When the Colts pulled their starters in the third quarter against the New York Jets, they essentially pulled the plug on the possibility of a perfect season.
Mike and Mike in the Morning
Mike Ditka joins Erik Kuselias and Adam Schefter to react to the Colts' decision to rest their stars in the loss to the Jets. He says the players deserved the chance to play for a perfect season.
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Since then, Indy radio shows have been flooded with callers and faxes from angry fans. Some said they wanted refunds. Others suggested the Colts didn't lose to the Jets, they forfeited. Analysts contend the Colts threw away a shot at history.
But Caldwell insists he did the right thing by protecting Peyton Manning and his teammates from the risk of injury, and players continue to support the decision.
"It's probably my greatest strength and my greatest weakness. I can focus in. I can narrow my scope," Caldwell said, according to the Indianapolis Star.
"Once you make a decision, you have to live with it. You certainly weigh all the options before. You take a look at all the things that could occur. But once that decision is done, you keep moving."
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The first-year coach pulled Manning & Co. with a 15-10 lead and 5:36 left in the third quarter. The Jets rallied for a 29-15 victory.
The loss had fans serenading Lucas Oil Stadium with boos and Manning, the three-time MVP, offering support for his coach's decision.
"Until any player in here is the head coach, you follow orders and you follow them with all of your heart," Manning said after the game. "That's what we've done as players. We follow orders. Our orders were not to give up a turnover, not to give up a kick return for a touchdown. There's not many games, under any circumstances, that you win when you have turnovers and give up a kick return for a touchdown."
Team president Bill Polian also supported the move, saying perfection was never the goal.
"Football logic has to come into play, and that logic is it makes no sense to have guys out there with the potential for injuries," Polian said. "We played for 16 weeks, sharp as any team in football. The good thing is that none of this mattered in the standings."
Zaragoza sack MarcelinoIndianapolis Colts’ Jim Caldwell defends pulling starters vs. New York Jets
