FOOTBALL IS BACK!

            
            The NFL Lockout came to an end early this week as the NFL Owners and Players Association came to a 10-year agreement. This was absolutely great news for everybody and anybody. Coaches, players, fans, team bus drivers, concession stand workers, limo drivers, gamblers, agents, are all making money now. It also means Super Bowl XLVI is coming to Indy!!!

               

                
            Going on a tangent here, hang on!

                
            The announcement was really unsatisfying to me. I was expecting ESPN and Sports Illustrated and other sports outlets to post on their websites celebratory headlines, stories and pictures. I was also expecting a set time as when it was over. Instead, it was made public knowledge Sunday night that the two sides would agree on a contract Monday. Then it was finalized Tuesday. Sure, there were many stories rejoicing the return of football, but there was nothing that was like my headline. Nor were there any stories about how long we’ve all waited for this decision to come.

                
            Most of the stories written after the decision were all about the teams signing draft picks and free agents (understandably). In fact, the Indianapolis Colts made moves immediately after the Lockout was over.  The Colts signed 12 undrafted players, but none of the players they actually drafted in April. A part of those 12 players were Nate Davis (Ball State), Darren Evans (Virginia Tech), Chad Span (Northern Illinois), and Mike Hartline (Kentucky). Davis and Hartline are both quarterbacks, and Evan and Span are running backs. I hope to God that Davis and Hartline turn out better than current back-up, Curtis Painter.

                
            On Wednesday, Indianapolis re-signed cornerback Melvin Bullitt and kicker Adam Vinatieri. There are still 10 unrestricted free-agents (players that are not under contract and are allowed to look elsewhere for a place to play). Those include running back Joseph Addai, offensive lineman Charlie Johnson, linebacker Clint Session (he may end up with the Jacksonville Jaguars), and defensive tackles Dan Muir and Antonio Johnson. Owner of the Colts, Jim Irsay, has indicated that Addai and Johnson are his top priorities right now.

                
            How could I forget the other free agent? Mr. Peyton Manning. It was expected by everybody in the western hemisphere that his contract would be completed very soon. It is now a few days after the Lockout’s end and Manning is still not really an Indianapolis Colt. There is no doubt that he will not be a Colt, but I would feel better if there was a legal agreement backing that up.

Less than 200 days away!