As the NFL season gets closer every day, so does your fantasy draft. The Sports Bank fantasy football previews continue we take a look at a running back position that has as many question marks as answers.
Follow paulmbanksAndrew Luck makes strong statement in debut for Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts’ 2012 preseason opener, unlike such games in years past, was significant. It would offer the fan base its first look at the Colts under GM Ryan Grigson, coach Chuck Pagano and, most importantly, new franchise quarterback Andrew Luck.
Safe to say that first look was a good one.
Luck, heir apparent to Peyton Manning, looked a lot like the great former Colts quarterback in several ways Sunday in leading Indy to a 38-3 wallop of the St. Louis Rams at Lucas Oil Stadium, and not just because his first pass as a professional went for a touchdown.
Follow paulmbanksThe Great Unknown: 2012 Indianapolis Colts preview
The Indianapolis Colts have endured quite the eventful — and often turbulent — offseason in 2012.
The firings of Vice Chairman Bill Polian, GM Chris Polian and coach Jim Caldwell. The hires of GM Ryan Grigson and coach Chuck Pagano.
The release of quarterback Peyton Manning, the greatest and most iconic Indianapolis Colt of all time, and the subsequent cuts of long-time fan favorites Joseph Addai, Gary Brackett, Melvin Bullitt and Dallas Clark.
The selection of Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck — the franchise’s cornerstone for the future — with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft.
And on the not-so-bright side, the fan backlash at owner Jim Irsay and the club, particularly for parting with Manning and for announcing just weeks ago the Colts would black out home games that weren’t 100-percent sold out despite a new league rule that allows a minimum 85-percent attendance to air games.
After all this uber-whirlwind of change and drama surrounding the Colts, it’s finally, thankfully, time to play some football.
Follow paulmbanksIndianapolis Colts 2012 Fantasy Preview
Rebuilding seems to be the theme for the 2012 Indianapolis Colts and for good reason. This is a team that went an NFL-worst 2-14 and ranked near the bottom of the league in yards (30th) and points per game (tied 28th). For the disaster that was the 2011 season, it wasn’t all bad, considering the Colts were able to pick up Andrew Luck who officially brings an end of the Peyton Manning era in Indianapolis.
Here are the guys in Indianapolis that you should have on your list come time to do the fantasy draft. [Read more…]
Eventful Two Days Lead to Clean House for Indianapolis Colts
Wow. Never mind suggesting what an emotionally draining season 2011 has been for the Indianapolis Colts.
The last two days have been taxing enough.
Entering Sunday’s season finale at Jacksonville, the Colts were a once-proud franchise fallen from grace, a putrid roster bereft of its four-time MVP quarterback to mask its deficiencies and a trainwreck of an organization at the hands of Bill and Chris Polian.
By sundown Monday, the franchise was swept clean of Polian reign, had entered the market for a new general manager and now appears set to move forward with a new vision, very possibly with a promising young signal-caller.
The Colts’ loss to the Jaguars netted Indy the No. 1 pick in April’s NFL Draft, and Colts owner Jim Irsay made it official the next day that Bill Polian, who has had quite the run as an executive in Indianapolis and elsewhere, and his son Chris, the team’s general manager, would be relieved of their duties with the organization.
What a couple of days.
Follow paulmbanksIndianapolis Colts Avoid Winless Season, Won’t Play Peyton Manning
The Indianapolis Colts won’t go 0-16. We know that much.
The Colts’ 27-13 victory against division rival Tennessee on Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium — Indy’s first win of the 2011 season — prevented the franchise from going down in NFL history with the 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers or the 2008 Detroit Lions, the only two teams to ever finish a season without a win.
But beyond the relief of finally breaking through for a win, the Colts still face some questions as they prepare to close out the final two weeks of 2011. Vice Chairman Bill Polian announced after the game that quarterback Peyton Manning would not appear in either of Indy’s last two games against Houston and Jacksonville. Also — believe it or not — there’s a legitimate race in the Andrew Luck Sweepstakes again.
Follow paulmbanks