Colts Philosophy

The Colts owner reiterates he will re-sign Peyton Manning no matter what the cost.

This is an interesting contrast with the New England Patriots who are trying to get Tom Brady to take a pay cut.

Both teams have successful models of how to keep winning football teams in the post-salary cap era. The Patriots refuse to overpay for guys and find replacements year in and year out. The Colts build up a team and then pay whatever it takes to keep the core together.

It goes back to an old question that I still don't really know the answer to - is it the quarterback or the system? Bill Walsh and Bill Belichick think it is the system. It is why Matt Cassell and Steve Young went from solid back ups to strong NFL starters. But I don't really know. You get the idea watching Peyton Manning - he possesses something beyond the system...