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WeSpy

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  1. WeSpy
    76 ‘likes’. 330 posts. One ‘like’ per 4.3 posts. More than 1 ‘like’ a day---every day---since he joined the forum. And now, add to this impressive resume’ the title of Assistant General Manager. Allow me to introduce to you a member of the forum whom many of you know already as BrentMc11.
    Brent and I first began talking two weeks after I joined the forum, meeting by way of my blog, “My Heart and My Mind Were Arguing Last Night”. At first, it was mere formality, as were many of my conversations with other members around the forum. We exchanged pleasantries, commented on the same topics a few times around the forum, but never really began to have regular conversation until the end of February. We became pretty good friends, and soon had begun talking to each other through our personal e-mails.
    It wasn’t long before I realized the great love for the game of football that Brent has, and it wasn’t long before I realized that he enjoys learning more about it; shares his opinion freely; and readily accepts informative feedback, whether positive or corrective. These traits are what made me decide to offer him a role in my season analysis of the Colts.
    I offered him the job of Assistant GM, and he accepted after thinking it through completely. I am excited to work with Brent for the 2012 season as we analyze the week by week match-ups between the Colts and their opponents, and I look forward to having fun with him as we learn more about the game of football and the Colts, together.
    --------
    Statement From Brent:
    When I first moved over from ColtsDirect, I was interested in how many people enjoyed the ‘blog’ features of the forum. One of the first blogs I analyzed was WeSpy’s “My Heart and My Mind Were Arguing Last Night.” I found each week’s blog insightful, thought provoking and easy for Colt fans to read from any level of football understanding.
    As I ventured through the forums learning more about where to find all of the features, it seemed as though most of the topics I was commenting or posting on, WeSpy was as well. While we did not agree on every detail, we were very close in our philosophies on roster decisions and positional ‘challenges.’
    I sent WeSpy a quick e-mail asking him a couple of ‘technical questions.’ I then mentioned a couple of personal issues I was dealing with (with a friend) and saw he was insightful on a whole lot of things. (Not just football)
    I have enjoyed football ever since my dad threw the ‘pigskin’ to me and knocked me down. He did not believe in ‘nerf’ balls I guess. Football has been a passion for some time, and I see in WeSpy we share that same passion.
    When WeSpy offered me the chance to work with him as his Assistant General Manager I thought “Wow, I cannot wait for my first check.” Seriously, I analyze every aspect of the Colts anyway and why not learn more about the coaches, the salary cap, and more of the business side of football. I also analyze before, during and after each game as well. To do this with a friend is just a bonus! I look forward to working on this. I will “roll up my sleeves” and evaluate. I heard that somewhere before.
    --------
    Brent and I are excited to be working with each other throughout this upcoming year, and we hope to give our readers a healthy mix of facts and fun, humor and help; and just an overall good, solid blog. As you read each new entry, our hope is that your familiarity with the Colts will grow and your comprehension of the roster will become clearer.
    If you have any questions or feedback about the blogs that you would like to address to Brent or myself personally, please feel free to contact us by way of the message system on the forum. Otherwise, you may leave a comment below with your thoughts. We appreciate your support as we endeavor to provide fans with a weekly blog that is full of substance. Thanks, have a great evening, and God Bless America!
  2. WeSpy
    I will be doing two comparisons for each game on the Colts schedule, rather than one, as I had originally planned. The reason for this is that I have already done my mock draft and mock free agency and built my roster as I desired it, but will have only analyzed 3 to 4 games by the time the draft is over and Indy's roster is more complete.
    I am doing these game-by-game evaluations to see how the Colts will match up in 2012 with the other teams on their schedule, and my predictions would not be realistic without have a more current roster.
    I have enjoyed my draft and free agent period, though, so I will proceed with that roster as well and simply do two comparisons for each game. One from the Colts actual roster (when the draft is finished and the season starts) and one from my proposed roster (beginning sometime next week).
    That being said, here is my proposed roster for the Colts in 2012. It does reflect the Colts current roster as of today with the signing of Safety Tom Zbikowski earlier today.
    BOLD indicates a draftee.
    ITALICS indicate a free agent signing.
    GREEN indicates a starter.
    BLUE indicates a release.
    Cuts From Current Roster:
    Cosby, Quan---WR
    Edds, A.J.---LB
    Evans, Darren---RB
    Fayson, Jarred---WR
    Hines, Jermale---CB
    Holmes, Mike---CB
    Johnson, Antonio---DT
    King, Brandon---CB
    Lefeged, Joe---CB
    Mathews, Ricardo---DT
    Newton, Mike---CB
    Ogbu, Ollie---DT
    Ross, Jeremy---WR
    Freeman, Jerrell---LB
    Proposed 2012 Roster:
    OFFENSE:
    QB:
    Luck, Andrew---QB
    Vittatoe, Trevor---QB
    RB:
    Choice, Tashard/Williams, Cadillac---RB
    Brown, Donald---RB
    Carter, Delone---RB
    Gronkowski, Chris---RB
    TE:
    Ford, Chase---TE
    Eldridge, Brody--TE
    Mahaffey, Ryan---TE
    T:
    Castonzo, Anthony---OT
    Justice, Winston---OT/OG
    Linkenbach, Jeffrey---OT
    Reitz, Joe---OT
    Tepper, Mike---OT
    G:
    Ijalana, Ben---OT/OG
    Olsen, Seth---OG
    Murphy, Matt---OG
    C:
    Konz, Peter/ Blake, Phillip---C
    Kirkpatrick, Jake---C
    Shipley, A.Q.---C
    WR:
    Wayne, Reggie---WR
    Doucet, Early---WR
    Collie, Austin--WR
    White, Blair---WR
    Wright, Jarius/Moye, Derek---WR
    DEFENSE:
    DT:
    Ta’amu, Alameda/Wolfe, Derek---DT
    Nevis, Drake---DT
    Moala, Fili---DT
    DE:
    Freeney, Dwight---DE
    Redding, Cory---DE
    Hughes, Jerry---DE
    Hickman, Justin---DE
    LB:
    Mathis, Robert---DE/LB
    Angerer, Pat---LB
    McClellin, Shea/Law, Cordarro---LB
    Conner, Kavell---LB
    Harvey, Mario---LB
    Lutrus, Scott---LB
    Peguese, Brandon---LB
    Addison, Mario---LB
    CB:
    Kirkpatrick, Dre/Gilmore, Stepen/ Jenkns, Janoris---CB
    Powers, Jerraud---CB
    Johnson, Terrence---CB
    Thomas, Kevin---CB
    Rucker, Chris---CB
    Caldwell, David---CB
    S:
    Bethea, Antoine---S
    Tom Zbikowski---S
    Taylor, Brandon---S
    SPECIAL TEAMS:
    KR/PR:
    Roby, Courtney---WR
    Tom Zbikowski---S
    K:
    Vinatieri, Adam---K
    Bullock, Randy---K
    P:
    McAfee, Pat---P
    LS:
    Snow, Justin---TE/LS
    The above gets us to 55 players on the roster, and leaves cap room to work with should any emergencies arise during the regular season. If there are any questions or comments, please leave them by comment on this blog or by personal message to me. I will try to respond as soon as I possibly can. If you want an explanation for a draft pick or free agent signee, please see my earlier blogs at my main blog page, which can be accessed from my user profile, and feel free to ask me any question you may have. Believe it or not, I'm not infallible...
