Category Archives: indianapolis colts

2013 NFL Week 9 – Betting Picks Against Spread

I had another good week. I went 9-4 last week. I missed on the Atlanta and Kansas City games (like everybody else), but I also picked the Giants on a moneyline play for the upset. My season record against the spread is 61-35-7 on the season.

Say goodbye to any value in the points spreads. The value is now in the decent teams coming off a loss (Atlanta, Dallas, Washington). Those plays are risky, but they’ll payoff again this week. Keep those teams in mind in the coming weeks.

Six teams are on bye this week, so there are three less games this weekend. Whoever made that decision in the NFL office should be fired. I’m sure he’s the same guy who’s pushing for more NFL games in London.

We pick every NFL game against the spread and throw out a few upsets in Week 9 of the NFL season.

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2013 NFL Week 7 – Betting Picks Against Spread

Need betting advice for the NFL games this weekend? We pick every game against the spread in Week 7 of the NFL season.

Say goodbye to any value in the points spreads. The value is now in the decent teams with a bad record (Atlanta, NY Giants, Pittsburgh). Those plays are risky, but they’ll payoff this week. Keep those teams in mind in the coming weeks. You could hit on a few home underdog moneyline plays.

We pick every NFL game against the spread and throw out a few upsets in Week 7 of the NFL season.

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2013 NFL Week 5 – Betting Picks Against Spread

Need betting advice for the NFL games this weekend? We pick every game against the spread in Week 5 of the NFL season.

Now that fantasy baseball season ended (I won four out of the five leagues), I’m waist-deep in fantasy football and college & pro football point spreads…I can’t complain. It’s better than writing about June baseball games.

I had some nice wins last week, but missed on the Browns and Redskins.

We pick every NFL game against the spread and throw out a few upsets and moneyline plays for Week 5 of the young NFL season.

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Colts trade pick for Trent Richardson

The Indianapolis Colts and Cleveland Browns may have just shocked the world.

The Colts are sending a 2014 first-round draft pick to the Cleveland Browns for running back Trent Richardson.

The Colts starting running back, Vick Ballard, tore his ACL in a practice last week, so they were in search for a running back.

Colts owner Jim Irsay hinted on Twitter last week that the team was searching for a replacement for Ballard. Many assumed that they were after Detroit Lions running back Mikel Leshoure. Well, the Colts out-kicked their coverage with this trade. Continue reading →

NFL: Colts Focus On Depth Early In Free Agency

The Indianapolis Colts didn’t waste any time to add depth to their team.

The free agency period started yesterday and within the first few hours, the Colts announced five signings.

The most important of those signings is former first-round pick Gosdar Cherilus. He is slated to replaced Winston Justice at right tackle.

The Colts know they have to protect quarterback Andrew Luck if they plan on having success.

Who else did the Colts sign? We fill you in after the jump… Continue reading →

Dolphins trade CB Vontae Davis to Colts for Draft Picks

Crazy Jim Irsay wasn’t bluffing when he tweeted that the “trade winds were blowing” in Indianapolis.

Indy will send their 2013 second-round draft pick and a conditional late-round pick to Miami for former first-round draft pick CB Vontae Davis.

The Colts needed help in their secondary and if you watched one episode of HBO’s “Hard Knocks”, you got the idea that Davis was on the trading block. Miami hasn’t been happy with his conditioning and that he takes plays off. Miami’s new head coach Joe Philbin has been getting on him a lot.

The Colts needed helped in their secondary, but their second-round pick will most likely be in the low-30’s. Davis has a couple years left on his deal, so he fits the mold with the Colts current youth movement.

Will he improve the Colts secondary? Yes.

Will he turn the Colts into a playoff team? Nope.

A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.

2012 NFL Team Preview: Indianapolis Colts

What a difference a year makes. The Colts were expected to still be a playoff team in 2011, even with Peyton Manning missing a ‘few games.’ Well, he went on to miss the entire season, Indianapolis received nothing from the quarterback position and finished with a 2-14 record.

