Colts Audible on Undefeated Season

Manning with Head Coach Jim Caldwell (right) need be on

both knees begging for Colts fans forgiveness and future

support.

In the NFL perfection is measured against the achievements of the 1972 Miami Dolphins, in this decade many have threatened none have conquered. First, it was the 2007 New England Patriots stopped in Super Bowl XLII. Flash forward to this season, two teams made a bid, the New Orleans Saints, crumble to Dallas in Week 15. That left only Jim Caldwell’s Indianapolis Colts undefeated entering Week 16.

Caldwell off to a roaring start in his first job as an NFL head coach at 14 – 0, led his charges into a game at home against the New York Jets, with the top seed in the AFC playoffs already locked up. The Jets conversely were a team facing a very muddled playoff picture. Only a week before their “genius” head coach Rex Ryan stepped in front of the press core and lamented his team’s elimination from the 2009 playoffs only to recant a day later when he found out that his team still had a glimmer of hope.

This competitive, enjoyable, and rather run of the mill 4:15PM game went haywire with 5:36 left in the third quarter and the Colts nursing a 15 – 10 lead. Caldwell committed a competitive treason against Colts fans by doing the unthinkable with a perfect season on the line, pulling Peyton Manning and other key starters, in favor of resting them for the upcoming playoff run. Three weeks in advance, I hope they feel good and rested.

Personally, I do not care to hear the explanations issued by Caldwell, they represent a very thin wooden leg full of termites to lean on. If I was a life long Colts fan I would be screaming for the ownership to fire this traitor as soon as possible, 14 and “ONE” record be damned. If the game was out of reach perhaps I can allow some slack to Caldwell, however in a five point game with an undefeated season on the line, pulling your starters is beyond comprehension. This shows a complete disrespect toward the home town fans who this week and every week prior have paid a premium to get a ticket to Lucas Oil Stadium to cheer on the home team. Typically, a crowd of crazed fans can help lift a team in a close game, yet in this case the head coach asks his star players to fall on their sword and watch the JVs surrender the pursuit of perfection.

Colts fans have been heard crying fowl on sports talk radio and in the papers, but they need to speak with more than their words they need to scream with their wallets. Colts fans if you feel wronged do not push and shove and pay any price for playoff tickets just move on like your team did on Sunday.

Ultimately, Colts fans cannot help but wonder WWTDD, What Would Tony Dungy Do?