Favre Cost of Playin= Stickin' it to my Old Team

It was 106 degrees and the sweat was beading up in my helmet so bad that I kept getting blurry eyes. The curious mixture of my hair product and the hard work I am putting in on this summer's day is creating a sting.

At this point in summer football conditioning practice my muscles usually ache like I have been jumping on concrete for eight hours straight in cleats but I don't feel that this year.

Most kids playing high school football are running on the track and playing some 7 on 7 summer drills at camps and what not. I'm catching passes from Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre.

Ya know what's the most cool journal entry in the country this summer?

This hypothetical scene of what it must have been like for those kids down in 'Sippi 'who got the unthinkable....practicing football with the dude who has thrown more TD's than anyone in NFL history and getting to see his legendary cannon for an arm still lasering balls on a line at age 39.

While it was a dream for the kids...Favre fed off that energy and used it to prepare himself for something I think 97 percent of NFL players would tell you they knew would happen.

Oh wait...wait...I have a cell phone call....wait just a second.......wait

HI...TONY... TONY LA RUSSA IS THAT YOU....

HEY MAN THANKS FOR THE CALL...YEAH I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF A FAVRE COLUMN...

YEAH ...I KNOW YOU TOLD ME SO.

OKAY I WONT FORGET TO TELL THE READERS FAVRE'S IN BIG TROUBLE WITH PACKER FANS....

THANKS TONY....

How bout' Favre's lore in the great anils of Packer history.

(cue NFL films voice Stan Facenda....with the weird spastic music playing underneath)

Brett Favre quarterback of the Green Bay Packers took the beloved status he had with the cheeseheads of the frozen tundra and completely pillaged it like a savage viking burning a village.

Okay enough slow mo. This much is clear....Favre has committed high treason in Packerland. Doning that Vikings uni is like seeing Peyton Manning in a Pats jersey or like Derek Jeter gearing up for the Red Sox. Does it make sense to think of Reggie Miller in a Knicks jersey trash talking Subway Jared? No!

Here's the thing though...Favre does what he wants. He dictates his terms of playing at this point....cool...clearly he is a veteran NFL player that despises training camp.

Got that...but you need to gel with your team. He has got to be accountable for his play. He has got to win early or things will get weird due to the secrecy and wounds this Favre circus caused to guy's like Sage Rosenfels and Tavaris Jackson who weren't told diddly and are battling for their livelihoods.

It is easy to know this....the Vikings might have been secret but they are a scary team all of the sudden. Before #4 got hurt last season...and he did get hurt.....the Jets were cruising in first ....he was one of the top fantasy QB's....rolling off 6 TD games....but he couldn't make it to the finish health wise.

What has he done to make finishing this season seem like a safer bet. Practice with high school kids????

He says he can operate the Vikings system in his sleep. I'll take his word...but I also know at some point Brett the Gunslinger is gonna be forcing the ball into some tight seams with passes that will make you say --

"holly why the heck did he make that pass? "

What's really funny is that even with all of this shenanigans of

'I am playing...i'm not playing....I AM!!!!! '

Favre has enough time to get ready for the NFL game. He has got one week of camp and then two weeks back at the Viks complex for intensive get ready for the season type practices.

And this just in Ron Burgandy

Favre is a man...he's built a Super Bowl Winner cause he's made of iron and brawn no doubt....

The Vikings are no woman with a small brain either....Favre plus Peterson plus Berrian, Shiancoe, and Harvin plus a vicious pass rushing defense equals DANGEROUS.

It's Science!!!!!

Finally Mike Vick gets to Move On

Sometimes I feel like I live in a world where I do not understand anything. Or at least, I feel like I have no ability to rationalize with what the majority opinion is. Maybe Willy Wonka said it best

"You should never doubt what no one is sure about."

But you see...I do not believe Michael Vick is a heinous criminal. I do not believe in a world in which men go to jail for 30 days for killing humans (see Donte Stallworth) but then men also go to federal prison for 2 years for financially backing dog rings that kill dogs.

I am sick and tired of watching 2 cent scribes on ESPN and other networks give us there moral statutes on why Vick is 'one of the most notorious players in NFL history' and we need to ease him back into society.

