Indianapolis Colts: 2012 season final grades

When you look at the pre-season predictions for the 2012 Indianapolis Colts, you would have surely thought the prospects were bleak. Many a pundit foresaw the dreariest of seasons for Indy, ranging from one or two wins, with some thinking that the Colts may match the 2008 Detroit Lions in going 0-16. I myself saw a five win season as feasible, if on the high end, and if that had been the case I would have considered it a good year. And really, who could blame us? The team went through the type of purge that is usually crippling for a franchise. Gone were future Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning, along with other key players and favorites such as center Jeff Saturday (congrats on the retirement BTW, Jeff), TE Dallas Clark, and MLB Gary Brackett to name a few. Gone was head coach Jim Caldwell, who led the Colts to a berth in Super Bowl XLIV, and general manager Bill Polian, who drafted the likes of Manning,WR Reggie Wayne, DE/OLBs Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, and numerous o...