Despite nothing but success in both of his sunshine state stops, Stan Van Gundy has left a blaze of unforgettable exits from his two NBA head coaching tenures.

In Miami he wanted to spend more time with his family. In Orlando (despite compiling an impressive 259-125 record, going 31-28 in the playoffs), Dwight Howard apparently wanted no part of SVG in his basketball family.

And so, the outspoken, oompa-loompa looking brother of TV Analyst/Former Knicks and Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy is gone. Fired from a job he did exceptionally well in; One could argue, almost too well. A product of a team that exceeded expectations in a run to the 2009 NBA Finals, resulting in expectations that his team was never able to match from there on out. Questionable trades that netted guys like Vince Carter and Gilbert Arenas, ultimately cost the free-wheeling Magic the flexibility to improve a very flawed roster, and despite a beautiful palace of an arena in downtown Orlando, the Magic eventually maxed out, culminating in this season’s grand fiasco: a first round 5 game ouster to the Pacers with Dwight Howard saddled with back surgery.

2008-09: 59-23 / 1^st in Southeast / Defeated by Lakers in NBA Finals 4-1
2009-10: 59-23 / 1^st in Southeast / Defeated by Celtics in East Finals 4-2
2010-11: 52-30 / 2^nd in Southeast / Defeated by Hawks in First Round 4-2
2011-12: 37-29 / 3^rd in Southeast / Defeated by Pacers in First Round 4-1

The downward trend from championship caliber to first round fodder is easy to spot, as Orlando has dropped down at least a notch every season since their surprise 2009 Finals run. In 2011-12, a lockout shortened season, they just about dropped off the grid and if Howard leaves, they might not even contend for the playoffs at all.

So Van Gundy is gone. GM Otis Smith is gone. The last power broker left in Central Florida is ’so called’ Superman, who has put himself in an unenviable position. He can’t win any longer, unless he wins… in Orlando. But once again, despite supposedly getting his wishes for new leadership accommodated, Howard still reportedly wants out.

Good luck with that Dwight.

If he truly cares what people think, and if loyalty really matters, Dwight will stay. If he’s chasing a ring as his Twitter so adamantly suggests, then he’s gone too. The Magic have the league’s second largest payroll and they’re a franchise in total disarray.

But the way this mess has panned out in the public, ending in debris of blue and black scattered about, Howard has officially left himself as the last possible savior on a sinking ship. And an outstanding suspect for ruining a previously well run franchise. You can’t help but get the feeling he’s ready to jump.

But when he does inevitably skip town, he better be ready for the ridicule. If he thought this season was bad, wait till he goes somewhere else and faces LeBron like pressure. Everyone is already drinking the “Dwight can’t win a title as the go-to guy of a franchise” kool-aid. Just wait till he teams up with someone else’s star and the first time he falls short.

***

After those 2009 Finals, I wrote an article posing the question of whether Howard could make that next step: the step towards an unstoppable offensive game. I asked whether he was mature enough, whether he could be a true leader, whether he would take on the blame when things went wrong (and this was well before any sign of future turmoil was in sight).

Yes, he’s only 23, and yes, he didn’t even go to college, so he’s still relatively new to this whole “handling the pressure” thing, but if I had to give Howard a grade as a team leader, it wouldn’t be all that high.  What bothered me most is it was never anything he could have done better.  It was always someone else or the team.  The great ones take it upon themselves, but you never seemed to hear from Howard during this surprising playoff run that he would, “work harder” or “play smarter” or that his foul shooting “cost the team the game.”

For a player who has so much talent, and so much potential, it was somewhat disheartening to see that Howard still has a lot of growing up to do.  Even though he didn’t pick up a technical in the Finals, Howard needs to learn to control himself better.

3 years later those questions are as pertinent as ever.

Howard has yet to take that next step. And his likability and leadership skills have regressed to the point where some Magic fans want to run him out of the city. The same fans who were ready to erect a statue for the guy had he just kept his yap shut and gotten better.  While he’s improved his short shot, he’s still a two-trick offensive pony that is limited in his ability to take over games.

That contagious smile of his evolved into a sarcastic one, and all that good will behind the once great kid (doesn’t smoke, doesn’t drink, has strong faith) developed into diva-like tantrums and repulsive amounts of drama, unbecoming of a true ‘leader.’

The Magic were built around Howard and he is simply not good enough to anchor a championship team. There I said it.

