Jeremy Lin and race in the NBA

A 6’ 3” Asian point guard from Harvard has taken over the New York Knicks, the NBA and basically the rest of the Universe. Was that bigoted because I started describing Jeremy Lin with his race? Or is it simply the context of the setting? Asian point guards in the NBA are essentially non existent, so Lin’s race does indeed play a role in his story. There is no better place to analyze the subject of race in sports then the NBA.

A game created and initially played by American white men is now completely dominated by African Americans with some help from Europe. Of course, most of the men who coach, direct personnel, and own the teams are white. Interesting dynamic.


Out of all sports in today's World, basketball seems to have the most relevant racial topics. The ways in which black basketball players are described and viewed is often racist. While great strides have been made involving the issue of race, black players are still viewed differently. It is not every day you hear a white man in the NBA referred to as a thug or a gangster.

However, the racist train runs more then one way. If you listen to sports talk and game broadcasts it seems that white men born in the U.S. are only good at passing and three pointers. Implications that white players are physically incapable of competing are met with descriptions like these: “This guy is a real finesse player, he finds a way” “A hard nosed guy that understands the game of basketball”.

Don’t forget the Europeans, there’s enough basketball racism to go around for everyone! As soon as a player enters The League from Europe he gets tagged as “soft”. I agree that many Europeans play a different brand of basketball, but watch Dirk Nowitzki in the finals last year; that is a man who was once called soft.

What spurred my thoughts about the NBA and race are comments made by the infamous boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. Through Mayweather’s Twitter he said, "Jeremy Lin is a good player but all the hype is because he's Asian. Black players do what he does every night and don't get the same praise."

I think Mayweather has proven in the past and present that he is a racist, sexist, homophobe, and just isn’t a nice guy. While his comments were racist, there is a sliver of truth as well.

The first issue with the boxer’s comments is they are incorrect. Black players, and for that matter any players, have not done what Jeremy Lin has accomplished. He has had one of the most incredible, shocking, and transcending starts to a career in the history of basketball. I’m not positive what NBA Floyd Mayweather watches, but no one besides Lin has ever come out of the shadows and had such a meteoric rise to fame. Add on that Lin is doing this for the New York Knicks, a team in a desperate situation, and that he’s overshadowing two superstars. Don’t forget that Lin is from Harvard, a place that doesn’t produce quite as many professionals as Kentucky.

While Lin’s individual performances have been impressive, his actual numbers have been outdone before. Mayweather is making this argument, but it is taken completely out of context. The setting of the situation and circumstances that occurred to give Jeremy Lin a chance come out of a script that is way too “Hollywood” (except it’s real).

While his achievements are the main story, Mayweather is correct in one area. The fact Jeremy Lin is Asian undoubtedly has increased the bounds of his story. This can be explained with two simple facts.

Fact 1: There are a lot of Asian people on Earth and basketball is popular in many of those communities. Lin has become a sensation on the other side of the World and David Stern can just sit back and smoke his victory cigar.

Fact 2: There are not many Asians in the NBA and there were no 6’ 3” Asians that play point guard.

It’s an anomaly: a small Asian point guard from Harvard taking control of the NBA. Is that racist or is it simply a fact? The truth is that Jeremy Lin’s race plays an important part in his story and rise to stardom. Race is not why Lin got his chance, in fact it is most likely why he was so often overlooked. His story is that of the underdog, who never gave up and eventually made it big. Lin’s story is not about race, it’s about a basketball player seizing his dream by the horns and beginning the adventure of a lifetime.

The NFC comes to power

The NFL typically does not have one conference that is completely dominant in the same manner as the MLB. For years, the National League owned the American League behind power teams like the Reds. During the Yankee dynasty years in the 90s and until recently, the AL reigned supreme. The AFC has been the better conference since the first Super Bowl won by the Patriots in 2002. However, it was never the type of dominance seen in baseball.

With that said, it is pretty clear that over the last decade the AFC has been the best conference in football. With perennial power houses in New England, Pittsburgh, and Indianapolis; NFC teams knew it would never be easy to win the Super Bowl. While the AFC team was often the favorite, they did not always win. This is the essence of football: “Any Given Sunday”.

