NewColtsFan

I know you were away for a short while. But if you get some time, scroll back at some of the conversation between @w87r and @Superman They have some good thoughts about why the move now was probably better for all parties. How the Colts benefit, and why it helps Shaq too. I think it may give you a different perspective. Happy Thanksgiving, my friend.

You can’t even take Thanksgiving off from this never ending lava flow of Ballard hate? I sincerely hope you’re with family and friends today and throughout the holidays.

Hope everyone here is with family and friends…. Thanks to the Colts Community for making this another great year here!

I’ve now seen the entire video twice now. Irsay definitely says it. The reporter even repeats it back to him and says do you know what that sounds like? And that’s when Irsay says I don’t care what it sounds like, the truth is the truth. Irsay says it, even if he mumbles his word.

Huh? Who is Gregg?

I’m sorry you feel that way. It’s literally the last 13 seconds of the piece. It’s designed to be light cross talk. No one was trying to be tasteless and classless. I think if you saw the piece you’d feel differently.

If you didn’t see the entire piece which ran about 15 minutes +/- then you get a distorted view of the piece from a 13 second clip. Colts Fan Cole, who posted this angry tweet, is completely clueless. The piece was extremely flattering to Irsay. The only issue was when he painted himself as a victim. And Kramer tried to help him as much as she could. So out of 15-plus minutes the only area to be bothered by is the last 15 seconds when Andrea Kramer talks with the host Bryant Gumbel. Which makes this out of context and extremely misleading. Thats it. Really.

The First Take crew said all the things I expected. It was only Stephen A’s last comment that really jumped out. “Good luck getting free agents to want to go play for that guy!” Obviously I hope he’s wrong, but Ballard’s job next free agency may have just gotten much, MUCH harder.

You have a huge gift for over-statement. The GM has been here thru plenty of drama. The HC has made a number of stops in the NFL, he’s not going to get scared off. No one is running away because of this.

Don’t they do rehabs in all sections of Indy? I think they’ve talked about all of them….

Sorry…. In my first response to you I used the exact opposite word I wanted. I said near zero percent chance of trading down. Oooops! I actually meant trading up. You probably figured it out, but I just caught it and wanted to clear things. I really HATE when I do that!!

Thanks to both of you for the really good 411. And when @w87r tells me he doesn’t like the Carmel police, THAT gets my attention! Turns out, I know a tiny bit about Indy. And I want to stress TINY. I’m a fan of the HGTV show Good Bones which is set in Indy. And they always show a map showing where their latest renovation is happening. So I’m a little bit familiar. Indy seems like a charming city. I hope to visit someday….

I think there’s close to a zero percent chance of trading up. Ballard has repeatedly said trading up in the first is way, way too expensive. So I suspect you’re going to be disappointed. I think the best you can hope for is the Colts staying where they are and use their own pick. Sorry, I know you want the opposite, but I think it’s highly doubtful.

Since Irsay lives there, can I assume Carmel is where the rich of Indianapolis live? You know, The Beverly Hills of Indy? If so, typically police like that would be deferential to the people who lived there. When you see the police tape, Irsay looked terrible. Any good police would do what the Carmel police did.

I understand what the two of you are saying and both may indeed be right…. But for what it’s worth, when Ballard picked Bradley he said then that GB was picked because his defense was closest to the Flus defense. Ballard said it should be easy for the players to transition from the former defense to the new defense. Both were simple, easy to pick up and stressed playing fast. That it was a defense even rookies should be able to pick up quickly. So it feels like there’s a gap between your views — which I respect — and what Ballard believes. I’d love to be able to ask CB about this now. But we might have to wait until the post-season review.

I thought Bowers was done, but I believe I’ve read he might be back soon. Maybe very soon. If I find an update, I’ll post it here.

“He is TWICE the man his dad wall”. ?? I know it was just a figure of speech…. But for me, I think Jim is 200 times the man his dad was, maybe even 2,000 times the man his dad was. His father and mother are the reasons Irsay has so many demons. Jim’s dad and mom were the parents from H*ll. No child should be raised by monsters like that. It’s a small miracle Jim came out as well as he did. I thought the piece was about 95 percent flattering. Andrea Kramer was the right reporter, she gets and understands Jim. And while I understand Jim’s comment, I wish he hadn’t said it. When he passes, that quote will be part of his obit. Wish it wasn’t so.

Since you’re one of the original Ballard haters this post is not the least bit surprising. A team has roughly 70 players on it counting the PS. So to expect 70 players to all be perfect is silly. But this is the kind of argument you make. Just like a few weeks ago when you called Cooper Kupp a product of Sean McVeys system. It didn’t even occur to you that if the Rams thought Kupp was a product of the system, they wouldn’t have signed him to a contract making him one of the top-10 highest paid WRs. Since you live for moments where you can pat yourself on the back, I just I’d remind you there are two sides to every coin.

Thanks. I still find it interesting that it would appear that most here like Franklin but no longer like Shaq. One is ranked 61, the other is 62. Just an observation that may only interest me and my unconventional mind.

I like PFF, but I don’t love PFF. I don’t live and die by what they say. I haven’t been impressed by Shaq’s play all season. That said, I find it interesting that there is tremendous diversity of opinion on why Shaq’s play is so poor. 1. Blame Gus Bradley’s system. 2. Blame Leonard because he’s healed up but just not good anymore and will never be the same. 3. Leonard is healthy enough to play but not yet ready to be the old Shaq. He might somewhere down the road, and he might never be. Lots of different opinions. I’m mostly in camp 3.

Unintentionally, of course…. But you may have just made one of the funniest observations of the year!

The new TY Hilton is here. His name is Josh Downs.

I literally wrote the words, technically you’re right. The 2017 record goes on Ballard’s record. But you use it to demonstrate what you think Ballard’s ability is. Every time anyone praises Ballard, you respond with his record. You’re using the 2017 record as a weapon to demonstrate what you really think of Ballard. I’ve pointed out all the reasons why 2017 shouldn’t be held against him. You literally laughed. I’ve pointed out that Irsay was willing to fire Grigson who was 49-31 with three more years on his contract but doesn’t fire Ballard with a much worse record. And you laughed. So please don’t tell me you’re not a hater. You don’t think he’s very good and you’ve stated that in no uncertain terms many times. So let’s not pretend otherwise. You're entitled to any opinion you want, but I don’t think you make fair arguments.

That same team can simply wait a few days, Shaq will clear waivers, then that team can sign him to a much smaller more modest contract. If they sign him before he clears waivers, then that team is on the hook for the rest of Shaq’s huge contract. We’re only talking a matter of a few days, but it makes a big difference.

Jefferson isn’t a piece you trade away even if you’re doing a rebuild. Some pieces you don’t move. Jefferson still on his rookie contract is one of them.