The Indianapolis Colts have many question marks going into the 2012 season. They are just at the beginning of the rebuilding process and fans will have to endure another bad season. Arguably, this season won’t hurt as bad since Kerry Collins won’t out there fumbling their happiness away.

There are a slew of new faces in Indianapolis this year. Forget about Luck, new head coach Chuck Pagano and new offensive coordinator Bruce Arians are the two new guys who will make the biggest impact in 2012.

Here is our 2012 NFL team preview for the Indianapolis Colts.

2011 Win/Loss Record: 2-14

Key Additions: QB Andrew Luck, RB Mewelde Moore, WR Donnie Avery, S Tom Zbikowski, C Samson Satele, DT Cory Redding, CB Justin King, C Mike McGlynn, DT Brandon McKinney, WR T.Y. Hilton, TE Colby Fleener, TE Dwayne Allen, DT Josh Chapman, OG Zane Taylor, RB Vick Ballard and WR LaVon Brazill.

Key Losses: QB Peyton Manning, RB Joseph Addai, LB Gary Brackett, S Melvin Bullitt, TE Dallas Clark, QB Kerry Collins, WR Pierre Garcon, WR Anthony Gonzalez, CB Jacob Lacey, WR Blair White, QB Dan Orlovsky, QB Curtis Painter, C Jeff Saturday, TE Jacob Tamme, LB Phillip Wheeler, DE Jamaal Anderson, OG Ryan Diem, DT Eric Foster, OG Mike Pollack, OG Jamey Richard, LB Ernie Sims and Brody Eldridge.

Non-Division Schedule: AFC East and NFC North

Fantasy Sleeper: RB Delone Carter – The starting running back job is up for grabs in Indianapolis. Joseph Addai is gone and they will need either Donald Brown, Vick Ballard or Delone Carter to shine during training camp. Brown is the front-runner for the job. If he gets it, Carter should get plenty of goal-line carries. He is currently the front-runner to be the third-down back. I almost picked Ballard for the sleeper, since he has the same build as Carter. If Carter is taken in your fantasy football draft, WR T.Y. Hilton is a nice deep sleeper. WR Donnie Avery is already banged up in training camp and he has left an opening for a receiver to shine.

Team Analysis: Just look at the list of guys who have arrived or left this organization in the last five months. It will take a few weeks just for these guys to know their teammates’ names. Andrew Luck will have a productive, yet humbling rookie season. He will not have Cam Newton’s numbers, but will end the season better than he was when he arrived at training camp. The receiving corps will help him out a lot. Just by having his old college teammate Colby Fleener out there will help Luck feel more comfortable. The running game was horrible last year and does not appear to be improved this season either. Donald Brown could go from ‘draft bust’ to ‘late bloomer’ with a good season. The Colts’ defense is a complete crapshoot. There are so many new faces and young players expected to contribute, they are bound to look bad at times. The coaches hope the learning curve is small for the young players and guys like Pat Angerer can keep improving. Indianapolis will be bad this season, but they will be watchable…something you could not say last season.

2012 Wins Over/Under Line: 5 (Prediction: UNDER)

2012 Projected Win/Loss Record: 3-13

CLICK HERE to read the rest of our 2012 NFL Team Previews

A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.

2012 NFL Draft – 1st Round Mock Draft

The 2012 NFL Draft is one the deepest drafts in recent memory. Most of the guys who will be drafted are proven commodities. You won’t have a lot of guys who rose into the first-round based just on their NFL Combine performance. It is quite reassuring for a team to draft a player based on their actual on-field production than to cross their fingers and take a risk on a guy who can bench more and/or looks better shirtless.

I do my impersonation of Mel Kiper and Todd McShay with my own Mock Draft.

Warning: Alabama and LSU will be represented well in this year’s 1st round of the NFL Draft.