One of the ways to quantify conference dominance is by team dominance. Usually, you need three or four teams that are perennial championship contenders to be the power conference in any sport. Take a look at the AFC Super Bowl representatives in chronological order starting with those underdog Patriots (that is really weird to say): Patriots, Raiders, Patriots, Patriots, Steelers, Colts, Patriots, Steelers, Colts, Steelers. In case you didn’t notice there is a theme. Now take a look at the NFC Super Bowl representatives over that same period of time: Rams, Buccaneers, Panthers, Eagles, Seahawks, Bears, Giants, Cardinals, Saints, Packers. The NFC has not one single team that has made the Superbowl twice in the last ten years while the AFC has four appearances from the Patriots, three from the Steelers, and two from the Colts.

Eras in football belong to teams and when the best teams are all in the AFC, it leads to the AFC winning more, getting more national attention, and overshadowing the NFC in many ways. With that said, the tide is turning. Actually it has already turned. This decade and maybe the decade after will see the NFC return to power in a big way.

Not only does the NFC have the better teams currently and in the foreseeable future, but the AFC’s power teams are falling apart or slowing down without clear replacements. Before I go on, I would like to acknowledge that I am a Packer fan and write the following with as little bias as possible. This next sentence should get a few chuckles.

The Packers are set up to dominate and become perennial championship contenders for the next ten years (it’s honestly hard to argue this). They have all the pieces including an elite quarterback, coach, general manager, playmakers on both sides of the ball and are extremely young. The Saints are right there with them behind the record breaking right arm of Drew Brees and under the direction of offensive guru Sean Payton. They find underrated offensive players such as Marques Colston and Jimmy Graham who completely dominate the league. They make great free agent decisions like letting Reggie Bush go in favor of Darren Sproles. As long as Brees keeps firing, New Orleans will keep winning.

Add into the mix a San Francisco 49ers team that has found the perfect coach who fits the system to his players. Their defense is elite behind young playmakers like Patrick Willis and Justin Smith. Frank Gore still has plenty left in the tank and Alex Smith is now able to play his part. If we are talking about the future, the Lions come next. Matthew Stafford has turned into an elite cornerback often throwing to the best receiver in the NFL, Calvin Johnson. Once Ndamukong Suh learns to control his temper, the defensive line will be tough to deal with. A little work on the secondary over the next season or two and you are looking at a Super Bowl team.

Don’t forget about the Giants who have the vastly underrated Eli Manning and are now equipped with an elite receiver in Victor Cruz along with a ferocious front four. Health often seems to be an issue and you have to wonder how long the Jacobs/Bradshaw tandem will last. I will also add the Bears into this mix because a healthy Chicago team easily makes the playoffs. They move forward with a very good quarterback in Jay Cutler and arguably the best running back in football with Matt Forte (assuming they re- sign him). Chicago needs a big time wide receiver and while a new offensive system may set them back a step during the adjustment period, the Bears will be stronger in the end.

So, the NFC has two teams set up for serious Super Bowl runs in the Packers and Saints followed by four other teams that should continue winning for a while. Take a look at the AFC situation. The Colts have been blown up and are unsure who their quarterback will be next season. While the Steelers are being held back by injuries this year, age is a factor. Stalwarts like Hines Wards will be retiring as he watches his former teammates slow with age. The Patriots are still an offensive power, but I find it interesting how much we’ve heard about shoulder issues for Tom Brady. Not to mention, the future of the defense looks bleak at best. The Ravens may be the team to watch as they are relatively young on offense and continue to develop playmakers on defense (I don’t think Ray Lewis actually ages).

Simply put, no matter how much praying Tim Tebow does, the AFC is in for a tough decade. There is promise in the Texans, who will be much better next year when healthy. Cincinnati has been impressive behind youngsters Andy Dalton and AJ Green. Do AFC fans honestly think their conference’s future lies in Houston and Cincinnati? The tide has turned. The momentum has shifted. The NFC has come to power.

