With the monkey off his back, Peyton to have career year in 2007? (1 Viewer)

[JohnnyU]

Now that the pressure is off, I can see Manning having his best year in 2007 and a Colts repeat is possible. He won't have better stats than 2004, but I expect him to be a better QB, if that is possible.

If the Colts can add a couple pieces to the defensive puzzle, and I think they will, the defense should build on the momentum they established in the playoffs. I would like to see them add a better WR #3 on offense. I think the Colts have done a good job at securing the pieces they can (you can't sign everybody). Players like June, Rhodes, Morris, David, and Harper can be replaced, and they won't lose all of them anyway.

Some teams have a let down after winning the Super Bowl, but I don't think the Colts will, especially Manning. The window is still open for a run at a few titles, let alone a couple.

I hear Manning restructured his contract to defer $$$ to free up cap space? How's that for the Manning haters who said he was greedy and didn't care about winning?

Do you think the door is open for the Colts to win two or 3 titles? Do you think Manning can be a better QB going forward because the pressure is off?

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

Is the door open? Yes. ANd I think another superbowl for the colts in the coming years isn't that big a strech. But the AFC is deep, very deep. NE, SD, Cincy all look strong and Jax, Pitt, NYJ, Denver will be tough as well.

 

[ThePittbully]

Is the door open? Yes. ANd I think another superbowl for the colts in the coming years isn't that big a strech. But the AFC is deep, very deep. NE, SD, Cincy all look strong and Jax, Pitt, NYJ, Denver will be tough as well.

Yea another Superbowl win is definitely possible, but with the depth of talent in the AFC and limited cap room of the colts, it certainly will not be easy for them. Its just my opinion but I dont think they will go back to back next year, that is a difficult task in the new nfl

 

[Boston]

They are not in a great position capwise to do too much. Since they don't do a lot in free agency that's not a huge issue. The big issue with Indy is their D (and how much they actually lose in free agency). While it played well in the playoffs it was awful in the regular season. It will be interesting to see what that D actually looks like next year. They'll definetly be a top tier team but that D needs to show they are for real to go the distance.

One other big thing is Indy now has the bullseye on their back. As a Pats fan I can tell you that means every regular season game will be like a playoff game. They will get no layups. Since Indy hasn't been in that position before we don't know how they will handle that. In many ways winning it the first year is easier than repeating. You no longer fly below the radar screen (which Indy sort of did in this year's playoffs) and you never know how players will react once they get that first ring. Do they get more hungry or do they get lazy with all the offseason nonsense that comes with being a champ. The tough part is you really can't answer that until next season begins so it's all speculation until than.

 

[Ron_Mexico]

They are not in a great position capwise to do too much. Since they don't do a lot in free agency that's not a huge issue. The big issue with Indy is their D (and how much they actually lose in free agency). While it played well in the playoffs it was awful in the regular season. It will be interesting to see what that D actually looks like next year. They'll definetly be a top tier team but that D needs to show they are for real to go the distance.One other big thing is Indy now has the bullseye on their back. As a Pats fan I can tell you that means every regular season game will be like a playoff game. They will get no layups. Since Indy hasn't been in that position before we don't know how they will handle that. In many ways winning it the first year is easier than repeating. You no longer fly below the radar screen (which Indy sort of did in this year's playoffs) and you never know how players will react once they get that first ring. Do they get more hungry or do they get lazy with all the offseason nonsense that comes with being a champ. The tough part is you really can't answer that until next season begins so it's all speculation until than.

:(

 

[popeye]

They are not in a great position capwise to do too much. Since they don't do a lot in free agency that's not a huge issue. The big issue with Indy is their D (and how much they actually lose in free agency). While it played well in the playoffs it was awful in the regular season. It will be interesting to see what that D actually looks like next year. They'll definetly be a top tier team but that D needs to show they are for real to go the distance.One other big thing is Indy now has the bullseye on their back. As a Pats fan I can tell you that means every regular season game will be like a playoff game. They will get no layups. Since Indy hasn't been in that position before we don't know how they will handle that. In many ways winning it the first year is easier than repeating. You no longer fly below the radar screen (which Indy sort of did in this year's playoffs) and you never know how players will react once they get that first ring. Do they get more hungry or do they get lazy with all the offseason nonsense that comes with being a champ. The tough part is you really can't answer that until next season begins so it's all speculation until than.

Indy flying under the radar last year? No.Indy having a bullseye? Nothing new here.They will be fine. Whether they win it all is hard to say given the overall strength of the AFC. They will likely fight it out with the Chargers and Patriots.

 

[Chunky Soup]

Lots of good teams in the AFC and NFC can do nothing but go up IMO. Its possible but I wouldn't bet on them winning or making it back to the superbowl in the next couple of years.

 

[JohnnyU]

Lots of good teams in the AFC and NFC can do nothing but go up IMO. Its possible but I wouldn't bet on them winning or making it back to the superbowl in the next couple of years.

The Colts are as good or better than any other AFC team, so just saying that becuase there are "lots of good teams in the AFC" doesn't make it unlikely they make it back to the Super Bowl. I think their chances are just as good as they were in 2006. There have been 18 teams make it to back to back Super Bowls in 41 years. The chances for the Colts are better than you think.

