Superman

Wow. Maybe I just got used to it...

@stitches I just noticed your profile pic. It's a good one. When did that happen?

I guess media could be saying stuff that I don't hear, I should acknowledge that. I just don't think anyone sourced or serious is saying it. It doesn't seem like those opinions are based on anything reputable. I was personally concerned that the way things went with Reich and Saturday could undermine the coaching search. It doesn't seem like that happened. The Colts interviewed a ton of good candidates, and wound up getting one of the more sought after guys. They got a highly sought after GM in 2017. There was the McDaniels treachery, but I think he was just a slimeball. The Colts are not a big free agent destination, I don't think that has anything to do with Irsay. I think free agents sign with the team that offers the most money, almost all the time. We've seen the Colts attract QBs like Rivers, Ryan, etc. Even Baker Mayfield listed the Colts as a desired landing spot in 2022. Maybe there's a player here or there who's turned off by Irsay, but I don't think anything like that has ever been reported. Like you said, the players only say good things. Anyone who goes on the record says good things. Former players call on him to introduce them to the HOF. I just wanted to throw out there that despite the whispers and stuff, it doesn't seem like there's any substance to the idea that the Colts operation is negatively affected by Irsay.

I merged this since there's an ongoing discussion.

To the bolded, I don't constantly hear that. I see people say it on the Internet. It was a big thing when we were looking for a HC, how candidates would be scared off because of how the Reich/Saturday thing went, Irsay's meddling, etc. One specific theory was Sirianni would tell Steichen not to take the Colts job. We see how that went. Does Irsay's history negatively impact the team? I'd like to know if there's any examples where you think it has.

If there was any flaw with the Hooker pick, it was simply his injury history. Dude was a big time playmaker, and he showed that whenever he was healthy. Sadly, that wasn't often enough, and it undermined his career potential. There's also a common perception that FS isn't a first round position. I fully believe in positional value, but I don't agree at FS. I think it's close to a premium position when you have a playmaker. Especially when you want to play a bunch of Cover 3.

No thanks. A good starter + $12m is too much for a third round pick.

I think I'd have to, right? Third round comp pick value is above $20m/year now, so we know we're not getting that if Kelly walks in free agency. I think JPJ can play on Day 1, and we have backup quality guys in Pinter (assuming he's healthy) and French. I can use that pick (84 or 87) right now. And I'm freeing up $12m in 2024 cap, and can use a third of that to go sign my favorite free agent lineman after the draft. More likely, the very best we could get for Kelly would be a late 5th, in which case I don't feel compelled to accept.

I doubt it. I'm not against it, but it's not likely, IMO. And I think OL depth will be important, so I'd probably rather keep him anyway, unless someone is making an amazing offer for him.

That's a fair point.

He's put the retirement rumors to rest, at least to my satisfaction. I wouldn't expect him to rock the boat either way, and it wouldn't change my draft strategy at all. I was just thinking out loud, especially since he commented on his contract situation the other day.

Steichen was here during the JT saga. It's not the same, but my point is Steichen doesn't solve every problem just by being in the building. I agree, it's Ballard's responsibility to find Kelly's successor, and the fact that everyone else has been re-upped except for him is probably a concern of his. You can expect that concern to multiply significantly if we draft a center early. Should we care? Maybe... if you have someone throwing off the vibes, it could be problematic, and issues like this can snowball. Not that it would stop me from drafting anyone, but they should be prepared for whatever happens next.

Let's say the Colts take Jackson Powers-Johnson in the second round, does Ryan Kelly cause trouble?

I don't think it's a non factor. It's something a team needs to consider, and determine whether his "issues" are definitely related to the diabetes, or if there's some personality stuff in there as well. I have a lot of type 1 diabetics in my life, I can tell the difference between low blood sugar and just being rude, even with the same person. Mitchell could be a diabetic and be a jerk at the same time. Not saying he is, just saying teams have to get to the bottom of it.

Do you have some reliable numbers on him? Something other than urban legend, which claims he ran 4.25... He ran a 4.38 at a private workout. No Combine, no pro day. So not in the 4.2 range.