The Trent Richardson Thread (3 Viewers)

[JohnnyU]

Why couldn't the Colts have seen the warning signs before the trade? What happened to him? Did he ever have "IT"? Even though I'm glad I don't own him, I sure as hell would love to be able to see this before dynasty drafts. I guess if the NFL scouts can't see it, then no way anyone on this forum is going to.

 

[Kool-Aid Larry]

Traded to the Raiders for a 5th round pick is my prediction.

Cut and goes through waivers unclaimed is mine. With his track record, it seems hard to believe that any team (not even the Raiders) would commit to the 1.03 pick, year-4 salary.

Once cut, I think division rivals Jags and Titans would be most interested in his services for obvious reasons. Raiders, Jets, Vikings (assuming AP goes) are next on the list. Patriots as the dark horse - BB loves that stuff.

Overall, I doubt he remains without a team. Just like in deeper fantasy leagues, at least one team will believe in the reclamation project.

really ####ty players?

don't think so

 

[Hawkeye Hellraiser]

Per Spotrac,

$3,184,062 fully guaranteed in 2015.

You can see the details in the link:

http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/indianapolis-colts/trent-richardson/

 

[humpback]

Why couldn't the Colts have seen the warning signs before the trade? What happened to him? Did he ever have "IT"? Even though I'm glad I don't own him, I sure as hell would love to be able to see this before dynasty drafts. I guess if the NFL scouts can't see it, then no way anyone on this forum is going to.

I think in his case it mostly came down to heart and dedication, which is very difficult to measure/predict. If he busted his butt he'd still have a job IMO, but he doesn't seem to think he needs to.

No, no one could have seen it being this bad when he was coming into the league. However, his sucktitude was pretty noticeable fairly early in his career, and many chose to ignore/make excuses for it for far too long.

 

[Kool-Aid Larry]

Those in dynasty leagues that still own him. Is he even worth the roster spot at this point? How much better of an offense could he go to if the Colts couldn't get him going?

think he's on special teams now

 

[Zdravko]

Those in dynasty leagues that still own him. Is he even worth the roster spot at this point? How much better of an offense could he go to if the Colts couldn't get him going?

I have him in one deep 16-teamer, where it's a no-brainer to hold because the RB choices on the wire are Anthony Dixon and Jordan Todman. I don't see any upside with these guys, while with Richardson at least there is the remote possibility of a turnaround.

But if it was a standard 12-teamer, I would probably drop him as soon as there was a better shot in the dark.

 

[steveski]

We're currently on page 99. Let's agree to self destruct this thread at page 100?

 

[menobrown]

T-rich is the reason most rookie RBs will make less money from now on.

So, so special.

Don't think it will impact anything in terms of future RB pay for incoming rookies

Drafted later.........................

Every position has had plenty of draft busts.

What impacts RB's getting drafted later is all the good RB's you see getting drafted in round 2+, or not drafted at all. Like you said all positions have busts, that's not what's driving down RB value at NFL draft time.

 

[menobrown]

. They should cut him. Even if it is dead money,

I've thougth for over the past few months there was a good chance he'd be cut. Over the past few weeks I think it's become obvious.

I can't imagine he'd have any dead money associated with him, the Colts did not sign him to his rookie deal so they never paid out his bonus. I think he's due a little over $3 million so no chance they pay that and no chance anyone trades for that. He'll get cut and I think quickly, as in the first day or so business is open to cut players. I'd guess they want to get this mistake past them as soon as possible and I'm also guessing getting #####ed for Zurlon Tipton is not making him the best lockerroom presence either. Best for everyone to cut and move on.

His rookie contract was fully guaranteed.

I did not know his contract was guaranteed. Still think he gets cut but did not know that.

Looks like I'm wrong:

Trent Richardson's 2015 contract is not guaranteed.

Richardson was embarrassingly a healthy scratch in the Divisional Round win at Denver. He's fallen behind both Boom Herron and Zurlon Tipton at running back, and couldn't beat out Michael Hill for a special teams role. If the Colts bring T-Rich back at $3.1M next season, it will only be as a human shield to protect their other runners from accumulating too much wear and tear during the regular season

.

I saw that too, but Roto is wrong. The article they linked says that his contract is guaranteed.

I think someone from Roto was reading this thread last night.