    Notes:
    *Tom Zbikowski would compete with draft pick Brandon Taylor for the starting SS job. No matter which one wins, the other would be retained for depth. Several of the CB's have experience at the safety position as well.
    *Back-up linebackers could be cut at any time should they not work out to the coaching staff's full satisfaction, I did retain four extras on the roster for depth. LB A.J. Edds, though promising, is a 4-3 linebacker and would not fit into Coach Pagano's new scheme.
    *Back-up cornerbacks could be cut at any time should they not work out to the coaching staff's full satisfaction, I did retain two extras on the roster for depth.
    *Either backup center could be released if if the draft picks and/or Kirkpatrick work out.
    *RB Chris Gronkowski could be cut at any time during the season or retained until the end of his contract in 2013.
    To make it easier on those of you who are short on patience, here are the starters by themselves:
    Luck, Andrew---QB
    Choice, Tashard/Williams, Cadillac---RB
    Ford, Chase---TE
    Castonzo, Anthony---OT
    Justice, Winston---OT/OG
    Konz, Peter/ Blake, Phillip---C
    Ijalana, Ben---OT/OG
    Linkenbach, Jeffrey---OT
    Wayne, Reggie---WR
    Doucet, Early---WR
    Collie, Austin--WR
    Freeney, Dwight---DE
    Ta’amu, Alameda/Wolfe, Derek---DT
    Redding, Cory---DE
    McClellin, Shea/Law, Cordarro---OLB
    Angerer, Pat---MLB
    Conner, Kavell---MLB
    Mathis, Robert---DE/OLB
    Kirkpatrick, Dre/Gilmore, Stephen/ Jenkins, Janoris---CB
    Powers, Jerraud---CB
    Bethea, Antoine---S
    Tom Zbikowski---S
    Roby, Courtney---KR/PR
    Vinatieri, Adam---K
    McAfee, Pat---P
    Snow, Justin---LS
    I hope you all will enjoy examining the roster! Have a wonderful day, and God Bless America!
  3. WeSpy
    Sorry for the discombogualtion and erratic release of my blogs over the past while. I've been so busy recently that I've had to change my cell phone answering machine to say this: "Hey! WeSpy's voice mail is broken, but this is his refrigerator; speak slowly and I’ll stick a note to myself with one of these nifty magnets!"
    The shame is, it hasn't really cut down on all those annoying people who call and leave no message at all but expect you to call them back anyhow. (Oops, think that belonged in the 'Things That Annoy Me' thread...)
    Anyhow, my Heart and Mind will be back with their regular humor-filled dialogue as soon as the draft is finished and the game-by-game analysis starts. Until then, it is easier for me to post their thoughts together in a single blog written by myself. I apologize for this, in truth, rather sloppy and unprofessional way to do a blog that is supposed to feature my Heart and Mind rather than myself.
    I'm weeping and repenting with bitter tears of remorse. Really. I am.
    Here we go with the analysis of new Head Coach Chuck Pagano and the hybrid 3-4 used in Baltimore. I will also post similar blogs about the OC and DC and their preferred schemes later on in further editions to follow this one.
    Have a great evening, and I do hope you enjoy the blog. Things really do look good for the Colts in 2012 if you just try to view things optimistically.
    Chuck Pagano, Head Coach:
    Fun Quote: "I am going to be me,” said Pagano. “They’re going to get a face-full of Chuck Pagano. Whoever we play on Sunday is going to get a face-full of Colts, and on a weekly basis. We are going to have fun doing it."
    Collegiate Record: 97-76 .560 W/L%
    Professional Record: 75-85 .468 W/L %
    Collegiate Defensive Coordinator:
    ---Record: 8-15 .652 W/L%
    ---PPG: 24 Avg. (18--UNC, 30---UNLV)
    ---Teams: UNC and UNLV
    NFL Defensive Coordinator:
    ---Record: 12-4 .750 W/L%
    ---PPG: 16.6
    ---Teams: BAL
    Baltimore Ravens Defensive Rankings Under Chuck Pagano:
    #1---Lowest Opposing Team Passer Rating (66.57)
    #2---Fewest Rush Yards Per Game (92.6)
    #2—Fewest Yards Per Play (4.6)
    #2---Fewest Yards Per Run (3.54)
    #2---Fewest 3rd Downs Allowed (32.1%)
    #3---Fewest Yards Per Game (288.9)
    #3---Fewest Points Per Game Allowed (16.6)
    #3 Tie---Most Sacks (48)
    #4---Fewest Passing Yards Per Game (196.2)
    Summary of Pagano/Hybrid Defense:
    Pagano ran a hybrid defense during his short tenure as the Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator. The system was largely inherited from his predecessor, Greg Mattison. This hybrid package used by the Ravens and Pagano is capable of swapping three, four, and five man fronts at any point during a drive---without changing personnel.
    This is especially effective against teams with a ‘no-huddle’ offense, as Baltimore runs one could easily call a ‘no-huddle’ defense. They do, of course, get their play-calls from the sideline, but their choice in plays is not limited as other defensive units in the league in that they can call most any package at any point in the game without changing out their players.
    The Ravens’ scheme, while mainly a three man front, is based on their versatile outside linebackers, Terrell Suggs and Jarret Johnson. Both are capable of playing defensive end, and both play multiple positions in the defense.
    With the basic analysis completed on the Ravens’ defensive set under Pagano, let’s look at the similarities that prevail in the current Colts personnel.
    Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis can take the place of Suggs and Johnson, though it will take some adjustment to the new scheme. Colts fans can expect Pagano, Grigson, and Co. to take a linebacker with qualities similar to Suggs or Johnson in the draft this year to learn and get some valuable playing time. This man will most likely be taken in a later round, perhaps the fourth or fifth, and will eventually be used to replace the aging Dwight Freeney, whose run stopping capabilities are somewhat in doubt.
    The Colts’ cornerback position will undergo some change via the draft as well, with the Colts most likely addressing that area of the defense in Round Two. The Ravens’ cornerbacks have, of necessity, been talented, and when losing a quality player at that position, they have been quick to replace him. The case of the loss of Josh Wilson at the end of the 2010 season and the quick draft pick of cover corner Jimmy Smith solidifies this.
    With the safety position adequately addressed as well by the addition of former Ravens’ safety Tom Zbikowski and the release of an injury prone Melvin Bullit, the Colts secondary would look rather solid with a good corner added by way of draft or free agency. A solid mix of pass cover/pass rush linebackers and safeties is the first step in doing a good job in the hybrid defense package.
