ANOTHER CHINK IN THE NFL'S ARMOR

This blog has already presented more than one article dealing with certain elements which we consider to be major flaws in our 21st century version of professional football. In view of two very recent playing field occurrences, we are extremely displeased to add yet another.

Despite having to stage a few sensational come-from-behind victories throughout the 2009 regular NFL campaign, the Indianapolis Colts appeared to be headed for the first totally undefeated season since the Miami Dolphins' superb 1972 performance in that regard. The game's massive fandom tends to love excellence, and a great many folk everywhere were cheering this band of brothers, whose helmets bear the turned-up horseshoe emblem, on to a perfect record, enjoyed by only a few teams in the league's entire history.

Then came December 27, when their opponents were the New York Jets, an enviable but decidedly weaker array. With an Indianapolis win being a certainty, Coach Jim Caldwell decided instead that Peyton Manning, an all-time great quarterback, and other starters should "sit this one out" on the bench for most of the second half. The final result found the Colts on the short end of a 29-15 score.

A week later, the same coach poured more salt on the wound by pulling his stars in mid-game, as his boys met defeat again, this time to the relative pussycat Buffalo Bills, by a lopsided 30-7. How ignominiously can such an otherwise mighty squad close out its regular season?

In some respects, Caldwell's reasoning made sense. With the division title already won and the vital playoff schedule looming ahead, he chose to rest his prime aces and thus avert danger of severe injury to key performers. He had his eye on the long pull, forsaking the glory of sixteen consecutive victorious conquests.

Such a strategic move on his part might be further justified by the fact that the New England Patriots' star pass receiver and kick returner Wes Welker suffered a closing game injury serious enough to put him out of the playoffs, thus handicapping the team no end.

Nevertheless, we honestly fear that an unfortunate precedent may have been established by this overly conservative act. Will future season clubs follow suit once they have playoff berths sewn up? If this actually happens, we envision the game taking still another step downward.

By way of analogy, just imagine the famed General George S. Patton having said in the early spring of 1945 "We have the war practically won, so I'll order my troops to rest until it's over. That way, we won't be facing any more casualties."

We have no quarrel with the benching of one's top players when his team holds a 35-0 lead late in the game. Keeping the score from mounting to excessive heights can only be construed as sportsmanlike humanitarianism. However, when the opponents are ahead or the outcome looks iffy, we deem it a coach's duty to put forth a maximum effort to achieve victory, and not don the Cautious Clarence mantle due to concern that some of his fellows may get hurt.

The Indianapolis lads look strong enough to pick up all the Super Bowl marbles this year. Even if they manage to reach such coveted goal, we personally will see the team's 2009 season record as having a large hole smack in the middle.