NewColtsFan

Yes…. But still…. I think the difference between Peyton and AR is enormous. I don’t think it can be over-stated. Peyton started for three and a half years in college. AR basically started for one. That gap is the size of the Grand Canyon. Many (most?) of the mistakes AR makes this year will be the mistakes he would have made in college. Learning on the job in the NFL is never easy and as Ballard noted on draft day it’s often not going to be pretty.

Do you know for how many years? Do you know how much is guaranteed? There’s more to a contract than just one number, no matter the player or the position. And what is acceptable for one player may not work for another.

3 years, $40 mill, $13.3 per is a low ball offer for a RB? On? What? Planet?!? It would make Taylor the 3rd highest paid RB in the NFL, behind only McCaffrey and Kamara! And it comes at a time when RB money is drying up. And if that isn’t enough, you didn’t even mention the key which is always the guaranteed money. Come on now…..

Regarding the Saturday viewpoint, you’re not the first person to make this observation, you’re just the latest. And coming in a thread about Raimann, I think it’s appropriate to respond to it. I’m going to respectfully disagree with the idea that Saturday coached up Raimann. Saturday was never an OL coach, or even an assistant OL coach. So I don’t see him coaching up individual players. The area where I do give Saturday a lot of OL credit is making the unit of 5 play like 1. That was a disaster last year. And I think it clearly got better once Saturday arrived. I think that kind of Big Picture approach is much more in line with what Saturday could bring. I just don’t see him working one on one with individual players. I think that was Strausser. Put another way, I think if Reich had not been fired I still believe Raimann was going to improve. Comments made about Raimann when he was drafted in April support that. A very fast learner. I hope Freeland has a similar season. I hope he too gets better as the season progresses. The Colts are going to need it.

To be clear…. His poor play lasted 11 games. With our late bye week, his very good play lasted 6 games. Pretty impressive. When he was drafted, the Colts scouts said one of BRs best qualities was that he learns fast. I think his stats back that up. Now, he has to build on that from here.

Another candidate to make the team as a safety is already in the roster from last year. Marcel Dabo from Europe. Just saying…..

For what it’s worth…. What you want may happen. Maybe. But most every story I read about AR says having Taylor in the backfield with him makes AR much better. That having an elite RB in the same backfield is something that the Colts believe is an advantage and not a luxury. Plus, the salary cap is going up so much in the next few years, that JTs cap hits will be very affordable.

Lots of interesting answers here. personally, I think there’s an argument for either one. I don’t think either is obvious. But whoever is picked I don’t think there’s much gap between them. To me, both were above average and had to deal with circumstances that were not always in their control.

The last coaching staff? I’m not sure I follow? The Flus coaching staff was with Dayo as a rookie, and he was coming off his Achilles in jury. That’s the group you didn’t trust? The current coaching staff is the Bradley group from last year. And you’re on board with them, right? Just trying to make sure I follow your meaning….

I didn’t know about this view of yours. Would you mind if I asked why you think that way about Dayo? I’m curious?

Thanks for finding that. I’ll be diplomatic and simply say with Freeland I’ll be highly, Highly, HIGHLY skeptical until he demonstrates he can play at a top level against much better competition than what he’s faced so far. That’ll happen in August….

Where have you read that Freeland is getting rave reviews? I have not seen that anywhere. Can you point me to something? Thanks.

2006…. You’ve made a number of good points in this thread. And to add to them, I honestly think Rank made his prediction with a bit of trying to do Indy a favor. Another bad year giving the Colts another very high pick and all the good the Colts can do with that. I think you’re right that I don’t think Rank would buy what he himself was selling. I think he knows the Colts should be better than that, perhaps much better.

You’re probably right. Your post here is a powerful argument for just that. I don’t mean to come off as defending IR at all. He’s badly stepped in it. A mess of his own making. Only wanted to note that so-called lifetime bans sometimes aren’t for a lifetime. And that maybe — maybe — Rodgers might get lucky someday and get a second chance. I won’t lose sleep over him either way.

I’d like the best of both worlds. I’d like a season where the Colts win perhaps 6-7 games while still being competitive in the 10-11 losses. I’d like a top-10 pick that might be closer to 5 than 10. 2024 is shaping up to be a great draft. So I’d like as many good bites at the Apple as possible.