Roto changed the blurb to say guaranteed, you were always correct. After I saw your post last night I had checked it out on Over the Cap.com which also stated it was guaranteed.

That does somewhat change what I think will happen to him. Instead of getting cut early they might want to wait until after June 1. I'm sure they'd love to trade him but only way they could do that would be if they paid someone to take him.

I know I'm grasping here but maybe, just maybe, playing for the first time without a fat guaranteed contract will get this slug going.

 

[Kool-Aid Larry]

well, if they cut him wouldn't he have to learn a new playbook?

 

[Reegus]

Every page of this thread is like "Groundhog Day". I'm at the point where I play "I Got You Babe" right before I click to open it.

It's like a that I can't look away from. There will be support groups founded just for participants and readers of this thread.

I lost my drive to reason here back on page 3 or so(Then I somehow got tricked into trying again when some numbnuts started another TRich thread), but I think I have found a decent comp who he may be able to live up to. Whether it's his vision, intelligence, dancing around too much, O-line, OC, changing teams, injuries, sex videos whatever. Is it fixable, is it not fixable, nobody knows so why argue? However, can we at least agree that there is a possibility of him still having a Marcus Allen type of career? Low YPC on rushes, lots of action in the passing game. I would be happy with this from him and I think it's attainable regardless of whatever his problem has been up to this point. Ok. Go ahead and tear me apart, or better yet, agree with me

this may be the best thread ever

hall of famer , 12k rusher and nfl legend marcus allen.......?

I KNEW he reminded me of somebody last year but I couldn't place it !!!

that's been bugging me all offseason bro

Ha! You may have out-emoticon'd me but you'll never break my spirits Kool Aid Larry!!! I knew I could troll somebody by bringing a HOF name into this discussion. I love your response though. Touche'Now seriously, if I had instead asked, "do you think there is a chance TRich could produce a stat line like this over the course of his career?":

162 carries/yr, 596 rush yards/yr, 3.68 YPC, 29 catches/yr, 260 rec yards/yr, 7 total TD/yr

If you honestly answer no to this, then fine. But I don't see how anyone can come to that conclusion at this point in time. I think he can match or exceed these numbers pretty easily.

Now I am not saying he will be a hall of famer like Allen. There are reasons to why Allen is in the hall of fame other than just his stats. Also, I will admit I fished here because I only used the last 12 years of Allen's career and left out his three best years. But my point is that if a HOF RB played the final 12 years of his career averaging these stats, then I think TRich can last in the NFL longer than another year or two even if he never produces top 10 numbers. I can see him being a valuable asset to the Colts dynasty over the next 5-8 years and being serviceable for fantasy purposes as an RB2 as well. Those who are writing him off and saying he will be out of the league in 2 years are being short sighted.

hmmmm....let me do some math on this --- mostly because I like math.after 455 carries he's at 3.3 ypc on the career.

this should be about his last season in the league, and probably benched for half of it, so I'd estimate he gets maybe another 100 carries to bring that 3.3 up to allen's 3.7 ypc when he was in his 40s, and is most likely cherry picked as his worst year in a 20 yr career.

anyway, that's about 500 yds this year on those 100 carries for a 5 ypc in 2014 --- so, no, I don't think he can produce a career stat line like that.

I'm willing to admit when I was wrong -- don't think he was benched for nearly half the season and got well over 100 carries.

good posting, to you, sir, and bon vivant!

gotta admit the dude nailed it on the statline -- except maybe td

Lol head to the Eddie Lacey thread and start admitting.

 

[amnesiac]

my guess is we'll find out Richardson has a bad drug habit ala Jamarcus Russle.

 

[Faust]

Trent Richardson made inactive over lack of special teams experience

 

[Kool-Aid Larry]

Trent Richardson made inactive over lack of special teams experience

ohhhhh ok, so not cuz he's a ####ty rb

maybe he just needs to learn the special teams playbook

 

[fightingillini]

Why couldn't the Colts have seen the warning signs before the trade? What happened to him? Did he ever have "IT"? Even though I'm glad I don't own him, I sure as hell would love to be able to see this before dynasty drafts. I guess if the NFL scouts can't see it, then no way anyone on this forum is going to.

IMO, no. Not sure what the Colts saw in him. Richardson is slow and has terrible vision. Bad combo for a RB. That was easy to see in CLE, even in his rookie year. It also appears that he isn't a extremely hard worker.

