An argument nobody is making about the Colts throwing in the towel.

[Dave Gray]

I haven't been criticizing the Colts like most people.  I would have absolutely played for an undefeated season, because I think you owe it to your players and fans, but I don't think that the integrity of the league is at stake or anything like that.

What does bother me, though, is this: The economy sucks right now.  Colts fans paid top dollar to see their team give a game away on purpose.  If I had paid money for that, I'd be infuriated.  The Colts owe it to their fans, more than anyone else.  People come out and pay huge prices to support their team, and the Colts didn't return the favor.  It's disrespectful and just assumes that the fans will always be there.

[Brian Fein]

Agreed.  Someone said it in another thread.  Fans paid to watch the Colts, not a Colts' preseason game.  If I was a fan that drove from far away to see that game, I'd probably never go back.

[fyo]

I call BS. The fans knew damned well, as fans of top teams do EVERY year, that there's a chance they aren't going to be seeing much of the starters in the final couple of weeks.

The Colts actually started resting their starters last week, where several starters who COULD have played were kept out completely. Basically, if they were a little sore, they were out.

[Denver_Bronco]

Maine pointed it out. He was more pissed about it then the Colts fans probably.....

I remember when the Red Sox were sitting most of their starters at the end of last season and Maine ripped them a new a-hole too....LOL

[StL FinFan]

You don't know at the beginning of a season or before the season when most people purchase their tickets if they will be resting starters or not by the time the game rolls around.  I guess if you are getting tickets towards the end of the season you should think about that possibility ahead of time.  However, I would be upset if I paid good money to see a game and then only saw the backups play and lose.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

You don't know at the beginning of a season or before the season when most people purchase their tickets if they will be resting starters or not by the time the game rolls around.  I guess if you are getting tickets towards the end of the season you should think about that possibility ahead of time.  However, I would be upset if I paid good money to see a game and then only saw the backups play and lose.

I agree.  Giants fans got to see a pretty darn good game week 17 of 2007 against two teams that could not improve or hurt their playoff spot with a win or loss.  One team had the AFC#1 locked the other the NFC #5. 

Not only that, but that meaningless game was one of the highest rated regular season games, carried on three different networks. 

But alas, not all coaches bring the integity that Bill Belichick and Tom Caughlin have to NFL games. 

[jtex316]

I just don't like sitting people, period, no matter the situation.

The Colts will probably lose in their first playoff game because they won't be sharp and will be lacking being sharp by basically not playing for 3 weeks. The Pats will play @ houston for the most part, then they'll host whomever the following week at home, and then they'll travel to Indy and smoke them because the Colts will not be sharp.

The other argument no-one is making is recent history. How many times have the Colts - after a phenomenal regular season - just come out flat and rusty in the playoffs? Almost every time EXCEPT when they won the Super Bowl, because they had to play every week

Always play your players. Don't NOT play them because you're scared they'll break a fingernail.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

I just don't like sitting people, period, no matter the situation.

I belive this former Jets coach explained it best.......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMk5sMHj58I

"You play to win the game." 

[Dave Gray]

The magnifying glass was going to be on the Colts anyway, but I think that they'll get faulted by the general public if they don't win the Super Bowl, pointing to that game as a turning point, even if it's not the reason.