A Long Road to Watford's Buzzer Beater for IU

I remember stepping foot onto the Indiana University campus for the first time. After realizing IU provided everything I could dream of and more, the university shot up to number one on my list of desired colleges. As I moved through the McNutt dormitory, where I was staying with a friend, talk in the hallway was fixated on the upcoming basketball game. Tickets were hard to come by and people were buying, selling, trading, and doing whatever it took to see Eric Gordon and DJ White lead the Hoosiers under the direction of Kelvin Sampson.

The next day, I awoke on a dorm room floor and strode into the hallway. I noticed a grim undertone had taken over the McNutt floor that was filled with so much energy the night before. Soon after, I was informed of the allegations against Kelvin Sampson and spent the next few hours coming to terms with my impending doom. Not only would I be attending IU with the basketball team under a cloud of NCAA violations, possibly with a new coach, but I had experienced one of the worst days in Hoosier’s history during my first trip to Bloomington.

I remember covering my first basketball game in Assembly Hall. As anyone can attest, the first time stepping onto that hallowed ground is special. Then I watched as the Hoosiers struggled in every facet of the game for an entire year. It was hard to believe the Indiana Hoosiers, kings of fundamentals and smart play, could not shoot 40% from the free throw line.

I watched a skinny freshman named Verdell Jones III put up shot after shot, trying to keep his team in every game to no avail. Those were the days when endless hope surrounded Tom Pritchard and Matty “Ice” Roth became a fan favorite for making the three point line his personal office. There were mixed feelings by students for a basketball team that finished last in the Big Ten. IU put together a 6-25 season including a 1-17 mark in conference play. Some fans sympathized while others were enraged, but hope lived on.

I remember thinking everything would be different in year two of the rebuilding project. Bloomington native, Jordan Hulls, arrived along with lofty expectations for transfer Jeremiah Rivers. Rivers never became the player fans expected. A freshman named Christian Watford was relied on heavily and showed he would be a force in the Hoosier attack.

Unfortunately, IU was not close. The team relied on Verdell Jones III for an absurd amount of scoring which led to him heaving up shots that had no chance. A glimmer of light appeared in Maurice Creek, who dropped 31 points against Kentucky, but his season was ended by a knee injury. The Hoosiers were building chemistry which was only enough for a ninth place finish in the Big Ten. An overall record of 10-21 left fans sulking and looking forward to the days when IU would return to prominence.

I remember thinking the NIT was a legitimate goal for year three. Crean had two years to implement his system and convince players to believe. Jordan Hulls evolved into a leader and Watford the most talented player. Freshman Victor Oladipo made a huge impression with his physical gifts and million dollar smile.

After a 6-0 start in the regular season, hopes for a tournament birth were alive. The schedule turned to conference play and the Hoosiers simply could not keep up with a stacked Big Ten. Pritchard regressed leaving IU with an even bigger hole in the post. A 12-20 record was hard for everyone to swallow. A last place finish in the conference left fans across the country focused on recruiting.

I remember the Cody Zeller recruiting frenzy and the feeling of pure joy on campus when he committed. Zeller ignited “The Movement” giving IU a reason to believe the future was not only bright, but blindingly optimistic. The Hoosiers started the season 8-0 and for the first time in the Tom Crean era expectations of an NCAA tournament appearance had merit.

I remember the day uncertainty left Bloomington. I remember when IU reclaimed it’s rightful place atop the college basketball world. I remember Tom Crean so overcome with emotion he forgot how to smile. I remember Verdell Jones III driving to the basket and realizing he no longer had to score every point. I remember Christian Watford beating the number one Wildcats and the Assembly Hall floor being flooded with ecstatic Hoosiers. I remember history.

There is a Generational Gap in the IU Fan Base

There is a growing disconnect within the IU basketball community. Countless IU media members and long time supporters believe there is no reason to be overly excited about a team in the early stages of a long season. A similar belief by veteran IU fans would prohibit court rushing in almost every situation. The current student contingent is already dreaming of a tournament appearance and gearing up for court flooding in the coming months. The never ending discussions on student attendance at games and structure of the GA section are picking up steam.