He can move the pile and could be a short yardage specialist for some team, but Richardson was a TERRIBLE fit for the Colts and how they use their RBs.

 

[Jrodicus]

Since fully becoming entrenched as the starter week 16 vs. Dallas, here are Herron's stats:

Weeks 1-15: 61 carries, 313 yards, 5.13 YPC
Weeks 16-playoffs: 52 carries, 157 yards, 3.02 YPC

As much as some don't like to hear it, Pep uses a 2-back system and uses them differently in play calling. Yes, TRich sucks, but until the Colts get some sort of solidarity in the offensive line, the LEAD back in Indy will continue to suck. If you want to know what RB to own in fantasy from the Colts, pick the RB with the 2nd most carries on the team.

"(FFChamps)Colts running back Dan Herron had 23 carries and gained 63 yards versus the Broncos.
Analysis: Herron had a terrible rushing average, but he gave the Colts just enough balance for Andrew Luck to have a lot of success in the passing game."

 

[humpback]

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Since fully becoming entrenched as the starter week 16 vs. Dallas, here are Herron's stats:

Weeks 1-15: 61 carries, 313 yards, 5.13 YPC

Weeks 16-playoffs: 52 carries, 157 yards, 3.02 YPC

As much as some don't like to hear it, Pep uses a 2-back system and uses them differently in play calling. Yes, TRich sucks, but until the Colts get some sort of solidarity in the offensive line, the LEAD back in Indy will continue to suck. If you want to know what RB to own in fantasy from the Colts, pick the RB with the 2nd most carries on the team.

"(FFChamps)Colts running back Dan Herron had 23 carries and gained 63 yards versus the Broncos.

Analysis: Herron had a terrible rushing average, but he gave the Colts just enough balance for Andrew Luck to have a lot of success in the passing game."

Maybe he should tear out the pages from half of his playbook.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Since fully becoming entrenched as the starter week 16 vs. Dallas, here are Herron's stats:

Weeks 1-15: 61 carries, 313 yards, 5.13 YPC

Weeks 16-playoffs: 52 carries, 157 yards, 3.02 YPC

As much as some don't like to hear it, Pep uses a 2-back system and uses them differently in play calling. Yes, TRich sucks, but until the Colts get some sort of solidarity in the offensive line, the LEAD back in Indy will continue to suck. If you want to know what RB to own in fantasy from the Colts, pick the RB with the 2nd most carries on the team.

"(FFChamps)Colts running back Dan Herron had 23 carries and gained 63 yards versus the Broncos.

Analysis: Herron had a terrible rushing average, but he gave the Colts just enough balance for Andrew Luck to have a lot of success in the passing game."

To give a more serious response, I think the pushback that you will get here is that the "point" of your post would seem to imply that if Richardson was given the secondary role in the running game he would excel (or at least perform much better than he has).

I think the numbers you posted show more that an average talent like Herron got exposed once his role increased and he no longer benefitted from "fresh leg" phenomenon than say anything about the play calling for the RB1 v. the RB2. Ahmad Bradshaw seemed to be the lead back earlier in the season and performed well, while Richardson struggled running behind Bradshaw in the rotation.

 

[Zdravko]

Since fully becoming entrenched as the starter week 16 vs. Dallas, here are Herron's stats:

Weeks 1-15: 61 carries, 313 yards, 5.13 YPC

Weeks 16-playoffs: 52 carries, 157 yards, 3.02 YPC

As much as some don't like to hear it, Pep uses a 2-back system and uses them differently in play calling. Yes, TRich sucks, but until the Colts get some sort of solidarity in the offensive line, the LEAD back in Indy will continue to suck. If you want to know what RB to own in fantasy from the Colts, pick the RB with the 2nd most carries on the team.

"(FFChamps)Colts running back Dan Herron had 23 carries and gained 63 yards versus the Broncos.

Analysis: Herron had a terrible rushing average, but he gave the Colts just enough balance for Andrew Luck to have a lot of success in the passing game."

To give a more serious response, I think the pushback that you will get here is that the "point" of your post would seem to imply that if Richardson was given the secondary role in the running game he would excel (or at least perform much better than he has).