    Of course, stopping the run is a big deal as well. Suggs and Johnson are both exceptional in the run defense game for Baltimore, and it is to be expected that the duo of Mathis and Freeney will not be quite up to par, at least for their first season. The Colts will need a good analysis of their current linebacking corps to see which players can solidify their middle. A review of the interior of their defensive line will be necessary as well.
    Pat Angerer is a solid player at MLB, and showed flashes of talent at stopping the run. His 2011 season was as good as historic for a man playing literally ‘off the street,’ but the Colts have to make sure they can trust him to play at a high level continually and not like a ‘man off the street’ if they want to have success in their hybrid system with him in the main line-up.
    The Colts have a wealth at linebacker on the roster, with 8 players currently filling that spot. Add in Mathis, Freeney, and a draft pick, and there’s plenty of room for sifting through the rough to find the diamond.
    Defensive tackle is an area the Colts are expected to upgrade in the draft, perhaps in round three or four, depending on the players available at that time. The current roster has 5 players at that spot, and with a early round draft pick added in who excels at stopping the run and is acquainted with the 3-4, the Colts should be good to go---at least for 2012. There is a relatively solid free agent market of defensive linemen as well, but with limited cap room, the Colts are not able to sign as freely as they might like, and this will probably lead them to address their defensive line issues in the draft.
    It would appear, then, that an installation of the same system Coach Pagano ran in Baltimore with new defensive coordinator Greg Manusky merely overseeing the program is quite possible and very likely. Colts fans shouldn’t be surprised if Pagano takes a role similar to the one Rex Ryan took when he became Head Coach of the New York Jets, calling all the plays himself and then turning it over to his defensive coordinator a short while down the road.
    In short, Chuck Pagano has found success at both the collegiate and professional level, and should be exciting to watch as he progresses in his new status as Head Coach of the Indianapolis Colts. The future looks bright for the probable 3-4 hybrid package of the defense, and the personnel seems to be coming into place. With a few more hires and a little more talent added on, this team should be both dangerous and exciting in 2012.
    Thanks for reading, have a wonderful night, and God Bless America!
  4. WeSpy
    Yes, he is guilty. And if he vehemently denies it by comment on this blog, you will know that the old quote is true which says, "A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory..." Be careful, southwest1, your age might become a hot topic in the Miscellaneous section of the forum!
    Anyhow, it all started when he commented on my profile feed and said this: "...care to speculate and our win/loss percentage this year?" Of course, I believe he meant it in jest in the light-hearted mood of the comments, but my Heart and Mind pounced on it instantly and both at the same time.
    "Aha!" my Mind said. "Now I've got you, Heart. There's no way in the world you could match wits with me on this topic! Comparing the rather disheveled Indianapolis roster to the other teams on their schedule around the league and speculating as to who would win. Let's analyze each one of the 16 regular season games the Colts play this year. Want to?"
    "Certainly, Mind," my Heart stated, accepting the challenge. "I find our debates both exhilarating and enlightening. You have a good, er, mind for this sort of thing. It would be fun to see how the Indianapolis squad matches up with their tentative opponents."
    "All right, then it's set," my Mind responded. "You're going down!"
    "That's right," my Heart replied cheerfully, "Four floors! Gonna get a massage today..." (Oh, no, wait---that was Peyton...)
    Still, no matter how bad that quip may have been, that's what I'll hopefully be doing for the next several weeks. Pitting my Mind and my Heart against each other to see who they think will win each match-up on the Colts' schedule. Keep in mind that since the draft has not occurred yet and the biggest part of the free agency period has not ended, my team roster will be slightly different from the starting squad the Colts field in 2012.
    I will use the first few days of my blog (though I still do not know when I'll begin) to do a mock draft and mock free agency and then will post the proposed roster for the Colts next season. That players on that roster will be the players that will constitute the tentative team of the Colts which I will use in my analysis.
    Please keep in mind that the blogs will not be on a regular schedule like my free agent series was. I will have to balance my schedule to fit this in, and as a result, the release date of each new blog will be sketchy.
    Hope everyone enjoys this! I know I will. Have a great evening, and as always, God Bless America!
  5. WeSpy
    At last my Heart and Mind agreed on something. Oh, don't get me wrong, they've shared views before---but have never been able to COME to an agreement. You see, the only time that they have ever agreed on something is when they both shared the same view originally---never before have they disagreed and found a comfortable compromise.
    Last night ended their historic run as they put together a mock draft that they both agreed on.Of course, that was only after much shouting and many nasty insults being thrown back and forth...
    When they finally chose their players, wrote them down, and went to lunch; I had to search through about 10 million different kinds and colors of paper before I found the right one that contained their picks.
    After searching through piles of wadded, discarded papers, stepping on pens and pencils, and generally trying to clean up the mess that my Mind and Heart had made; I lay down that night and asked myself, "Where, oh where, did I go wrong?" Then I heard my Mind remark to my Heart, "This is going to take more than one night.*"
    At any rate, I have posted the draft selections that they agreed on for you below.
    Please keep in mind that this does not include any compensatory draft picks, or reflect any trading that the Colts might do, up, or down. The reason for multiple names on every pick (with the exception of Round 1) is that the player of preferred choice may or may not be available by the time the Colts are again on the clock. If there are any questions as to why my Mind and Heart selected as they did, please leave a comment here or send a message to me and I will share that comment with my Heart and Mind and address it at a later date.
    With that said, here we go!
    Round 1: Pick 1: Andrew Luck (QB---Stanford)
    Round 2: Pick 34: Dre Kirkpatrick (CB---Alabama), Stephen Gilmore (CB---South Carolina),Janoris Jenkins (CB---North Alabama)
    Round 3: Pick 65: Peter Konz (C---Wisconsin), Phillip Blake (C---Baylor)
    Round 4: Pick 97: Alameda Ta’amu (DT---Washington), Brandon Taylor, (FS---LSU), Derek Wolfe (DE/DT---Cincinnati)
    Round 5: Pick 128: Shea McClellin (OLB---Boise State), Cordarro Law (OLB---Southern Miss)
    Round 6: Pick 175*: Jarius Wright (WR---Arkansas), Derek Moye, (WR---Penn State)
    Round 7: Pick 192: Randy Bullock (K---Texas A&M), Chase Ford (TE---Miami)
    *Reflecting Trade With Eagles
    *Special reference to Charles Shulz, cartoonist and creator of the comic strip: "Peanuts".
  6. WeSpy
    My Mind and Heart have rather enjoyed this make-believe journey as the "Men in Charge" in the Indianapolis Front Office. I am delivering their free agency pursuits to you now, largely similar to how I informed you of their tentative draft. Since all of this is merely setting the stage for their week by week analysis of every game on the Colts schedule, I have spared you all the dialogue and tried to get down to business. Once their choices in free agency and the draft are settled in, a complete roster reflecting all signings will be posted in another blog. You will notice that rather than erase all free agent signing by the Colts, I have kept everything on the roster exactly as it is at this point up to the signing of Justice/Redding/Wayne and have merely filled it to a full 53 man roster.