I think some of these arguments and how this version of IU basketball is viewed comes down to generational and geographical differences. Most of the traditionalist views originate from people who have covered IU while the team was winning or grew up watching and learning about the enormous success the program has achieved (many living in Indiana). The other viewpoint (we’ll call it new age) consists of mostly students who have not been raised with their parents putting them to sleep with stories of Branch McCracken.

Lets play a little devil’s advocate and look at today’s version of the team from a new age and traditionalist viewpoint. To be fair, take this with a grain of salt because I come from one side of the debate. I hail from Southern California and before deciding to attend Indiana University, only knew the Hoosier basketball basics. However, in my fourth year covering the team, I can see both sides have valid arguments.

IU has started 2011 with eight consecutive victories including a tough game in the B1G/ACC challenge and a decisive victory over Butler at home. They have not been perfect, but have handled most of their opponents easily in large part to the stellar play of Cody Zeller. The freshman has helped elevate the Hoosiers to the next level. Victor Oladipo and Will Sheehey have made enormous strides while Jordan Hulls has continued to be a leader on and off the floor. This comes after Big Ten finishes of 11th, 9th, and 11th the last three years. The Hoosiers combined record was 28-66 over that span. Seniors have gone through one of the worst stretches in IU basketball history and endured an endless rebuilding effort only to see Cody Zeller and “The Movement” entering Bloomington as they exit.

New Age

You ask why these fans are getting so excited after a perfect start and why they want to rush the court after a big win? A winning percentage under 50 is your answer.

The only Hoosier basketball current student-fans know is losing, losing, and more losing. Some fans have not used their general admission tickets making the student section look empty at times. On the other hand, how many schools would have the continued support of the entire campus while falling from grace and failing for three consecutive seasons? There are always plenty of students in the balcony that are not given the opportunity to move down and fill up the student section. Add that to the Camp Crean debacle and it becomes difficult to place blame on student fans.

Traditional

IU is one of the mammoth figures in the history of college basketball. Five national championships, eight final four appearances, an undefeated season, and arguably the most famous coach in all of sports are evidence that Indiana has been “there” before. Yes, students who are graduating this year have had it rough, but they still have an obligation to uphold the rich history of the school. If those standards of excellence are not enforced by future generations, everything anyone wearing the candy stripes has ever worked for will be lost.

It may be fun to rush the court, but IU basketball is better then that, unless it is a TRUE upset. As for the issues with the GA section, there should be no excuses. Every student with a ticket should show up or give their ticket to someone that will. It is the duty of the current students to make Assembly Hall loud and disruptive for the opposing team. A less then totally full student section is a failure.

Outcome

Those are some general feelings that I have gauged from the two sides over the course of this season. Here comes the part where I have to say something the traditionalists will hate. This is not your team. In the MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL, and every other professional league, the teams belong to their fans and the city. In my opinion, college sports teams belong to the students of the university.

Yes, you will be a Hoosier for life once you leave and maybe you will attend every tournament they make for the rest of your life. Still, the current students are the driving force behind any college athletic program.

As you can see, I am siding with the new age viewpoint. Students have made their way to Assembly Hall for three years knowing most of the time the result would be a big fat L. They still showed up in crowds that made schools with twice the amount of wins look puny. If you want the GA section filled, do something to allow balcony ticket holders in at halftime. These fans should have no ill feelings about rushing the court after a big win, whether the traditionalists think it’s worthy or not.

Bob Knight may frown on it, but Bob Knight would frown on the Big Heads too. Bob Knight would not run into a mob of Hoosier fans and scream at the top of his lungs as Tom Crean did last year. BOBBY KNIGHT IS GONE AND HE’S NOT COMING BACK. There’s no point in acting like IU has been competing for national championships. The reset button has been pressed. IU history remains and is an integral part of the IU basketball experience, but this team belongs to this set of students. They don’t know what winning feels like, so let them enjoy it.

A Historic Night for America's Pastime

My roommates and I decided to go see Moneyball Wednesday night. We had yet to see the box office smash and as baseball die hards were craving two hours about the sabermetric revolution. However, we called an audible realizing that the night would be better spent watching the four games that would determine who were the last two teams in the playoffs or if there would be one or two single game playoffs to determine the remaining spots. Best decision ever. Using MLB.TV we watched in it’s entirety, the greatest night of baseball I have ever seen.