I NEVER thought I would agree with much that Terrell Owens has to say....but when he got after NFL commissioner Roger Goddell in response to Goddell further punishing Vick on top of Vick's NFL suspension and 23 month jail sentence...I could not have agreed more.

"I think the Michael Vick situation is unfortunate,” Owens said. “I think the way the commissioner is handling it is unfair to Michael Vick. I think he’s done the time for what he’s done. I don’t think it’s really fair for him to be suspended four more games. It’s almost like kicking a dead horse in the ground.”

Did Mike Vick make the kind of decisions you pay a franchise player 100 million to make? NO!

But I also know covering pro sports as long as I have that infidelity and other indiscretions could be attached to players you think are daisy do rights in Vick's same position.

The point is not... oh he did this and others do this...it's that people are human. We make mistakes. We deserve not just the cliche second chance...but we all deserve the right to make our best case as to why we are not what the public image has pegged us to be.

Having lived in the South near where Vick grew up, I know the kind of neighborhood, friends, and the lifestyle he grew up around. I know what kind of ill advised ideals are revered and that is all debatable. What I believe cannot be argued is the fact Mike Vick served federal prison time to get this chance to reprove himself.

He has paid a ginormous price for the right to show something we would all want. Unless you are Jesus Christ reincarnated, I am pretty sure all of us have a worst moment or bad decision that we are glad we are not defined by. If you never have a chance to atone this world and society would never evolve.

That is why the Philadelphia Eagles are brilliant and why they will benefit from giving this guy a second chance to change peoples opinions about what kind of human being Mike Vick is.

Vick is getting mentoring advice from Tony Dungy. Players and personnel people from every organization around the league love and respect Tony.

This is a man that has drank from the supreme elixirs like winning a Super Bowl and writing a best selling book. He has also had to swallow the ultimate poison like losing son James to suicide.

Dungy's ability to stay even through high's and low's is helping Vick and it has alot to do with his signing by the Eagles.

Andy Reid said it during the signing presser-

"Tony has taken and spent alot of time with Michael. Tony is a good friend of mine. I've had a chance to visit with him and talk through some things with him."

"I've done my homework...I feel Michael is on the right track."

The Eagles know Vick's head is in the right place but they also know the guy is hungry to get back to being and proving he is one the best and most dynamic players ever to suit up in the NFL.

Is he a great quarterback? I would say the majority opinion with sports fans and football experts is no. Vick's career record of 47-49 as a starter is not great but QB Warren Moon was 102-101 career and he is in the Hall of Fame. Vick did take the Atlanta Falcons to the NFC championship in 2004. Many fans and insiders point to his problems throwing with accuracy. Vick has never completed more than 57 percent of his passes in a season.

Look close at the numbers and you will see a quarterback who has thrown more touchdowns than interceptions 71 to 52. Compare that to Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw's first six year totals of 66 TD to 90 INT.

In Vick's last full season in 2006, #7 did something we have never seen- 2,500 yards passing 1,000 yards rushing....FROM A FRIGGIN QUARTERBACK...are you kidding me???? It was not a fluke either because in 2004 he went 2,300 yds passing and 900 yards rushing.

The guy is not as accurate as Tom Brady or Peyton Manning and will never be...but those guys will never run for a 1,000 yards from the QB position in the NFL. The goal is to move the ball...secure it....and score touchdowns to help win games. Vick has proven he can do that.

Now he has to prove it again after being gone for 2.5 years and Philly seems to be on the surface a good fit. The Eagles have a solid organization with good structure in place. There is a culture of strong veteran leadership with an expectation and proven track record of winning.

Andy Reid is an incredibly diverse offensive coach. Look at the powerhouse he has turned RB Brian Westbrook into in terms of doing things from every angle on the field. Westbrook is a top 5 pick in most fantasy leagues because Reid gets him the ball in so many different ways.

The only weird thing about Vick's signing is the fact that Donovan McNabb is the incumbent franchise QB. He just re-signed a two year deal. Philly has always had a 'we love you...ahhh maybe we don't' attitude with Donovan and that is really ridiculous when you look at the body of work he has given Eagles fans.

