THE ISSUE:Colts coach Jim Caldwell’s benching of starters.
OUR VIEW:A chance at an undefeated season might never visit Indianapolis again.
It’s a good thing the Indianapolis Colts’ final regular-season game is in Buffalo Sunday. Were it at home, the game wouldn’t be a sellout. Only the most die-hard fan would pay to watch a game in which the starting Colts undoubtedly will be benched, as they were in the 29-15 loss to the New York Jets this past weekend.
At 14-0 and with two winnable games remaining on the schedule, Colts’ president Bill Polian and coach Jim Caldwell pulled their best players in the third quarter Sunday.
The Colts’ brain trust had a chance at doing something historic: finishing the regular season without a loss. They tossed it away like Christmas dinner leftovers.
“The perfect season has never been one of our goals,” Caldwell said after being booed by thousands of fans at Lucas Oil Stadium and in bars across Indiana. “It’s never been anything we focused on or anything we talked about. Obviously, we were placed in this situation, but you still have to look at your objective and keep an eye on what’s most important.”
The Colts’ “objective” is a Super Bowl victory. Fans know that. But the Colts weren’t “placed in this situation” – an opportunity for an unbeaten regular season. They earned it.
They withstood season-ending injuries to receiver Anthony Gonzalez and safety Bob Sanders. They got the best out of rookie receiver Austin Collie and rookie cornerback Jacob Lacey. They strung together comeback victory after comeback victory.
Polian and Caldwell wouldn’t give their players a chance at being the best team to have every played the game.
An opportunity such as this might never visit Indianapolis again. The Colts’ leadership squandered it.
Opinion
Colts squander an opportunity
- Opinion
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Cast a vote for centers
The issue: Vote centers in Howard County.
Our view: Centers are less expensive to operate and more convenient for the average voter.
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White shouldn’t return to office
The issue: The conviction of Indiana’s secretary of state.
Our view: Charlie White’s ouster from office should be permanent.
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Editorial - Feb. 8, 2012: Grand success for Indianapolis
The issue: The Super Bowl.
Our view: Indianapolis left a great impression on thousands of visitors.
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Letters to the Editor: Feb. 8, 2012
As Hoosiers celebrate the conclusion of a truly remarkable Super Bowl experience, there is even more good news that should fill us with pride. More Indiana students are graduating from high school than ever before.
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Which religions will we include?
The Indiana Senate last week approved a bill that would allow public schools to teach creationism, as long as they include theories from multiple religions.
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If you say so
In an opinion piece we published Thursday, state Rep. Mike Karickhoff announced why he voted against “right-to-work” legislation. His reason: The community told him to.
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Cheers and jeers - Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012
Karickhoff acted ‘cowardly’
The Rev. Robin Wentworth Mayer and Horst G. Mayer of Kokomo send the Jeer for state Rep. Mike Karickhoff’s silence during the “right-to-work” debate:
“Mr. Karickhoff, for someone who’s new to office, you’ve certainly learned the art of talking out of both sides of your mouth.
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Let’s drug test our lawmakers
Perhaps it’s appropriate that a measure passed by the Indiana House this week would ask not only welfare recipients but Indiana lawmakers to consent to a drug test.
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Editorial - Feb. 2, 2012: Peru delivers a message
The issue: Peru’s collection of $20,000 last year from property owners who failed to keep their yards mowed.
Our view: Aggressive enforcement can help a city’s finances, but the benefits go beyond dollars and cents.
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Karickhoff: Reason behind my ‘right-to-work’ vote
There is no doubt the “right-to-work” debate has brought mixed emotions, not only to our state but District 30 as well. There were only a handful of House Republicans who did not vote in support of this legislation. Let me explain why I felt it was necessary for me to vote in opposition to right to work.
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