When I began falling in love with baseball one of the aspects of the sport that stood out was the absence of a time limit. There is never a point in a baseball game when the team feels rushed to score as the clock winds down. All focus can be put into the task at hand instead of the fact only 15 minutes remain. In this way, hope is more powerful in baseball than any other sport. It does not matter if you’re down by seven runs in the fifth inning or down to your final strike in the ninth, the opportunity still remains. On September 28, 2011 time seemed to stand still as magic flowed through the baseball world and the impossible unfolded before our eyes.

Going into game 162 of the major league baseball season four contests truly mattered. The Atlanta Braves and Boston Red Sox were hanging on for dear life as their two wild card leads had evaporated in September. Over less than a months time the St. Louis Cardinals crawled back into contention erasing an 8 1/2 game deficit while the Tampa Bay Rays did the same after being 9 games back of Boston. The Rays started David Price against the Yankees minus any real pitchers, who were resting for the playoffs, while the Cardinals squared off against the last place Houston Astros. The Red Sox had Jon Lester going against the Orioles, who he had never lost to, and the Braves had Tim Hudson facing off against the first place Phillies, who started their regular players.

Let’s get the Cardinals game out of the way. St. Louis did their job continuing an incredible run by defeating Houston 8-0. It seemed that there would be two blowouts as Mark Texeira helped give the Yankees a 7-0 lead behind a grand slam and solo homer. Meanwhile, Atlanta had a 3-1 lead going into the 7th with one of the best back ends of a bullpen in baseball. An error put Philadelphia within one run, but there were no worries with Johnny Venters and Craig Kimbrell coming in, although the two had struggled during the Braves slide. Over in Baltimore, the Red Sox held a 3-2 lead when a rain delay stalled the game. Red Sox fans felt good with a one run lead and probably enough time to see the Yankees close out a win over Tampa Bay before their game started again.

You don’t come back from seven runs down in the eight inning, it is just too rare. What’s the point in telling the Rays that. They have fought and believed the entire season through Manny’s steroids, injuries, slumps, and going up against two goliath teams with a payroll that is considered a joke in the AL East. That will, desire, and true belief that anything can happen is what makes baseball great. The Rays scratched together three runs and found themselves with two men on and the slugger, Evan Longoria, at the plate. Of course, the burley third basemen hit a ball into the mesosphere cutting the lead to a single run.

Back to Atlanta where the ever reliable Braves closer, Craig Kimbrell, allowed the Phillies to get a runner on third when Chase Utley did his job with a sac fly. Free baseball in Atlanta; remember the Braves knew a loss eliminated them from the playoffs. In Baltimore, the Red Sox were having a blast watching an astonishing comeback by the Rays which was about to fall short in the bottom of the ninth. Joe Maddon decided to go for it all and pinch hit Dan Johnson in hopes of a game tying home run. Down to his last strike, Johnson took a mistake and blasted a liner that just cleared the wall in right field and barely made it fair. Bedlam.

The Braves and Phillies battled to the 13th inning when the spark plug that is Hunter Pence singled in the go ahead run. Atlanta goes quietly into the night completing the biggest collapse in MLB history. The sadness and angst on the Braves’ faces was enough to make you shed a tear. In Houston, champagne was sprayed and smiles were cracked as Tony LaRussa and Albert Pujols return to October.

Over in Baltimore, the game started up again and the Red Sox went into the bottom of the 9th with a one run lead and the stellar Jonathan Papelbon trying to close it out. The Boston closer looked sharp striking out the first two batters. One of my roommates uttered, “Please just score, stop being the Orioles.” Baltimore got the message and proceeded with back to back doubles to tie the game. At 12:02 AM Robert Andino singled in the winning run and the Red Sox lost, putting their season in peril. Not to mention, the ball fell barely out of the reach of Carl Crawford, who has been a complete bust for Boston. My house sounded like a scene from a horror movie while we screamed like little girls.

