As you well know, I like to start off my Wednesdays with a little young QB action. And today is no exception.

Andrew Luck vs. Colin Kaepernick: who would win in a fight?

Okay, that’s not actually what this article is about. Instead, it asks which QB is superior, especially looking down the road. But be honest, now you want to know who would win in a fight.

No money, mo’ problems seems to be ESPN’s theme this week. According to reports, ESPN is laying off as many as 400 employees to increase profit margins. Luckily, some of our favorite ESPN writers have already demonstrated that they possess certain “skills” outside of “writing about sports.” This includes Rick Reilly’s poetry (now graded by a seventh grade teacher!) and Darren Rovell’s tweets (and even better, all the replies Rovell’s tweets get – which now have their own Twitter account!).

Speaking of money, the NFL granted a $200 million loan for construction of the new Atlanta Falcons stadium yesterday. This NFL.com post says “The Falcons received the money Tuesday at the NFL Spring Meeting” and now I’m just picturing Tony Gonzalez carrying around briefcases full of dollar bills.

While at their annual Spring Meeting, the NFL also awarded upcoming Super Bowls to San Francisco (2016) and Houston (2017).

Additionally, the NFL discussed more “humane” ways to handle player cuts, which I, as an emotional consumer of Hard Knocks, completely agree with!

And finally, in random news: Tony Romo had a cyst and Microsoft is bringing it’s technology to the sideline…and beyond!

Happy Wednesday! As a special bonus, enjoy this post about the 20 Types of Depressing Sports Fans.

Emily Ritter is a contributing writer to Aerys Offsides. Her 7th grade poetry was excellent. Follow her on Twitter @ebritter2.

Welcome to the first edition of a new, hopefully-daily feature here at Offsides … the Morning Blitz! Here we will try to get you some of the links from sources around the country to get you, your daily football fix! We’ll, as always, try to add a little humor to it!

So, sit back and sip your coffee … or whatever beverage that is in your hand … and enjoy!

The NFL’s new Player Assessment Tool is sure to give the Wonderlic a run for it’s money at the NFL Scouting Combine this week in Indianapolis.

The NFL’s new Player Assessment Tool is sure to give the Wonderlic a run for it’s money at the NFL Scouting Combine this week in Indianapolis. According to USAToday.com, the PAT  is supposed to provide teams with an idea of whether a player will get along with teammates, make it to meetings on time and put in the effort to take his skills from good to great. Teams are making multi-million dollar investments in these athletes who get banged around. It is an excellent idea to make sure they are good decision makers. It just is … Seriously!

Other Items

* Alleged Adderall abuser and Seattle Seahawks cornerback Robert Sherman says the NFL Draft is a “sham.” … Yeah, OK Robert. Here’s more from the Seattle P-I.

* Monte Kiffin understands the pressure he is taking on by becoming the Dallas Cowboys’ new defensive coordinator. But you have to wonder about that when he justifies this by saying he is 72 going on 52! Here’s more on Kiffin from the San Antonio Express-News.

* The city of Charlotte’s plan to contribute $125 million toward renovating Bank of America stadium started with a letter Mayor Anthony Foxx sent to the team last September, according to Carolina Panthers president Danny Morrison. Here’s more on the letter and other possible financing sources for the renovation from the Charlotte Observer.  » Continue reading “Monday Morning Blitz: Combine, Tebow and More!”

Ray Lewis

The Colts fell to the Baltimore Ravens 24-9 Sunday afternoon bringing and end to a pretty remarkable season.

Let’s discuss a few things!

* Ray Lewis’s final home game. Ray went out in his final home game in front of his loyal fans in Baltimore, the way those fans would want. A winner. Dancing. He did his signature dance coming out of the tunnel Sunday. And in the final moments of the game, lined up on offense and as the clock winded down, the crowd roared and he danced one final time before the Raven-ous fan base.

* How Did The Elite One Do? Joe Flacco … What? He says he’s elite?! … threw for 282 yards and two touchdowns. It wasn’t one bit pretty but he did what he had to do. I guess…

* What’s next for the Ravens?  Flacco, Lewis and the Ravens head to Denver to take on Peyton Manning and the Broncos. Should be an excellent game!

* Andrew Luck. What a star! What a rookie season! Sunday, he threw 288 yards. And an interception. It wasn’t his best game. It just wasn’t. But, the kid NEVER gave up. And as Phil Simms noted over and over again on Sunday, Andrew Luck is strong. Err… let’s put that in regular terms. Andrew Luck has a lot of grit, determination and leadership ability. And it’s going to take him far. I’m looking forward to many, many more years of seeing him play!