He needs help. He needs a good support system that gives him advice which doesn’t run his once sterling reputation into the ground. Eh, it’s probably too late for that.

***

Back in January 2011 I interviewed Magic Director of Player Personnel, Adonal Foyle (who allegedly has interviewed for the GM position, though he denies it). I asked him at the time about Otis Smith’s decision to pull the trigger on getting rid of Mickael Pietrus, Marcin Gortat, Vince Carter, and Rashard Lewis. This is what Adonal told me:

“Nothing surprises me with Otis, because unlike most GM’s he’s constantly there.  He’s always present, he’s at every shoot-around, every practice, he travels with the team, he watches every single game that these guys play.  I think in many ways, when he does something it’s because he sees something.  He knows that something needs to get done.  He’s seen it.  It’s not theoretical, it’s very basic in practicality.  Obviously when you have guys that you’ve been with awhile, you’re emotionally connected to them and you obviously become a part of their inner circle of who they are.  But when things aren’t working and you make a change it doesn’t make it easy.  It just makes it business that you have to do.  Things that you don’t normally want to do, but it may be in the best interest of the team.  So I think those decisions have been very difficult to kind of lookout and watch, but at the same time I understand them.  I understood them in a way, just by being there, seeing how diligent he is, that he’s earned the right to make those decisions because of how he is as the general manager.”

Well, he’s not there any longer and that trade ultimately did Smith in, who had a few chances to reshape Orlando’s roster to elite status but failed. Bringing back Hedo flopped. Taking on Gilbert Arenas’ massive remaining contract was an epic fail. That trade brought on the demise of the team.

But Howard could’ve signed a contract extension for years, which would have in turn given the team superstar stability. Then maybe another star would have been interested in Orlando. He didn’t. No superstar washed up in the Magic Kingdom, and Howard was left with spare parts that shot themselves out of the playoffs. You already know about the on-again off-again trade rumors that persisted this past season, and that epic Van Gundy media shakedown was as awkward as it gets.

So now, after one of the strangest seasons one franchise has dealt with in some time, the Magic are starting anew, hoping their front-line center sticks this time, because they’ve bowed to his every need. The Magic are on their hands and knees worshiping at the altar of Dwight, fearing another decade of irrelevance if he bolts like Shaq.

Everyone is to blame for this epic disintegration of the team hierarchy, but Dwight is the poster-child.

The Magic have done everything they can to appease their centerpiece. Now the ultimate question becomes, does he really care?

Or is this all just one giant game for Dwight the puppeteer.

With the Magic literally on his strings.

Photo: AP

The NFL is in a sticky wicket. It’s the most popular league in the United States by a wide margin, and with popularity, comes a closer examination than any other sport. Then you throw in former players, young in their early 40’s going the suicidal route – possibly due to head injuries sustained while playing the game – lawsuits everywhere (over 500 former players are involved with numerous class action suits suing the league for various post-career problems), and you’re left with a sport teetering on the edge of potential – and hear me out here – extinction.

Football is fun to watch. It’s exciting, it’s violent, it’s an amazing experience live, and almost as good in HD at your local sports bar or on your couch. People love to gamble on it, build fantasy football teams through it, and use it to bond with friends and loved ones. It’s a passion passed on from generation to generation – a game evolving as the equipment and rules have.

Take Thanksgiving as a prime example; Aside from the floats, turkey (or steak), and family, what is the common denominator that most people take part in – watching football. ESPN spends more time talking about the buildup to the NFL Draft than they do the NHL Playoffs. Granted they own the rights (along with NFL Network) to coverage of the draft, but that’s not the point.

Think about a Sunday in the fall without football – or for that matter, a weekend in the fall where no football is played at any level. Picture a world where the game has been deemed too violent, banned from being played like a controversial book is burned. Picture the end of pigskin.

Picture yourself at high school – no Friday night game. Now you’re in college – no Saturday game. Now it’s Sunday – picture being at a sports bar showing nothing but bowling, baseball, and golf.

***

The NFL has been around since 1920 (3 years after the NHL got it’s waterlegs) and it’s the most attended domestic sports league on Earth when it comes to butts in the seat per game.  It’s one of the few things in life promised every year. With the exception of lockouts you will get a season. It’s almost a guarantee. But at its core, the NFL is a business. And at its core plenty of businesses fail, even after surviving for over 100 years: The NFL is 8 years away from that banner season.