I think the numbers you posted show more that an average talent like Herron got exposed once his role increased and he no longer benefitted from "fresh leg" phenomenon than say anything about the play calling for the RB1 v. the RB2. Ahmad Bradshaw seemed to be the lead back earlier in the season and performed well, while Richardson struggled running behind Bradshaw in the rotation.

Great post above.

On the topic of why didn't NFL scouts see red flags:

Richardson didn't participate in the Combine and ran 4.45-4.50 (at 5'9'', 230 pounds) at his pro day. He bench-pressed 25 (Muscle Hamster led the Combine with 28). Add to these results a broadly compelling college tape + Heisman finalist. In interviews, he showed (or pretended to have) a 'punishing' mindset, a-la-Marshawn Lynch, which for a lot of people translated into expectations that he will 'run angry'.

Hard to see red flags here. If you had managed to anticipated his NFL performance, all the more power to you.

 

[Sweet Love]

Why couldn't the Colts have seen the warning signs before the trade? What happened to him? Did he ever have "IT"? Even though I'm glad I don't own him, I sure as hell would love to be able to see this before dynasty drafts. I guess if the NFL scouts can't see it, then no way anyone on this forum is going to.

He had a "grinder" first year...decent overall yards, a lot of attempts, low YPC. I actually reminds me a lot of Ricky Williams' first year. Given they are both big, brutal backs (when T-Rich wants to be), I can see teams bringing him in hoping his vision catches up with his mind (like it did with Ricky). Right now, he seems like a big guy who can run, but has zero vision...I mean ZERO. I wonder if a one-cut system would suit him better. If so, maybe look to Baltimore as a potential suitor too.

 

[Jrodicus]

Since fully becoming entrenched as the starter week 16 vs. Dallas, here are Herron's stats:

Weeks 1-15: 61 carries, 313 yards, 5.13 YPC

Weeks 16-playoffs: 52 carries, 157 yards, 3.02 YPC

As much as some don't like to hear it, Pep uses a 2-back system and uses them differently in play calling. Yes, TRich sucks, but until the Colts get some sort of solidarity in the offensive line, the LEAD back in Indy will continue to suck. If you want to know what RB to own in fantasy from the Colts, pick the RB with the 2nd most carries on the team.

"(FFChamps)Colts running back Dan Herron had 23 carries and gained 63 yards versus the Broncos.

Analysis: Herron had a terrible rushing average, but he gave the Colts just enough balance for Andrew Luck to have a lot of success in the passing game."

To give a more serious response, I think the pushback that you will get here is that the "point" of your post would seem to imply that if Richardson was given the secondary role in the running game he would excel (or at least perform much better than he has).

I think the numbers you posted show more that an average talent like Herron got exposed once his role increased and he no longer benefitted from "fresh leg" phenomenon than say anything about the play calling for the RB1 v. the RB2. Ahmad Bradshaw seemed to be the lead back earlier in the season and performed well, while Richardson struggled running behind Bradshaw in the rotation.

Bradshaw may have "seemed" to be the lead back, but the stats would disagree.

Bradshaw played the first 10 games; he only had more carries than Richardson twice - week 8 (Richardson was inactive) and week 10.

If we take look at games when they both played:

Richardson - 114 carries, 22 receptions, 136 touches

Bradshaw - 84 carries, 31 receptions, 115 touches

It may have "seemed" like Bradshaw was the lead back, but he was touching the ball less.

There's no argument; he was definitely out producing Richardson...just with fewer touches.

 

[humpback]

Richardson: Benching 'never going to happen again'

"That situation will never happen to me again," he said of being inactive. "Anybody can quote me, today, because it's never going to happen again."

Bad news, Trent: It could again Sunday.

 

[Ketamine Dreams]

Zero insight.

 

[Kool-Aid Larry]

Richardson: Benching 'never going to happen again'

"That situation will never happen to me again," he said of being inactive. "Anybody can quote me, today, because it's never going to happen again."

Bad news, Trent: It could again Sunday.

and so you took him up on it

awesome

I believe it's entirely possible it doesn't happen again next year

when you're unemployed, there's no vacation

 

[jmo87usc]

Every page of this thread is like "Groundhog Day". I'm at the point where I play "I Got You Babe" right before I click to open it.

It's like a that I can't look away from. There will be support groups founded just for participants and readers of this thread.

