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Battle Lines Drawn at Stampede Blue

I was hoping that my post on Wednesday about the Colts game would've been my last mention of it until next season. However, I feel the need to respond to our Indianapolis Colts affiliate Brad Wells for insulting Cleveland fans. I'm not sure if Wells and Colts fans misunderstood or simply didn't bother to read what I actually said.

CASE 1 - STARTER OBLIGATION

Brad Wells said: "In Chris' article, he follows the line that the Colts had an obligation to the integrity of the league to play their starters last weekend."

Chris Pokorny actually said: "If you don't want to risk injuries to your starters, I understand that."

I don't believe I've ever said the Colts had an obligation to play their starters against the Titans. I constantly stated that it was extremely frustrating knowing that the Colts could easily handle the Titans if they just kept their guys in longer, but never did I say what Wells accuses me of saying. If that were the case, then I'd have problems with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jacksonville Jaguars as well. They earned the chance to rest their guys; more power to them.

CASE 2 - QUOTING MEANS SUPPORT?

Brad Wells said: "Sadly, Chris is now taking the side of known schmucks like Gregg Easterbrook, a man so vapid he needs multiple "g"s in his first name to make him feel special."

Chris Pokorny actually never even stated whether he supported or did not support Easterbrook.

Just because I quote someone's viewpoint doesn't mean I agree with it. Most of the time, I do provide a little mention on my thought of a quote. In this rare case, I merely decided to display someone's perspective from ESPN. Earlier in my piece, by the way, I mentioned several things that I "could've posted about". Do you want to know the reason why I didn't discuss most of those things? Because that would have been bitching without a fair reason to bitch. The only point I did address, Dungy's non-timeout, was my only complaint after the dust had settled.

CASE 3 - I'M A LOSER

Brad Wells said: "Bottom line: Anyone complaining about how Dungy handled the final seconds of the Titans game is a loser, and their opinion on the subject means next to nothing."

Whoa, what's with the insults? Especially when Wells himself, just a few paragraphs earlier, admitted that the potential existed for the Colts to block a field goal: "I agree, there was the potential for the Colts to block a potential Rob Bironas FG." And, by my accounts, there have been times in NFL history in which a team has blocked a kick and returned it for a touchdown. That would eliminate Wells' and Colts fans' accusations that Jim Sorgi would've been incapable of leading a drive.

At the end of his piece, Wells did say the following:

This post isn't "insulting" Chris or his Browns fanbase.

This is tough love. This is football.

Calling anyone who complained about the timeout a loser, with an emphasis on the phrase "Bottom Line", sure doesn't sound like something that's not insulting. Wells stated in his piece that he wouldn't be apologetic about what he said. I don't need an apology, but instead I'll suggest that he stop getting his quotations from dreamland. This is tough love. This is football. And, most importantly, this is reality.

I do still love Wells, the Colts, and his site. While my comments in this piece are still true, the purpose of bringing this up is also to stimulate necessary discussion rather than animosity.

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Re: Battle Lines Drawn at Stampede Blue
 So... Steelers are looking pretty screwed.

by Estonianzulu on Jan 5, 2008 10:17 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Re: Battle Lines Drawn at Stampede Blue
Yep, and that should bring a smile to most Browns fans :D

by ChrisPokorny on Jan 5, 2008 10:27 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Re: Battle Lines Drawn at Stampede Blue
Ok, I never mention football again :S

by Estonianzulu on Jan 5, 2008 10:49 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Re: Battle Lines Drawn at Stampede Blue
What an incredibly whiny article over there. Accept the fact that we are upset and then enjoy watching your team in the playoffs.
At least I wasn't born in Denver

by fwembt on Jan 5, 2008 11:13 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Re: Battle Lines Drawn at Stampede Blue
Colts fans have come off as very sensitive to me. It's strange that they even care about our reaction. How do they want us to react, be happy that the Browns season was finished?

by Roger Dorn on Jan 6, 2008 12:33 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Re: Battle Lines Drawn at Stampede Blue
The Colts fans are probably as sick as we are about hearing that angle played up in the media.
Verse: The fire man screams, and the engine just gleams... Chorus: "There's a gleam, men, there's a gleam... Let's get the gleam!"

by Casey Jones on Jan 11, 2008 10:37 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Re: Battle Lines Drawn at Stampede Blue
Even with the average Colts fan being tired of hearing mostly the national media saying we as Browns' fans are whining about "the integrity of the game"

- repeat something enough times and shout it loudly enough, it must be true! -

that still does not give the Stampede Blue writer the right to misquote and misrepresent a writer for another blog.  Stand your ground, Chris!

Fact is, the Colts put themselves in a position to rest their starters - a point understandable to all... ;-) - the Titans put themselves in a position to take advantage of the situation - and the Browns put themselves in a position get taken advantage of: by losing not just the second-last game of the season, but also a second december game, and on top of that an early season game to a team that ultimately finished 4-12.

The Browns had a great year, one in which they made major strides, and it will be tough to top the ride they took us on this season even if they finish 10-6 again next season.  The Colts-Titans fix, if there is one (margin of victory exactly the same as the betting line?  hmm...), is reprehensible.

Having said that, it still does not mean the Colts were wrong to protect their starters.  Just like it does not mean that Stampede Blue's blog writer is OK in revising what he thought he read in Chris's post to work his own agenda, bottom line.

Verse: The fire man screams, and the engine just gleams... Chorus: "There's a gleam, men, there's a gleam... Let's get the gleam!"

by Casey Jones on Jan 11, 2008 11:09 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

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