lester

My opinion is we can expect free agent acquisitions for the defense this year. The draft will be used to add young foundational pieces for Anthony Richardson's offense. With that said, I would not be surprised (and would not criticize) a 3rd or 4th round Defensive Tackle that has all the ingredients but maybe needs a year or two of Pro coaching to become a stud (just like Grover in 2017). That seems like wise roster management to me.

I'll play. $92m/4 years. $55.2 million guaranteed.

Not that I would know much about tanks since I walked everywhere (well, sometimes they let us sit in a field for two days waiting for a flying machine, but that is not germane to this reply); I do know that Abrams is a thirsty girl. LOL

This. I agree with this. I don't believe Michael Pittman wants to go anywhere. He's just telling that market that he's not offering the hometown discount. He has value. He knows he has value. He wants us all to know that he knows he has value.

This. It’s not even about professionalism. If I’m playing music on shift, I can’t hear and understand the radio. I. Love. Music. But I never play music on shift.

I do not agree. Not even in the slightest. Pittman is homesteading in Indiana. MPJ doesn't want to go anywhere. Ballard does not want him to go anywhere. Right now, both sides are just peacocking over whatever the final number will be.

Start here: https://linktr.ee/quentonnelson56

I predict the Colts will not draft a Wide Receiver with pick 15. There. I said it.

It is my opinion, from the outside looking in, that Michael Pittman Jr. is laying deep roots, personally, in the Indy area. He bought a farm with a custom residence within just the last few months. He has been steadily improving the homestead, buying machinery, and adding to his livestock. You don't make that purchase, with that timing, if you're really expecting to move on shortly.

I don't listen to sports talk radio. I just don't. So, how did mister JMV expect us to have been able to acquire the rights to CJ Stroud?

I believe you are closer to the truth than we'll ever actually know. Three of the suspensions didn't even need to be suspensions. The TEAM did that on their own and won't tell outsiders why. The new regime is not playing. From the outside looking in; it appears that Shane is doing what Frank did not.

TY Hilton was drafted in the 3rd round. Tank Dell was drafted in the 3rd round. Nico Collin’s was drafted in the 3rd round. Ja’Mar Chase was the 5th pick of the draft. Your own post makes the case that we aren’t picking early enough to get a Ja’Marr Chase but way too early to get some very quality receivers. By your own logic, it would make sense to trade back and get more 2nd and 3rd round picks. Right?

An offense that is explosive does not necessarily exist because of its explosive wide receivers. The offense is explosive. An elite running back could make an offense explosive. Elite receivers could make the offense explosive. An elite quarterback could make an offense explosive. Adding an elite Tight End would make the offense more explosive, even if you don't consider the plays the tight end makes to be explosive plays. What an elite tight end would do is make it possible for your existing wide receivers to make more explosive plays. An elite tight end would make is possible for your existing running backs to make more explosive plays. An elite tight end would make it possible for your young quarterback to make more explosive plays. etc. etc. etc. Adding an elite tight end could absolutely make this offense more explosive. What if, just image, if you had an existing team that maybe already had a freak athlete dual-threat QB, an all pro elite running back, a top 12 receiver with sure hands, a young route running technician, and a 3rd year speedster who can stretch the field (whether or not they get targeted frequently). Think about what happens to that offense if they had the kind of tight end that scares the bejesus out of any defense in the middle of the field. What kind of explosive plays could an offense like that produce?

Nice post. We have a great many commenters on this board who seem to be unable or unwilling to apply the situation or circumstances to their judgements. It's as if the quality of an individual only exists based on the outcome. Nothing else is to be considered.

I can’t do nights. Army broke me. Since I got out, I am totally solar powered.

I feel like we saw enough. I’m excited about seeing him next year.

What people are saying when they say, “it’s the QB” is this: the routes that this scheme assigns to other receivers are not the same as those they assign to Alec Pierce. Pittman and Downs are assigned the kind of routes that Minshew is very good at. Alec Pierce, however, is not assigned these kinds of routes. His role has consistently been to run really fast, far downfield. Minshew has to wind up to uncork throws like that. He’s not gifted with the arm to throw like that naturally. Even with Pittman out, Alec Pierce didn’t take over the intermediate role, Montgomery did. I love Seniõr Minshew. I really, really like that they went and got him for our team this year. But change the QB to one with a different skill set and you’ll see different opportunities in the Colt’s passing game.

I think your logic is backwards. The Colts are inexperienced and inconsistent. The chiefs, on the other hand, have been to three of the last four Superbowls. It is not unexpected for an inexperienced and inconsistent team to have bad games from time to time; even if they are talented. But man, to lay an egg if you're the Chiefs can affect the trajectory of the entire league. Me, personally? I think good games come and go for everyone. I recall some stinkers even with Peyton Manning. that didn't make Bill Polian a loser.

An article this week in the Athletic quoted Bradley saying he likes the growth that Cross has made this year. Last year, he didn't like Cross, this year he thinks he is doing the right things. The article was about Cross learning how to be a professional. "After starting the first two games of the year, Colts defensive coordinator Gus Bradley felt Cross was in over his head, so he was yanked from the lineup and reduced to being a special teamer." ...and then, "Bradley commended Cross for his focus while juggling many different roles this year as the team’s backup at strong safety, free safety and nickel. He trusts Cross, which Bradley admitted wasn’t always the case last year, and expects him to take full advantage of his increased role." Link: https://theathletic.com/5164477/2023/12/28/indianapolis-colts-nick-cross-tyquan-lewis/

If its the Browns, I think we WANT the browns. We owe them.

Point of consideration: If a season is going so poorly that the GM gets fired, the new GM will choose a new coach. He will want his guy. Its just kinda the way it usually works out. Ballard and Steichen are tied to each other. And I think that is a good thing.

I don't think the Colts owe him anything -- loyalty, gratitude, etc. He played in exchange for money, not out of the kindness of his heart. There are feelings and personal relationships involved, but the bottom line is about business.

It escalated so quickly, it feels like an HR situation. I get the impression they can't speak about it publicly. But that is just my outside opinion based only on my own years of experience hiring and firing in corporate America.

What mistake did Ballard make?