But if you listen and believe McNabb this might not be a problem after all. McNabb and Vick are good friends and several news outlets are reporting it was McNabb who went to Eagles management and said 'let's look at this.'

"I'm the quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles. I'm pretty sure when Chad Pennington went to the sidelines last year in Miami for the wildcat formation he didn't have a problem with it. I won't either." McNabb's reaction to Vick's signing.

That sounds good now and certainly drips a little of being spin-doctorish but we shall see what happens if the Eagles start slow and McNabb struggles...let us see how the city of brotherly you better win or else we get not so lovey feels then.

I love it though, more drama in a league oozing with it now that Michael Vick is back!

How Could Watson Do That

The most unbelievable moment in sports almost happened Sunday and I don't use ...THE MOST tag.... lightly or recklessly.

Are you serious??? FIFTY NINE YEAR OLD....Tom Watson had an up and down, 2nd cut about 12 to 15 feet away, to win the friggin British Open.....age 59????


That doesn't even make sense?


I know Tom Watson....ahhh 8 majors...5 British...dude is a master golf jedi period....but damn I thought he could pick up that spare.

Then I felt bad he didn't....but he did put his name back into the mainstream...he did pick up close to mill (don't really know the official number but I'm close) and even though he didn't hit it- I'll be mired perpetually in the thought of... how the heck did he do that?

I am so disillusioned as a sports fan these days though from steroids...I mean...I can't say I don't think ..hey is this guy juicing? I mean, how can you explain in his words "a 59 year old GEEZER" playing for major when the previous record in one of the oldest games...is 46 or so?

Look up Steve Croft's story about a year or so ago on 60 minutes right in the precipice of the Bond's is using story. 60 minutes had a doctor who was making bank on helping 55 to 65 year olds use steroids under control and producing in this doctor's and his patient's minds results that were off the charts in terms of cognitive and physical performance upgrades.

I know its whack...Tom Watson is a good dude...he was just turning back the clock and was totally legit...I have no discernible evidence of anything remotely contrary....BUT... having to sit there through...McGwire...Bonds....Clemens....Manny.....Arod....it takes its toll on you.

It's the "I'm constantly whacked out thinking people are on roids effect." It's an effect that I have no idea what the cure is. I mean it was trust but that's gone.

While we are here on this turf...let me just ask how long do we tolerate the baseball writers mission to keep Big Mac as the Hey-Suess of the steroid era?????

'He can never be in the hall...it's not moral!!!!! Just look at him lie to Congress.'

God that is sooooo weak. Sammy Sosa forgot to speak English. Arod flat lied to the American public, who knows if he's told the truth yet. If you are going to say McGwire can't get into the Hall because he wasn't forthright with Congress...keep em all out. McGwire shouldn't have to be the pariah of steroiders who don't make the Hall.

He went from a guy who started to hit in the low .200's to a guy who with alot of hard work changed his swing completely and mastered the strike zone to the tune of a record amount of walks.

Big Red etched himself in the exclusive 500 club with 5 seasons of 49 bombs or more, and set the single season HR record before it got reset by Bonds. The guy won a gold glove as a first baseman.

Hall of Famer period...and if he's not than no one who has that shroud over them should be either. I have heard reports that current Hall of Famers will walk out if they see suspected steroiders get in. News flash old timers...love your moxy but dudes juiced. Alot of them...you see there were 100 million dollar and in Arod's case 250 million dollar contracts out there being signed. You cannot police the number of guys who did it. There were pitchers, position players, hell even mascots...ok...kidding about that!

None of this nonsensical drivel has given me any realistic perspective on how the heck it was possible for Watson to make it look so elementary but I do know this.

If Watson can do it at 59 ...think about Tiger and the possibility of what he'll do at that age....I'm looking forward to that day because watching what Watson did even falling just short was a truly rare and real moment in sports. Live unscripted drama like what Watson provided is why sports is still the best reality show going.

I live for moments like that....there's a zillion baseball games going on all summer but Watson was riveting. Thinking about a 59 year old man winning a major in which Tiger Woods couldn't even make the cut....that's making the impossible ....seem believable.

