Like just about all Colts fans and everyone else, I was in a state of shock Saturday night after hearing of Andrew Luck’s seemingly sudden decision to retire from the NFL. It seemed unreal, a Twilight Zone moment. Since Saturday, Andrew’s retirement announcement has become international sports news, with sports personalities all over the world weighing in on the issue.
Andrew has always had his detractors. Some people thought Andrew lacked the killer instinct of a Manning or Brady. Some said he was too congenial and amiable to be a champion. Some said he was just not tough enough. But many, including a number of Colts fans, hated him because he was the quarterback the Horseshoe threw Peyton Manning under the bus for. They just could not forgive him for that.
After the shock wore off, I realized that Mr. Luck was doing the right thing for himself and his family. If football’s not fun anymore, if it’s taking too great a toll on your body, then it it’s time to walk away! Andrew is newly married and he is going to be a daddy soon, so the best part of his life is coming up. I wish him and his family all the “LUCK” in the world!
The King Has Retired, Long Live the New King
No. 12 is gone and No. 7 is now the man. The last several days many fans have expressed doubts about the Colts’ immediate and long range future. Some season ticket holders have demanded their money back. Well friends and neighbors, Jacoby Brissett is now under center and he has been there before. Brissett has had two years to absorb Frank Reich’s offense. The team knows him and trusts him. He will be fine. It’s time to move forward. Jacoby Brissett is the guy! End of story.
Sato Rides Again!
The last oval race of the season was run last Saturday night at the World Wide Technology Raceway across from the St. Louis Arch. Takuma Sato took home the hardware while Ed Carpenter and Tony Kanaan joined him on the podium. For Kanaan it was his first podium finish, since his 2nd place at Fontana in 2015. Rookie Santino Ferrucci grabbed his third 4th place finish to take the lead in contention for the series’ Rookie of Year award. Simon Pagnand was fifth which moved him past Alexander Rossi for second place in the standings. Conor Daly finished a season best 5th place which more than likely cemented his place in the Carlin team for the last two races anyway. Josef Newgarden finished 7th. Newgarden also won the pole for the race so he was able to increase his point standings. Ryan Hunter Reay, Colton Herta, and Felix Rosenqvist rounded out the top 10.
As for Alexander Rossi, for the second race in a row he suffered a very disappointing finish and has most likely removed himself from contending for the series championship. Ironically it was Sato whose questionable maneuver on the first lap of last week’s Pocono race instigated the crash that removed Rossi from contention.
Rookie Ferrucci put on quite a show, leading 97 laps of the race. On the last lap, the rookie running 4th and trying to catch Kanaan for 3rd, got into the marble and came back down to the groove hard. He cut off Newgarden and caused him to slow down. Newgarden’s car was not handling well any how and he lost two positions. He had some choice words for Ferrucci after the race but the rookie remained unrepentant.
So we are down to the final two races of the season. The series moves to the Portland International Speedway this coming Saturday for the Grand Prix of Portland.
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