2011/12 Indianapolis Colts Offseason Predictions.

2011 was a forgettable season for most(all) Indianapolis Colts fans. With a great deal of changes expected to come this offseason, I have compiled a list of 10 predictions I see happening this offseason with the Colts organization.

1. Jim Caldwell fired: Why keep him after firing the only 2 guys he's added to the staff.

2. Peyton Manning(if healthy) 2 year deal with 3rd year option: You can't trade Peyton Manning and get the value that you would expect to get. It would be a great disservice to the city and the franchise to just cut Peyton. Best case scenario is to keep Manning around for at least 2 years, see where the progression is and make the switch to Andrew Luck.

3. Andrew Luck drafted by Colts: No Brainer.

4. Reggie Wayne re-signed: Reggie may feel otherwise, but he has lost a step as a number 1 receiver and if Peyton still calls the shots, I would expect Reggie back in blue next season.

5. Robert Mathis franchise tagged: One of the cornerstones of your defense and you CANNOT let him walk.

6. Dallas Clark cap casualty: Dallas will end up costing too much money next season and you can't argue with the dip in production and injuries that kept him on the sideline this season.

7. Jacob Tamme re-signed: Colts need a strong TE that can block and catch. If offensive line woes continue, Manning will need a big target to bail him out.

8. Gary Brackett cap casualty: Too much money invested and Pat Angerer has proved that he is ready to lead the defense.

9. Pierre Garçon re-signed: Garcon is your clear cut number 1 receiver and price is just low enough to bring him back.

10. Mike Murphy retained as Defensive Coordinator(if he doesn't retire: Murphy did a great job turning this defense around the second half of the season. He deserves a shot.

Welcome to the Playoffs

My First Round NBA Playoff Predictions Below:

(1) Chicago (62-20)
(8) Indiana (37-45)
Okay, so being in Indiana I would love to see the Pacers pull off the unthinkable, but not happening. Chicago is very deep. Derrick Rose is the MVP and Boozer and Noah are a force down low. Don’t expect Indy to fold over, Rose should expect to see a few flagrant fouls from Hansbrough and company (the goon squad), if he attempts to drive to the hoop one too many times. Even though the Pacers are running on fumes right now, I do believe they will take at least one game and win back a handful of fans.

Bulls over Pacers 4-1





(2) Miami (58-24)

(7) Philadelphia (41-41)
Lebron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh vs. Philly starting five. Yeah it’s 3 on 5, so what…Don’t expect it to make a difference. Barring an injury, Miami should wrap this series up in 5 games. Philly has enough to take one, but all Miami the rest of the way.

Heat over 76ers 4-1





(3) Boston (56-26)

(6) New York (42-40)
The Boston Celtics still have the big three, but that’s about all they have. Pierce, Allen, and Garnett are all showing their age and without Kendrick Perkins, they will be exposed down low. Don’t expect Glen “Big Baby” Davis to add much value to this Celtics playoff team. The Knicks have arrived with a big three of their own; Melo, Amare, and Chauncey will do some damage in the playoffs and this team is very reminiscent of the Detroit Pistons team that won some years ago. This is a series that I expect to go 7 games and should be very exciting.

Knicks over Celtics 4-3




(4) Orlando (52-30)

(5) Atlanta (44-38)
Orlando is a team that seems to get better and better with every trade they make. Although Gilbert Arenas has yet to show up, Jason Richardson has revived his career in Orlando and the post game is as strong as ever with Dwight Howard and the addition of Brandon Bass. They create matchup problems for just about everyone in the league and should cruise past Atlanta in 6 games or less.

Magic over Hawks 4-2





(1) San Antonio (61-21)

(8) Memphis (46-36)
San Antonio is a team that has been full of injuries all season, but they still managed to land the second best record in the league. I don’t see them coughing up to a young Memphis team that is still new to this whole playoff thing. Memphis could take one, but I am predicting Spurs with the sweep.

Spurs over Grizzlies 4-0





(2) Los Angeles (57-25)

(7) New Orleans (46-36)
Los Angeles is in the playoffs and that is when they seem to turn on the engine. Even with Andrew Bynum limping into the playoffs and Kobe’s recent name calling distraction, the Lakers should be able to grab their broomsticks early. This one’s a sweep.