* Adam Vinatieri still knows how to kick-it! Yeah! I know! But, he was three for four in field goal attempts. He scored all of the Colts points. Colts fans thank goodness Adam still has an epic foot and leg!

* What’s Next For the Colts? Obviously, getting everybody rested up and ready for the 2013 season. It would probably be a good idea to draft or sign a running back or two and some strong offensive lineman to help protect Andrew, the back and receivers. It will be good to have Coach Chuck Pagano back for a full season and if Bruce Arians, who was out of Sunday’s game after he was hospitalized for an undisclosed illness, doesn’t get lured away for a sweet head coaching gig, it will be good to have him back as offensive coordinator. Next season should be even better.

Follow Miranda on Twitter, @missmiranda

The playoffs and the road to Super Bowl XLVII is finally here!  The defending champion New York Giants will have no shot at defending their title after they were eliminated from playoff contention Week 17.  A new champion will be crowned on February 3rd.  Here is a look at the playoff picture and how I think it will pan out.

Please note:  These are merely predictions.  The Divisional, Championship, and Super Bowl matchups are subject to change.  Nothing is final. » Continue reading “2013 NFL Playoff and Super Bowl XLVII Predictions: Who will win it all?”

The Indianapolis Colts won their first game with Chuck Pagano back as coach since he started treatment for leukemia Sept. 26. The Colts defeated the Houston Texans, 28-16.

Coach Chuck Pagano

Andrew Luck threw for 191 yards and two touchdowns. Luck threw a one yard pass to Coby Fleener and a 70-yard pass to T.Y. Hilton. Deji Karim scored on a 101 yard kick off return. And, Vick Ballard scored a TD on a one yard run.

Still amazing. Luck, Fleener and Hilton are all rookies. This is Pagano’s first game back after getting treatment for cancer. It’s Pagano’s first year as coach by the way. It was Ryan Grigson’s first year as GM> And… they are going to the playoffs. Would you have even believed this after last season?

The Colts end the season with an 11-5 record. They are the fifth seed in the NFL Playoffs and take on the Ravens in Baltimore on Sunday’s Wild Card weekend action on CBS.

The Kansas City Chiefs made quite a showing in their final home game of the season, but the penalties and turnovers that have been plaguing them all season also made a showing, and in the end, they were no match for Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts, falling 20-13.

This was Jamaal Charles’ game. He rushed for 226 yards, his second 200 plus yard game of the season. Charles’ biggest play of the game was an 86-yard touchdown run on the first play of the second half. Kicker Ryan Succop kicked his second field goal of the game later in the 3rd quarter to tie up the game 13-13. “It was fun today, competing out there and doing it while we were trying to come back,” Jamaal remarked after the game. With this game, Charles became the NFL all-time average per carry record holder.

Jamaal Charles

Peyton Hillis added another 101 yards on the run game in his usual freight-train ways. Kansas City had 352 yards rushing in the loss, the first time that has happened in NFL history.

However, every chance the Chiefs had to take the lead, they squandered away. Quarterback Brady Quinn threw two interceptions and was just 10 of 22 for 162 yards. Why, when the run game was going so well, the Chiefs decided that Quinn should throw the ball anywhere near either end zone is beyond me. On the Chiefs fifth offensive play of the game, Quinn threw behind Dexter McCluster. The ball was easily intercepted by Darius Butler who ran it into the end zone, giving the Colts a 7-0 lead. Later in the third quarter, Kansas City had a chance to take the lead, but Quinn was picked off by Vontae Davis in the end zone.

The Chiefs had one last chance late in the forth quarter, but Quinn was stopped on a quarterback sneak by the Colts defense on 4th and inches. Luck got the ball back and a touchdown just a few plays later gave the Colts the victory.

Kansas City (2-13) travels to Denver next week for their final game of the season against the Broncos.

A year after posting the worst record.

Months after welcoming a rookie QB and saying goodbye to a four-time MVP.

A new GM.

A new head coach who missed most of the season due to leukemia.

After all of that … The Colts clinched a playoff spot with a 10-5 record after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 20-13.

Speaking of that rookie QB! Andrew Luck threw 205 yards on Sunday to pass Cam Newton for a record of 4,051 yards passing by a rookie.

Luck connected with Reggie Wayne for a touchdown. Darius Butler intercepted a pass from Brady Quinn for a 32-yard touchdown. Adam Vinatieri knocked down two field goals including one from 48-yards away.