In 18 We Trust

Peyton Manning has transformed the Colts from an NFL doormat to a team that is perpetually at the top of the food chain. Manning's Colts are moving into some hallowed territory in terms of games won. Yesterday's 31-21 win over the Lions solidified the Colts as one of three teams in NFL history to win 10 games 7 straight seasons.

The other teams in that rare air are the 75'-1981 Cowboys and the 49er's of 83'-1998.

The Manning era has yielded winning streaks of 7 or more games in five straight seasons. That is an NFL record. To put a bow on it....Manning's 08' Colts can win 12 games and extend a record of seasons with 12 wins to 6.

These are unbelievable numbers people. Before we get to Manning's greatness you have to understand that the Colts were awful through the 80's until Eric Dickerson came in 1987. That season was the franchises first playoff appearance in Indy but remember many of those wins came with a quarterback in Gary Hogeboom that crossed the players strike picket line.

The 90's produced very little. Jeff George was a bust picked #1 overall. Steve Entman was another #1 that didn't work out due to multiple knee injuries. Trev Alberts and Quentin Coryatt were top 10 picks that were awful and awfully average.

My memories of the Colts existence in the AFC East as also rans include: Bruce Smith pounding our quarterbacks into the turf with the mighty Buffalo Bills, Dan Marino lighting up cornerback Eugene Daniel which would later spawn the nickname "toast" by my Indy friend base, and New England beating us with quarterbacks like Tom Ramsey, Steve Grogan, and yes even Scott Zolak and Doug Flutie. Oddly enough, the only games we won during those times seemed to come against the Jets and those wins were usually fueled with a Clarence Verdin punt return.

Some Indy fans might be saying....'How the heck can you forget about 1995?'

Well, I didn't. I'll never forget about Jimbaugh. Or Captain Comeback if you like that better. Jim Harbaugh had the year of his life in 1995 under coach Ted Marchibroda the architect of Jim Kelly's K-Gun offense in Buffalo.

The truth of the matter is then GM Bill Tobin got the Colts going in the right direction with the Harbaugh acquisition, drafting Marvin Harrison, and Marshall Faulk. Faulk was hurt during the 95' run but the lesser known Zack Crockett came out of nowhere to tear up San Diego. The defense was unbelievable as Ashley Ambrose and Ray Buchannon were intercepting everything. But Harbaugh's magic came to an end in Pittsburgh after a hail mary bounced off the hands of Aaron Bailey. All Colts fans are still pissed about Kordell Stewart's TD catch that clearly came after he was out of bounds but that's another blog in itself.

Really though, that 95' run was an anomaly in an era where I watched fans show up to games regularly wearing paper bags on their heads with the label DOLTS FAN.

Two things happened to change things for the Colts and set the franchise on its path of destruction over the past 7 years.

1. Bill Polian was hired to come from Carolina to rebuild the Colts. Polian had built the Bills with John Butler, Marv Levy, and AJ Smith. He had built Carolina into NFC champs within the franchises first three years of existence.

2. Polian guessed right by selecting Peyton Manning over Ryan Leaf in the 98' draft. Leaf came into that draft as the favored prospect. Bigger arm, more mobile, more upside as a pro was alot of what "the so called experts" were saying.

Well Ryan Leaf recently resigned from a nowhere coaching job because he was trying to get pain pills from one of his players. Manning is working hard on his third NFL MVP award. There is a famous story I've heard Polian tell where it was the night before the draft and Manning walks into the office where Polian is with Coach Mora. Both men were a little on the fence in terms of who to take and Manning says

"If you don't draft me number one, I'll make it my number one priority to come in here and kick the sh*^ out of your teams every chance I get!"

Mora later told me that was all he needed...he knew Manning was the guy at that point.

Mannings career is as prolific statistically as it gets in NFL history. For years people loved to say he would be just like Dan Marino all the stats in the world but no Lombardi trophies. That garbage talk was ended with the Colts 2006 Super Bowl win.

This 2008 year has been unlike any other Manning year. The stats are nice but not gawdy. What makes Manning a leading MVP candidate is the plays he is making to win games in the closing moments.

