tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14963913.post8190360976196770841..comments2023-10-27T20:27:57.900-04:00Comments on Kid Dynamite's World: Let's Talk About FootballKid Dynamitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17475987512856310577noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14963913.post-51892436629478581132010-01-07T05:31:00.887-05:002010-01-07T05:31:00.887-05:00I think the Welker example is spurious because I d...I think the Welker example is spurious because I don't feel referencing 1 injury to 1 player out of however many played on the weekend is a fair comparison and really relevant to assessing whether or not Indy should have played their players. A better comparison to make would be "what is the probability, per quarter, that a star player will get seriously injured." Indy would have needed to play (assuming they did win against the jets) an extra 5 quarters to be undefeated right now. I feel the chance of an injury happening to 1 of say 3 or 4 valuable players over 5 quarters is pretty low and given what was at stake, it's worth taking that risk.<br /><br />Maybe we just disagree on whether the risk is worth the reward but think of all the things that I feel happened because they didn't play them those 5 quarters:<br />a) the fans are really angry (as evidenced by the booing when Manning was sat), even if they win the superbowl the fans will feel cheated. Chance to win the superbowl as a top seed occurs alot more often than being 14-0 and having the opportunity to go undefeated.<br />b) It shows the players that the management doesn't have confidence in them.<br />c) pisses the players off as they had the opportunity to do something very very special. I would be happy to bet you money that in 10-20 years when Peyton Manning writes his autobiography he talks about how he wanted the opportunity to get back in the game. He's already won a superbowl, going undefeated would have given him alot more credibility in the argument of best QB of this generation. He would have done the one thing Brady couldn't.<br />d) Shows other teams that the colts are scared because they didn't go for it, giving them more hope they can win.<br />e) as you mentioned, the rust problem as players ease up. Indy already had a bye week locked up.<br />f) I think it puts the colts in a no win situation in 5-10 years. If an injury did occur and the colts ended up not being undefeated or lose in the playoffs, sure, a few people would have said "shouldn't have played him whenever" But the number of people saying counter to that "they had the chance to be undefeated, so you go for it" would have drowned out their voices. So really no downside for going for it, if anything, if an injury did occur and they got beaten in the playoffs, history would just say they were unlucky. The fact they rested the players now means that if they lose in the playoffs everyone will say "lost focus when they sat their players against the jets" which cost them a game or if they win the superbowl everyone will say "should have played cause of the opportunity they had" So they lose regardless of whether they end up winnning or losing the superbowl. <br /><br />Overall I guess, I just don't think it was a very smart move :).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14963913.post-26831160858860161012010-01-06T18:19:47.029-05:002010-01-06T18:19:47.029-05:00This is a fascinating discussion point.
I would a...This is a fascinating discussion point.<br /><br />I would ask if the Colts had a team meeting and the players were asked honestly if they wanted to go for the undefeated mark, or rest up for the playoffs. If the players wanted to go then the Colst move was a mistake. Still after a late season meeting the PAtriots of 07 wanted to go for it and several tough games down the stretch that they did not need may have been the cause of them running out of gas (both the AFC title game and the superbowl).<br /><br />The Welker loss is a dagger and that knee has been iffy all year. Why the hell was Welker returning punts for weeks on end is my question, not one play in a game that was probably meaningless.EconomicDisconnecthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02802078645713106743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14963913.post-9833137859220952652010-01-06T14:30:58.876-05:002010-01-06T14:30:58.876-05:00yes, and there's also the issue where sometime...yes, and there's also the issue where sometimes resting your starters can result in them looking rusty when they return.<br /><br />i don't know how anyone can call the Welker example spurious. it's EXACTLY why you can justify resting the players - because a freak injury can happen at any point and end your season. (a la Tom Brady in game 1, 2008).<br /><br />I was firmly in the "They should go for 19-0" camp, until Welker went down...<br /><br />also, i think it's absurd that the Colts starters played at all in the final week.Kid Dynamitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17475987512856310577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14963913.post-8267377550015903832010-01-06T13:12:25.448-05:002010-01-06T13:12:25.448-05:00I think it's a little spurious to use Welker a...I think it's a little spurious to use Welker as an example. Think of all the star players who did play last weekend who didn't get hurt. Then on top of that, Welkers injury was very uncommon, how many players do you hear about (out of the total who play) that hurt themselves without contact? He could of just as easily hurt himself that way in practice.<br /><br />Anyway, the colts had the opportunity to do something basically no one had done before (given that the reg season is 2 games longer than when the dolphins played). It is the biggest team achievement in my opinion to go undefeated and they dropped the ball. Sure they would have been taking on a little more risk playing the two games properly, but at the same time, the payoff is worth it IMHO. All of a sudden you go from being a team which won the superbowl (I assume) to being in the conversation about being the best team ever. no comparion.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14963913.post-20263767976292028932010-01-06T09:11:16.218-05:002010-01-06T09:11:16.218-05:00great point, Anon, and i agree with you completely...great point, Anon, and i agree with you completely... BUT... then there's Wes Welker!Kid Dynamitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17475987512856310577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14963913.post-8971271945814396912010-01-06T09:08:19.417-05:002010-01-06T09:08:19.417-05:00I prefered Jason Whitlock's analysis:
"G...I prefered Jason Whitlock's analysis:<br /><br />"Going undefeated has never once stopped a team from reaching the Super Bowl.<br /><br />“The perfect season has never been one of our goals,” Caldwell claimed after the game. “It’s never been anything we focused on or anything we talked about.”<br /><br />Knocking boots with Beyonce has never been one of my goals, but if presented the opportunity, you best believe I won’t labor through 20 minutes of foreplay and signal for Curtis Painter to finish the job.<br /><br />There are stated goals and there are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities only fools pass up. You put Beyonce on your resume and it opens unforeseen doors. Tom Brady is married to Gisele because he dated Bridget Moynahan first."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14963913.post-48504274065121095192010-01-06T08:57:26.383-05:002010-01-06T08:57:26.383-05:00I thought is was a very low probability event give...I thought is was a very low probability event given the prospect of a 19-0 season. Besides, my backup QB was David Garrard!Andrewnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14963913.post-286003157646082432010-01-06T08:34:50.015-05:002010-01-06T08:34:50.015-05:00ha. i hadn't considered that, Andrew. you knew...ha. i hadn't considered that, Andrew. you knew it was a risk that the players would be benched!Kid Dynamitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17475987512856310577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14963913.post-54099553715992775582010-01-06T08:29:19.603-05:002010-01-06T08:29:19.603-05:00How about the impact of this decision on fantasy o...How about the impact of this decision on fantasy owners of Manning and Clark (i.e., me)?!?! I lost the title in my league on account of Caldwell. Not cool.Andrewnoreply@blogger.com