Lakers over Hornets 4-0





(3) Dallas (57-25)

(6) Portland (48-34)
Dallas and Portland should be a great matchup. Portland is young and has probably the deepest bench in the NBA. They finished 21-9 in the last 30 games of the season including wins over Chicago, Orlando, Miami, Oklahoma City, the Lakers, and 2 wins each against the Spurs and Mavs. I see this series going to 7 games and Portland taking the series. Should easily be one of the best series of the first round. Down goes Dirk….again.

Blazers over Mavs 4-3





(4) Oklahoma City (55-27)

(5) Denver (50-32)
This is probably the most interesting series in the first round. I honestly believe that Oklahoma City is capable of a sweep, but George Karl has the impeccable ability to get the most out of every player that steps in the court. The starting lineup has completely changed since the beginning of the season and an abundance of role players could signal a first round upset. I still believe that with Durant, Westbrook, and the new addition of Kendrick Perkins, the Thunder will take this one in 5.

Thunder over Nuggets 4-1

That Little Brother Game..

This Saturday a 5-0 Michigan team will face off against a 5-0 Michigan State team. The game will be played in “The Big House” in Ann Arbor. Remember, the game against the team that University of Michigan all-time leading rusher Mike Hart called “little brother”. A game with several plot lines that surely will not disappoint. Denard Robinson is on track to be the first 2000 Rushing Yards/2000 Passing Yards player in NCAA history and will try to continue bringing excitement to one of college footballs most winning program. Michigan began last season 5-0 before losing out in the Big Ten and finishing with a losing record.

Denard Robinson is the x-factor. He has gotten off to one of the best starts in college football history and has helped Michigan soar to the top of the offensive ranks. The Defense is another story. Giving up nearly 30 points a game and 400 total yards, the Michigan Defense is ranked last in the Big Ten Conference and near last in all of Division I football. If Greg Robinson wants to keep his job, he will have to draw up special defensive schemes and cheat players inside to stop the run, without giving up the big play down field. Today the defense received a pep talk from LaMarr Woodley who says that this team will come fired up and ready to play. Let’s hope this helps because I spent the good part of my Sunday wondering to myself which defense was worse, Michigan or the Indianapolis Colts. I guess one thing I can say about Michigan is that they can at least stop the run…well, on a play or two…

Should be an interesting game. I expect this one to be another shootout like all the others this season and like all the other games this year, Denard will run for well over 100 yards and pass for 200.

Michigan - 31 Michigan St. - 24

My Wife Loves October....

It’s been a while since I have written and I have made a promise to myself that I will not go this mong between breaks again. With the recent news that my wife and I will be expecting our second daughter this February, I have began to think about ways I can get all the women in my house interested in Michigan Football, Atlanta Braves baseball, Indianapolis Colts Football, and really sports in general.


Michigan Football has been more than exciting this year. A Heisman hopeful and a 4-0 start has given this team strong momentum heading into the Big Ten season. Many will say that they started 5-0 last year, only to fall on their face inBig Ten competition, losing their last 8 games. This year is different (Cubs Fan Speak) primarily because we have experience at the quarterback position and simply put, Denard Robinson has been amazing to watch. Rarely does an athlete come along that can wow you in so many ways. Denard has the ability to impact the game with his arm and his legs. Speed, blocking schemes, and precise passing are keys to his early success this year. I look forward to seeing him challenged in the Big Ten with the hopes that he can develop his talents and strengths against a much higher level of competition.


Atlanta Braves baseball starting out great. They led the National League East for almost the entire season…until 2 weeks ago, when they decided to lose nearly every game they played and allowed the Philadelphia Phillies grab the top spot and basically hold onto it until seasons end. Now it seems they are back to winning and just in time to hopefully land the Wild Card spot and make the playoffs. In what is surely Bobby Cox’s last season, the bar was set pretty high with the hopes of one more run at a championship. I certainly hope they can slide into the playoffs and make a run. It would make for a great October and justify my recent purchase of a Jason Heyward jersey.


Indianapolis Colts…well, they came out against a strong Houston Texans team looking very flat. They have managed to rebound with two strong wins and now stand at 2-1 on the young season. A win is expected this week as they travel to Jacksonville to face a winless Jaguars team. Bob Sanders is hurt again and Anthony Gonzalez is slowly working his way further and further towards the “salary cap casualty” role. He can’t stay healthy and doesn’t have the value when healthy that an injury prone Bob Sanders possesses. Big things are expected from this team and anything less than a return to the Super Bowl would be considered a disappointment. A tough road lies ahead, but with Peyton Manning driving this team and a healthy front line in Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, I don’t see why this team can’t be very successful.