1. Indianapolis Colts – QB Andrew Luck (Stanford)
This is a pretty easy pick, you might as well write him in.

2. Washington Redskins – QB Robert Griffin III (Baylor)
Washington didn’t trade up to draft anyone other than Griffin III.

3. Minnesota Vikings – OT Matt Kalil (USC)
Minnesota recently said that this pick was on the market. Don’t take any of Jim Irsay’s tweets seriously…ever. If they trade this pick or not, Kalil will go at #3.

4. Cleveland Browns – WR Justin Blackmon (Oklahoma State)
Unless the Browns can trade down to pick a QB, Blackmon is too good to pass up.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – CB Morris Claiborne (LSU)
Who cares about Wonderlic scores! I love Claiborne and he’ll be a good one.

6. St. Louis Rams – WR Michael Floyd (Notre Dame)
The Rams still need to bolster their receving corps and Floyd would help. He’s a bit of a reach at #6, but he fills a team need.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars – DE Melvin Ingram (South Carolina)
This will give the Jaguars another pass rusher and will help Jeremy Mincey on the other end.

8. Miami Dolphins – QB Ryan Tannehill (Texas A&M)
If no one trades up to get Tannehill earlier, he’ll be picked by the Dolphins. They need a QB of the future and he’s worth the risk.

9. Carolina Panthers – DT Dontari Poe (Memphis)
Poe is the ‘Mr. Upside’ of the 2012 NFL Draft. Scouts see something special in him and he has all the tools to be a good defensive tackle.

10. Buffalo Bills – G David DeCastro (Stanford)
He’s the best guard in the draft and will help get some holes for Fred Jackson to run through.

11. Kansas City Chiefs – LB Luke Kuechly (Boston College)
He’s been compared to Keith Brooking…Kansas City needs a Keith Brooking-type linebacker.

12. Seattle Seahawks – DE Quinton Coples (North Carolina)
Seattle’s defensive front was really bad in 2011, Coples will fill their need.

13. Arizona Cardinals – OT Riley Reiff (Iowa)
Reiff may not be available at #13, since teams like to trade up to get left tackles. If he’s there at #13, Arizona would gladly pick him.

14. Dallas Cowboys – S Mark Barron (Alabama)
Dallas has needed a strong safety since Darren Woodson retired. He would be an upgrade over Abram Elam.

15. Philadelphia Eagles – DT Fletcher Cox (Mississippi State)
Andy Reid loves him some defensive tackles. They also need help at cornerback, but this will add depth.

16. New York Jets – RB Trent Richarson (Alabama)
I think I’m the only person who think that Richardson will fall in this draft. The NFL is a different league than it was a decade ago. If someone doesn’t trade up to draft Richardson, the Jets will get a steal. He would be a nice complement to Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow.

17. Cincinnati Bengals – DT Michael Brockers (LSU)
Cincinnati has bolstered its defense with physical guys. Brockers would be a nice fit in that defense and it would be the best pick for the Bengals.

18. San Diego Chargers – CB Dre Kirkpatrick (Alabama)
The Chargers have yet to replace Antonio Cromartie and Kirkpatrick is their guy.

19. Chicago Bears – OT Jonathan Martin (Stanford)
Jay Cutler has found that it is hard to throw the ball while on your back. The Bears have whiffed on a few other offensive tackles recently, but Martin will help him stay on his feet.

20. Tennessee Titans – CB Stephon Gilmore (South Carolina)
A ballhawk cornerback with 4.40 speed? The Titans will jump on him if he’s there at #20.

21. Cincinnati Bengals – G Cordy Glenn (Georgia)
He was a beast at the NFL Combine and replaces Bobbie Williams, who left via free agency.

22. Cleveland Browns – OT Mike Adams (Ohio State)
Mike Holmgren likes a talented offensive line. Adams might be a reach at #22, but there isn’t a quarterback worth the reach. They could pick Brandon Weeden, Kirk Cousins, or Brock Osweiler later in the draft.

