The Colts play follow the leader
It’s not really set up that way, to lobby. I don’t think there’s one guy in that locker room that’s going to tell you, ‘No I don’t want to play,”‘ three-time MVP Peyton Manning said after Indianapolis rallied to win at Jacksonville last week. “But we’ve followed his (Caldwell’s) orders all year, and I think that’s a good plan. Those are decisions I don’t have to make and whatever decision he makes, I think will be the right one.”
Sure, former league sacks champion Dwight Freeney, Pro Bowl receiver Reggie Wayne and tight end Dallas Clark have offered their opinions. Each says he’s prepared his body for a 16-game grind and they would like to play the games because of their competitive nature.
Yet even if sitting out means losing incentive bonuses, failing to meet personal goals or perhaps losing a postseason award or two, they’re OK with it.
“Team comes first around here, even if you have something like that (an incentive clause),” Freeney said. “But the team tries to take care of those things if they can.”
Here, the Colts understand there are greater goals at stake.
Indy insists the only significance of 16-0 is if it can finish 19-0, and the Colts would trade a loss or two now for a perfect record in the playoffs.
So over the next couple of weeks, nothing will change. The Colts will listen to Caldwell, follow his instructions and not make waves.
Boring, maybe. But it works.
“The decision makers here have made great decisions and you see it in how they put this team together,” Freeney said. “It shows with how many games we’ve won. I think it starts from the top down, whether it’s (team owner) Jim Irsay, Bill Polian, coach (Tony) Dungy or coach Caldwell, and we all believe they will make the best decisions.”
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