    Here we go again!
    My Mind and Heart agreed that the running game, return game, and receiving game were the aspects of the Colts team that needed to be looked at. This came from the realization of their draft picks which addressed other positions and also the previous free agent signings by the Colts Front Office which added depth along the offensive line and also upgraded the defensive line with the addition of defensive end Corey Redding.
    The first position they looked at was the running back spot, and this is what they found:
    Cadillac Williams and Tashard Choice are decent free agent options available and their cap costs are low.
    Cadillac Williams: 685,000/Year---Drafted in 05
    Tashard Choice: 536,250/Year---Drafted in 08
    Keep in mind that Williams' contract was a 1 year deal in St. Louis, and 1 year deals are always more expensive than longer-term contracts, so the Colts could probably sign him to a longer-term, less expensive deal. Either Williams or Choice would be an inexpensive option and would provide a bruising back that the Colts need with their perceived new philosophy on running backs.
    We do have Donald Brown, Delone Carter, and Chris Gronkowski on the roster already, so one of them would have to go. Both Gronkowski and Brown's contracts end next year, so signing a low cost running back to take their place with Carter as a 1-2 punch is a feasible option.
    The second position they looked at was the kick/punt returner spot, and this is what they found:
    Devin Aromashodu, LaRod Stephens-Howling, and Ted Ginn, Jr. are available in free agency, and not only are they viable 3rd or 4th receivers, they should each excel in the return game.
    Devin Aromashodu: 685,000/Year---Drafted 06 (Played for Colts in 06.)
    LaRod Stephens-Howling: 406,333/Year---Drafted 09
    Ted Ginn Jr.: 3,920/Year---Drafted 07
    Ginn, Jr. is too expensive to consider as merely a returner, so Aromashodu is the better option in cost effectiveness though he may be slightly less productive in the return game. Also, keep in mind that Aromashodu's contract was a 1 year deal in Minnesota, and 1 year deals are always more expensive than longer-term contracts, so the Colts could probably sign him to a longer-term, less expensive deal.
    Devin Aromashodu averaged 22 yards per kick return as a college player at Auburn.
    LaRod Stephens-Howling averaged 23.8 yards per kick return at Arizona in 2011.
    Joe Lefeged (IND) averaged 18.6 yards per kick return.
    Stephens-Howling and Aromashodu are both nearly a 30% increase in return yardage.
    Brandon Banks had the most return yards last year as the main man for Washington, but will not become a restricted free agent until 2013. If the Colts wanted to wait until then to sign him, he might be available and an inexpensive option as well, but the return game will suffer for yet another year.
    Eddie Royal was an appealing choice as well, but was signed by the Chargers. That firmly closed the door on him and seemingly opened the door for San Diego's former returner Richard Goodman, who was fourth in the NFL in return yardage average among return specialists fielding over 30 kicks.
    However, he is an Exclusive Rights Free Agent this year. My Heart and Mind figured that the Chargers wouldn’t offer him a deal with Royal in town, but they did, so he was out as a prospect.
    With Ginn, Jr. costing simply too much to be a return specialist and a viable 3rd or 4th option; and Royal, Goodman, and Banks unavailable; My Heart and Mind were left with Stevens-Howling and Aromashodu.
    Stephens Howling is a Restricted Free Agent, and was offered a deal by Arizona worth around 1.9 million. If Indianapolis wanted to sign him, they'd have to match it or fork over a 2nd round pick in 2013 for him.
    Also, Arizona would have the chance to match our offer to him, and you better believe they have the cap room! Our cap salary is not in good shape to get in a bidding war, so Stephens-Howling wasn't really worth it. Devin Aromashodu would be the best option currently out there, and he is unproven in the NFL as a returner.
    The third and last position they looked at was the wide receiver spot, and this is what they found:
    Early Doucet and Courtney Roby are two decent receivers who could take over the number two spot in place of Garcon, allowing Austin Collie to continue to thrive as a slot receiver.
    Early Doucet: 1,200,000/Year---Drafted in 08
    Courtney Roby: 1,176,000/Year---Drafted in 05
    Doucet was compared many a time before his draft in 08 as a prototype of Reggie Wayne, and learning from Reggie might help him reach his full potential. He had a decent season (54 receptions, 689 yards, 5 TD's) with guys named Skelton and Kolb throwing to him, so why not a guy named Luck? Also, keep in mind that both Doucet and Roby's contracts were 1 year deals in Arizona and New Orleans respectively, and 1 year deals are always more expensive than longer-term contracts, so the Colts could probably sign him to a longer-term, less expensive deal.
    Doucet and Roby are both excellent options in the return game as well, with Roby averaging 23.8 per return in 2010, and Doucet fielding punts and kicks in college for several years. Roby's expertise in the return game will not be needed in New Orleans either, most likely, as Darren Sproles has assumed that role.
    Soon I will give you the final roster for my 'Mirt' team, as we will call the combination of my Mind's and Heart's draft picks and free agent signings. Keep in mind that there is very little cap room, even with all the recent cuts, and with an average salary for each draft pick this year we only have slightly over 6 million to spend in free agency. And you can't spend it all, as contracts get increasingly expensive each year and also since you have to keep some breathing room in the cap to provide for any contingencies throughout the year should a player get injured and need replaced.
    I hope that this was not too confusing, I tried to keep it simple but at the same time let you know how much thought needs to go into this process. Hopefully this will give you some added admiration/respect for the GM's around the league, as well as our own. Have a great day, and as always, God Bless America!
  7. WeSpy
    Contrary to popular belief, both optimists and pessimists contribute to society, though in significantly different ways. The optimist, you see, invents the airplane, while the pessimist invents the parachute... Yet while we can cut the pessimists in the world some slack, Indianapolis Colts cornerback Jacob Lacey was short on praise in the 2011 NFL season by about 100%. The prevailing opinion around the forum seems to be that if the optimist provides the airplane and the pessimist provides the parachute, Jacob Lacey must provide the upside-down pitchfork for the erstwhile parachuting survivor to land on top of.
    I knew that the Colts would soon be making a personnel decision in the upcoming weeks about this beleaguered and yet once promising player, and placed him as a possible candidate for a debate between my Heart and my Mind last Thursday night, as voted by the readers of my blog. Lacey won by double digits, and so Thursday evening (Between nose-blowing sessions) my Heart and my Mind launched into the debate about whether or not to keep him.
    I put the question to my Heart and my Mind this way: "What do you think the Indianapolis Colts should do with Jacob Lacey? Re-sign him or release him?"
    My Heart made the opening statement. "Well, Jacob Lacey certainly struggled this past year, but who didn't? This was a 2-14 team. Every player on the squad felt repercussions. Lacey deserves a new contract, but not for a starting position. He is better served as a nickel or dime corner, and should be paid accordingly."
