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Monday, May 23, 2011
Over the past decade the Colts have taken on a word that defines them: focused. A phrase they have taken on throughout their history: two time Super Bowl Champions. Its time for the host of Super Bowl XLVI, the Indianapolis Colts.
Focused. Poised. Hard working. All these describe who Tony Dungy is as a person and as a coach. The Colts hired Dungy before the 2002 season started. Dungy took over a team that was very good offensively (Peyton Manning) but had a weak defense. Dungy immediately instaled the "Tampa 2" defense that he designed while he was a coach for the Buccaneers. Despite a change in their defense, the Colts got mixed reviews during games. The Colts got shut out in Dungy's first playoff game as coach, 41-0 by the Jets. Indy was able to advance to the AFC Championship Game the following year, but lost to the eventually Super Bowl Champion Patriots. In 2004, the Colts again lossed to the Patriots, this time in the divisional round. These two losses to the Patriots would make them the Colts (and Dungy's) heated rivals. The 2005 season might of started with 13 wins, but the Colts eventually lost in the playoffs to the Steelers, who would go on to win the Super Bowl. Finally in 2006 Dungy decided to play his players all 16 games and it would pay off. The Colts beat the Chiefs in the Wild Card round by holding them to 50 yards rushing. Then, the team upset the favored Ravens in the divisional round. It was the AFC Championship that was so sweet for Dungy though. Finally, the Colts had beaten the Patriots and were off to their first Super Bowl as the Indianapolis Colts. In Super Bowl XLI, Dungy became the first ever African American coach to win a Super Bowl as the Colts beat the Bears 29-17. During the Super Bowl hangover party, Dungy won his 72nd game as Colts coach, passing the legendary Don Shula for the most in franchise history. Dungy announced his successor Jim Caldwell in 2008 and retired before the 2009 season. Dungy coached with so much class and character that its hard to top him. Well nobody topped him for best Colts coach, thats for sure.
He is one of the greatest QB's of all time (third on my list). Peyton Manning was selected first overall by the Colts in the 1998 draft out of Tennessee. The funny thing is, Indianapolis also debated choosing Ryan Leaf. When the Colts GM asked if they don't pick him, Manning said, "Then I'll kick your butts for the next 10 years." Well put and it apparently got him drafted. Manning was more active then most rookie QB's are and threw for 3,739 yards and 26 touchdowns. He set many rookie records, one that included the most TD passes in a season. Despite a great rookie campaign, Manning threw a league high 28 interceptions as the Colts finished 3-13. On his way to a 4,000 yard season, Manning led the Colts to a ten game turn around, an NFL record, to the playoffs. The Colts lost in the divisonal round that year, but you could just see in Manning's eye that he was destined for greatness. Manning one the first of his many MVP's in 2003. The highlight game from that year was against the defending Super Bowl Champion Buccaneers on Monday Night Football. Indy trailed 35-14 in the final five minutes of the games and most fans were heading towards the exits, but not #18. The Colts were able to score a quick touchdown off of and then recover the onside kick. Manning threw a touchdown pass to WR Marvin Harrison to cut the score down to 35-28. Then Manning showed his late game heroics when he led the Colts 85 yards in the final 1:41 of the game. Amazingly the Colts became the only team to win a NFL game after trailing by 21 points in the final four minutes of regulation. 2004 might of brought another MVP for Manning, but 2006 has been his finest year to date. Manning faced little brother Eli on opening day, the first time two brothers played against each other as opposing QB's. Peyton was able to get the best of Eli in a 26-21 win. Except for most year, Manning played all 16 games throwing for 4,397 yards and a league leading 31 TD passes. Manning's greatest accomplishment that year, besides winning Super Bowl XLI, was probably beating rival Tom Brady. Some though that Brady was better then Manning and the talk had begun, but it didn't effect Peyton. The years have brought two more MVP's for Manning (he now has four, an NFL record) and another Super Bowl apperance. Manning might be a 11 time Pro Bowl selection and a Super Bowl MVP, but he is ultimately one of the greatest to ever play the game and the greatest to do it wearing a horse shoe on his helmet.
One of Johnny Unitas' favorite targets was taken in the 20th round of the 1954 draft out of Southern Methodist University. Even though Raymond Berry caught only 33 passes in his three years at college, he became a starter for the Colts in his second season. Berry became a real "iron man" of the league by starting every single game until his eighth year. During his career Berry was also reliable because he would only dropp two passes. Unitas and Berry both worked on their timing and development of plays after practice, which helped Berry reach that feat. Another accomplishment Berry had, he only fumbled once in his career. Probably Berry's best game was in the 1958 NFL Championship Game (later nicknamed "The Greatest Game Ever Played") against the Giants. He caught 12 passes for 178 yards and a touchdown, which stands as a championship record. In Berry's 13 hall of fame years he was voted to six Pro Bowls and six All-Pro teams. After getting drafted 232nd overall, I think Berry deserves to be the Colts best draft gem of all time.
Ah, Jeff George the role model for all QB draft busts. George was taken #1 overall by the Colts out of Illinois University. The Colts actually traded up to get George and then gave him the richest rookie contract in NFL history. It was a dream for George considering he was playing for his home town team in the NFL, but after getting drafted it was just all disaster. Before getting traded to Atlanta, George made a not so good gesture to the fans, argued with the head coach, and held out for 36 days. To sum it all up: he was a spoiled brat who didn't deserve to go first overall, simple as that. There was not really QB coming out in 1990 who deserved that #1 overall selection. Of course there were other players who definetly deserved it. Junior Seau and Cortez Kennedy. There was also a player that people thought was to small to play running back, Emmit Smith. Luckily for the Colts this didn't set their franchise back far, they drafted Peyton Manning just six years after letting go of George.
It was a great day for Colts fans. Just six years after they traded one of the biggest draft busts in NFL history, they get Peyton Manning from Tennessee. Manning provided one of my favorite NFL sound bites of all time when he told the Colts owners that he would kick Indy's butts for the next ten years. I have already talked about all about Manning in the "best player" section. These are some things that I might of missed out on. Manning was the fastest to reach 1,000, 2,000, 3,000, and 4,000 completions. Manning was also the fastest to 50,000 yards. Manning is second to Brett Favre in cosecutive games started at QB. To sum it up: Manning is kicking everyone elses butts and his arrival to Indianapolis changed the entire face of the franchise.
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