Colts organization are a bunch of quitters

[DSUrocks07]

Systematically throwing away a chance at a perfect season and at home as well...which is what they did. Pulling your starters early in the third with only a 5 point lead = quitting. xnonono2x

They deserved the boos that they got today.

And don't give me that "we don't want our starters getting hurt" argument, I thought that this was the NFL not the NFFL (National Flag Football League) xcoffeex

[gmoney55]

I agree with this....if you're going to sit the starters, fine. But why play them into the second half, get in good position to win the game, and then pull everybody that matters. Colts could have won next week at Buffalo if they only played the starters a half at most, that would have been plenty time off before an opening playoff game on Jan. 16/17.

[UNHWildCats]

the Colts coach is a disgrace. And I bet Manning is ticked off too.

[UNHWildCats]

I agree with this....if you're going to sit the starters, fine. But why play them into the second half, get in good position to win the game, and then pull everybody that matters. Colts could have won next week at Buffalo if they only played the starters a half at most, that would have been plenty time off before an opening playoff game on Jan. 16/17.
the Colts have a history of over resting their players, and thats why they always suck in the playoffs.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

I don't like how essentially the Jets are handed a win. As a team that is still holding out hopes for the playoffs they played a scrub Colts team while the Steelers and Ravens were beating the hell out of each other.

The AFC rep is going to come down to the Pats-Chargers divisional playoff winner. I hope it's the Pats! xnodx

[gmoney55]

I don't like how essentially the Jets are handed a win. As a team that is still holding out hopes for the playoffs they played a scrub Colts team while the Steelers and Ravens were beating the hell out of each other.

The AFC rep is going to come down to the Pats-Chargers divisional playoff winner. I hope it's the Pats! xnodx

Second time in three years they've done that after letting Tennessee win in 2007.

[grizband]

Manning looked pissed at first, then was just shaking his head with a smirk when the Jets scored their final touchdown. I hope resting their stars doesn't come back to bite the Colts in the ass - again - come playoff time.

[Head Cat]

Jim Caldwell was pretty much an idiot when he coached at Wake Forest and he showed his ability again today. His post-game explanation was pretty weak. I don't see this team winning it all this year with that lack of competitiveness.

[jstate83]

And if Manning or any other "star" had gotten hurt in a meaningless game, everyone would be calling him a dumbarse chasing personal glory.
Not having the big picture in mind................PLAYOFFS and SUPERBOWL.

Don't blame the Colt's coach.
He put Peyton and other starters back in after that 2nd half kickoff return put the Jet's ahead.
Peyton gave them the lead back on the next drive.
He pulled his key players again the scrubbs on offense didn't produce and the defense crumbled.

[NHwildEcat]

the Colts have a history of over resting their players, and thats why they always suck in the playoffs.

Yeah that Super Bowl title sucked...

[NHwildEcat]

I don't like how essentially the Jets are handed a win. As a team that is still holding out hopes for the playoffs they played a scrub Colts team while the Steelers and Ravens were beating the hell out of each other.

The AFC rep is going to come down to the Pats-Chargers divisional playoff winner. I hope it's the Pats! xnodx

The Pats might not even make it out of the first round the way they have played all year.

[I Bleed Purple]

Yeah that Super Bowl title sucked...

Which, as has been mentioned, was conspicuously the year they DIDN'T rest their starters and had to play hard every week.

[GannonFan]

The big problem I have with this is that they didn't really rest their starters and they didn't really limit their exposure to injury. Playing them into the 3rd quarter was a huge chunck of playing time, so if you wanted to rest them or protect them from injury do that - simply don't play them. Playing them that far into a game only to pull them that late just comes off as the worst of all choices. It pisses off the fans and the players and you don't want to be pissing people off when there's been so much good karma for the Colts this year.

[Big Al]

The big problem I have with this is that they didn't really rest their starters and they didn't really limit their exposure to injury. Playing them into the 3rd quarter was a huge chunck of playing time, so if you wanted to rest them or protect them from injury do that - simply don't play them. Playing them that far into a game only to pull them that late just comes off as the worst of all choices. It pisses off the fans and the players and you don't want to be pissing people off when there's been so much good karma for the Colts this year.

Couple thoughts:

1. The flip side is Manning and the other starters had 2-1/2 quarters to pad a lead and they weren't able to do that. Perhaps the outcome wouldn't have been any different had they stayed in? Maybe the plan was to only keep them in for a half but Caldwell kept them in longer since they hadn't sewn up the lead but he pulled them when it became apparant that it wasn't going to happen?