Manning set up the game winning field goal with a clutch drive against Minnesota. He took advantage of a defense that created turnovers to help beat Houston in come from behind fashion. He led game winning drives in back to back weeks against New England and Pittsburgh. He converted a 4th and 1 against San Diego that set up a game winning field goal.

Sunday against Detroit he did it again. Orchestrating a drive in the 4th to put away a fiesty 0-13 Lions team. The drive was Mannings 36th game winning drive put together in the 4th quarter or overtime.

Manning has made winning routine for this team. His play has kept our city's expectations championship or bust which really is a ridiculous standard when you consider how much parody is in the NFL.

The Bottom line is this: the Colts record WITHOUT Manning 88-135. WITH Peyton Manning calling the shots 115-59.

I never take this winning streak for granted. I remember the 1-15 season in 1991. Lofa Tatupou said it best last week.

"Peyton could be the MVP every year. There is no player in the league who has as much responsibility and does more for his team."

Squeeking Through the Season is a New Recipe for These Guys

There are certain things I just don't understand in this world LIKE: why do adult people still not know how to execute the right of way in a 4- way stop. Why are multimillion dollar airlines charging for an extra bag or your golf clubs. And why in the world would Pittsburgh try to throw two passes backed up against its own 5 yard line in a game they lead 17-7?

The latter I will simply say thank you and go about my day enjoying the hell out of the fact the Colts have just had three weeks of division leaders: Tennessee, New England, and Pittsburgh....and we've come through it 2-1 and very easily could have been 3-0. Skeptics would point out that without a Jabar Gaffney drop and the aforementioned Pittsburgh boneheaded coaching.... we could be looking at 0-3.

But that is the beauty of the NFL...and in this year parody is everywhere. I don't know if the Brady and Merriman injuries are in anyway involved but the NFC maybe stronger than the AFC for the first time since I can remember. It's a deep pool of contenders and a win over anyone other than Detroit, and St. Louis is freaking amazing.

All that said...this is a new world for Colts fans. We are used to the Penthouse suite. That cozy little place we've sat smug and unchallenged. That place where we are firing up the cornhole board by the 4th quarter and our toughest decision is whether or not to play our starters with 3 games left in a season.

Peyton Manning(61% 2448yds 15td's 9 int in '08)----“We are fighting and scratching. We’ve kind of been the underdog. People aren’t really expecting us maybe to win the game. This is the type of football and the conditions we’re playing in. We’re beat up. We have a lot of new guys playing. We truly are kind of fighting and scratching and clawing and trying to find a way to have a chance in the fourth quarter to win the game."

When "The Franchise" and one of the greatest to EVER lace it up says that....you get a sense of just how that Penthouse suite has been replaced by grit, hard-hat/lunch pail desperation.

But you know what I luuuuuuuuuv about these Colts. They aren't going to be able to take off the last three weeks. They will have to continue to have Peyton Manning keep this team the best in the NFL in the Redzone at scoring 7. They will have to have Marvin Harrison make one diving catch this year, please. They will have to have the defense stopping the run like it has the last 3 weeks. They will have to have Ron Meeks continue to throw tendency breakers like blitzes in the gameplan.

By now if you don't see that the beautiful thing about these C0lts other than the now 5-4 winning record is the fact that this team's identity is still being forged. It's not a team getting fat on cheese and wine....it's a team that might be finally realizing in the NFL sometimes you need to drive the bulldozer and not the Ferrari.

Nothing Better than a Bitch Slap Boston Weekend

Watching The Office the other night I started to think how much the shows career is mirroring my Colts right now. It's like....all the main stars and characters are still there, there's a history of success and payoff that keeps us tuning in, but things have just grinded down to a stagnant dose of blah.

I mean when I tune in and see Dwight pretending to go to Cornell to make Andy upset and Jim's brothers (who look nothing like him) playing dumb let's pretend games with Pam I start to fade off into thinking how that's like the deep ball play to Marvin....it's worked, the fans have loved that combo and I should point out it is the most successful TD combo ever, but for whatever reason its just not quite the same anymore. How many times can you lean on the cutesy Pam and flirty Jim storyline to pull you through....

