NFL Teams Betting - Indianapolis Colts - AFC South

The future begins now in Indianapolis, as Andrew Luck takes over at quarterback following the Colts disastrous 2-14 campaign in 2011. Dubbed by many as the greatest quarterback prospect in the last 25 years, Luck will have his work cut out for him as he tries to follow in the footsteps of one of the greatest players in the history of football, Peyton Manning. There was some holdover from the previous regime, as the team retained the services of defensive ends Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, as well as wide receiver Reggie Wayne. The Colts brass hopes that the mix of veteran leadership with the talented youngsters will make for a dramatic improvement in 2014.

It’s as if the Mayflower vans returned to Indianapolis. The Colts’ cornerstones, who once made this franchise a perennial Super Bowl contender, have relocated. There hasn’t been this much movement since that 1984 arrival from Baltimore. Almost overnight, after a 2–14 collapse, owner Jim Irsay’s intuition told him to part with Peyton Manning, the NFL’s only four-time MVP, who underwent four neck/spine surgeries in 21 months. Vice chairman Bill Polian, a six-time NFL Executive of the Year, was replaced by 40-year-old general manager Ryan Grigson, who had an eye for spotting talent in Philadelphia. Uninspiring head coach Jim Caldwell was supplanted by fiery Baltimore defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano.

The Colts begin anew with No. 1 overall pick Andrew Luck and so many roster spots to fill around the promising Stanford quarterback. Fans be advised — everything can’t be fixed overnight.