Back after a week…. Obviously this was the thread I went to first. Spent the day reading it, all of it. There is one post I want to seriously respond to. Doesn’t matter who wrote it, more important that someone respond. But one poster said it’s NOT the NFL’s job to hold the players hands. Sorry, but I disagree 100 percent. There is no job more important than the integrity of a league. It takes decades to build trust and it can be lost so quickly. The league is now in bed with gambling. A terrible mixed-message to send, especially to its players and employees. The league must be vigilant in making sure everyone knows exactly what IS and ISN'T allowed. It has to be Job One. And every story that says the players really don’t know what is and isn’t legal is just terrible for the league. It gives the appearance that the league isn’t taking the issue seriously. There should be signs all over the team facility. Everywhere. The locker rooms, the meeting rooms, the coaches rooms, the weight room, the cafeteria, training room, heck, even the bathrooms. It should almost be like wallpaper. And it should be MANDATORY at all 32 facilities. And there should be constant reminders by the GM, the HC, and someone like David Thornton, who I think is in charge of helping players navigate their way in the world now that they’re out of college and have fame, money, and free time. Give the players a pop quiz to make sure. The league and all 32 teams needs to be able to say they’ve done all they can do…. And then some. That they’ve gone the extra mile. I’m serious as a heart attack. This is a self imposed wound to the league, by the league. Anything short of this, and the league has been very short of this, should be unacceptable. As for Rodgers…. I’m hugely disappointed. If he’s lucky, and gets a lifetime ban, he’ll get reinstated after a year-plus. Lifetime bans rarely are for a lifetime.

I don’t think you’re being serious, but for anyone who needs an answer to this question, I’ll respond. Because there’s no one in the history of sports — not just football — but all of sports who is perfect with personnel. Because people are flawed so no one is ever perfect. High character is a good thing. It’s not something to be mocked.

For your consideration…. It’s true all over football but especially at a position like running back…. A quality that is highly valued by scouts and teammates alike is…. Toughness. Day in, day out, game in, game out, year in, year out toughness. Teams and teammates can depend on you. It was one of Payton’s better qualities. And it may have been Emmitt’s best quality. One of the toughest. Two other super tough RBs, both Marcus Allen and Frank Gore. One already in the Hall, the other will be soon enough. Neither was super fast or elite quick. But they could play hard all day. Heck, Marcus basically gave up two years of his career to be the blocking fullback for a guy named Bo Jackson. Hope this will give you a different perspective. If Emmitt isn’t on your top-10 list perhaps your criteria should be re-evaluated. Food for thought…

Fair point. So I’ll ask this question…. Do you think all our chips are in this year? Objectively…. We traded away Gilmore, our best corner, we didn’t bring back McCloud, our best safety by far. We’ve made zero major moves to address the offense other than the draft. No big FA moves. So the Colts are a young team that’s going even younger. So based on what we’ve done and haven’t done I don’t see all our chips being in this year. That said…. No owner wants to say that publicly — it’s bad for business. The Colts are trying to sell an exciting future. The quiet part is that the future is very likely not happening this year. Just some food for thought.

You’re stressed……. Now? Already? Over what? So far, there hasn’t been one serious injury reported. Not one. What’s happening with the Colts is not unique. It happens with all 32 teams. Rookies have been going all out for more than a year straight with little to no time off. Their bodies are fatigued. Having a soft tissue injury is normal. Players will soon get 45 days off +/-. It’s badly need by all. Give it some time. The vast majority of players should be good to go by Aug 1. And don’t be stressed over AR. Not now, at least. Minshew should be way ahead of him right now. No one should be surprised at anything negative with him right now. This is expected. Better days ahead.

Sorry…. Training camp. Training camp. Not sure how that happened? Note: To answer your question, my critics here would say…. Heck NO!!!

I wonder how much background Perriman has in special teams? WRs 4-6 typically have to play ST for the Colts.

Not sure where to find this, but if I remember correctly, Perriman had a hands issue coming out of college. A high percentage of drops. Don’t know if that has continued in the NFL? Can anyone confirm one way or another?

Reich didn’t hire his friend. Strausser was hired on the very strong recommendation of the legendary Colts OL coach, Howard Mudd. That recommendation sealed it. I’m not even sure Reich and Strausser knew each other before CS was hired. The Mudd story came directly from Ballard.

I like Freeland. I’m glad the Colts drafted him. The point I’m trying to make is that Freeland isn’t with the 1’s because he looks great. He was with the 1’s because Smith was out. Nothing Smarty Pants about it. I’m only trying to clarify for those who don’t know.