But when you think about dynasties, nothing lasts forever. Before people understood just how dangerous the sport was medically it was played far more ruthlessly than it is today. But those same guys who gave their blood, sweat, and tears to get the game to where it is today are suffering the physical consequences later in their lives.

Some struggle to get out of bed. Some can barely stand. Some are simply broken souls. Does this sound like a system that works? A sport designed for the longhaul?

Is the NFL writing its death-certificate courteous of its style of play – which attracted most of the guys now suing it, who are trying to break it for perceived broken promises and lies about doing whatever it took to make the game as safe as possible?

Has the NFL with-held information over the years about the dangers of concussions? That seems to be the argument these former players suing them are now making. And when one scavenger sees a carcass, a whole lot of ‘em follow, which is why you’re seeing former players pouncing on these class action law-suits.

Do these players just want money? Or do they want to break the sport that broke them?

It’s such a complicated, sad situation: this tussle between what makes the NFL great and what makes the sport so wrong. Because let’s face it – if concussions and horrific head injuries lead to what we’ve been seeing — guys like Junior Seau taking their life at the age of 43 (this hasn’t been confirmed as his brain will be examined), then how do you let this game go on in its present form? How do you let kids play a game that harbors within it the power to ruin one’s life?

***

I’ve never found myself saying this before, but football is too powerful for its own good. It’s gotten too big, that it’s out of control. Its greatest strength (violence) appears to be it’s greatest detriment (horrifying head injuries). The players are stronger than before and the way we’re cutting out rules to keep these hulking 4.3 running monsters from killing each other continues to grow.

Talk has grown louder about eliminating one of the games most exciting and dangerous plays – the kickoff. Afterall, it’s hard to think of a more battle-like play than running 40 yards down the field at full speed to tackle a guy using his speed to go towards you.

But let’s say the NFL eliminates the kickoff, and starts each post-scoring possession at the 20. What’s next? Eliminating down the middle crossing patterns because two guys can violently collide while going after the same football? We see quarterbacks getting blind-sided all the time. How can we fix that? By forcing a QB to stay in a goalie-like crease where he can’t be touched for at least 7 Mississippi?

Roger Goodell is trying to make football safer – or at least advance the perception that it’s safer, but if you rip the guts out of what makes the sport so popular, you’re left with just skin and bones – and a game that quite frankly could wilt away.

You can suspend guys, fine them heavily, you can send warnings, and preach about it all you want, but at the end of the day these are violent-minded guys playing a barbaric sport that demands of them Gladiator like toughness. They’re paid to act, not to think.

Their natural instinct is to kill the other guy (not literally I’d hope).

But if that instinct is leading to these horrible traumatic injuries, which lead to CTE, which in turn lead to an uncomfortable number of players taking their own lives shortly after exiting the game, then how do you fix a wildly successful, albeit broken model?

Sure you can get concussions playing lacrosse or hockey but football is the biggest sport around, and when you’re the biggest, you’re always under the brightest lights.

If I was a parent I wouldn’t let my kid play organized football. Period.

There is way too much risk. But I love watching it on TV. I love going to games. I love cheering my team out the tunnel, and taunting the other team after a big hit. So do a lot of people.

I love writing about it, analyzing it, and talking about it. Articles like this may seem to go against that, but I really do love football.

I just don’t love its future the way things are going. In fact, in a sport where betting is a part of the fabric, I’d put healthy odds that the game we know today, could very much be gone in the near future.

Unless of course, the NFL knows something that we don’t: Which is how to make the game safe, while maintaining its integrity. Right now unfortunately, those things sound way too contradictory.

Photo: Getty

The NFL Draft is one giant crap shoot, but it’s also quite the circus. So we brought in our NFL Draft ringmaster, Mike Kaye to shed some light on 8 key NFL Draft questions. What did our NFL Draft expert have to say?

Here’s what we discussed:

1. Will Luck live up to the hype? 0:24
2. Luck or RG3? 0:54
3. Most underrated player in the draft? 1:56
4. Most overrated player in the draft? 2:58
5. Tannehill or Weeden? 3:47
6. Small school player poised to make a big time NFL impact? 4:36
7. Low character, high talent guy who can be a star? 5:38
8. Late round steal? 6:50

Sports run in cycles. For most franchises, tasting victory consistently is a hard fought process, that takes years of great drafting, deft trades, and savvy personnel at the top. It takes luck, skill, vision, facilities, and an owner committed to some kind of winning.

