Super Bowl XLIV

Ryan Lilja has reportedly been cut by the Indianapolis Colts today.  The reasons for the move are unclear at the moment, but rumor is it could have something to do with his poor play and the fact that he is due a $1.73 million bonus soon. In the grand scheme of things that’s not that much money, but that’s $1.73 million they could use to pay other players, like the Andy Alleman, the new Colt offensive lineman they just picked up in free agency.

It’s a somewhat surprising move, but something that was long overdue in my opinion.  Lilja missed a lot of last season because of injuries and did not prove himself worthy this past season.  The run blocking this season was horrible, and while it’s not completely Lilja’s fault, Polian couldn’t leave it untouched.  It’s clear the offensive line needs upgraded in a bad way, and this is just one step in that direction.

Mike Chappell reports that Lilja’s agent doesn’t think the move is financially driven:

Craig Domann, Lilja’s agent, said the release was not necessarily financially driven. The team paid Lilja a $1.7 million roster bonus he was due, then terminated his contract. Lilja was due to earn a base salary of $3.055 million in 2010.

“They said they want to go bigger, and they let him go,’’ Domann said. “Ryan was disappointed, but I know he’ll land on his feet.’’

His agent is delusional if he doesn’t think this move was financially driven, because it was.  It was financially driven, and production driven.  Yes the Colts paid him his roster bonus, they would have ended up doing that anyways if Lilja’s agent field a grievance with the player’s union.  I think the $1.73 million bonus was a parting gift, “Thanks for the time and service Ryan, now gtfo.”  If the move wasn’t financially driven they would have just made Lilja a backup instead of just cutting him outright.  He clearly isn’t the worst lineman on the roster, that’s for damn sure.

The most fascinating comment Craig Domman made was that the person in the Colts organization who he was in contact with stated the Colts “want to go bigger,” which, needless to say, is music to my ears.  Polian does not like the fact that this offense has become one-dimensional, and I don’t blame him.  Peyton Manning is God, I get it.  However, this offense has not had balance since the 2006 season.  Every season since then has seen the Colts shift more and more to the pass-happy, let’s have Peyton win all the games for us on offense style, instead of the juggernaut that was the Colts offense during the 2003-2006 seasons.

I understand that I’m saying this just as the Colts made it to the Super Bowl only for the second time in the Peyton Manning era, but consider this: The play that clinched the Super Bowl victory for the Saints was a pick-six by Tracey Porter.  Porter stated after the game that he knew exactly what the play was going to be, and it was quite obvious he did and just jumped the route.  This would lead me to believe that the Colts offense has indeed become someone predictable and one-dimensional.  A lot of the regular season games that the Colts had to rally from behind to win were because the offense decided to take a couple quarters off and let the opposing team work their way back into the game.  I know you noticed this, don’t try to kid yourself.

The glory days of this offense with Peyton Manning are in the past, not in the present.  In order for an offense to sustain excellence it must be balanced.  Bill Polian is trying to bring this offense back to the dominance it once showed the league just a few years ago, and in order to do that the Colts need to be able to run the ball.  So I’m with him — out with the bad, in with the good.

Just like the release of Raheem Brock, Lilja was just due too much money for providing a substandard product on the field.  It’s as simple as that, so here’s to the future.