I lost my drive to reason here back on page 3 or so(Then I somehow got tricked into trying again when some numbnuts started another TRich thread), but I think I have found a decent comp who he may be able to live up to. Whether it's his vision, intelligence, dancing around too much, O-line, OC, changing teams, injuries, sex videos whatever. Is it fixable, is it not fixable, nobody knows so why argue? However, can we at least agree that there is a possibility of him still having a Marcus Allen type of career? Low YPC on rushes, lots of action in the passing game. I would be happy with this from him and I think it's attainable regardless of whatever his problem has been up to this point. Ok. Go ahead and tear me apart, or better yet, agree with me

this may be the best thread ever

hall of famer , 12k rusher and nfl legend marcus allen.......?

I KNEW he reminded me of somebody last year but I couldn't place it !!!

that's been bugging me all offseason bro

Ha! You may have out-emoticon'd me but you'll never break my spirits Kool Aid Larry!!! I knew I could troll somebody by bringing a HOF name into this discussion. I love your response though. Touche'Now seriously, if I had instead asked, "do you think there is a chance TRich could produce a stat line like this over the course of his career?":

162 carries/yr, 596 rush yards/yr, 3.68 YPC, 29 catches/yr, 260 rec yards/yr, 7 total TD/yr

If you honestly answer no to this, then fine. But I don't see how anyone can come to that conclusion at this point in time. I think he can match or exceed these numbers pretty easily.

Now I am not saying he will be a hall of famer like Allen. There are reasons to why Allen is in the hall of fame other than just his stats. Also, I will admit I fished here because I only used the last 12 years of Allen's career and left out his three best years. But my point is that if a HOF RB played the final 12 years of his career averaging these stats, then I think TRich can last in the NFL longer than another year or two even if he never produces top 10 numbers. I can see him being a valuable asset to the Colts dynasty over the next 5-8 years and being serviceable for fantasy purposes as an RB2 as well. Those who are writing him off and saying he will be out of the league in 2 years are being short sighted.

hmmmm....let me do some math on this --- mostly because I like math.after 455 carries he's at 3.3 ypc on the career.

this should be about his last season in the league, and probably benched for half of it, so I'd estimate he gets maybe another 100 carries to bring that 3.3 up to allen's 3.7 ypc when he was in his 40s, and is most likely cherry picked as his worst year in a 20 yr career.

anyway, that's about 500 yds this year on those 100 carries for a 5 ypc in 2014 --- so, no, I don't think he can produce a career stat line like that.

I'm willing to admit when I was wrong -- don't think he was benched for nearly half the season and got well over 100 carries.

good posting, to you, sir, and bon vivant!

gotta admit the dude nailed it on the statline -- except maybe td

I'm pretty sure I conceded to you at some point during the season. My apologies if I never posted it, I really meant to. I really thought Trent could at least put together a mediocre season, but he couldn't even do that.

Much credit goes to Kool Aid Larry for his call that Ahmad Bradshaw would shut this thread down. I respect your opinion much more than I did at the beginning of the season when I thought you just liked to argue for the sake of arguing. You are now one of my favorite posters so I look forward to future conversations.

As for Trent, I dumped that loser for a 2nd rounder week 8 and never looked back. Good riddance.

 

[steelerfan1]

Richardson: Benching 'never going to happen again'

"That situation will never happen to me again," he said of being inactive. "Anybody can quote me, today, because it's never going to happen again."

Bad news, Trent: It could again Sunday.

trent's been as good at predicting things as mike carey

 

[Steed]

Is this what he meant by never again being named Inactive?

@KBowenColts: Trent Richardson did not make the trip to New England due to personal reasons. Its once again the tandem of Herron/Tipton for the @Colts.

 

[Kool-Aid Larry]

sucking can be a personal reason

 

[Ketamine Dreams]

Lol

 

[Raider Nation]

What a crushing blow for New England.

 

[Bojang0301]

I'm letting him go this offseason. I'm a die hard on pedigrees like this but guy is the equivalent of Jamarcus Russell at RB.

 

[Kool-Aid Larry]

I'm letting him go this offseason. I'm a die hard on pedigrees like this but guy is the equivalent of Jamarcus Russell at RB.