Now a couple things here I have to address to Bill Simmons...one of the pioneer sports writers going (see Bill's work on Page 2 ESPN http://search.espn.go.com/bill-simmons/ )...but also a New England homer. Well, I'm going to be Indy's counter because for years he's had the loudest voice ....and when we can wipe Boston twice in one weekend...it's like a holiday in Naptown and should not go without some pound our chest...remember us... Reggie Miller type trash talk.

Make no mistake ...there is no love lost on the other side of that equation either. Chowwwwwddda heads have no taste for Indy anything. They love the fact they have the old upper hand card....ahhh how many Titles do we have card" Game Over!


As Colts fans we take any morsel we can get and cherish it likes it our little pet. I love my little naughty pet....your naughty and then you take your naughty....alright Farley enough.

Indy Fans are praying to one religion today...thank God Anthony Gonzalez....and also remember to send a Christmas card to Jabar Gaffney for dropping what looked like it could have been the game winning touchdown.


Also it should be noted beating New England BARELY without Tom Brady playing doesn't have the same luster...nor should either team ever lose in this rivalry without its main gun.

But that said, Peyton Manning was The Doctor. I nicknamed #18 this when I was calling Colts highlights for WTHI TV 10 in Terre Haute. One of my favorites.....

(over a VO of a manning TD)

"Hi i'm Peyton Manning I'll be operating on your defense today"....



Joseph Addai continues to run like he weighs 145....Dom Rhodes runs like he's Addai's weight.


Reggie Wayne is a man even though he's not 40......guys hurt all week....gets pounded on a 2 point conversion by 2 Pats...holds on. Guy is just high level.

But the Colts defense still scares the hell out of me. They can't get off the football field against a team who's game plan was quick screen and Faulk shotgun draw.

Note to The Belichick. You might want to run the play where Moss runs deep for the TD past Keiwann Ratliff, a guy who hasn't even been on the team or in the league consistently. You might not want to challenge calls when your offense has us reeling either.

Now as a RPM gearhead type town...we know well that it's not always the fastest or best car that wins the race.

The Pacers certainly won't have a better year than the Celtics but when a young team without any known identity treats game 2 of 82 like it's the NBA Finals....that's a good thing for a building team.

When your star player who just signed a 60 mill re-up dives for a loose ball up double figures late...only to have two of his teeth chopped off by the floor as Paul "I just ate another pizza" Pierce lays on top of you....that's a good sign. Anything is a better sign than the Post Brawl Pacers...aka A Bunch of Friggin Idiots.

Wouldn't be sweet if these two teams started having a little better rivalry. There was the Chuck Person vs. Larry Bird score-a-thon days.....but the only memory that sticks is Bird face planting in Game 5 then going to the locker room...only to come back out and handle Person and the Pacers with the same arrogant confidence that helped him hold up the old #1 before the last ball even went in during the 87-88 NBA 3 point contest.

Larry Bird as the coach of the Pacers seemingly never lost a game to the Celtics...but those Boston teams weren't in the same league as Reg's teams. The Jim O'Brien conference contending Celtics never really linked up right with Rick Carlisle's 60 win Ron Artest/ O'Neal team.

Nobody on this planet thinks the Pacers will do anything...including Pacer die-hards as of now. However, it would be perfect to pump up the Ainge vs. Bird storyline. You know those two guys are like oil and water on pretty much every subject. You know they never liked each other much playing for the Championship Celts. They were work buddies only. That's really all speculation but it feels right, doesn't it?

Who knows what the future holds for the Colts or Pacers...or even The Office. But let's hope that fresh faces and storylines like Holly, Michael's new I'm just as dorky as you love interest, or the emergence of Gonzo as the slot threat that Indy envisioned when drafting him to replace Stokley, or Danny Granger really being worth 60 mill' generate something that clears the stale out.

Please Remove the Dark Cloud from the Colts ...and the Pacers While You Are at It.

I've recently moved back to Indy to be around my family and closest friends, who in reality are family, and I got to say...priiiiiiitty....prittttttty preeeeettty goooood.

