Ron's Commentary

Part of the NFL’s history is now a confirmed fixed game. Forever more, the Jets 29-15 win over the previously unbeaten Colts will be tainted. The interesting thing is the fix came from the inside, not from the mob or a bookie named Joey the Weasel. The masterminds behind this fix were Colts President Bill Polian and coach Jim Caldwell. In addition to trying to become the first team since the ’72 Dolphins to go undefeated and win a Super Bowl championship, the Colts were also trying to extend their NFL consecutive game winning streak to 24. Indianapolis had motivation, they were playing at home, they had Peyton Manning and they had the lead when with 20 minutes to go in the game when Caldwell pulled Manning and other key players. His reason, they needed to be rested for the playoffs.

The NFL and the Colts should be ashamed. They ripped off the fans that bought tickets to the game. They handed the Jets a dishonest win. And, they threw the NFL’s credibility out the window. With the tainted win, the Broncos and Jets temporarily have the AFC’s Wild Card playoff spots. If you’re players or fans of Baltimore, Houston or Pittsburgh, in the running for the Wild Card spots, how do you feel knowing the NFL allowed the Jets to have an unfair advantage over your team? Also, it’s not so far fetched to believe the NFL wanted to help the Jets make the playoffs to help the TV ratings by having a New York team playing.

Also, there’s a more sinister side to the NFL and Colts decision to wave the white flag and remove Manning and others from the game. It’s gambling, that dirty word the league doesn’t want to talk about, but privately knows it is part of the heartbeat of NFL games. The NFL is always saying the integrity of the game is the most important thing. They even fined the New Jets big time money last season when they failed to list quarterback Bret Favre’s injury status properly knowing that his status could affect the line on the game and the betting. Now, they allow the Colts to yank key players that definitely did affect the playing and outcome of the game. The bottom line is, it was dishonest and cheating.

As wrong as the action was, so were the reasons for doing it. Caldwell said the goal was to be fresh for the playoffs. Polian said a perfect season was never an issue. If that’s the best reasons Caldwell and Polian can come up with then they shouldn’t even be in the NFL. Caldwell’s reason is the most laughable because the Colts have home field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs and they have a bye in the first round. So, why the need to rest his key players in game 15 of the season? What good would 20 minutes of non-playing rest do to help the Colts in the playoffs? And, if you’re going to rest your players why not do it for this week’s game against the Bills, a non-playoff team. That way you’re not affecting the other teams in the playoffs, you’re not hurting the NFL’s credibility, you’re not pissing off your players and the players and fans of other playoff contending teams, and you’re not making your fans angry and feeling ripped off. Also, Caldwell apparently doesn’t pay any attention to history. The Colts tried shutting down like this in 2005 and 2007 and they lost their first playoff game. In 2006, they were forced to fight to the end. That's when they won the Super Bowl.

Polian’s logic that a perfect season was never an issue also has to be seriously questioned. First, as a respected and successful NFL executive he knows you play the games to win them. Whether it’s the 2nd game of the season or the 15th, winning is the name of the game. And, for Polian not to understand or appreciate what it would mean to the players to be able to claim there were part of the NFL’s last undefeated team is unconscionable. Ask any of the ’72 Dolphins how important it is to them to be on the last undefeated, Super Bowl winning team. Each year they celebrate with champagne when the last undefeated team loses. To players, winning is everything. After the game the Colt players said all the right things in support of the decision, but you know they knew the decision was wrong and embarrassing.

Across history stupidity has been shown as the downfall of great societies, great companies and great people. For the latest example just look at Tiger Woods. The NFL and Colts decision to yank Peyton Manning and their key players against the Jets won’t determine whether the Colts win the Super Bowl or not. But, that decision damaged the integrity of the NFL, the spirit and pride of the Colt players and possibly the history of the game. What will everyone think the day after the Super Bowl if the Colts win it and finish 18 and 1? Shame on the NFL, Bill Polian and Jim Caldwell.

I’m Ron Barr.