    My Mind chuckled. "Heart, if you keep bringing every free agent we discuss back to this team you'll be over the salary cap before you ever draft a single player. As far as Lacey is concerned, this past season not only exposed his weaknesses, but italicized them, bolded them, underscored them, and then proceeded to highlight them in bright red. Other teams have seen that film too, and he'll never be effective again as a cornerback in this league. He should be released. You're talking about a guy who dropped from 69 tackles his rookie season to 51 and 48 the last two years. He dropped from 13 pass deflections as a rookie to 2 and 6 the next two seasons. He dropped from 3 picks his first season to 1 and 1 the following years. And all of this---while having more playing time on the field and having multiple years to learn the defense!"
    My Heart frowned. "Let me give you some of my statistics, Mind, to let you know where I'm coming from. Jacob Lacey certainly has regressed in the last few seasons, but the reason is because he has been forced into a starting role versus the opposing team's best or second best receiver. As a starter in 2011, Lacey allowed a completion percentage of 73%. In 2010, Lacey allowed a completion percentage of 74%. Both of those years, Lacey was playing the other team's best wideouts. However, in 2009, when he played as a nickel and dime package cornerback, he allowed a completion percentage of only 51% and allowed only 5 yards a catch, which incidentally was the 8th lowest in the league. In 2009 he also defended a TD pass, forced 3 fumbles, intercepted 3 passes, and had a pick six. I think my view that Lacey should play as a nickel/dime corner is amply justified, then."
    "I see your point, Heart," my Mind replied, "But I believe that my point is justified as well that he has continuously regressed each season. The Colts need a starting cornerback, not another 2nd and 3rd string situational football player! There are plenty of cornerbacks better than or equal to Jacob Lacey around the league who the Colts can sign who would probably cost less than Lacey. Not re-signing him would also free up needed cap space."
    I proceeded to end the debate on that note. I asked, "Okay, you've both had a chance to present your views. If Jacob Lacey was re-signed by the Colts, what kind of contract should he get?"
    My Mind said, "Well, he signed a 3 year $1,175,000 deal in 2009, and I don't think he's done much to merit a raise. I'd give him an identical deal at best."
    My Heart stated, "I'd offer him a 3 year deal worth $1.8 million. It increases his pay enough to reward him for the solid play he'll give the Colts playing situational football in a nickel or dime package, but keeps the cap down on a workable level."
    I have placed an outline listing the viewpoints of my Heart and Mind below.
    My Mind: Release Lacey!
    1. He Is Regressing
    2. He Is Not Starting Material
    3. He Will Cost Too Much To Keep For Simply Situational Football ($813,000+ Cap Splash Last Year) *Salary $480,000
    My Mind: Re-sign Lacey!
    1. He Is A Solid Nickel/Dime Corner
    2. He Doesn't Give Up Big Plays (Allowing 5 Yards A Catch) *In 2009
    3. He Is An Inexpensive Option (Average Pay For A Corner is $1.1+ Million)
    Well, I hope you enjoyed the debate between my Heart and my Mind. He was actually a very tough player to analyze; the corner position is not easily assessed and Lacey has been radically inconsistent. Still, he looked good as a situational player in 2009, and the stats were positive. His 51% completion allowance in 2009 matches up with Revis' 41% in 2011 pretty well, if you ask me. But, hope you enjoyed this past week of free agency! Next week we'll focus in on a new subject, and I'm always open to ideas.
    God Bless America! 'Til next week!
  8. WeSpy
    For the past 13 years, it could be argued that Jeff Saturday has been the classiest player in the National Football League. When one says, "Jeff Saturday," smiling eyes, a friendly grin, a hearty laugh, and an unquestioned work ethic instantly come to mind. The Colts have to make a decision about him soon, and surprisingly, many fans are divided over what course of action to take. So, I asked my Heart and my Mind if they thought that the Colts should bring their hardy center back to the squad for a fourteenth season.
    I put the question to my Heart and Mind this way: "What do you think the Indianapolis Colts should do with Jeff Saturday? Re-sign him or release him?"
    My Mind began the discussion. "Jeff Saturday will be over 37 years old when the 2012 season even kicks off, and the average age of starting centers in the league is 28.8 years of age. Jeff is over the average by a good many years. It's time for him to hang up the cleats, because in 2012 he'll be a better NFLPA negotiator than he'll be a blocker. I think the Colts realize that. He should not be re-signed."
    My Heart was shocked. "Mind, I can't believe I actually heard you say that. Do you realize that in the years 2000-2010 Jeff Saturday gave up only 7.5 sacks? That's less than a sack a season! And on top of that, two of those came in 2008 when he was injured! Also, in 576 quarterback drop-backs this year, Jeff only gave up 11 pressures. Pressures, not sacks. That's one pressure every 52 drop-backs, or the equivalent of less than one a game. He is an integral part of this team, and deserves a contract if he wants one."
    "Yes, Heart," my Mind replied, "But the Colts running game has struggled under Saturday, averaging 3.3 yards a rush during that same 2000-2010 span. And the Colts drafted 3 offensive line players in the last two years and have shaken up the whole deal in the front five. There's not much room for aging veterans on the squad, either. The signs are there, Heart."
    "As far as the running game goes, Mind," my Heart retorted, "The Colts dropped one whole yard per run in 2008 when Saturday was out. And during the 2009 season, there were only 4 stuffs on 81 carries when they ran up the gut behind Saturday, or an average of good runs 95% of the time they ran behind him. Also, when the Colts runners toted the pigskin behind Jeff Saturday, they averaged 4.6 yards a carry and scored nine touchdowns. That's pretty good, Mind. And don't forget about the mental aspect Jeff Saturday brings. He must know the plays as well as Peyton, understand Peyton's audibles, and call his own audibles to the offensive line so they can adjust to the play call. No other center in the league has that mental pressure play by play."
    My Mind was stumbling around in search of a response, but I decided to end the debate there before he really got toasted. I queried, "Okay, you've both had a chance to present your views. If Jeff Saturday was re-signed by the Colts, what kind of contract should he get?"
    My Heart was ready and waiting. "I'd give him a one or two year deal for $3.5-7.5 million. He can retire a Colt, and play as one of the highest paid centers in the league."
    My Mind chimed in, "I'd only give him a two year deal worth about 5.5 million. That's plenty of money for a center, and he can retire a Colt. Incidentally, that's what the three year, $13.3 million contract he signed in 2009 was supposed to do."
    I have placed a summary of the views of my Heart and Mind below.
    My Mind: Release Saturday!
    1. He Is Old
    2. He Struggles In The Run Game
    3. He Will Cost Too Much (Notching A $4.8 Million Cap Hit In 2011)
    My Mind: Re-sign Saturday!