23. Detroit Lions – CB Janoris Jenkins (North Alabama)
The Lions have spent the last two drafts building their defensive line. It is time for them to spend some picks on their secondary.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers – ILB Dont’a Hightower (Alabama)
He’s the perfect pick for the Steelers. His name sounds like he should have played for the team in the 1970s.

25. Denver Broncos – DT Jerel Worthy (Michigan State)
Denver needs help against the run and Worthy would be the best defensive tackle on the board.

26. Houston Texans – WR Kendall Wright (Baylor)
If the Texans pick Wright at #26, it would free up Jacoby Jones to focus on just being a receiver. Wright will help in the receiving corps, but he’s a threat as a kickoff & punt returner.

27. New England Patriots – OLB Courtney Upshaw (Alabama)
This draft is becoming very Crimson Tide heavy. He’s undersized and doesn’t have a true position at either defensive end or outside linebackers. Even though many mock drafts have him going much higher, he’s a project.

28. Green Bay Packers – DE Chandler Jones (Syracuse)
The younger brother of UFC champion, Jon “Bones” Jones, would look good in a Green Bay jersey.

29. Baltimore Ravens – C Peter Konz (Wisonsin)
Konz would be the “Center in waiting” and would take over when Matt Birk retires.

30. San Francisco 49ers – WR Stephen Hill (Georgia Tech)
Alex Smith needs more targets and I wouldn’t be surprised if Coby Fleener is picked here instead of Hill. Jim Harbuagh coached him at Stanford and having another big target would benefit Smith. I think they go with Hill because I don’t know how Vernon Davis would react to having another tight-end as competition.

31. New England Patriots – S Harrison Smith (Notre Dame)
Even though New England needs to improve their front seven, their secondary was the worst group to have every made it to the Super Bowl.

32. New York Giants – TE Coby Fleener (Stanford)
Kevin Boss is a good tight-end, but Fleener could be the next Rob Gronkowski. He’s a big target for Eli Manning and he’ll get open in their offense.

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A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.

Would Peyton Help Groom Tim Tebow?

As Peyton Manning is in Denver talking with the Broncos, we all wonder how this will affect Tim Tebow. It isn’t a guarantee that Manning will sign with them, since he will most likely visit a few more teams. Would Manning be afraid of the backlash that comes with blocking Tim Tebow from starting? Would he accept the role of mentor? What can Tebow learn from one of the games best quarterbacks? A lot of questions are still in the air, but one thing is known, they are both fierce competitors.

Manning has never been on a team with another quarterback that could start in the NFL. I think he has helped groom some of his back-ups in Indianapolis, but it wasn’t his job. When the Colts were winning 12 games a year, Jim Sorgi or Curtis Painer would play a lot in the last few games of the year. Manning would have a headset on and he would be calling plays. He was able to do that because he had no threat at losing his job. I’m guessing that he enjoyed watching someone that he helped mold and call plays for him. Saying all of that, the situation in Denver would be quite different.

Drafting Tim Tebow in the first-round and having the ground-swell of support from Denver’s fans, has been a problem for the Broncos front-office. John Elway has since taken over the operations and he wasn’t in charge when Tebow was drafted. Football bloggers and mainstream journalists were waiting to see if Elway would him a shot. After a watching the first few games last year, Elway thought that they had nothing to lose and unleashed Tebow. Was Elway hoping that he would fall on his face? Elway’s in a position that he has to leave Tebow alone or the fanbase will turn on him. The only way out of this would be if he signed Peyton Manning.

Denver’s defense was very solid last year and rookie Von Miller was exceptional. In a weak AFC West, the Broncos are built to win now. They have the cap space to sign Manning and maybe a few of his old teammates (Reggie Wayne, Pierre Garcon, and/or Dallas Clark). The fanbase would realize that Manning would be the best choice to lead this team…right now.

