Acquiring, keeping stars fuels home Super Bowl talk

While the 49ers never participated in a home Super Bowl, they did play in a close-to-home one when they triumphed in the 19th edition held at nearby Stanford University. And it’s conceivable that the Buccaneers have a marginal chance to get to this year’s championship game in their regular stadium, while Dallas could play in the 45th edition at its new venue assuming Wade Phillips can win a playoff game by then.Still, discussion about whether the Colts would be the first genuine home team to compete for The Vince began by the time 4 Brett Favre Purple jersey
most people had read the third or fourth syllable of “Indianapolis” in stories about the city being awarded the honor of hosting the best day of 2012.People were ready to theorize that the Colts wouldn’t have to leave the area code to compete for a championship just as quickly as they would dismiss the Dolphins’ odds of being able to sleep in their regular dwellings the night before playing the Super Bowl of the season after next. Short of a roof growing over Gillette Stadium and Massachusetts hosting the event, no other announcement of the game’s site would engender such vigorous speculation; the Colts have, mildly, earned that level of esteem.The immediate thought is of how many present Colts will still be current at that point of the future. For one, the game would take place at the conclusion of Peyton Manning’s 14th year, and there’s no reason to think he won’t still be engaging in his trademark dismantling of pass defenses. Unless he decides to leave the game in order to pursue a Jason Taylor-style Hollywood path except as a full-time commercial actor, his career lasting four more seasons can be safely classified as likely.The outlook isn’t as optimistic for Marvin Harrison, whose priority should be playing a game in the 2008 season, not the last game of the 2011/12 postseason. Still, it would be possible, just as sure as it’s probable Reggie Wayne would be around for his 11th campaign.Joseph Addai would be at the end of his sixth year, meaning he enjoys high prospects of still residing in the backfield even for a position with a notoriously short shelf life. Dallas Clark would be finishing his ninth season, so the recently re-signed tight end would likely continue to be part of the team, too.As for the biggest defensive name, Dwight Freeney will be 31, and assuming that his current injury is an aberration and not the first in a history, it would be foolish to bet against him still holding a roster spot. On the other hand, although a year younger, Bob Sanders has a more extensive record of wounds; as it was when they won it all the season before last, his presence may be the difference between the Colts getting there and this scenario never becoming an actuality.But the more interesting thing isn’t so much who sticks around but rather why chat about there being a home team for the NFL’s final game of that season came about so easily. Regardless of how many of Indianapolis’ prominent faces remain, there is obviously confidence that this team will maintain elite status for at least that long. Discussion about whether the Colts can be the first to accomplish the feat is itself testament to the way the squad is constructed.Instead of whining about the constraints of the salary cap or market size, this franchise has established what can officially be called a pattern of prudent drafting, adding precisely whom it needs and focusing on the lines when necessary instead of falling for glint.Further, they’ve not only added skilled players at precisely the right times but managed to re-sign many of them, as potential free agents don’t tend to automatically bolt. Edgerrin James was the biggest exception, but it’s safe to proclaim that didn’t really end up costing this team.The Colts are a cooperative venture, as they bring aboard winners devoted to the franchise. While every single professional athlete professes that team success is the ultimate goal, the reality is that many are basely motivated by the scent of a little bit more money.Alternatively, Indianapolis has emerged as a city where players want to stay thanks to a nearly decadelong string of success along with the selfless characteristics of the players themselves. It’s not only refreshing, it’s also why triumph is not ethereal for the 36 Bettis Black Jersey
Colts as it is for so many other teams.The current players are of course valuable, but even more crucial is that they’re components in an unremittingly churning system. The fact that it’s tough to imagine any Indianapolis superstars playing elsewhere paired with a sterling draft record fuels discussion about both city and team hosting a Super Bowl even more than playoff streaks or seasons of 12-plus wins. Those are the results, but shrewd additions and retaining talent are the causes.