    1. He Is A Consistent Pass Blocker
    2. He Is A Mental Giant
    3. He Is A Capable Run Blocker
    Well, I hope you enjoyed the debate between my Heart and my Mind. I think that my Heart won this debate, and while I haven't quite decided where I stand yet---I think #63 has gas left in the tank. Tomorrow we'll see what my Mind and Heart have to say about Jacob Lacey.
    God Bless America! 'Til tomorrow!
  9. WeSpy
    Before I begin to recount the dialogue that my Mind and my Heart have shared over the past few days, let me first apologize for the delay in getting these posted here on my blog. My Mind and my Heart have continued to debate as usual, and I have continued chronicling those discussions for the stimulation and oftentimes amusement of my readers. However, a nasty cough, pestiferous sniffle, and irritating sinus drainage have kept me from posting those here on this blog.
    Let me also (for the benefit of the readers) clear up a misconception about this blog. My Mind and my Heart are merely an expression of what my brains tell me is the logical action and what my feelings tell me should be done. These blogs are not an endorsement of either view, they are merely expressions of both sides of argument, and are meant to present each viewpoint, back it with facts, and then allow the reader to make up his/her own mind.
    So even though it may seem that my Mind is the consistent antagonist, he really is a nice fellow once you get to know him. He's a little ditzy every now and then, but nice, nonetheless. Also, while my Mind and my Heart are most often on opposite sides, occasionally they will agree. Last Wednesday was one of those days. Wednesday was when my Mind and my Heart talked about Pierre Garcon, Free Agent.
    I put the question to my two best debaters this way: "What do you think the Indianapolis Colts should do with Pierre Garcon? Re-sign him or release him?"
    My Heart opened things up this time. "Look, Pierre Garcon won't set anyone's film room on fire with his brilliance, but he is a solid player. He runs polished routes, comes out of his breaks and cuts smoothly, and has good up field speed. While he hasn't been extremely consistent with his hands, I think he is definitely worth a contract as a starter."
    "I agree," commented my Mind. "Pierre has also been getting better each year. His catches, receiving yards, and touchdowns have gotten better each year. His targets have increased as well. He had 134 targets during 2011 as opposed to 126 targets in 2010. And while his reception percentage dropped from 57.1% to 52.2%, you must consider the fact that he played with 3 different quarterbacks last year."
    My Heart agreed. "True. And don't forget that he was labeled a 'priority' by Colts owner Jim Irsay, heading into this offseason. I believe it is imperative that he be re-signed. He is a good player who can excel in the Colts system and will be hard to cover one-on-one with Reggie Wayne possibly demanding double teams on the other side."
    I realized that my Mind and Heart were in total agreement and brought the discussion to a close. I asked, "Okay, you've both had a chance to present your views. If Pierre Garcon was re-signed by the Colts, what kind of contract should he get?"
    "Well," my Mind began, "He has played very cheaply the last few years, which has worked out extremely well. Inexpensive contribution is always appreciated by the front office. However, I don't believe that he has improved enough over the last few years to be given a large contract. I think that he should receive a 5 year 9.6 million dollar contract. That will substantially increase his level of pay, and if he continues his path of consistent improvement, will be commensurate."
    "Yes," my Heart stated. "You are correct. I think that your numbers are very good and that your view is well-stated. Pierre Garcon averaged $449,000 a year on his last contract, and lived up to the expectations. I think that a rewarding, but yet cautious contract is the way to go. "
    I have posted a brief summary of the opinion that my Mind and my Heart share.
    My Mind and Heart: Re-sign Pierre!
    1. He Is A Young, Consistent Playmaker
    2. He Is Familiar With The Colts Offense (Not To Mention Every QB On The Roster)
    3. He Is Steadily Improving Each Year
    4. He Will Not Have Much Of A Cap Hit
    How Much Should Pierre's Salary Be?
    My Mind and Heart: 5 Years, $9.6 Million
    Well, I hope you enjoyed the debate between my Heart and my Mind. Tomorrow we'll see what they have to say about Jeff Saturday, and Thursday, we'll discuss Free Agent Jacob Lacey, as voted by the readers of my blog.
    God Bless America! 'Til tomorrow
  10. WeSpy
    For the last nine years Robert Mathis has been forcing fumbles and sacking quarterbacks and generally causing havoc on the rest of the NFL. He's done it by following College Football Hall of Famer Bowden Wyatt's advice, which goes like this: "Take the shortest route to the ball and arrive in a bad humor."
    Today, he is the topic in a debate to decide whether or not the Colts front office should keep him. My Mind and my Heart were all studied up and ready for the discussion, each thinking that he had the best argument to present. I didn't keep them waiting.
    I asked, "What do you think the Indianapolis Colts should do with Robert Mathis? Re-sign him or release him?"
    My Mind opened up the debate. "The Colts shouldn't waste time and money on Robert Mathis. He was brought in under Tony Dungy to fit into the Tampa 2 scheme that the Colts wanted to run. That scheme is based entirely on the front four guys getting pressure. The new head coach, Chuck Pagano, comes from Baltimore. The Ravens' scheme is based on linebackers, not linemen."
    "But he is a proven pass rusher who plays hard and comes up big at opportune times. He has 39 forced fumbles in his career, has four seasons with double-digit sacks, and three seasons with 9.5. He makes Dwight Freeney's job easier, and the secondary's as well," my Heart said. "And no one has said that Indianapolis is switching to a 3-4 defense."
    "I think anyone can see that change is in the air for the Colts, especially on defense," my Mind responded. "And 'opportunistic' is not exactly the word for Mathis. He has notched a grand total of 4 forced fumbles in the last 2 years, and has only broken 50 tackles one time in his career! Proven is not exactly a description I'd use either. The majority of his sacks come against division rivals, and only 2 of his sacks this year came against teams whose offensive line unit was ranked in the top 15."
    My Heart noted, "Your numbers are correct, but your assumption is not. Robert Mathis has more sacks in 9 years than any of his 2003 draft colleagues, and he is #8 on the active sack list. Five of the 7 players in front of him have played longer than he has, and one retires this year---placing Mathis at #7 on the active sack list. He hasn't ever been under 9 sacks with the exception of the 2007 season where he missed several games due to injury, and only 2 defensive ends have forced more fumbles than Robert Mathis in the last five years. I'd call him both opportunistic and proven."
    My Mind wasn't about to let any grass grow under his feet. "Well, just remember, Heart, he plays on special teams for the Colts as well, and those tackle numbers and forced fumble numbers are included in my statistics. 4 fumbles in two years with twice the opportunities as Dwight Freeney who has 7 in the same time span? Only one time over 50 tackles with twice as many chances as other players? He is good, but not as high up on the pedestal as you're putting him."
    My Heart had anticipated this. "Mind, you are camouflaging the numbers to your advantage. The main reason his tackle numbers are down is due to the fact that he has played more situational football in the last two years than ever before, due to a flawed defensive scheme. And as far as your measuring stick Dwight Freeney goes, he has never achieved more than 40 tackles in a season, much less reached 50."