What can Tebow learn from being Manning’s back-up? First, he would probably be in less pictorials with his shirt off. I’ve seen Tim Tebow shirtless more times than I have seen myself nude. After that is addressed, he can learn to become a better passer. Manning helped build an offense around his strengths. Tom Moore was a huge help in doing that, but he started to learn defenses and call audibles at the line. This what Tebow needs to learn the most from Manning. If he can recognize defenses, he can go in the huddle and call one passing play and one QB option play. He can see what the defense gives him and then signal to his teammates which play he’s calling. If he perfected that, Tebow would be more of a threat than Michael Vick…assuming that Tebow learns how to throw more accurately.

Will Manning groom Tim Tebow if he signs with Denver? I’m assuming that it would be a condition in his contract. What if Manning finishes his career there, in three or four years, and hands the keys to Tebow and he stinks? It wouldn’t completely tarnish his reputation, but it wouldn’t look good. Brett Favre never had that problem with Aaron Rodgers, even though he had nothing to do with Rodgers’ success.

The apprenticeship that Tebow would receive from Manning would be priceless. They are both fierce competitors, Tebow just needs someone to mold him. He will not be fixed over night, so Manning would be the perfect stopgap.

Seriously bro, put on a shirt!

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A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.

Farewell, Peyton Manning : A Fan’s Goodbye

After 8 months of “will they or won’t they”, the Colts and Peyton Manning finally parted ways. I’m here to try to give a logical outlook from a fan’s perspective, since I’ve heard “talking heads” speak about how Colts fans are mad…this couldn’t be more false. I hope I can shine a new perspective on the dilemma the Colts are facing and why most Colts fans wish the best for Peyton Manning.

First, let me make it clear that ever since it was clear that the Indianapolis Colts were going to get the #1 pick in the NFL Draft, I knew that Manning would be gone. If anyone paid attention to Manning’s contract extension talks that happened last summer, you knew that owner, Jim Irsay, wanted to make him happy. Irsay wanted to make Manning the highest paid quarterback in the NFL and was offering him more money than Manning even thought was necessary. He took less than what Irsay was offering him, because he wanted money left to get other players and maybe this was a hint that he knew that his neck wasn’t healthy enough to play. This situation could have been much worse, especially if Manning agreed to the amount of money that Irsay was first offering him. I wanted to make that clear before I start to explain what the average Colts fan is thinking about this whole ordeal.

Since the end of the regular season, the Colts organization has made it clear that they are going into full-blown rebuilding mode. They fired the President, GM, Coach, and a lot of the other team personnel. The team offered a long-term deal to wide receiver Pierre Garcon, who turned down the deal. Garcon is an average 3rd receiver on a .500 team, so this was a big red flag. The Colts also re-signed defensive end, Robert Mathis, to a long-term deal. This was the final nail in the coffin in the Peyton Manning saga. They wouldn’t have had the money to keep Manning after re-signing Mathis. A knowledgeable Colts fan already knew the answer before the owner announced that they would release Manning.

I was listening to Colin Cowherd’s radio show this morning and his idea of what the average Colts fan is thinking was infinitely wrong. I shouldn’t have expected that he would be a good judge, since I disagree with most of his views, in which most are said to be the antagonist. He said, “Colts fans shouldn’t be mad, they are the luckiest franchise in the league. You didn’t earn the #1 pick when they drafted Peyton Manning and they didn’t earn the #1 pick this year.” First off, how does one “earn” the #1 pick in the NFL Draft? The #1 pick goes to the team who ends with the worst record in the league. Does a team have to intentionally throw games to “earn” the #1 pick? After saying that, Cowherd rattled off Manning’s career accomplishments, which were mostly incorrect. Cowherd was only correct about the fact that the Colts have been the luckiest team in the NFL, because as fans, we had the chance to root for a great quarterback and a stand-up guy for over a decade.