One of my favorite activities is hanging with my 2 year old niece Bevan. I'm sitting there showing her pictures of cool animals on the computer like tigers, giraffe's, zebra's and her favorite snakes and it finally hit me.

I wish we lived in a world like the Backyardigans. Uniqua, Pablo, Tyrone, Tasha, and Austin have a way to take anything they come across and turn it into a happy feel good song. That is exactly what we need as Colts and Pacer fans right now.

Pablo

"And hey we got rid of every player...that was meeeeee----an and not niiiiiice....we've replaced them with all good and new citizens .....that love to do everything that is right."

I do believe making a move to replace idiots with solid people will be a major turning point for Larry's team. By the way Larry Bird in any top five best player argument ever....but I think in like 25 more years he will be one of the scariest looking dudes....I mean like old dude who looks like a vulchur.....I do think though he is changing things for the better.

Quick thoughts from one early look against a Detroit team that is good but sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo stale.
Good but are they going to beat Lebron....or Boston? Noooope. They can beat the Pacers though and thus they were 10 point favorites at home...

Pacers beat that number....and here's why.

1. The point guard combo of Jarrett Jack and TJ Ford was an upgrade of 800 to the 27th power. Both can play....both are quick...Jack is strong and can get to the rim with contact and finish....Ford is little but has sweet finishing skills around the basket among bigger players.

2. Danny Granger played like a star or at least an All Star. We know Danny can shoot...we didn't know he could drive and keep driving to 12 free throw attempts. If he does that consistently ...well that's what NBA stars do everynight ...in and out when the jumper isn't always falling the line will keep you alive.

3. Brandon Rush can play. Ahhhhh, dude is built like Paul Pierce junior. He gets to the basket and can finish ...once the jumper starts being consistent...plus he defends....the upside is so choice if you have the means I highly recommend it.

4. Roy Hibbert is going to be an interesting project to watch...he had a spin move on the baseline that was Fake Olajuwon.

9er- Please stop running the offense through Troy Murphy in the high post. The guy gets his double double but god is it me or does dude look like he's in pain out there doing it...not pain in the sense he's hurt but pain in us watching his moves and ball handling abilities.

But all in all good debut without Dunleavy who is tied for your top scorer role. I think Indy fans are going to be peaking in on this team...if they can string some wins together....this city knows how to be a big league NBA town.

Uniqua

"We don't say mean things about Peyton...He's our leader and a good guy....Coach Dungy might be out of town til Thursday...we need to stick with him and here's why. "

False, Jim Irsay has some things to look at this off season. Whether or not you believe the rumor Dungy doesn't show many times till late in the week and his assistants run alot of stuff...or not....the fact of the matter is thinking about a change at least on the offensive side of the ball might be a shot of just what we needed for this team.

I'll tell you this right now. Tom Moore has been great. Any probably no one knows more about offense...Jesus the guy was with the Steeler's 70's dynasty...then the Lions in the Barry Sanders Herman Moore days, but and I can't help thinking of Jack Nickelson as the Joker....

"This town needs an enema"

Kind of feel that way about the Colts offense.

Regardless of all that garbage the horseshoe sits one game out of the wild card with New England in town. I know this, if there was one team I wanted to kick the crap out of to get us jump started it's Captain Hoody's Cheaters. As Colts fans we hate New England worse than that meal your mom made you eat as a kid 8 million times... we hate them more than waiting in line at the license branch for an hour, we hate them more than a screaming baby on an airplane with a flight of 3 or more hours.

All the Colts need is Peyton Manning to be Peyton Manning. That means stop calling the wrong audibles. That means stop under throwing Reggie Wayne on the Corner. That means if Marvin Harrison is getting bumped out of bounds every play get Gonzo in there. That means tell Joseph Addai to quit running like a 160 pound back and most of all it means.... quit throwing more interceptions than touchdowns.

Austin

"The Pacers are a bunch of good guys...and good guys will win 50 games... And the Colts are going on a longing winning streak and will appear in a playoff game... "

Man I wish everything could be as positive as the Backyardigans!