    I realized that at that point the debate was getting ready to dissolve into a shouting match full of angry words, so I stepped in. "Okay, you've both had a chance to present your views. If Robert Mathis was re-signed by the Colts, what kind of contract should he get?"
    My Mind tossed his thought into the mix. "Well, he signed a 5 year, 30 million dollar contract in 2006, so it would probably take a 3 year deal in the range of 20 million to keep him around. I'd only give him a 2 year, 13.5 million dollar deal if I kept him at all. Then he can either retire a Colt or go and have a 2 sack season somewhere else."
    "Mind is probably right about what it'd take to keep him here," my Heart said. "I think the Colts should give him a three year deal worth about $17 million. If you add it up, that's not a very big cap hit to take to keep a pillar of your defense around."
    Once again, I ended the debate there, and have posted a brief synopsis of each view for you to analyze and come up with your own thoughts. Who do you agree with? My Mind, or my Heart?
    My Mind: Release Mathis!
    1. The Defensive Scheme Is Changing
    2. He Is Not A Consistently Great Player
    3. He Will Make Too Big Of A Cap Splash
    My Heart: Re-sign Mathis!
    1. He Is Invaluable on Special Teams and Defense
    2. He Makes Freeney Better
    3. He Is A Sack Machine (Despite Starting Only 30.3% of Defensive Snaps His First Three Years)
    Well, I hope you enjoyed the debate between my Heart and my Mind. I think that my Heart won this debate, and I agree with his logic. Robert Mathis is indispensable. Tomorrow we'll see what my Mind and Heart have to say about Pierre Garcon.
    God Bless America! 'Til tomorrow!
  11. WeSpy
    Whew! What a week. The Super Bowl was fantabulous, Indianapolis was the best host city in years, and the media covered all the angles---no, wait, they just pulled out all their articles from four years ago... Copy and paste covers a multitude of sins...and typos, too.
    Anyhow, one of the main topics discussed all week was Peyton Manning. Questions ranged from his health to his children and seemingly never ended, but the question that led to the topic of this week's blog was even termed 'blasphemous' by one of the analysts on NFL Total Access. It is as follows: "Has Eli surpassed Peyton?"
    I decided to tackle this question---not only because it is pertinent to the Colts---but because my Mind and my Heart were just itching to get into the debate. This discussion was different from all the past debates and probably all future ones as well. Why? My Mind and my Heart agreed.
    British Prime Minister Winston Churchill once said, "A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject." By Winston Churchill's definition, I am a fanatic. That means my Heart and Mind are as well. Thus, I cannot change my convicton and won't change the subject that was most discussed this past week. That being said, let's dive into and trudgen along in the middle of the discussion that my Heart and my Mind engaged in. Last night.
    My Mind started things off. Maybe he was quick to begin this week because he didn't want my Heart giving him grief over being wrong the last time the two matched wits. My Mind said, "Heart, can you believe that people are even asking this?"
    My Heart responded, "Well, Mind, we knew that no matter who won the Super Bowl, some question of this nature would come up. Either it would have been Brady being the greatest of all time or it would have been Eli as the better brother. Eli's team won, and so---here we are."
    "Well," My Mind answered, "That's true. But you know, I remember seeing a comment on the forum the other day that went something like this: 'Great teams win Super Bowls. Great quarterbacks put up stats.' I don't know if I could agree more with that poster. When you look at Eli and Peyton, you see Eli having few good years and two Super Bowls, while Peyton has multiple good years and 2 Super Bowl appearances. It seems then, to me, that Peyton is a greater QB than Eli, because he has put up stats even with less than championship caliber teams."
    My Heart would've been nodding its head if it had possessed one. "Exactly, Mind. And that's not to say that Peyton hasn't had good teams or that Eli has had better teams his whole career, it's simply stating the fact that Peyton's legacy is still bigger than Eli's because of his consistent success. Do you realize that Peyton holds over 50 NFL records? Eli holds under 5."
    My Mind was in agreement. "Absolutely. And no matter what happens, Peyton will always be remembered as the better Manning. Even though Eli's season was amazing, it wasn't even close to one of Peyton's great ones. Do you realize that Eli's best season is only better than 5 of Peyton's 14? And if anything, the Colts 2-14 record this year only solidified Peyton's place."
    They kept talking, even though it was late, and I hated to interrupt. So instead, I penned this to post here on my blog. I won't take the time to outline the arguments for Peyton's place as the better Manning, because any real fan of the game can see that for themselves. I will, however, requote Winston Churchill.
    "A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject." I am a true fanatic. Of Peyton. Of football. Of the Colts. And of the truth. 'Til next week!
  12. WeSpy
    Will Rogers once said, "A lie will travel around the world twice while truth is still getting his boots on." As I've scanned the forum this past week, it seems to me that truth is having a hard time finding his boots, much less putting them on. Speculations, rumors, and happenstance abound. At a time such as this, when everyone is looking for a real answer, an unquestionable truth, and are sick and tired of theories---I have decided to add my speculation to the list and keep them hanging grumpily on for dear life until someone in the Colts front office tweets us what's really going on...
    As I stated in an earlier post, I have decided to address free agency. I have put together a schedule for the entire week with the exception of Friday. That day is up for grabs for the readers of my blog to choose which free agent they want my Mind and my Heart to address. Today's scheduled free agent was wide receiver Reggie Wayne.
    I put the question to my Mind and my Heart this way: "What do you think the Indianapolis Colts should do with Reggie Wayne? Resign him or release him?"
    My Heart opened up the discussion. "The answer to your question is simple. Resign him. He is the only proven, consistent receiver on the squad. Regardless of whether Peyton returns or a new QB takes over, he will be a necessary piece of the Indianapolis aerial assault."
    My Mind disagreed. "No, Heart, that is not the best move to make. Reggie is going to cost lots of money and will only go downhill from here. Even if Peyton returns, Reggie has already reached the pinnacle of his career. It's time to draft or sign a young, up-and-coming receiver who will consistently improve across the board for half the money we'd pay Reggie. At this point and time, on a rebuilding team, the last thing we need are declining veterans."
    "Declining veterans?" My Heart asked. "How can you prove that Reggie is on the decline? He has been over 1,000 yards since 2004 with the exception of this season, when he played with 3 different quarterbacks."
    "Heart, you're distorting the facts," My Mind said, accusingly, "Reggie has not been consistent at all. He has had up and down seasons and has shown that he cannot consistently beat the league's best cornerbacks. Let's face it, Reggie is still good. BUT, he is on the decline. We need a younger receiver who can get better with time."
    "Yes, Mind," My Heart replied. "We do need a young receiver. And we have two. Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon are young and are getting smarter every year. Pierre Garcon has progressed each season, and Collie has shown great talent as a slot receiver. As far as veteran wideouts go, when Peyton came to the Colts, he leaned heavily on Marvin Harrison, who was a veteran. If Peyton comes back, Wayne is an instant contributor. If a new quarterback takes the reins, Wayne is an instant resource. Either way, it's a good move to keep #87."