Growing up in Northern Indiana in the late 80’s & early 90’s, I didn’t know many other Colts fans. One of the earliest seasons that I remember, the starting quarterbacks were Jack Trudeau & Gary Hogeboom. The team went 3-13 and it didn’t get any better after that. They acquired Eric Dickerson and had a few 8-8 & 9-7 teams, but the carousel of starting quarterbacks still occurred. As fans, we had to endure Chris Chandler, Jeff George, Paul Justin, Craig Erickson, Don Majkowski, and finally, “Captain Comeback”, Jim Harbaugh. The Colts were up & down through these years, but never had a franchise quarterback. They had some talented guys at other skill positions, but they couldn’t get over the hump. They would get high draft picks year after year, but with picks like Steve Emtman & Trev Alberts being busts, they couldn’t catch a break. When the Colts went 3-13 in 1997 and received the 1998 #1 overall pick, I’d say that they “earned” Peyton Manning.

Colts fans have endured bad seasons and teams that overachieved with lackluster talent. We aren’t the New York Yankees, Detroit Red Wings, or Dallas Cowboys, if they don’t make the playoffs, their fans turn into an angry mob. We have won the most games over the last decade and we are blessed fans. We will have a few down years, but it will make the next winning season that much better. We are a group of optimist fans and will continue to support the team.

We wish Peyton Manning and thank him for all that he has done for the city of Indianapolis and the state of Indiana. If it wasn’t for him, Lucas Oil Stadium would have just been an unused blueprint and Indianapolis would have never hosted a Super Bowl. Saying all of that, we just hope that he doesn’t go to a team that will destroy us in the near future. If he comes into Lucas Oil Stadium on the visiting team, he will be cheered. After he retires, he jersey will be retired and will most likely get a statue in front of the stadium. Until then, we wish you the best, Mr. Manning.

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A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.

Interview: Ken Dilger

I had a chance to speak with former Indianapolis Colts and Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight-end, Ken Dilger. We spoke about NFL Playoffs, what happened to the Colts this season, and who was a better high school quarterback, him or Jay Cutler. It was great to speak with him and he was in Peoria, Illinois doing some great work for a charity. See what he’s up to now and find out how you can contact him.

Me: I want to ask you about the Colts. I I want to asked you about the Colts. It was tough to see them struggle with injuries all season. What could they have done differently against the Jets in the playoffs? Continue reading →

It’s Time To Cut Ties With Bob Sanders

Bob Sanders made his first start since rupturing his left biceps tendon last season. He hasn’t played much for Indianapolis the last two seasons due to injury. He suffered another injury yesterday, this time it’s his elbow. The Colts have drafted well at defensive back the last few years and it could be time to cut their losses and trade or cut their defensive superstar.

I have been a broken record over the last 12 months and my stance has not changed. Sanders has only eight regular season starts over the last two season. Since he signed his 5-year/ $37.5 million deal with $20 million guaranteed in 2007, he has missed 27 of a possible 36 games, including playoffs. It would be an unpopular decision with other Colts fans if they did decide on letting Sanders go at some point. He was the main reason they won the Super Bowl a few seasons ago. The Colts have been pretty loyal to their stars over the years. They even gave former star, Edgerrin James, a Super Bowl ring, even though he left for Arizona the previous off-season.

The extent of Sanders’ injury is unknown, but both sides are being quiet about it, which is a red flag. The injury did not occur to the same left arm that kept him out last season. The play that Sanders suffered the injury wasn’t gruesome. You wouldn’t have even guessed that his elbow was what ended up being injured. Indianapolis should be able to fill the position. The Colts doesn’t have that much depth at safety with Melvin Bullitt filling in for Sanders over the last few seasons. Antoine Bethea is starting on the other side, but they also have young corners Jacob Lacey, Deshea Townsend, and Justin Tryon able to fill in, if needed.

The Colts run defense suffered with Sanders going out in the 1st quarter. Arian Foster went off for over 200 yards with a couple scores in victory. Indianapolis will have to focus on that and use their pass rush less. Mathis and Freeney go upfield too much and must stay back and play the run.

I hope Sanders can come back soon and play at a high level, but if he can’t stay on the field, the Colts will have to do something. I will keep my ears pressed against the wall and hopes I hear good news concerning his injury.

A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.