Mailbag: On Colts, Daniels and union
January, 2, 2010
1/02/10
12:33
PM ET
By
Paul Kuharsky | ESPN.com
Bree in Houston writes: I was reading your recent post about the labor law issue. Do you think Owen Daniels will get a better deal? Did his injury hurt his paycheck? and do you think the Texans would have won more games if he hadn't been on IR?
Paul Kuharsky: Losing him definitely hurt, and I believe he could have helped them post a better record. The potential for no CBA, no cap and no unrestricted free agency for him yet is the reason he didn’t get a deal before this season or during the season before he got hurt.
In a no-cap situation, he is unlikely to get a better deal. Like the other guys on that list, he’s rooting for a new labor agreement. It doesn’t appear there will be one soon, however.
Chris S. in Knoxville, TN writes: Paul, let’s be honest with each other for a second....Polian was correct when he told Indy fans that the Colts don't owe it to them to go for 16-0. He should have however followed it up by saying what we owe you is a Super Bowl victory. It’s not that the Colts don't owe something to the fans and the fans don't owe anything to Colts. It’s a symbiotic relationship with both sides needing each other. If the fans in Indy are apathetic and don't care half as much as they do, then the Colts probably don't have (or ever had) Lucas Oil Stadium, Tony Dungy, the ability to host a Super Bowl, or half the great players that they have. I mean, you need the fans caring and coming to games to be a successful team as much as you need a successful team to have a full stadium. 16-0 would have been great, but it means nothing without a Super Bowl. Indy fans need to realize that and being 15-1 or 14-2 is not the worst thing in the world. If this turns out to be the right decision and Indy wins the Super Bowl...well I think Colts fans will be singing a different tune.
Paul Kuharsky: I agree with much of that. But as I said Thursday, if they win the Super Bowl, that doesn’t automatically mean they did the right thing. Isn’t it possible to do the wrong thing and still advance and win?
I know the ends justify the means, but in that scenario the means wouldn’t necessarily create the ends, right?
Allen Reding writes via Facebook: Paul, are there any players in the NFL who are not members of the union, and if so, are they still subject to everything in the labor contract?
Paul Kuharsky: From a former player friend who was a union guy:
“Most teams are around 100% participation. About a third are not. If player does not pay dues and join union, he gets no licensing money and no discount programs. But he still gets the main benefits.”
But a handful of guys can’t prevent a lockout or ensure there are people on the field in 2011.
Jason in Philadelphia writes: As a very big Colt's fan, I am absolutely disgusted by the events of Sunday's loss to the NY Jets. Unlike others however, I am not disgusted by the Colts, I am disgusted by the fan reaction. I live in the fair-weather fan capital of the country and to see this reaction was appalling to me. As you said, this was expected. We knew they were going to pull the starters, it was just a matter of when. Fans who had previously had the motto "In Polian we trust" are now ripping him and Coach Jim Caldwell for pulling the starters. Agree or disagree with the decision, I support Coach Caldwell and the Colts because that’s what good fans do.
Paul Kuharsky: I disagree that good fans by definition blindly support the team even if they disagree with something it does.
Leon Perry in Linton, IN writes: I'm hoping this question is posted in the AFC South blog regarding fans venting about the Colts game. Why is nobody asking the obvious question? Why did the majority of the starters and key players play the entire game versus Jacksonville?? The Colts had nothing to gain from that game, yet they played to win. I feel every player, fan, and member of the organization was cheated. I will still feel that way regardless if they win the Super Bowl.
Paul Kuharsky: They still wanted to go undefeated in the division and it was a showcase game for Peyton Manning to seal up MVP. Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis only played situationally, so the Colts did begin to ease up.
I think the Colts would also say three weeks out might be a little early to rest healthy guys.
Paul Kuharsky: Losing him definitely hurt, and I believe he could have helped them post a better record. The potential for no CBA, no cap and no unrestricted free agency for him yet is the reason he didn’t get a deal before this season or during the season before he got hurt.
In a no-cap situation, he is unlikely to get a better deal. Like the other guys on that list, he’s rooting for a new labor agreement. It doesn’t appear there will be one soon, however.
Chris S. in Knoxville, TN writes: Paul, let’s be honest with each other for a second....Polian was correct when he told Indy fans that the Colts don't owe it to them to go for 16-0. He should have however followed it up by saying what we owe you is a Super Bowl victory. It’s not that the Colts don't owe something to the fans and the fans don't owe anything to Colts. It’s a symbiotic relationship with both sides needing each other. If the fans in Indy are apathetic and don't care half as much as they do, then the Colts probably don't have (or ever had) Lucas Oil Stadium, Tony Dungy, the ability to host a Super Bowl, or half the great players that they have. I mean, you need the fans caring and coming to games to be a successful team as much as you need a successful team to have a full stadium. 16-0 would have been great, but it means nothing without a Super Bowl. Indy fans need to realize that and being 15-1 or 14-2 is not the worst thing in the world. If this turns out to be the right decision and Indy wins the Super Bowl...well I think Colts fans will be singing a different tune.
Paul Kuharsky: I agree with much of that. But as I said Thursday, if they win the Super Bowl, that doesn’t automatically mean they did the right thing. Isn’t it possible to do the wrong thing and still advance and win?
I know the ends justify the means, but in that scenario the means wouldn’t necessarily create the ends, right?
Allen Reding writes via Facebook: Paul, are there any players in the NFL who are not members of the union, and if so, are they still subject to everything in the labor contract?
Paul Kuharsky: From a former player friend who was a union guy:
“Most teams are around 100% participation. About a third are not. If player does not pay dues and join union, he gets no licensing money and no discount programs. But he still gets the main benefits.”
But a handful of guys can’t prevent a lockout or ensure there are people on the field in 2011.
Jason in Philadelphia writes: As a very big Colt's fan, I am absolutely disgusted by the events of Sunday's loss to the NY Jets. Unlike others however, I am not disgusted by the Colts, I am disgusted by the fan reaction. I live in the fair-weather fan capital of the country and to see this reaction was appalling to me. As you said, this was expected. We knew they were going to pull the starters, it was just a matter of when. Fans who had previously had the motto "In Polian we trust" are now ripping him and Coach Jim Caldwell for pulling the starters. Agree or disagree with the decision, I support Coach Caldwell and the Colts because that’s what good fans do.
Paul Kuharsky: I disagree that good fans by definition blindly support the team even if they disagree with something it does.
Leon Perry in Linton, IN writes: I'm hoping this question is posted in the AFC South blog regarding fans venting about the Colts game. Why is nobody asking the obvious question? Why did the majority of the starters and key players play the entire game versus Jacksonville?? The Colts had nothing to gain from that game, yet they played to win. I feel every player, fan, and member of the organization was cheated. I will still feel that way regardless if they win the Super Bowl.
Paul Kuharsky: They still wanted to go undefeated in the division and it was a showcase game for Peyton Manning to seal up MVP. Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis only played situationally, so the Colts did begin to ease up.
I think the Colts would also say three weeks out might be a little early to rest healthy guys.
Paul Kuharsky | email
NFL- ESPN AFC South Blogger
- Covered Oilers/Titans for The Tennessean
- A New Jersey native and Columbia graduate who lives in Nashville with his wife and son
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Paul Kuharsky
Kuharsky joined ESPN.com in 2008 after 12 years covering the Oilers/Titans and the NFL for The (Nashville) Tennessean. The New Jersey native and Columbia graduate lives in Nashville with his wife and son.
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