Colts Offseason: Patriots Media Superiority Complex

The Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots don’t like each other. They’ve been fierce rivals for nearly two decades, with the Pats admittedly generally coming out ahead. This offseason has added a new layer of hate with the Colts helping to out the Patriots and Tom Brady as cheaters, again.

One of the biggest difference between the Colts and Patriots is that the Colts don’t have the unwavering support of the local media. Most of the media in Indy wants the team to do well (it is always more fun to cover a winning team, after all) but they don’t pull punches either.

Bob Kravitz once called for Tony Dungy to be fired. Yes, that Dungy. The one who can do no wrong in the state of Indiana and would get a standing ovation anywhere he went.

Gregg Doyel has taken shots at the Colts and management, questioning their draft and free agent strategy. He bashed the decision to force Trent Richardson on the field repeatedly (but who hasn’t?).

The numerous radio shows are regularly critical and never have a need to fall over themselves defending the team (although there have a been a few soft interviews).

Simply put, the collective Indy media hasn’t played cheerleader for the Colts. And they certainly don’t fend off every perceived slight against the Colts.

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The folks at WEEI, Boston’s sports talk radio, have a different approach. Jerry Thornton, who I can only assume is employed as a professional Pats defender, has a portfolio of paranoia.

One of his most recent headlines reads “Colts Whining New Extra Point Rule Favors Patriots.” Alright, that is certainly one way to look at things.

Among his evidence, he cites a recent interview with ex-Patriots kicker Adam Vinatieri. Vinatieri isn’t a fan of fixing something that isn’t broken. Coach Chuck Pagano also briefly discussed how the new rule could change things up if the weather was bad in road games.

And that’s it from current members of the Colts. That is all the “whining” we’ve heard from the Colts. A future Hall of Fame kicker (who the Patriots owe THREE of their rings to) and a coach make a correct observation about how the rule will affect strategy.

Vinatieri is hardly the only NFL kicker to be concerned with the rule change, but as the most accomplished kicker in the league, his comments are going to get some attention. Some kickers liked the challenge, others saw it as a challenge.

Thornton goes on to cite a radio interview with former GM Bill Polian on the new rule:

"Ex-Colts GM Bill Polian on XM Radio – ‘€œThis was, in a different form, proposed by the New England Patriots. The reason they proposed it is obvious. In January and December, and even in late November, in northern climes (like) Foxboro, Buffalo, Cleveland, Chicago, Pittsburgh ‘€” well documented, of course, in Pittsburgh at the open end of the stadium, how difficult it is to kick field goals. The team from the northern climes that plays and practices in the harsher weather ‘€” the old Meadowlands being a prime example of that ‘€” has a decided advantage. And they wouldn’€™t have proposed it if (the Patriots) didn’€™t think it would help them.’€"

Does that sound like whining? Especially from someone who isn’t in charge of a team anymore and doesn’t have a reason to care? It isn’t like he only cited the advantage for the Pats.

But in the mind of a Patriots apologist and defender, it whining about an advantage for the Pats…and any other outdoor team in the Northeast. Thornton thinks it is a neutral rule change that couldn’t possibly upset anyone, except the current and former Colts.

From Thornton’s piece (so you don’t have to feed the troll):

"But you’d be wrong. For the Colts, old and new, it’s a chance to go back to their default setting, which is saying that anything and everything in football is an unfair advantage to the Patriots. It’s a proud Indy tradition unlike any other. Whether its getting the rule – forgive me, “point of emphasis” – on defending receivers changed after getting manhandled by the Patriots in the 2003 playoffs to Bill Polian saying Peyton Manning won his one Super Bowl“honestly” to griping about the angle of the TV screen outside CBS scene to Deflategate and everything in between, their core philosophy is A.B.A.: Always Be Accusing. Even if it’s something as completely advantage-free as where the extra point is kicked from.So congratulations, Vinatieri, Pagano and (Na)Polian. You got to throw out the first pitch of Bitchfest ’15 and you threw a perfect strike. Now if only your defense could learn to tackle as well as you whine you’d be champions too."

That’s some real harsh whining by the Colts. It must be tiring to constantly fend off these perceived vicious attacks, now I almost feel bad for the Boston media.

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