(A special op-ed by Josh Desch, who never blogs anymore, so it must be a big deal).
I remember watching the New England Patriots in 2007 with disgust. As the Colts archrival, I already loathed them with all my being. Nonetheless, that loathing went to new level in 2007. First came Spygate, and the realization that the Dark Side had been cheating all along. Then came the way they played that year. They kept playing at 100% every quarter. They ran up the score. The Patriots became the first team in the modern 16 game schedule to have a perfect regular season, and if it wasn't for what is perhaps the greatest catch in football history, the Patriots would have won the Superbowl and become the first 19-0 team in the history of the NFL.
I'm here to admit that there was something I do admire about that 2007 Patriots team. I have always viewed Bill Belichick as an Evil Genius, but a football genius nonetheless. Bill realized back in 2007 what everybody – except Colts GM Bill Polian and Coach Jim Caldwell – and realize today: that in sports, ESPECIALLY in the NFL, momentum is everything. The Patriots understood that, and so they kept winning. They even played the most entertaining week 17 NFL game that has ever been played, against the eventual Superbowl Champion Giants. If you remember, that game was supposed to be on NFL network, but because of the Patriots historic run, it was put on national TV. Whether you loved or hated (like me and Betsy . . . did I mention Betsy?) the Patriots, you realized something monumental was happening. Earlier in the season when the Pats almost lost to the Ravens, I almost had an aneurysm when Rex Ryan called a timeout from the sidelines a milisecond before the Ravens stopped the Patriots on fourth down, which would have won the game.
My point is, aside from running up the score is a few games, the Pats played the game like it is meant to be played. They never lost their momentum, and with all the pressure in the world on their shoulders – and none on those of the lowly Giants – they almost pulled it off.
Now we come to my beloved Colts. First, let me say that I think that Peyton Manning is the greatest quarterback in NFL history. Let me also say, and it actually hurts me to write this, that if he had Bill Bilichick as his coach I believe he would have already won 4 Superbowls instead of 1. Anyway, Peyton is not only the most gifted athlete to ever play quarterback, he is also the smartest. They guy just doesn't get hurt. He has never missed a start in the NFL. The chances of him getting hurt are very small, as he has played over a decade in this league and Never Missed a Start! Yet the Colts showed their true colors this past Sunday. Even after the gave all of us fans such hope as we watched them comeback against the Jaguars the previous week despite resting some of their starters.
I contend that the Colts decision was both arrogant and foolish. I still wan them to win the Superbowl with all my heart. In fact, if they win the Superbowl, that won't change my opinion at all, because then I (and many others) will simply think: “See, they could have been the only 19-0 team in NFL history!!” And can I get an amen that the 1972 Dolphins are most annoying group of former pro athletes alive today. My mother's Bunco group could have given them a run for their money in 1972. The game has changed a ton since then. Anyway, Colts going 19-0 would have been like Luke Skywalker going undefeated: Everyone would have loved it. The Pats going 19-0 would have been like Darth Vader going undefeated: You hated him, but you had to respect him.
First, its arrogant. It completely disrespects the game of football. It also send the message, “We're too good for history. We're better than that.” Indianapolis Star sports writer Bob Kravitz wrote:
“They tossed perfection away like a Christmas leftover. They treated it with a casual shrug of the shoulders, disdain even, as if they were beyond such a trivial pursuit. Standing on the precipice of NFL history, the Indianapolis Colts' brain trust arrogantly, foolishly, treated Sunday's second half like a preseason game.” CNNSI writer Don Banks wrote, “I hated the way the Colts played it against New York, and there's something inherently wrong about not trying your best to win the game in that situation, with an undefeated season on the line.” Peter King, another CNNSI writer, said, “But whether players voice their feelings or not, guys like Manning and Reggie Wayne want to leave their footprints in the game forever. And you'll never be able to convince me they don't care about 16-0.” Even Jim Caldwell's mother said, “I didn't raise my boy to lay down like like a bed sheet that just got ironed!” Okay, she didn't really say that. But I bet she thought it.
Second, its foolish. It flies in the face of modern sports history, especially the Colts own history. In 2005 and 2007 the Colts did this exact same thing, and lost their first playoff game. The one year the Colts did win the Superbowl, in 2006, they were a Wild Card team and had to win 4 straight playoff games. In other words, they got hot at the right time: like the the 2005 Superbowl Champion Steelers, who were also a Wild Card. Like the 2007 Giants, who were a Wild Card. The 2008 Cardinals were 9-7 and yet made it to the Superbowl. I'm not saying I don't want the Colts to get the buy in the first round, but in today's NFL, you've got to realize the importance of momentum. In my opinion, the gap between the best teams and the really good teams has narrowed to the point that a team can't think that home-field advantage amounts to much anymore.
If I was the Colts coach last week. I would have left Peyton in the entire game. If he gets hurt, then so be it. He might also get hurt walking his dog around the neighborhood. Let me repeat. He has never missed a start. You've got to be willing to take some chances in football, as in life. Then I would go to Buffalo this week and let Peyton throw at least 3 touchdown passes before I pulled him. As one of my favorite writes, Joe Posnanski, said about the Colts loss, “When I saw Peyton Manning stewing on the sideline while the Colts' undefeated season was flushed away, it FELT wrong. Because, I guess, at the end of the day, if you're not trying to be perfect... what are you trying to be?” Well, even though Luke Skywalker is not going to go undefeated, I and every other self respecting Colts fan in the universe is not going to satisfied if the Colts don't win the Superbowl. And if they lose in the playoffs, even in the Superbowl, I think we can legitimately ask, “what if they had played hard the whole season, and kept their momentum? Then what would have happened?”
Two must read articles on this are Bob Kravitz, “By Pulling Manning, Colts Forsake Chance at Perfection” and Joe Posnanski, “Colts Decision to Rest Starters May Cost them More than Perfection.”
Here it is... the inaugural bath of the brothers. Howie had a blast, but as you can see, Justice had a bit more to worry about.
Already 4 months today! It's gone so fast!! Justice is still sporting his awesome mohawk, which he has had all along and we hope continues well into childhood.
This is Justice's bedtime apparel... he looks a bit like a Michelin baby every night with all those clothes on to ward off the cold.
The other morning we awoke to find that Howie had climbed into the crib with Justice and turned the mobile on for Justice's entertainment. He's never been much of a climber, but I guess that's all changing!! We've since had to lower the crib mattress so Howie can't get back in, and now Justice has to use a telescope to look at his mobile.
