Quote:Just the name. Irsay's punishment should be severe, but not hurt the competitive ability of team. A fine is insignificant. A suspension is meaningless, a draft pick hurts the players.
I doubt the Ravens or the city of Baltimore want to change back to 'Colts'. The name just goes in limbo.
Bob Irsay should have changed the name when he moved the team, as was done with the Oilers and Browns (and the Texans in your example). Being forced to change it now seems like a fitting punishment for his son the felon.
I agree that the Colts name should have stayed in Baltimore, but that precedent wasn't set before the Browns moved to Baltimore, then named the Ravens. It seems as if that may be the future rule, and I agree that the team name should belong to the city. I remember the announcers calling the Colts the Baltimore Colts for several years (by mistake) after the move, the same with the LA Rams, and the St. Louis Cardinals.
Announcers were just so used to the words that it wasn't unusual for them to make that mistake once, or three times throughout the broadcast. I have never heard them make a mistake like saying the “Baltimore Browns” … Now after 30 years in Indianapolis (which is about the same length of time the Colts were in Baltimore), it doesn't make all that much of a difference. The Colts are the Indianapolis Colts as much as the Ravens are the Baltimore Ravens, Jacksonville Jaguars … etc. It all just rolls off the tongue (as it should). I remember the days of players staying with the team that drafted them. I know they deserved free agency, but it was nice to "know" your guys, "your" players, "your team". All these 1 year contracts are becoming common place, and I don't care much for the watered down feeling you get from the turnover. It almost is like a fan changing team loyalties every year. ... hmmm, I said watered down, but maybe disloyalty fits better ... Then again, if you want to keep a player ... Pay him. I am not going to like to watch that first game that MJD plays for the Raiders, but I suspect it wont be as hard as Manning's first game with the Bronco's.
Anyway, back on topic ... It will be interesting to see what punishment the league will hand down (or up in this case) to Irsay. Maybe ban him from the facilities, games, contact with the team … etc, like they did Sean Payton. Doesn't really matter all that much (to a very rich man), but ultimately one can hope that Irsay can get the help, accept the help, and get himself better. It was becoming more obvious that something wasn't quite right with him. We may envy being a rich man, but there isn't a lot to envy of a dead rich man.
Yeah, I think something along the Sean Payton punishment would be about right ... Maybe 6,8,10 games? as opposed to a full season. Bountygate had the possibility of changing the game on the field, while Irsay was mainly damaging, and risking his own health. Come to think of it, not many things I do that I would consider healthy ... It is probably a good thing that I can't afford to self medicate like Irsay could. :whistling:
I don't think a LATE round pick is too severe at all, AND it sends a message that owners are held to at least the same standard as players.