It all came down to what happened in Tampa Bay. If the Rays win they would complete one of the most improbable stories in baseball history. If they lose there would be a one game playoff to decide if Boston or Tampa Bay gets in. The scoreboard was updated and the crowd at Tropicana Field realized the Sox blew it. At 12:05 AM, just three minutes after the Boston collapse, the stage was set. With one out in the bottom of the 12th, Roy Hobbs (played by Evan Longoria) stepped to the plate and delivered a home run that barely got over the wall sending Rays fans into “I need to cry right now” mode. My roommates and I jumped up and down like deranged lunatics and the neighbors started to think there might be an issue.

What. Just. Happened! I could add another 1,000 words about the endless statistical improbabilities which emphasize the grandeur of the moment. As much as I love stats, that would not do it justice. The only way to describe witnessing all these events in real time is beyond belief. It was baseball at it’s finest. Hope remained eternal to the last strike, to the last breath. The Rays and Cardinals who had trudged forward when many had given up, deserve to be in the playoffs. If this script was submitted to a Hollywood producer it would be laughed at. It was real though and you could feel it flowing through your veins. It was the greatest night of baseball anyone has ever seen.

A Quick Preview of IU Football

There is a hallowed football tradition in Bloomington at the beginning of every school year. No, I’m not talking about a march of the players down a main road in campus. It’s not a huge pep rally held by the students at Memorial Stadium. The Hoosiers’ tradition does not revolve around sacred trees like Auburn or stickers on their helmets like Ohio State. This pastime involves a magnet and eager students.

No one will ever argue that Indiana has a strong fan base for football. When comparing the fan’s enthusiasm for football and basketball, it is obvious Tom Crean’s crew owns Bloomington. However, that in no way means there isn’t big love for IU football. Deep within the belly of Bloomington there are thousands of students who hold out hope and consider themselves die hard Hoosier football fans.

That brings us back to the storied tradition that occurs each fall on the Indiana University campus. Students will eventually find in their hands a small magnet schedule. They can find these all over town being handed out by the athletic department and food establishments eager to attain youthful customers. The IU faithful then peruse the schedule, game by game, and try to convince themselves that IU will win enough this year to make a bowl game. “We can beat Illinois at home,” says one student. While another convinces his roommate that the Bucket Game will be won by IU. One way or another they conclude Indiana will win enough to barely make a bowl game. Then, the Hoosiers falter early and everyone gears up for basketball season. What a fantastic tradition.

Anyone speaking realistically cannot expect IU to have great success in 2011. There are so many question marks and new faces that anything could happen. But that is one reason to be excited. Instead of the same old lofty expectations met by the same reasons for failure, there are infinite possibilities. Bill Lynch was a great man and put everything he had into the head coaching position. Plain and simple, it just didn’t work. Kevin Wilson has come in and immediately demanded more of the team. Players are being pushed to new levels and the hope is his hiring will be the start of a turnaround for the football team.

Kevin Wilson brings a resume of success with him after implementing a prolific offense as coordinator for Oklahoma. He was the mind behind Sam Bradford’s record breaking season in 2008 and was recognized as the top assistant in college football. This is the first time he will be head coach of a major college football team and how Wilson handles the job will be a story line throughout the season. Although Coach Wilson has had great success with the spread and no huddle offenses, he has not determined what kind of system will be used. That’s probably because he’s not sure who the quarterback will be.

The Hoosiers have lost their two best offensive weapons in Ben Chappell and Tandon Doss. The quarterback and wide receiver were the main reasons behind any of IU’s offensive success. Without them there are so many questions, it’s hard to figure out where to begin. The three quarterbacks on the roster are Edward Wright-Baker, Dusty Kiel, and Adam Follet with Kiel and Wright-Baker expected to battle for the starting job. The offense could look very different for each quarterback, especially Wright-Baker, who is a tremendous runner. Wilson is probably counting on the return of a healthy Darius Willis to anchor the backfield. Damarlo Belcher has been a solid wide receiver during his time in Bloomington, but will have to step up without Doss and Terrance Turner. Tight end Ted Bolser emerged as a surprising threat and could see a bigger role in 2011.