With so much going on right now I can’t understand why my wife couldn’t be so excited about the next few months. Just think, she will get to be right next to me as Michigan begins Big Ten play, the Braves battle for a World Series berth, and the Colts continue to dominate the AFC South.



Stay Tuned for more in the coming weeks….

So with Lebron and the Cavs out who is the favorite?

Phoenix Suns vs Los Angeles Lakers:
Can Kobe lead his team to back to back championships? If the Lakers can continue to play through Kobe and avoid getting caught in the run and gun style of offense the Suns play, then the Lakers should close this one out in 6 games. The Phoenix Suns are another team that has never won an NBA championship. The last time this team was in the conference finals was 1993 when they were led there by Kevin Johnson and Charles Barkley. That team is very close in comparison to the duo they have now with Nash and Stoudamire. Watch Steve Nash in this series. He will need to keep up his intensity through this series and continue to motivate his team by his gritty play. If the Suns can work the Lakers into a run and gun frenzy and break their offensive triangle, this could be an interesting series to watch.

My Prediction: Lakers win in 6 games.


Boston Celtics vs Orlando Magic:
Can this veteran laced team led by Rajon Rondo, the only player on the roster under 30 win there second championship in three years? Can Superman propel the Magic out of Orlando and into the spotlight with the first championship in the franchise’s history ? Rondo has been playing like Superman as of late and has been the only reason that Boston made it this far. While Dwight Howard fell flat in game 1 and allowed Boson to steal one from Orlando at home.

My Prediction: Boston in 7 games.


I predict that we will see another great Boston/Lakers series that will resurrect the championship highlights of Kareen, Magic, Worthy, West, Riley versus the spirits of The Chief, Bird, Russell, Cousy, and Auerbach.

It should shape up to be one of the more popular Finals and a very high ratings generator….Let’s all hope it plays out that way….

Is Tiger's Reign Over? I think so...

So I am going to make a very bold prediction that you may not agree with, but I need you to hear me out….

Tiger Woods will not win a tournament this year. It may be a while (2 years) before he wins again.

Tiger Woods withdrew Sunday from the The Player’s Championship citing a bulging disc in his neck. He claims that he has not had the pain until this week. When Tiger returned from his golf hiatus, he showed flashes of greatness in finishing tied for 4th at the Masters, but then failed to make the cut a few weeks later at Quall Hollow shooting an abismal 74 and 79 in the 1st and 2nd rounds. The scores marked the worst Tiger has ever had and first time he has failed to make the cut in a long time. Even with his strong play at the Masters, Tiger’s swing just is not right. His weight is off center and he is flipping his wrist when he comes out of his driver swing. While at the Masters, there was even a time when he dropped his driver (did not throw) after a full swing instead of the graceful pull back and stare that we are accustomed to.

Now yesterday the news comes of him losing his swing coach, Hank Haney. The man that is responsible for the successful approach and swing that Tiger has used to slice up nearly every course he steps foot on. Haney came to the decision to separate himself from Tiger. Is it due to his further spiraling life, his soon to be pending divorce, his mental block that he has when he steps on the green for a 4 foot putt that lips out…We may never know, but for some reason the best golfer in the game has lost the best swing coach in the world and the one man that could possibly save Tigers swing and bring him back to the winning tradition we are used to seeing on Sunday’s.

So back to my initial statement…Short of a miracle, Tiger Woods will not win a tournament this year. When he withdrew last weekend from TPC, he was right around the 3 or 4 under range through the 7th hole on Sunday. The winner, Tim Clark finished 12 strokes ahead of Woods at 16 under.

Tiger Woods has allowed the distractions in his personal life to visibly shake his confidence and play on the course. Since his return, Tiger has lacked the killer instinct he once had and looks wounded and defeated. No longer is he the guy they are all chasing, but rather just another golfer on the tour.

Ready for Round Two...

