2012 COLTS- Once in 90 Year Phenomenon!
Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2012 1:03 am
The National Football League sprang to life in 1920, and the NFL Films archives are stuffed with one remarkable, can-you-believe-it highlight after another.
As he stood outside the Lucas Oil Stadium locker room late Sunday afternoon -- it still was in full celebratory mode -- owner Jim Irsay insisted his Indianapolis Colts had just concluded a regular season like few before it. If ever.
"What can you say? Unbelievable, guys. Unbelievable," he said. "Ninety-plus years in this league (and) this year goes down as one of the most incredible years this league has seen.
"I'm not exaggerating. I know it for a fact."
Let's do a quick recap.
>> 2-14 in 2011.
>> Massive roster and front-office overhaul in the offseason.
>> Out with Peyton Manning, in with Andrew Luck.
>> Coach Chuck Pagano's bout with leukemia and offensive coordinator Bruce Arians not only keep the team on course, but steering it to a 9-3 record in Pagano's absence.
>> 11-5 record, a No. 5 seed in the AFC playoffs and a trip to Baltimore -- that only adds to this season's Hollywood script -- for a first-round game next Sunday (1 p.m., CBS).
Irsay was adamant regarding the uniqueness of it all as his players enjoyed Sunday's 28-16 win over the Houston Texans.
"To get 11 wins and to see the injuries we've had, to see Chuck's illness, to see the whole transition," he said. "It's just been incredible. Ninety-plus years, I'm telling you.
"If Ryan (Grigson, general manager) doesn't get Executive of the Year, then it's just a joke. He came in and took over a 2-14 team with no cap room and even with the injuries, finding guys off the streets . . . I see no one more deserving."
Irsay paused. Then started again.
"And to see Chuck here healthy, what a blessing," he said.
The Colts have their leader back.
"Our head general," Reggie Wayne said.
They have momentum, having closed the season with wins in five of their last six games and nine of their last 11.
And they have a destination. For some reason, going back to Baltimore seems so very appropriate. And so very appealing to the Cinderella Colts.
The Ravens rested many front-line players and fell at Cincinnati Sunday 23-17. They head into the postseason as the AFC North champs and the No. 4 seed, but with a noticeable limp. The Ravens lost four of their last five. Earlier this month, coach John Harbaugh fired offensive coordinator Cam Cameron and replaced him with former Colts coach Jim Caldwell.
"We're ready to go anywhere," Irsay said.
But again, Baltimore just adds to the story the Colts are authoring.
First, there's the obvious. The Colts called Baltimore home until 1984.
Then there are the obvious connections. Pagano was an assistant on Harbaugh's staff from 2008-11, the final season as defensive coordinator.
"That's probably another emotional game for coach Pagano, going back to Baltimore, seeing some old faces," Wayne said.
End Cory Redding and safety Tom Zbikowski, who missed Sunday's game with injuries, were brought in by Pagano and Grigson during the offseason from Baltimore to help with the transition.
There undoubtedly will be story after story this week of the Colts' return to their old stomping grounds, and of Pagano's return.
But the novelty of the former surely has worn off. It will mark the Colts' eighth game in the town they used to call home.
The Colts have won eight of the past nine meetings with the Ravens and are 9-3 overall, including 2-0 in the playoffs. They're 4-3 in Baltimore, and who can forget the 15-6 AFC divisional playoff game in 2006 that was a steppingstone to the win over the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI?
"It doesn't matter to us," Dwight Freeney said. "We'll play on the parking lot against whoever. We just wanted to get in the dance, which we are."
Redding spent the past two years in Baltimore. He left behind teammates, friends forever.
"Lot of people in the (Ravens) organization I hold dear in my heart," Redding said. "Good people over there.
"But it's going to be good to be on that field competing against them. Fun to see them, say hello. But at the end of the day, we've got to go there and compete. That's what it's all about."
Pagano knows his way around Baltimore, knows what they're all about.
"Obviously some familiarity there," he said. "We had four great years there as a family. Top-notch organization, really good football club. It'll be a great challenge."
Rookie quarterback Andrew Luck will look to his coach for any Baltimore tidbits that might come in handy.
"Coach Pagano knows more about them than I do, so lean on him," Luck said. "I know the Baltimore Colts moved to Indianapolis, so it'll be interesting. But I've heard it's a tough and hard place to play."
Perhaps another chapter in an incredibly unlikely story.
