09-05-2018, 02:45 AM
Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay expects Andrew Luck to be his old self next season.
If trading the third overall pick or adding two of the best offensive linemen in this year's NFL draft wasn't enough to convince doubters Chase Daniel Jersey , perhaps the acknowledgment that the Colts turned down trade inquiries for Luck will.
At an impromptu news conference during Saturday's draft, Irsay acknowledged the Colts had been contacted by other teams interested in Luck and the Colts had no interest in dealing ther face of the franchise. General manager Chris Ballard later clarified those initial contacts were made during the 2017 season.
"Look, we had some calls last year at the trade deadline and I said, 'We're not taking those seriously,'" Ballard said. "I said, 'I'm not putting that on my resume.'"
Luck, the No. 1 overall pick in 2012, missed all of last season after having surgery for a partially torn labrum in his throwing shoulder.
He's been on the field for Indy's offseason workouts, but still isn't throwing a regulation-sized football.
Earlier this week, Ballard acknowledged the Colts wouldn't have made the March deal with the New York Jets to move back three spots if they didn't believe Luck was healthy.
Irsay went even further Saturday Jaelen Strong Jersey , less than 48 hours after the Colts selected guard Quenton Nelson, the highest-rated offensive lineman in the draft, at sixth overall. On Friday, they drafted another guard, Braden Smith, at No. 37.
"Trust me, there are people who would have given an unprecedented amount of draft picks for him, all with a No. 1 behind them and we wouldn't even consider it," Irsay said. "He (Luck) is our guy and we're confident about that. Let's just say, I think the rest of the league is anticipating him to return and play great."
They need him.
Without Luck Marcus Cooper Jersey , the Colts endured their first losing season since 2011 and missed the playoffs for the third straight year.
But if Luck is healthy, Irsay believes the complexion of the Colts could change.
"Only Andrew can decide how far we are away because he's a magic man and there are only a few magic men and you know who they are," Irsay said. "But if he's healthy and he's back, he makes up for a lot of deficiencies. Can he take you all the way? We'll have to see how good Chris is at plugging the holes on defense and things like that."
18. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (9-7)
LAST SEASON: Pete Carroll was in unfamiliar situation of being stuck at home for playoffs. Seattle missed postseason for just second time during Carroll's tenure as rash of key injuries and lack of depth caught up with Seahawks, leading to major changes. Gone are Michael Bennett, Richard Sherman, and potentially Kam Chancellor and Cliff Avril, plus coaches Darrell Bevell, Tom Cable and Kris Richard. Seattle seems committed to re-establishing run game that was nonexistent last season under new offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer. Seahawks ranked 23rd in league running ball, putting too much offensive emphasis on QB Russell Wilson. Defensively Joe Thomas Jersey, LB Bobby Wagner remained one of elite linebackers in NFL, but injuries exposed Seattle's defense as no longer elite.
THEY NEED: DE, S, DT, CB, RB, WR, QB.
THEY DON'T NEED: LB, K.
POSSIBLE FIRST PICK: DB Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama; DE Harold Landry Zach Zenner Jersey , Boston College; DE Marcus Davenport, UTSA; CB Josh Jackson, Iowa; S Derwin James, Florida State.
OUTLOOK: All offseason general manager John Schneider and coach Pete Carroll have called Seattle's overhaul retooling and not full rebuild. So Seahawks must hit in this draft. Belief is with Wilson and Wagner still in prime, Seattle still has chance to contend soon. But there can't be drafts with more misses than hits. Seattle currently doesn't have second-day pick, very unlike Seahawks, raising likelihood of trading out of No. 18 spot. Expect Seahawks to be very aggressive in remedies for lack of second-day picks.
Deandre Ayton Jersey
If trading the third overall pick or adding two of the best offensive linemen in this year's NFL draft wasn't enough to convince doubters Chase Daniel Jersey , perhaps the acknowledgment that the Colts turned down trade inquiries for Luck will.
At an impromptu news conference during Saturday's draft, Irsay acknowledged the Colts had been contacted by other teams interested in Luck and the Colts had no interest in dealing ther face of the franchise. General manager Chris Ballard later clarified those initial contacts were made during the 2017 season.
"Look, we had some calls last year at the trade deadline and I said, 'We're not taking those seriously,'" Ballard said. "I said, 'I'm not putting that on my resume.'"
Luck, the No. 1 overall pick in 2012, missed all of last season after having surgery for a partially torn labrum in his throwing shoulder.
He's been on the field for Indy's offseason workouts, but still isn't throwing a regulation-sized football.
Earlier this week, Ballard acknowledged the Colts wouldn't have made the March deal with the New York Jets to move back three spots if they didn't believe Luck was healthy.
Irsay went even further Saturday Jaelen Strong Jersey , less than 48 hours after the Colts selected guard Quenton Nelson, the highest-rated offensive lineman in the draft, at sixth overall. On Friday, they drafted another guard, Braden Smith, at No. 37.
"Trust me, there are people who would have given an unprecedented amount of draft picks for him, all with a No. 1 behind them and we wouldn't even consider it," Irsay said. "He (Luck) is our guy and we're confident about that. Let's just say, I think the rest of the league is anticipating him to return and play great."
They need him.
Without Luck Marcus Cooper Jersey , the Colts endured their first losing season since 2011 and missed the playoffs for the third straight year.
But if Luck is healthy, Irsay believes the complexion of the Colts could change.
"Only Andrew can decide how far we are away because he's a magic man and there are only a few magic men and you know who they are," Irsay said. "But if he's healthy and he's back, he makes up for a lot of deficiencies. Can he take you all the way? We'll have to see how good Chris is at plugging the holes on defense and things like that."
18. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (9-7)
LAST SEASON: Pete Carroll was in unfamiliar situation of being stuck at home for playoffs. Seattle missed postseason for just second time during Carroll's tenure as rash of key injuries and lack of depth caught up with Seahawks, leading to major changes. Gone are Michael Bennett, Richard Sherman, and potentially Kam Chancellor and Cliff Avril, plus coaches Darrell Bevell, Tom Cable and Kris Richard. Seattle seems committed to re-establishing run game that was nonexistent last season under new offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer. Seahawks ranked 23rd in league running ball, putting too much offensive emphasis on QB Russell Wilson. Defensively Joe Thomas Jersey, LB Bobby Wagner remained one of elite linebackers in NFL, but injuries exposed Seattle's defense as no longer elite.
THEY NEED: DE, S, DT, CB, RB, WR, QB.
THEY DON'T NEED: LB, K.
POSSIBLE FIRST PICK: DB Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama; DE Harold Landry Zach Zenner Jersey , Boston College; DE Marcus Davenport, UTSA; CB Josh Jackson, Iowa; S Derwin James, Florida State.
OUTLOOK: All offseason general manager John Schneider and coach Pete Carroll have called Seattle's overhaul retooling and not full rebuild. So Seahawks must hit in this draft. Belief is with Wilson and Wagner still in prime, Seattle still has chance to contend soon. But there can't be drafts with more misses than hits. Seattle currently doesn't have second-day pick, very unlike Seahawks, raising likelihood of trading out of No. 18 spot. Expect Seahawks to be very aggressive in remedies for lack of second-day picks.
Deandre Ayton Jersey