Well, the NBA didn’t disappoint…

Round one was a treat as we saw Kevin Durant and the surging Oklahoma City Thunder take the Champion Lakers to 6 games and make a great deal of people in Los Angeles nervous. We saw the Magic and the Cavs continue to roll on and push there weak first round opponents aside. Denver came out flat nearly every night and was forced to play catch-up in nearly every game with Utah. San Antonio shocked everyone is Texas with the upset over the Mavs. Hey Mark Cuban, I think its time to let Dirk go to a contender. I don’t see the Mavs ever making it past the 1st round….guess that’s what they get for drafting Steve Alford over Billy Donovan in the 1987 NBA draft.

Nothing to write about the Suns/Blazers series, mainly because I was either sleeping during these games or while watching, I was wanting to go to sleep. Atlanta is a sleeper in the East. This team is so fun to watch, but they have a tendency to come out fast and then hit a skid and fall flat in the 4th quarter. It’s like drinking Five Hour Energy and your at hour 6.

The second round is under way and should be a treat. Cleveland jumped out to a 1-0 lead, but only to disappoint last night when they allowed Boston to take game two in Cleveland. The chippiness continued through this series with both teams exchanging a few shoves..This is gonna be a nice one.

My Second Round NBA Playoff Predictions Below:

Eastern Conference:

(1) Cleveland (61-21)
(4) Boston (50-32)

Cleveland jumped out to a 1-0 lead, but only to disappoint on the night Lebron is presented with his MVP trophy when they allowed Boston to take game two in Cleveland.The chippiness continued through this series with both teams exchanging a few shoves..Now the series head’s to Boston and I can’t see this series going anything less than 7 games. Rondo has been unstoppable and Lebron obviously is having more issues than originally believed with that elbow. He isn’t finishing and his shot has been slightly altered. Antawn Jamison has been a ghost and Mo has lost his shot. We’ll see if Mike Brown wakes up in game 3 and decides to play JJ Hickson a little more…

(2) Orlando (59-23)

(3) Atlanta (53-29)

Game 1 begins tonight and I see Orlando coming out in this series early. Atlanta could be a tough out, but they look tired and beaten down. I don’t see them having the ability to hang with a fresh and rested Orlando squad.

Western Conference:

(1) Los Angeles (57-25)

(5) Utah (53-29)

Lakers took a 1-0 lead on Sunday by running all over the Jazz. They will continue to get stronger and healthier as this series goes on. I see the Lakers taking the series in 5 games and getting rested for the Western Conference Finals.

(3) Phoenix (54-28)

(7) San Antonio (50-32)

Steve Nash was on fire last night, pouring in 33 points as the Suns shut down the Spurs. Amare added 23 points and 13 rebounds, while Jason Richardson kept the hot hand from round 1 adding 27 points. The Suns take a 1-0 lead in the series and should be able to outrun, outhustle, and overpower the Spurs to take this one is 6, maybe 7 games.

See you in the Conference Finals…

Does Kevin Durant deserve a Puppet?

So my question is this…When does Kevin Durant get his Puppet?

This guy has started to prove himself to be on the upper All Star level after this successful season. Durant is in the playoffs facing the kobe led Lakers in the first round and finished the season with a league leading 30.1 points per game. Better than Lebron and Kobe! He is also currently wearing the Nike KD1. It is a great looking shoe and a solid start to a promising shoe future with Nike.

Although KD is still young in his career, he deserves his own Puppet. KD lacks the love and support of the mainstream media because he is playing in Oklahoma City, but this kid has some serious game and deserves to be right there with Kobe in Lebron. I do believe that in about 5-6 years when Kobe finally hangs things up, the new rival will be Lebron and Durant.

Let’s see how long it takes for this guy to take over the Western Conference and get his very own Puppet….

NBA Playoff Preview...

The NBA Playoffs are upon us again and not a whole lot has changed since last year…The Cavs are still the front runners, but hope to avoid being upset by the Magic and the Lakers are right there in the West as the favorite. One change from last year is the emergence of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and the rest of that young squad in Oklahoma City. The Thunder face off in the first round against the Lakers and although the Lakers own the season series at 3-1, I do feel that they are going to be in for a battle. The Thunder ger up and down the court so well and with Westbrook shaping up to be one of the best PG’s in the West, Durant is the perfect running mate.

Black Mamba will continue his dominance in the playoffs, but the question I have is if his teammates will show up this year. Last year they played team ball and ran over the Magic, but things are different this year…Pau is lacking that bruiser mentality he had last year and do I dare to say, “softened” up a little since he got a ring. Odom married a Kardashian and has now become more of a distraction than PF, and Bynum is irrelevant at the time.