Next up for the Colts are the Houston Texans next Sunday in Indy.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck

It’s that time of year again where we break down the nominations for the Rookie of the Year awards.  I personally feel that this was a very unique rookie class this season.  Here are my “Who should win”, “Who will win”, and “Honorable mention” votes for this year’s Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Who should win:

Andrew Luck – QB – Indianapolis Colts
Having the number one draft pick as a nomination almost seems too easy, but Luck deserves it.  Last season former Colts’ legendary quarterback Peyton Manning missed the entire year after having three neck surgeries, and in March the team decided to let him go after having a losing season.  The Colts’ drafted Luck number one overall to start a rebuilding process.  Rather than looking like they’re rebuilding, it’s as if the Colts are picking it back up as if Manning never left.  The Colts have gone from winning two games last season to having eight so far this season and a shot for the playoffs.  Luck has led the team from come from behind victories, most recently against the Detroit Lions last Sunday when he took his team down the field in the final minute and threw the winning touchdown pass with four seconds left.  What may keep Luck from winning the award is his turnovers.  He’s thrown 16 interceptions and has fumbled nine times, losing five of them.  He has, however, thrown for 3,956 yards and 17 touchdowns.  It won’t matter to him if he doesn’t win this award.  Super Bowls are in his future.

Who will win:

Robert Griffin III – QB – Washington Redskins
Everyone around the NFL can’t get enough of RGIII.  He’s the entire package.  He’s a respected leader, is very mature, and is insanely talented.  RGIII has led the Washington Redskins to an NFC East title race with the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys.  The NFC East title will wind up coming down to the Redskins and Giants, with the great possibility of a tie.  If there is a tie, the tie breaker would go to the Redskins.  In all of my years as a Giants fan, I can’t remember the last time the Redskins were relevant.  RGIII is a fantastic football player with a bright future as long as he stays healthy.  He’s not a huge guy and he’s been taking a beating all season.  I don’t know how long that toughness will last.  What makes RGIII so likable is his speed.  He’s rushed 112 times for 748 yards and has scored six touchdowns.  He is also the second highest behind Peyton Manning in completion percentage with 66.4, but I think it’s more to do with that he throws less and runs more than most quarterbacks.  Votes are generally a popularity contest, and RGIII has certainly flashed across the hearts of the media.  He has a bright future, also with Super Bowls.

Honorable mention:

Russell Wilson – QB – Seattle Seahawks
Wilson could be the dark horse in the Rookie of the Year voting.  He, a lot like RGIII, has taken an irrelevant team and has led them to a winning record and a possible playoff berth.  With the insanity and attention on the guys listed above, Wilson will likely not win the award, but I won’t be shocked if he gets at least one first place vote.  The Seahawks have eight wins, and some of those wins came against teams that no one thought they would be; teams like the New England Patriots, Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys, and Chicago Bears.  I can’t wait to see what this kid does in his future years in the NFL.  He’s reawakened a struggling franchise.

Check back tomorrow for my Defensive Rookie of the Year predictions

You can follow Kelsey O’Donnell on Twitter @KelsODonnell

So, can we be obvious for just a moment?

Andrew Luck? That kid is AMAZING!

Andrew and the Colts overcame a 13-point deficit to beat the Tennessee Titans 27-23.This was his sixth fourth-quarter comeback of the season … which, if you didn’t know, just so happens to be his rookie season.

Luck has 16 pass completions for 196 yards and a touchdown pass to Reggie Wayne. He wasn’t all that … Lucky … on the field Sunday either as he threw two interceptions. Titan Will Witherspoon ran back one interception for a 40-yard touchdown.

Adam Vinatieri did what he could to help his team in the fourth quarter. He knocked down two critical field goals, one from 53 yards out and the second from 40 yards away.

Jake Locker had an excellent first half Sunday. But as Andrew’s luck grew, Jake’s fell short.

Jake had 22 pass completions for 262 yards and a touchdown pass to Jared Cook. He also threw two interceptions.

The Titans are now 4-9. Next up for Tennessee are the New York Jets in Nashville on Monday Night Football.

The Colts are now 9-4. Next Sunday, the Colts take on the Texans in Houston.

Andrew Luck led the Indianapolis Colts to a 35-33 victory over the Detroit Lions with some last minutes heroics.

Donnie Avery (11) ran in the game winning TD pass from Andrew Luck (12) as time expired. (Screen Cap)

Luck moved up in the middle and connected with a wide-open Donnie Avery on a 14-yard touchdown as time expired.

Despite three interceptions, Luck was stellar again as he was 24 of 54 passing for 391 yards and four touchdown passes. Avery had two TDs, including the game winner. Luck also connected with Coby Fleener and LaVon Brazill. Vick Ballard also ran in an 11-yard TD for the Colts.

The Colts, 8-4, are in AFC Wild Card contention with the victory. They look to continue their winning ways next Sunday as they take on the Tennessee Titans in Indy.