Reid Leads His Chiefs To Victory Over Former Team
Andy Reid was victorious in the big showdown between his new team, the visiting Kansas City Chiefs, and his old team, the hometown Philadelphia Eagles. This must be one of the highlights for Reid in his illustrious career. He got a standing ovation at the home of his opponents, his former team. His starting quarterback during most of his time with that former team had his jersey retired that same evening. Then, Reid goes ahead to outcoach his successor, Chip Kelly, leaving very little doubts in leading his Chiefs to a convincing 26-16 road victory.
Kansas City looked sharp offensively early, and managed to do enough to stay on top throughout. The KC defense, in the meantime, smothered and frustrated the previously high-flying Eagles, making them look rather pedestrian.
In the process, the Chiefs raised their record to a perfect 3-0 mark thus far, and have an extra long period to rest and prepare for their next opponent, which will be the New York Giants.
The Eagles, in the meantime, have now dropped two in a row, and their offense hardly looked as potent in this one as it had in the prior two contests.
Trent Richards is now a Colt
This trade reminded me quite a bit of some trades in another sport altogether, when the Lakers of the National Basketball Association kept getting players like Pau Gasol and, more recently, Dwight Howard and Steve Nash, for virtually nothing. Few teams get such golden opportunities like this.
He is a solid running back with a bright future in the league. Last season, in his rookie year, he rushed for 950 yards and 11 touchdowns for the Browns, and had an additional 51 receptions for 367 yards and another touchdown. In other words, he was a bright spot for the offense, and was an all-purpose back, contributing with both the running and passing game.
Richards was not having a spectacular season so far, but the seasons is still young. And now, with a Colts team that has one of the most dangerous passing games out there, Richards could prove to bring just the right amount of threat in the running game (not to mention his possible contributions in the passing game) to really make the Colts offense not just formidable, but truly elite. One can only imagine that they will continue to get better over the years, and they are already pretty good.
How good?
Well, consider the facts from this paragraph by Michael Marot, a sports writer for the Associated Press:
Colts general manager Ryan Grigson has somehow corralled five of the top 100 players drafted in 2012 - all of them on offense. Along with Luck and Richardson, the No. 1 and No. 3 overall selections, Indy also has tight ends Coby Fleener, a second-round choice, and Dwayne Allen and receiver T.Y. Hilton, third-round picks. Fleener, who turns 25 on Friday, is the oldest of the bunch.
("Colts' new running back greeted by hoots, hollers" by MICHAEL MAROT (AP Sports Writer) September 19, 2013
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/colts-running-back-greeted-hoots-180857680--nfl.html)
Also, keep in mind that Richards is young, and has had proven success at the NFL level. So there is no problem with whether or not he will fit in or adjust to the speed of the NFL. He already has.
I just don't understand this trade, frankly. I mean, it's quite obvious what the Colts are getting out of it, and why they would make the trade. But what exactly did Cleveland gain, by trading one of their better players for a draft pick, and this just after week two in a season still pretty new?
Are they already throwing away the towel for 2013? It seems inconceivable that a team is already looking towards next year, after only playing two games, and being only one game out of first place in the division. Granted, the Cleveland Browns have been perennial underachievers for years now, but with the Steelers struggling, and with the Ravens not looking anything like a team in championship form so far this year, Cleveland is still very much in this thing. I mean, perhaps if this was Jacksonville, I could kind of understand, being a team with little prospects, with a history of struggling, and with a brutal division with at least two, and possibly three, apparently legitimate contenders
Or, maybe they know something that nobody else knows. Not sure. But right now, from this angle, it just looks like a bad move by the Browns, and an amazing pick-up for the Colts. There are now even more reasons to believe that the Colts can and should remain competitive not just this season, but for many seasons to come. When I think about how many great moves the Colts have made just in the last two years or so, it seems staggering.
Remember, Indianapolis was a Super Bowl team in 2009, which is hardly ancient history. They were still competitive, division champs, actually, in 2010. Then, the infamous neck injury to Peyton Manning, and he was out for the season. A season that seemed to be a disaster.
But to endure one truly horrible season, and then get right back to competitive level, to qualifying for the playoffs, the very next season? And now, to have all of these offensive weapons at their disposal, which should serve them well and keep them highly competitive for the foreseeable future? Incredible! I'm a bit jealous of Colts fans right about now.
As for Cleveland? Another move that makes you just shake your head and wonder what they were thinking. Maybe it will work out best for both teams. But right now, from where I am standing, it is hard not to see the Colts getting exactly what they wanted, and the Browns yet again screwing themselves with an inept decision. Hope I'm wrong, because I would love to see the Cleveland field a truly competitive team once again. It's just hard to believe in that, when they keep making moves like this that make you scratch your head, or maybe even stand up and take notice for all the wrong reasons.
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