By David Hollinshead

Indianapolis Colts have been

Super Bowl contenders almost every

year, and despite everyone believing
they were going downhill, they find a way
to win enough games to get to the post
season. This was all possible due to Hall of
Fame-to-be quarterback Peyton Manning.
Unfortunately, Manning will most likely
be out for the year after neck surgery.
As a short-term answer, the Colts signed
veteran quarterback Kerry Collins, who was
supposed to retire.

Analysts always wonder how the team
would do without their all-star quarterback.
Wher the New England Patriots lost
quarterback all-star Tom Brady a couple of
seasons ago to a knee injury, backup Matt
Casset was at least able to lead them to a

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10-6 record and just barely miss the post
season. He then got a huge contract with the
Kansas City Chiefs, something they may be
regretting right now.

Every Colts fan was trying their best
to be optimistic in week one against the
Houston Texans. The offense fell flat on its
face as their division rival Texans rolled
over them 34~7; the Colts got their only
touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Against the Cleveland Browns the next
week, the Colts offence still only produced
one touchdown, but was able to set up four
field goals. Backup QB Collins couldn’t
even amass a 200 yard game, a must in
today’s NFL. The offence was tested against
the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have been
known to have one of the stingiest defenses
in the league. The Colts only lost by a field
goal 23-20 and even had the lead at half time.

At 0-3, the Colts were off to their
worst start in years. That would be the end
of Kerry Collins, and the start of Curtis
Painter. Painter was drafted a couple years
ago as a potential successor to Manning
(who’s getting up there in age), but it never
panned out as they hoped.

Pushed into his first start, Painter
looked like a deer in headlights several
times, but didn’t have a terrible game
against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The
Colts lost 24-17, as Tampa Bay scored a
touchdown in the fourth quarter and the
Colts couldn’t come back. Painter went 13

for 30 with 281 yards and two touchdowns.

At 0-4, the Colts don’t have much to lose,
and have decided to roll with Painter, at
least for the time being.

Quarterback for Stanford University
Andrew Luck, who is being praised as one

 

bai.

of the best QB prospects in years, might
be on his way to Indy. In what’s being
called “The Andrew Luck Lottery,” the
worst teams in this year’s regular season

are supposedly racing to the bottom of the
league to draft him. It’s purely a joke, but

in the Colts case, it might not be a terrible
idea. Manning is 36 years old and in his

13" year in the league; having Manning
mentor such a physically and mentally
talented quarterback in Luck would almost
guarantee the Colts another 10 years of

a decent quarterback. Is Luck the next
Manning? Never know, but if the Colts are
0-5 after their game against the Kansas City
Chiefs on Sunday, they’re sure to take a
look at him.