps it’s more “status-quo” from the increasingly frustrating triangle.

There is no scenario where the Colts winning is good for the team’s future. But the players don’t care about where this team is in five years. 90% of them won’t even be with the team. But perhaps upper management doesn’t care either.