    My Mind was smirking. "Heart, it was only Marvin's 3rd year in the league when Peyton came. This next year is Garcon's fifth and Collie's fourth. They can handle the veteran role with a younger, speedy receiver drafted this year and added on. As far as security blankets go, Dallas Clark over the middle is enough for Peyton or anyone else."
    I interrupted at that point in the conversation and asked: "Okay, then, both of you have presented your views. If he was resigned by the Colts, what kind of contract should he get?"
    My Heart was quick and to the point. "A three year, 17.5 million dollar deal. Keeps him happy and keeps the cap down."
    My Mind was quick on the trigger as well. "A three year, 17.5 million dollar deal will not keep him happy when he signed a 6 year, 39 million dollar deal in 2006. To stay it'll take at least a 3 or perhaps 4 year 27-29 million dollar deal. That's too much money to pay to someone who could end up like Marvin Harrison did."
    I ended the debate there, and have posted a brief synopsis of each view for you to analyze and come up with your own thoughts. Who do you agree with? My Mind, or my Heart?
    My Mind: Release Reggie!
    1. He Is 33 Years Old
    2. There Is Too Little Cap Room
    3. There Are Capable Replacements In Place Already
    4. It Will Make Room For A New, Younger Playmaker
    My Heart: Resign Reggie!
    1. He Is Consistently Productive
    2. He Is An Immediate Help For Peyton
    3. He Has Proven He Can Play With Anyone And Still Produce
    4. He Has Got Plenty of Years Left in the Tank
    How Much Must Reggie's Salary Be For Him To Stay?
    My Mind: 4 Years, $29 Million
    My Heart: 3 Years, $17.5 Million
    Well, I hope you enjoyed the debate between my Heart and my Mind. While I personally think we should keep Reggie, my Heart presents quite the argument, doesn't he? Tomorrow we'll see what my Mind and Heart have to say about Robert Mathis.
    God Bless America! 'Til tomorrow!
  13. WeSpy
    After performing two consecutive stand-up comedy acts last week on Friday and Saturday, teaching Sunday School and Jr. Church, and preaching in the evening service at my local church---my Mind and my Heart were bushed. I decided to change up the format a little for this week, and have entered this blog tonight to let you in on what'll take place.
    I contacted several moderators and multiple popular posters to see what would be an issue prevalent to Colts fans to discuss this week; and got a relatively unanimous response. UndecidedFrog, incidentally, was the only one who took my 'popularity risk' into consideration by sending me this in his note: "If you want a nice easy, non-controversial topic, how about this: New uniforms?"

    At any rate, I have decided to address free agency. It has been a hot topic consistently around the forum, and much intelligent debate, intellectual thought, and infuriated shouting have gone into the discussion of who to keep, and why. This week I'll analyze some of the bigger names who will be contractless once the 2012 season starts and put the debate to my Heart and my Mind as to what the Indianapolis front office should do with them.
    That being said, here is the tentative schedule for this week:
    Monday: Reggie Wayne
    Tuesday: Robert Mathis
    Wednesday: Pierre Garcon
    Thursday: Jeff Saturday
    Friday is up for grabs. Ryan Diem, Anthony Gonzalez, Ernie Simms and Jacob Lacey are all candidates I am open to discussing. The name on this list who gets the most requests will be written about on Friday. Send your request to me by way of the message system on the forum.
    I hope everyone enjoys it this week; I know I will! And remember, if you have a question about my blog or a suggestion for a future topic, shoot me a message. Have a great one, and God bless America! 'Til tomorrow!
  14. WeSpy
    'My Heart and My Mind Were Arguing Last Night...And They Talked About the Super Bowl'
    I sent an e-mail out a few days ago about the Super Bowl. And no, it wasn't to the players and coaches involved, telling them to make it more entertaining than the Pro Bowl was. The e-mail went out to my Grandfather. He and I have been matching wits on Super Bowl winners for some 8 odd years. To put it bluntly, my all time record stinks. In 8 years of picks I am 3-5. I have never gone on a winning 'streak', unless 1-0 counts. This year I determined to win. Just like I did in 2010, when I lost...
    So, I put the debate between Giants/Patriots to my two best debaters, my Heart---and my Mind. My Mind started off the debate.
    "Now listen here, Heart," he said, "The Patriots are a fantastic team. They have fantastic players. They have fantastic coaches. And besides, Tom Brady is too good to pick against. He is a future Hall of Famer for sure. He's already got 3 Super Bowl victories under his belt. The Patriots have got this."
    My Heart replied, "Yes, Mind, but Eli and the Giants are a good team, too." (That is pretty much the extent of my Heart's football knowledge) "They're in Indy, Peyton is watching, and Eli wouldn't let his brother's team's biggest rivals win the Super Bowl in their home stadium!"
    My Mind didn't waste any time with his response. "Is that all you can come up with, Heart? You, as usual, are basing your opinion on feelings, emotions, and not on what really counts---hard facts! Let's face it, the Patriots are too hard to stop. They have the best tight-end tandem in football today, and 3 top-tier recievers. Their running game can't be ignored either, weak as it may be."
    It was at that point that I stepped in and told my Mind to remember that the Giants beat the Patriots once this year and stopped all of those weapons. My Mind was ready for that one though, and jumped right back in the middle of things.
    "Yes, but it came down to who had the ball last. Eli and the Giants were able to drive down and score at the end, and if Brady and Co. had time, they would've kept it going. The Super Bowl that these guys fought in years ago is the same way. The Giants were able to score at the end and win simply because the Patriots just didn't have enough time to respond."
    My Heart came back with, "True, but do you really think that Eli can lose with everything that is going on in Indy these days? And with his legacy as a 2 time Super Bowl winner at stake? I don't think so. Besides, Eli and the Giants seem to ooze with a wherewithal these days that the Patriots just don't have. It took the Patriots a simple game vs. Denver and a missed FG vs. the Ravens to get here, while the Giants knocked off the two highest seeds in the NFC and held the Falcons to 2 total points."
    My Mind didn't have much of an answer for that, but the debate continued on. Most of it, after that point, was a shouting match and really wouldn't be profitable to place in this blog. I will, however, lay out the main points that were discussed.
    My Mind says: Patriots
    1. Tom Brady
    2. Recieving Core
    3. Bill Belichick
    4. Giant's D is not like it was in 2008
    My Heart says: Giants
    1. More Playmakers than 2008
    2. Solid Run Game
    3. Eli to Cruz
    4. The Peyton Circus
    In the end, like it always is, the decision was up to me to pick who I thought would win. This time, I went with my Heart. I picked the Giants. And even though I couldn't see my Grandfather, I could almost hear him laughing as he read my choice. He is already chalking up his record at 6-3. And he may be right. Who knows? But my Mind and my Heart agreed on one thing last night, and that was that Super Bowl 46 is going to be special, fun, and extremely entertaining. I know I'll enjoy it, and hope you all do as well. Until next week!
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