(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Several Internet journalists, and so called "arm-chair experts," have spent the better part of the off-season writing off the Indianapolis Colts.
Most of the reporting that is done cites the coaching turnover, the loss of Marvin Harrison, or the fact that the Colts play in one of the toughest division in football as reasons that the Colts will drop off the short list of elite teams in the NFL.
As a passionate Colts fan, I pride myself on keeping up to date with the news that involves my favorite NFL franchise. I stood by as Tony Dungy announced his retirement.
I watched as Marvin Harisson refused to accept a salary that fit his new role and was subsequently released from the only team he had ever played for.
I even cursed at the television screen on draft day when Rey Maualuga was still on the board and the Colts' turn to pick arrived and we selected a running back out of UCONN that I had never heard off.
Yet despite all my concerns as these very important and sometimes difficult decisions were made by the powers-that-be in the Colts' front office, I have never worried.
You see, throughout the last 11 years that I have followed the Colts I have come to accept one inevitable truth that is the foundation of my support for the team.
In Bill Polian and Peyton Manning I Trust.
Every step of the way from Buffalo to Carolina to Indianapolis, Bill Polian has staked a reputation as a man who seldom makes the wrong call. Ryan Leaf or Peyton Manning, Eddgerin James or Ricky Williams, drafting Reggie Wayne when they still had a young Marvin Harrison on the roster.
How about letting Eddgerin James walk and replacing him with Joe Addai?
Remember Dwight Freeney? Apparently he was too small to play in the NFL when the Colts drafted him in the 15 spot.
Remember when Tony Dungy was too nice to be successful in the NFL? Tampa replaced him with Chucky, went to the Super Bowl, and won with Dungy's team. They never even came close to sniffing that kind of success again, as Dungy's influence started to fade from Tampa.
Every step of the way, Bill Polian has made the tough decisions. I know it wasn't easy to watch Marvin Harrison exit this team the way that he did. Lord knows it would have been even harder to watch him put on another jersey.
However, the fact of the matter is that no other team even wanted to take a chance on the surefire hall of famer. I couldn't believe that Tennessee and Jacksonville, both starved for wide receivers, wouldn't take a run at him when he hit the market. Even if just to put him on the sidelines to tip the coaching staff off when they play the Colts.
The fact that Harrison received no interest from the other teams in the NFL just serves to prove that Bill Polian again made the right call, doing what was best for the team.
When people say the loss of Marvin Harrison is going to be hard for the Colts to overcome, I have a newsflash for people that don't follow the Colts that closely.
The Colts lost Marvin Harrison two years ago. He hasn't been the same player since he injuried his knee, and, quite honestly, he cost the Colts a playoff game with that horrible fumble in 2007.
Marvin's replacement is Anthony Gonzalez, who is entering his third season. Why is that significant? Because the third year of a receiver's career has historically proven to be the year of the breakout season.
Consider some of the other top receivers in the game right now. Chad Johnson, Terrell Owens, and Steve Smith all doubled their TD production in year three, while topping the 1000 yards receiving mark for the first time.
Randy Moss and Jerry Rice managed to have their big seasons in year two, while several other high profile WR's took an extra year to hit it big, including Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison.
The second half of my reasoning comes from placing my faith in the hands, or rather arm, of Peyton Manning. Despite what the AFC East blogger at ESPN might think, Peyton Manning, not Tom Brady or any other QB for that matter, has been the pillar of consistency in the NFL since the 1998 NFL season.
He has guided the Colts to the playoffs all but twice. Since 2003, the Colts have won at least 12 games, and in 11 seasons Manning has thrown for 4000+ yards. He has yet to have a season where he didn't toss at least 26 TD's.
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