Gruden to Return to ESPN

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by BigHairedAristocrat

I don't think the team itself is anything special. They just have Peyton Manning. Without Manning, the team would be mediocre at best. Peyton makes everyone around him better. Their player acquisition (free agency and the draft) is merely average. Guys who become "stars" in Indy would be fighting for roster spots on many other teams. Offensive players who leave Indy rarely have similar levels of success elsewhere. The team's success is 100% Manning. When he goes, they'll be perennial 6-10 to 10-6 team.

That said, like you, i absolutely love watching Manning play. I'm personnaly rooting for a Colts-Vikings superbowl... although a part of me wants Dallas to make it to the big game... if only because it would be a total fluke and force Jerry to keep that shmuck of a head coach around a while longer. Potential high caliber HC candidates are dwindling, and, the way i see it, its goiing to come down to Dallas and the Skins bidding against eachother for Shanahan. Now, personnally, i'm not that big of a fan of the guy, but he's the best out there that we have a chance to get, and it would allow us to keep some continuity in offensive philosophy. If Jerrys "forced" to keep Phillips, then we're almost assured to land Shanahan.

Wait, if the Colts player acquisition (specifically on defense) is average, how do they spend 20% (if that) of the resources we put into our defense and get a better product? Is the answer Peyton Manning? Because you're leading me in that direction.

The Colts are a premier organization and are loaded with talent. Peyton Manning is the most obvious example of that talent (but he was also the first overall pick, and not some scouting find), but Reggie Wayne and Anthony Gonzalez would both be number one receivers in Washington while Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie would be unquestioned No. 2s. Dallas Clark is one of maybe three or four NFL TEs who is better than Cooley.

Peyton does make people around him better, but the Colts aren't just a bunch of guys. This team has been built over 8-10 years. They weren't a great team in the early part of the decade, just a great offense, but since 2005, they've been the NFL's premier team, and on both sides of the ball as well.