Here's my take on the timing. This decision didn't happen in the last 4 weeks. I lay things squarely at the feet of Irsay. I think Luck brought this up to the boss early on in training camp or before, and Irsay blew smoke up his ass to let it ride. I don't think there was ever a scenario where Luck played any game in at least the 1st half off the season. Irsay ran his mouth, something he's known to do, and Schefter got wind of it. I have a feeling that the Colts (in the royal sense, meaning Irsay) were going to give us the runaround like they did on the shoulder issue.
Now the injuries, Grigson gets some love for those. If you've got a chance to draft a once in a generation QB, you do. That's a no brainer. But not putting a bunch of bucks into an O-Line who could protect him, that's just inexcusable. And it wasn't without precedent, either. Payton could barely move in his last couple seasons here, for the same reason. If they were smart, they'd have seen the pattern and put some thought into protecting their new investment. But they didn't, and here we are.
I have zero blame on Luck for any of this. He's a smart guy with a new family, I don't blame him for running like hell to get away from the trainwreck that is Colts management.
I have zero blame on Luck for any of this. He's a smart guy with a new family, I don't blame him for running like hell to get away from the trainwreck that WAS Colts management.
There are a lot worse O lines out there and more sacks and hits have been allowed against several other QBs.
'Course, it only takes a couple of hits taken the wrong way to ruin your season. Blame the management or the O line if you wish, but let's not act like he has taken a worse beating than any QB in the history of game...or who is currently playing...or is in the top 5 of those.
I'm certainly not blaming Luck....I see no need to "blame" anyone as if having several injury riddled seasons was a conscious choice anyone made. The average length of an NFL quarterback's career is 3 years.
Some pretty good quarterbacks didn't make it to 7 years.
Some quarterbacks were hit more often, weren't 6'4" 240lbs and played longer. It's an individual thing.
This is getting a lot of coverage because of the timing (not before draft and after the good free agents are gone), not that it will really matter, the way it leaked out and the fact that he did well last year...and that Indy folk seem rabidly loyal...for exceedingly short periods of time.
I'd rather have 7 years of no Luck then 7 years of Bad Luck.
Met Andrew at Metazoa Brewery last year or so ago.
Nice guy. Flip phone and all. Rode his bike there. Got a pic.
That's my Andrew Luck story.
...
Anyway.
Hope he's happy, does what he wants, enjoys life. It's so weird that I'm older than him... That's an odd feeling.
Here's my take on the timing. This decision didn't happen in the last 4 weeks. I lay things squarely at the feet of Irsay. I think Luck brought this up to the boss early on in training camp or before, and Irsay blew smoke up his ass to let it ride. I don't think there was ever a scenario where Luck played any game in at least the 1st half off the season. Irsay ran his mouth, something he's known to do, and Schefter got wind of it. I have a feeling that the Colts (in the royal sense, meaning Irsay) were going to give us the runaround like they did on the shoulder issue.
NFL is selling a product. Buy it or don't.
Agreed. What some don't seem to get is that the only way fans can "talk" to the NFL is by spending money or not spending money. Complain all you want to, but if you spend your money, NFL says "Thank you, come again."
I think that one thing that was learned or reinforced by Andrew Luck when he heard the fans booing and some media people using his decision as a platform to get their own slice of attention, is that he really needs to look out for himself. Because collectively, the fans and the media don't care at all about his personal well-being. He's decided to stop giving them something, and they're mad (I'm mad myself). They're mad about that, and it doesn't really matter about the timing, or the injury, or who knew about what and when; He's leaving and they're mad, period. Andrew knows that if this injury, or any injury leaves him unable to play, he'll be forced to quit whether he want's to or not, leaving him to be the one with bad feelings. Andrew Luck's decision ensures that he won't be the one who's left with bad feelings. Good for him.
I don't blame him. The owners and staff should have done their job. Luck did his job by taking care of himself the best way.