Indianapolis Colts: How They Can Save Their Season

The Indianapolis Colts have experienced an absolutely abysmal start to their 2011 season.

But really though, what was to be expected without Peyton Manning?

If you've watched a Colts game so far this season, you can see that it's not just the absence of No. 18 that's been the only problem. It's a big problem, but not the only one.

The defense has looked atrocious. Injuries have plagued essentially their entire defense, forcing second-string players to start.

The Colts are in trouble. It's only Week 3, and they should be sending out an S.O.S.

Like I said though, it's only Week 3. There is still time to right the ship.

Here are a few ways for the Colts to save their season.

Play for Andrew Luck

Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck has been talked about as the prized commodity of college football for two seasons now.

If you're the Colts, maybe one way to go is to NOT do anything now.

What I mean by this is: don't make any moves.

Let Kerry Collins continue to play football at a turtle's speed.

Let the defense give up 30 points per game, and hopefully they don't get injured any worse.

In the long run, it may not be all that bad.

Yeah, they won't make the playoffs for the first time since 2001, but that's the price you pay.

The product is Andrew Luck.

You squander the season (in dignified fashion, of course), and draft Luck—sort of how the Packers did with Aaron Rodgers. Let the young man, who's already being compared to Peyton Manning, actually learn to play in the NFL under Peyton Manning.

It will hurt Colts fans now, but who knows? He may really be the next Peyton Manning.

Sign David Garrard

Given the Colts' situation, this should have been done roughly one hour after the Jaguars released David Garrard.

Despite Garrard's lofty demands to go to a championship contender, the Colts really need him, and he's the best quarterback available.

If Garrard can look past the fact that the Colts won't be winning a title this season—or come close, for that matter—he'd make a great addition to the team.

I like the idea of a strong-armed Garrard tossing long balls to a speedy Pierre Garcon or tossing goal-line fades to Reggie Wayne.

I mean, anything is better than the graveyard Kerry Collins at this point.

If the Colts want to remain competitive, their best option might be signing David Garrard.

Rush Back Peyton Manning

OK, this obviously isn't going to happen, but it's worth a thought.

It clearly is the wrong option for Manning on so many levels, and there's no way anyone would approve of it...but in light of how bad the Colts are, I'm tendering the idea.

Hey, if the Colts want to win, they're going to need Peyton Manning.

Get it? That's my reasoning: Manning equals wins.

Trade for Carson Palmer

Another lofty and farfetched option for the Colts would be to bite at Cincinnati's quarterback-but-not-quarterback, Carson Palmer.

Palmer's rift with Bengals management has been well documented, and with Cincinnati looking light-years better than we thought they would, Carson won't be returning from retirement to don the orange and black.

If you're the Colts, why not make a play for Palmer? It's unlikely that Bengals owner Mike Brown will go for it, but it's worth a try.

Palmer can still play, I'm sure of that. Kerry Collins can't, and I'm more sure of that.

The logic points to the Colts at least having the brains to pick up the phone and call.

Catch My Drift?

Here's my take on the situation: The Colts are bad.

That is simple.

Like I stated, the defense has just as many problems as the offense. Just not as many that carry the weight of a quarterback.

Quarterbacks change games. They can win you games, and they can certainly lose you games.

So, when I say the defense has holes that are injury related, you can't just sign one player from free agency to make everything better. If their defense can return from injury, they have a chance at improving just from that.

The Colts need a quarterback if Peyton Manning is going to be out for as long as we think. All of these options should be considered. 

However, personally, I'm sticking a fork into this season.