The defense in 2010 was poor in most areas. Five starters will be gone including Mitchell Evans and Tyler Replogle leading to a lot of competition for spots. Evans was extremely versatile, playing on both sides of the ball during his career and provided valued leadership as well. If the defense becomes worse, than Indiana will have a tough time surviving. The hope among the program is that the new mentality instilled by Coach Wilson and his staff will have an effect on the players. Improving on fundamentals such as group tackling and proper communication could alleviate problems that occurred time and again in 2010.

2011 will be very different for Indiana. There are obvious changes in every aspect of the program that could lead to a very tough year. There is also the possibility that the team comes together and surprises everyone under new leadership. After three disappointing seasons, heading into unchartered territory will be welcomed by Hoosier fans. It will give them a little hope while looking at their magnet schedules.

Life Without Manning

It’s a thought that Colts’ fans want no part of; what their team will do when Peyton Manning is no longer behind center? The same way Green Bay Packers fans could not imagine their lives without Brett Favre at the helm, Colts fans may feel lost without Peyton. With the issues that have come up in recent years, it may not be too early for Indianapolis to start formulating a plan for the day that the best on field captain in NFL history is no longer directing the offense in Indianapolis.

Manning has shown that he is not a machine as injuries have become more frequent with age. His bursa-sac injury turned out to be more serious than anyone anticipated and now he is recovering from a neck issue. Peyton’s contract is also a concern that will need to be dealt with once the lockout ends. There is no doubt that Jim Irsay will pony up whatever amount of money it takes to sign Manning and keep him with the franchise for the long haul. However, that contract will be expensive and as Manning’s skills slowly deteriorate or injuries become an issue, the contract will weigh the team down.

It appears there could be a salary cap at around 120 million dollars once the lockout ends. Manning is already making near 16 million a season and could be seeking 20 million or more per year. The Colts already have holes in almost every area that need upgrading. Figuring out how to best spread out a franchises’ money is hard enough for any NFL general manager. The task for Bill Polian will be much more difficult with one player taking up 17-20 % of the team’s salary.

Add in the fact that Indianapolis has a below average rushing attack and a defense that strikes fear into no one and the Colts could be looking at hard times. Stalwarts such as Gary Brackett and Jeff Saturday will be facing the same challenges as Manning with each passing year. Joseph Addai cannot be counted on and Donald Brown is a great complimentary back, but nothing more. Reggie Wayne will be looking for a big pay raise while Austin Collie still needs to prove he can overcome his concussion issues.

The offensive line should be a priority to upgrade for head coach Jim Caldwell and company. A big reason that sacks are often avoided in Indianapolis is Manning’s lightning quick release. Not only will protecting Peyton become increasingly important each year, but developing a line that leads to an explosive running game is imperative. Once Peyton begins to slow down, Indianapolis must be able to transition to a more balanced offensive attack. Barring the long odds of finding another incredibly durable quarterback, who happens to be one of the most accurate in the league and has the ability to become an on-field offensive coordinator, the running game will have to improve.

The run should be a primary concern on defense where Indy should look to add some beef to the defensive line. The Colts have not been ranked better than 24th against the run the last three seasons. Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis should be able to continue leading the pass rush which will allow Polian to focus on stopping the run. Although, the arrest of youngster Jerry Hughes, who is being groomed to fill one of the defensive end positions, should be a concern as players with arrest records do not tend to last long in central Indiana.

These will not be problems for the 2011 season. The Colts bring back their veteran core and will have to fight off the Texans to take the division if Houston can play any defense at all. Then again, it seems that same sentiment is uttered every season with the Texans Jaguars, and Titans trading places. Each year, Peyton finds one way or another to lead Indianapolis to the playoffs and nothing about that will change this year.

The biggest mistake the coaches and executives of the Colts’ can make is focusing solely on this season. They must begin preparing for the future when they won’t be able to continually rely on their veteran core. There will come a time when Peyton Manning can no longer sling footballs with extreme power and accuracy while acting as the de-facto offensive coordinator. If the Colts are not prepared, dark days loom ahead.