I think jamarcus russell at rb would be a pretty close comparison

 

[3 hour lunch]

There's been a lot of (justified) bashing in this thread, but it remains kind of baffling how someone can regress so much. I guess you have to credit the O line at Alabama quite a bit, and he didn't exactly set the world on fire in Cleveland, but I always thought he'd become at least a top 10-20 back. Have his skills regressed that match, or was he just a product of his system and wildly overdrafted?

 

[Bojang0301]

There's been a lot of (justified) bashing in this thread, but it remains kind of baffling how someone can regress so much. I guess you have to credit the O line at Alabama quite a bit, and he didn't exactly set the world on fire in Cleveland, but I always thought he'd become at least a top 10-20 back. Have his skills regressed that match, or was he just a product of his system and wildly overdrafted?

Who would have thought that Ingram and Richardson would (probably) hit the market at the same time and each of them have some pretty big (huge, in Richardsons case) questions to answer at the pro level?

 

[ghostguy123]

There's been a lot of (justified) bashing in this thread, but it remains kind of baffling how someone can regress so much. I guess you have to credit the O line at Alabama quite a bit, and he didn't exactly set the world on fire in Cleveland, but I always thought he'd become at least a top 10-20 back. Have his skills regressed that match, or was he just a product of his system and wildly overdrafted?

all of the above.

 

[RBM]

There's been a lot of (justified) bashing in this thread, but it remains kind of baffling how someone can regress so much. I guess you have to credit the O line at Alabama quite a bit, and he didn't exactly set the world on fire in Cleveland, but I always thought he'd become at least a top 10-20 back. Have his skills regressed that match, or was he just a product of his system and wildly overdrafted?

Reminds me a lot of Ced Benson. These guys were just so used to seeing giant holes in high school and then college, that they just never had to create on their own. Just absolutely no explosion. Instead they get the ball and basically dance around waiting for a hole that's never going to open.

 

[RushHour]

I still think his weight has been a big factor. It does seem like he's made an effort to bulk up since his rookie year (though I'm sure someone will rush to point out that his weight is the same lol). He just looks heavy out there and it can't help his lateral movement. Dropping a few pounds wouldn't help his lack of vision, but it could make him just a little more explosive. Right now it's just like a fullback running into people.

 

[ghostguy123]

Unfortunately he isn't as good as any current fullbacks who get a few carries here and there.

He just sucks.

 

[jmo87usc]

What a crushing blow for New England.

All that time wasted this week running the "zero in the box" defensive scheme at practice.

 

[Leonidas]

I'm just stopping by to say:

LMAO!

Yeah, sure Trent is a great RB because two NFL teams thought he was worth a high pick.

hahaha

 

[seahawk 17]

Media reports are saying that Richardson attempted to board the flight, but fell 2yards short.

 

[monessen]

Media reports are saying that Richardson attempted to board the flight, but fell 2yards short.

You've been a wonderful audience. Remember to tip your server generously, and folks, please drive safely. G'night!

 

[georg013]

Yeah!!! We did it fellas!!! We got rid of TRich supporters worldwide! We told em so!

 

[Skeletore Eh]

Trent Richardson - RB - Colts

Updating a previous item, Trent Richardson missed the Colts' Saturday morning walkthrough.

That's why the Colts left him at home in Indianapolis instead of bringing him to New England for the AFC title game. It's not a good combination to suck at football and miss team meetings ahead of the biggest game of the season.

Source: Bob Kravitz on Twitter Jan 18 - 9:24 AM

 

[Andy Dufresne]

He has to be a drug addict/alcoholic...right?

 

[monessen]

Someone in the Colts organization is spinning things. Why say "personal reasons" first? That lends to a diverse speculative range of possibilities about the player's mental and physical well-being or maybe a family issue. Had they said, at the start, he violated team rules by missing the walk-through (if that is what occurred) and it was the basis for leaving him in Indy, conspiracy conjecture could be been averted.

How can the player claim he'll never be a healthy scratch again, then miss the walk-through? There is a disingenuous party in the mix.

 

[rct]

Adam Schefter 1 min ·

Trent Richardson told @MikeWellsNFL: "I'm dealing with a very serious family emergency. I'm still at the hospital. I wouldn't purposely just miss walk through."

 

[Faust]

Trent Richardson out, dealing with family emergency

 

[monessen]

Again, someone is a big fibber. Is it T-Rich, the Colts, or complicity a la a wrestling work-shoot angle?