 

[jetpack]

Despite having the worst Super Bowl winning defense of all-time (22.5 PPGA), history shows that it's possible for the Colts to win the big game again soon. Here are a few other lousy Super Bowl Defenses that repeated the next year or won another one within 3 years:

97 Broncos (10th worst SB defense: 17.9 ppga) repeated in 98.

88 49ers (8th worst SB defense 18.3 ppga) repeated in 89.

80 Raiders (5th worst SB defense: 19.1 ppga) repeated in 83.

Chances are, you're not looking at a dynasty with the Colts, but it's certainly possible for them to repeat.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

Lots of good teams in the AFC and NFC can do nothing but go up IMO. Its possible but I wouldn't bet on them winning or making it back to the superbowl in the next couple of years.

The Colts are as good or better than any other AFC team, so just saying that becuase there are "lots of good teams in the AFC" doesn't make it unlikely they make it back to the Super Bowl. I think their chances are just as good as they were in 2006. There have been 18 teams make it to back to back Super Bowls in 41 years. The chances for the Colts are better than you think.

In the new salary cap era, since the Dallas dynasty, I think 3 have done it in b2b years:NEpats

GB

Denver

 

[Tau837]

I hear Manning restructured his contract to defer $$$ to free up cap space? How's that for the Manning haters who said he was greedy and didn't care about winning?

Johnny, I like Manning and typically defend him in the Manning bashing threads... but this really doesn't refute any of the arguments used by the bashers. If I understand correctly, what Manning did changes nothing about how much and when he gets paid.Yes, he had to agree to the restructuring, but it didn't actually cost him anything, so there really isn't much there to refute the tired anti-Manning arguments like "he takes up too much cap money, which hurts his team". (This year's Super Bowl win was the ultimate end of that argument anyway.)

 

[JohnnyU]

Lots of good teams in the AFC and NFC can do nothing but go up IMO. Its possible but I wouldn't bet on them winning or making it back to the superbowl in the next couple of years.

The Colts are as good or better than any other AFC team, so just saying that becuase there are "lots of good teams in the AFC" doesn't make it unlikely they make it back to the Super Bowl. I think their chances are just as good as they were in 2006. There have been 18 teams make it to back to back Super Bowls in 41 years. The chances for the Colts are better than you think.

In the new salary cap era, since the Dallas dynasty, I think 3 have done it in b2b years:NEpats

GB

Denver

What year did the new salary cap era start? Are you saying the first year after the Dallas Dynasty ended (1997) was the first year the new salary cap era started?

 

[JohnnyU]

I hear Manning restructured his contract to defer $$$ to free up cap space? How's that for the Manning haters who said he was greedy and didn't care about winning?

Johnny, I like Manning and typically defend him in the Manning bashing threads... but this really doesn't refute any of the arguments used by the bashers. If I understand correctly, what Manning did changes nothing about how much and when he gets paid.Yes, he had to agree to the restructuring, but it didn't actually cost him anything, so there really isn't much there to refute the tired anti-Manning arguments like "he takes up too much cap money, which hurts his team". (This year's Super Bowl win was the ultimate end of that argument anyway.)

True, but I like to bash Manning bashers any chance I can, and for any reason. Bringing up the restructuring wasn't the best argument I've ever had

 

[Despyzer]

I think it's more likely that the Colts go to another Super Bowl (and probably win it) than Peyton has a career year that surpasses '04.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

Lots of good teams in the AFC and NFC can do nothing but go up IMO. Its possible but I wouldn't bet on them winning or making it back to the superbowl in the next couple of years.

The Colts are as good or better than any other AFC team, so just saying that becuase there are "lots of good teams in the AFC" doesn't make it unlikely they make it back to the Super Bowl. I think their chances are just as good as they were in 2006. There have been 18 teams make it to back to back Super Bowls in 41 years. The chances for the Colts are better than you think.

In the new salary cap era, since the Dallas dynasty, I think 3 have done it in b2b years:NEpats

GB

Denver

What year did the new salary cap era start? Are you saying the first year after the Dallas Dynasty ended (1997) was the first year the new salary cap era started?

Not sure exactly when it started(cap era),but I think it was 96/97

 

[lord_helmet]

I don't think motivation will be a factor, Dungy really knows how to make the players rally.

I think the Colts have an excellent shot at repeating.

 

[David Yudkin]

Lots of good teams in the AFC and NFC can do nothing but go up IMO. Its possible but I wouldn't bet on them winning or making it back to the superbowl in the next couple of years.

The Colts are as good or better than any other AFC team, so just saying that becuase there are "lots of good teams in the AFC" doesn't make it unlikely they make it back to the Super Bowl. I think their chances are just as good as they were in 2006. There have been 18 teams make it to back to back Super Bowls in 41 years. The chances for the Colts are better than you think.

In the new salary cap era, since the Dallas dynasty, I think 3 have done it in b2b years:NEpats

GB

Denver

What year did the new salary cap era start? Are you saying the first year after the Dallas Dynasty ended (1997) was the first year the new salary cap era started?

Not sure exactly when it started(cap era),but I think it was 96/97

The first year with the salary cap was 1994.