"Just standing here today, incredible," Irsay said. "It's a dream, It's like I'm dreaming."
As he stood outside the Lucas Oil Stadium locker room late Sunday afternoon -- it still was in full celebratory mode -- owner Jim Irsay insisted his Indianapolis Colts had just concluded a regular season like few before it. If ever.
"What can you say? Unbelievable, guys. Unbelievable," he said. "Ninety-plus years in this league (and) this year goes down as one of the most incredible years this league has seen.
"I'm not exaggerating. I know it for a fact."
Let's do a quick recap.
>> 2-14 in 2011.
>> Massive roster and front-office overhaul in the offseason.
>> Out with Peyton Manning, in with Andrew Luck.
>> Coach Chuck Pagano's bout with leukemia and offensive coordinator Bruce Arians not only keep the team on course, but steering it to a 9-3 record in Pagano's absence.
>> 11-5 record, a No. 5 seed in the AFC playoffs and a trip to Baltimore -- that only adds to this season's Hollywood script -- for a first-round game next Sunday (1 p.m., CBS).
Irsay was adamant regarding the uniqueness of it all as his players enjoyed Sunday's 28-16 win over the Houston Texans.
"To get 11 wins and to see the injuries we've had, to see Chuck's illness, to see the whole transition," he said. "It's just been incredible. Ninety-plus years, I'm telling you.
"If Ryan (Grigson, general manager) doesn't get Executive of the Year, then it's just a joke. He came in and took over a 2-14 team with no cap room and even with the injuries, finding guys off the streets . . . I see no one more deserving."
Irsay paused. Then started again.
"And to see Chuck here healthy, what a blessing," he said.
The Colts have their leader back.
"Our head general," Reggie Wayne said.
They have momentum, having closed the season with wins in five of their last six games and nine of their last 11.
And they have a destination. For some reason, going back to Baltimore seems so very appropriate. And so very appealing to the Cinderella Colts.
The Ravens rested many front-line players and fell at Cincinnati Sunday 23-17. They head into the postseason as the AFC North champs and the No. 4 seed, but with a noticeable limp. The Ravens lost four of their last five. Earlier this month, coach John Harbaugh fired offensive coordinator Cam Cameron and replaced him with former Colts coach Jim Caldwell.
"We're ready to go anywhere," Irsay said.
But again, Baltimore just adds to the story the Colts are authoring.
First, there's the obvious. The Colts called Baltimore home until 1984.
Then there are the obvious connections. Pagano was an assistant on Harbaugh's staff from 2008-11, the final season as defensive coordinator.
"That's probably another emotional game for coach Pagano, going back to Baltimore, seeing some old faces," Wayne said.
End Cory Redding and safety Tom Zbikowski, who missed Sunday's game with injuries, were brought in by Pagano and Grigson during the offseason from Baltimore to help with the transition.
There undoubtedly will be story after story this week of the Colts' return to their old stomping grounds, and of Pagano's return.
But the novelty of the former surely has worn off. It will mark the Colts' eighth game in the town they used to call home.
The Colts have won eight of the past nine meetings with the Ravens and are 9-3 overall, including 2-0 in the playoffs. They're 4-3 in Baltimore, and who can forget the 15-6 AFC divisional playoff game in 2006 that was a steppingstone to the win over the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI?
"It doesn't matter to us," Dwight Freeney said. "We'll play on the parking lot against whoever. We just wanted to get in the dance, which we are."
Redding spent the past two years in Baltimore. He left behind teammates, friends forever.
"Lot of people in the (Ravens) organization I hold dear in my heart," Redding said. "Good people over there.
"But it's going to be good to be on that field competing against them. Fun to see them, say hello. But at the end of the day, we've got to go there and compete. That's what it's all about."
Pagano knows his way around Baltimore, knows what they're all about.
"Obviously some familiarity there," he said. "We had four great years there as a family. Top-notch organization, really good football club. It'll be a great challenge."
Rookie quarterback Andrew Luck will look to his coach for any Baltimore tidbits that might come in handy.
"Coach Pagano knows more about them than I do, so lean on him," Luck said. "I know the Baltimore Colts moved to Indianapolis, so it'll be interesting. But I've heard it's a tough and hard place to play."
Perhaps another chapter in an incredibly unlikely story.
"Just standing here today, incredible," Irsay said. "It's a dream, It's like I'm dreaming."