My question is how will a much “softer” Laker team match up against the Cleveland Cavaliers and an extremely hungry Lebron James?

How will Bynum and Gasol matchup against the Diesel?

How much Zen Wisdom will it take from phil Jackson to shut down Lebron’s drive to the hole and the 15 free throw attempts he will average a game.

How will the Lakers defeat the Cavs if they meet in a much anticipated NBA Finals.....

My First Round NBA Playoff Predictions Below:

(1) Cleveland (61-21)

(8) Chicago (41-41)

Cleveland sweeps this series and it ends quickly in four games…maybe 5 if the Bulls catch lebron on an off night.


(2) Orlando (59-23)
(7) Charlotte (44-38)

Orlando takes the series in 6 games. I don’t see Stephen Jackson leading Charlotte anywhere accept for the Club after a heartbreaking first round bow.


(3) Atlanta (53-29)
(6) Milwaukee (46-36)

This could be a series if Bogut was still healthy, but after seeing that video of his elbow turning to spaghetti, I don’t see him coming back anytime soon. Atlanta is a very aggressive team that will run and run and run… Hawks in 5 games.


(4) Boston (50-32)
(5) Miami (47-35)

This series should be the best series of the Eastern Conference. Both teams are evenly matched from top to bottom with the edge going slightly to the Celtics because of the PG play. Rondo could be the best PG in the East and will come close to averaging 10 assists a game in this series. Although I don’t see the Celtics making it past the second round, I do also feel that Wade can’t do it all by himself. Boston is 6, maybe 7.


(1) Los Angeles (57-25)
(8) Oklahoma City (50-32)

Lakers will win this series in 6 games. Thunder will run, but I think that Kobe will prove to be too much for this young team.


(2) Dallas (55-27)
(7) San Antonio (50-32)

Dallas will take this series primarily due to the recent upgrades they have made with adding Caron Butler. He will play a pivotal role in this series. San Antonio has been plagued by injuries all season long and will not be able to overcome it. Dallas wins in 5, maybe 6 games.


(3) Phoenix (54-28)
(6) Portland (50-32)

I originally believed that Portland had a chance to take this series, until the news I heard this morning regarding Brandon Roy and his knee surgery. He will not be available for this series and Phoenix will take the series in 5 games. Amare is a monster inside and I don’t see him being stopped. He will average 25 points a game and Nash will be dishing out the assists as usual.


(4) Denver (53-29)
(5) Utah (53-29)

This is the series to watch out West. I would say that Denver is going to take it, but with the recent leave of absence by George Karl to deal with health issues and the disappearance of K-Mart, Denver has lost their toughness. Utah is a griddy team that will fight to the end. Boozer and Deron Williams will lead them to victory in the one series that is likely to go 7 games.

See you in Round two......

Back from the nearly year long hiatus, mainly due to the birth of a wonderful baby girl.

Let’s jump right in…..

Well, here I am, its early April and the Masters has just begun. Tiger Woods is back on the course after that 4 month layoff from his “personal struggles” and hasn’t seemed to miss a beat. This guy came out and did two things yesterday that he has never done on this course before. Tiger shot a 68 and is currently 4 under, only 2 shots off the lead. He also finished a round with two eagles. Those eagles are what helped him keep his cool after missing some early putts that would have set him up comfortably on day one to take the out and out lead.

Could this guy be anymore incredible? So this guy went without golf for close to a year because of injuries and tasteless shenanigans and still manages to show up and crush the field on the first day of the Masters. It’s like he is a robot and Phil Knight (Nike) is in control. The guy is an animal and I really believe he will probably run away with this thing by late Saturday. Phil has beat Tiger before and he may be the only one in the field that won’t back down from the challenge come Sunday. Look at the other golfers on top, Fred Couples…Seriously, this guy should have been on the Senior Tour when he switched to a belly putter…and Tom Watson, well he is 60. I do believe that they are both great golfers and could have a shot at winning this thing if Tiger wasn’t on the prowl, but I just don’t see the Couples/Woods or Watson/Woods matchup likely on Sunday.

We shall see what happens and I look forward to a great upcoming weekend.

One quick thing that I almost forgot about…Was anyone else as freaked out as I was by the new Nike Tiger/Earl Ad?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIYejgkqd0o