2. Since the Colts have homefield and first round bye locked up they need to play their non-starters. Winning a Super Bowl is as much about having the best backups as it is talent on your starting lineup and injuries can and do happen in the post-season. If Manning goes down in the playoffs and Painter hasn't had any decent game time, they're pretty much doomed.

I'm throwing this stuff out there to be a devil's advocate. Personally, I think you either sit them or play them but don't play them into the third quarter and then pull them in a close game.

[GannonFan]

Couple thoughts:

1. The flip side is Manning and the other starters had 2-1/2 quarters to pad a lead and they weren't able to do that. Perhaps the outcome wouldn't have been any different had they stayed in? Maybe the plan was to only keep them in for a half but Caldwell kept them in longer since they hadn't sewn up the lead but he pulled them when it became apparant that it wasn't going to happen?

2. Since the Colts have homefield and first round bye locked up they need to play their non-starters. Winning a Super Bowl is as much about having the best backups as it is talent on your starting lineup and injuries can and do happen in the post-season. If Manning goes down in the playoffs and Painter hasn't had any decent game time, they're pretty much doomed.

I'm throwing this stuff out there to be a devil's advocate. Personally, I think you either sit them or play them but don't play them into the third quarter and then pull them in a close game.

I'm fine with your view on point #1, but seriously, point #2? If Manning goes down they need to have gotten Painter some time? Come on, if Manning goes down it's time to fold up the tents and go home - that team is Payton Manning and they don't go anywhere if he's not playing. Painter could get 10 years worth of reps and gameday experience and they still won't win a title if Manning isn't the QB.

[whitey]

I love it! Great decision by the Colts. (I'm a Jets fan).

[UNHWildCats]

I love it! Great decision by the Colts. (I'm a Jets fan).
as a Patriot fan I love the result too, but the fans deserved better and the players as well.

[WestCoastAggie]

And the Chargers will continue their tradition of Blasting the Colts out the playoffs.

[UNHWildCats]

And the Chargers will continue their tradition of Blasting the Colts out the playoffs.
Thats assuming the Patriots dont continue theirs of blasting the Bolts out :)

[jcf5445]

So many people claim you need to rest the players to get ready for the playoffs. Show me the evidence. Can someone tell me how many of the Super Bowl winners of this decade rested their perfectly healthy starters near the end of the regular season? The answer is a resounding zero. The only starters that should get any rest are the ones who have minor injuries that may get better with a little extra rest.

The Colts basically told everyone in the world that they didn't care if they won or lost that game, because they're looking out for #1. You should play to win every game you're part of because not a single person associated with the Indianapolis Colts - or any other team - is guaranteed another game. I don't see the Oakland Raiders, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cleveland Browns, or Chicago Bears tanking games so that they can jockey for a better draft position. I'm not going to say what needs to be said, because Herm Edwards already did a good enough job of it.

PS - While I disagree with the practice of resting starters, I do agree with some of the previous posts in that if you're going to rest them, then don't play them period. Don't engage in a competitive contest and then pull out your best players and rob them of a win that they fought for for 2.5 quarters. I've never seen so many disheartened players on a team in my life.

[JMUNJ08]

Way to kill any momentum you had Indy! The top seeds barely even get to the Super Bowl anymore because they rest starters for the last week or 2 of the season once they sew up the bye and then, I don't know if the coaches know this, THEY GET A BYE WEEK! A major injury can happen in just one play. Nagging injuries are something good to rest. Peyton can take one snap next week, take a hit where he's twisted to the ground and blows out his knee. Season over. All this rest just makes the players rusty or not able to go a full 60 minutes as they wouldn't have played a full game in almost a month...

[Big Al]

I'm fine with your view on point #1, but seriously, point #2? If Manning goes down they need to have gotten Painter some time? Come on, if Manning goes down it's time to fold up the tents and go home - that team is Payton Manning and they don't go anywhere if he's not playing. Painter could get 10 years worth of reps and gameday experience and they still won't win a title if Manning isn't the QB.

Like I said, I was just playing devil's advocate -- I'm neutral on the idea of sitting vs. playing but playing and then sitting is just silly.

Also, yes, if Manning goes down it doesn't matter who the backup is. However, that isnt' necessarily so for the backup defensive players and/or o-linemen. I do think there is value in playing your backups when the game doesn't matter because you are a) giving them experience so they're better prepared to go in when it counts and b) for the amount of money even non-starters get, it's in an organization's best interests to test all of their players as much as possible so they know what they have.