If Nelson's back is the reason why he sucks now then that is HUGE fuck up by Ballard to give him that big of a contract. The smart thing to have done, again if he is having back issues, would have been to let him play out his 5th year option to see how his back impacted his play before handing him the largest OG contract in league history. Of course Ballard hasn't done many smart things the past couple of years.

We'll find out in 2 weeks who the bigger shit show is.

Sure, but my point is not to compare Ballard to Grigson.

If we agree the team around the QB is a lot better, then we're talking about, what?... 12-, 13-, 14-win teams? Then I think the perception of the roster is different.

I would agree if that's the case. But I don't know if that's the case. That's the frustrating part: the mystery.

If we were a 12-14 win team then obviously there wouldn't be any Ballard bashing (or very minimal). But the OL is so unbelievably bad that I'm not sure we'd be a double digit win team even with someone like Luck or Peyton at the helm.

Agreed, but something has obviously happened to him. Guys like Autry who Nelson used to blow up and pancake regularly are now making him their bitch game in and game out.

It is a mystery because the Colts continue to lie to the fan base. They have this opinion that letting someone know, for instance, that Nelson is dealing with a bad back (if he is) will be giving other teams a one up on us. I could stomach this if this was part of a winning plan, it isn’t obviously. None of us trust anything that comes out of these guys mouths. Is there anyone here who listens to Reich’s press conference and believes him? One person who doesn’t see the firing of Brady as trying to put the blame somewhere it doesn’t belong? ‘He was a fabulous coach but we had to let him go because…well you know’ kind of shit. Reich is a weasel, kind of guy who makes others take his hits. They are exactly the opposite of who they claim to be. I, like most here, am over it.

Wait a second. This is nothing unique to Frank Reich or the Colts. Bill Belichick is considered the GOAT and he's famous for giving bullshit pressers. They all do.

Beyond the competitive aspect... reporters and fans claim they want honesty but the moment there's an aberration and someone does speak some truth or specifics, about an injury or anything else, people lose their minds. That's why coach-speak is a thing. They don't want to be there, they don't want to talk to these robot reporters.

This is simply the nature of the garbage (sports) media that people ask for. These reporters have been asking the same goddamn questions and getting the same goddamn non-answers forever. If they didn't get special access to practices and stuff like that, they'd be useless.

Every player and coach will tell you the opponent this week is a "great team" and "they do a lot of stuff really well." The coach and GM always makes every single decision "in the best interest of the team." The winning quarterback in the post-game interview is going to tell the lady, "My teammates had my back" and "we believe in each other", and blah, blah, blah.

That's what people eat up.

I don't need two weeks to know that it's gonna be us. Our only hope is Ehlinger. Good luck with that.

I dont believe the 'got paid and coast theory' that some spout.

I think its a combo of lingering injuries and not fully recovering from covid.