You don’t just luck into a championship. Titles don’t fall from the sky. They are not a right. They are not promised. They are exclusive moments earned by the few lucky ones who squeeze through the tightly guarded gates.

That’s sports in a nutshell. For every Los Angeles Lakers, New York Yankees, and Detroit Red Wings, there’s a bunch of other teams constantly trying to get over the hump, or to the hump, or close enough to see the light gleaming off the hump.

On Tuesday, the Phoenix Suns ran into that hump. Coming into the night as the 9 seed in a Western Conference only willing to admit 8, the Suns had to beat Utah in Salt Lake City to keep alive their playoff hopes. They lost.

But this was more than one team beating another. This was the sad, somewhat unremarkable end of an era.

The Suns don’t play their final game of this forgettable 2011-12 season until Wednesday, when they run into the fountain of youth Spurs, who keep trucking along as they reinvent their team slowly through a wheel of familiar faces and new youthful talent. Phoenix knows the Spurs well. If it wasn’t for the Alamo, Phoenix might’ve had a few championship parades in the first decade of the 2000’s.

Back then, the Suns had speed, effortless passing, a big man that could dominate, three point shooters that could stretch the court almost poetically, a once in a generation pass-first point guard who made everyone better, and a team that raced down the court sometimes in seven seconds or less, reviving a new type of basketball that got everyone’s attention.

Phoenix nonchalantly led the league in points way back when (usually hovering around 110), free throw percentage, and three point percentage. They were the most interesting, dynamic, well balanced unit in the sport. They were something else.

And now, they’ve been reduced to rubbish. An owner who has run the team into the bowels of mediocrity, Phoenix is in the worst place a team could be. They’re nowhere.  Phoenix’s favorite Sun is a free agent, despite his uncanny ability to still perform at career high levels, and after a nice, little run at the final playoff spot, its hard to think he comes back next year to do this dog and pony show all over again.

And why should he?

A once proud dominant franchise, which was the hottest ticket in the valley, was unable to sellout a single home game this season, and make all the excuses you want, that’s just a bit sad.

Sad because where they were, how they played, and what could have been.

Like life really. Coulda, shoulda, woulda.

What if they had kept Rajon Rondo and not traded him? What if they signed Joe Johnson to the big deal Atlanta was willing to give him? What if they hadn’t traded Quentin Richardson? Or half of their first round picks for empty cash to fill their banker of an owner’s wallet. What if they hadn’t brought in Terry Porter? Or Shaq?

What if things had ended differently?

In sports you don’t get do-overs on the past, but you can re-load for the future. What Suns fans are ruing is what they had: all those 50+ wins seasons, games where 7 guys would get in double figures, threes falling from the sky, Amar’e rocking the rim, and Planet Orange going ballistic.

The Suns used to be a treat to watch. It was like watching a track meet. Nash would pick and roll with Stoudemire who would either go to the hole for a ferocious dunk or one of the wingmen would get a wide open three, swing it around the perimeter, before burying a jumper from long distance. It looked so seamless at times. So video-game-esque.

There was nothing like it in sports.

Slowly the players changed, the bench was broken, a coach was fired, wing-men shipped out, draft picks dealt for nothing, and the one constant was one, Steve Nash. The beautiful Ferrari that was running like a well oiled machine, resembled something closer to the car that Cameron kicked in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. It was perfect, it was beloved, and then it was beaten to the ground.

And that quote: “You killed the car,” said Ferris to a shell-shocked Cameron.

The Suns had the prettiest, shiniest, most fun car to drive. And now, it’s a mess. It needs all kinds of fixes both inside and out. It’s old and worn down in some areas, new and un-broken in others. It looks weird, runs funny, and no longer stands proud in the driveway. People no longer admire it. It’s no longer a show-piece. It’s just another dingy automobile that used to be great.

The Suns used to be great. They were in many ways, special. But they never scaled Everest (aka: the Spurs), and then father-time caught up to them. They had to make decisions and they put their jewel in the wrong hands. Over the years what once was practically perfect turned nearly unrecognizable.

All that hope, that promise. Gone. A memoir of yester-year and the times where just getting to the Western Conference Finals was one stop short of the goal. Now, it’s been two years of no playoffs, and 3 in 4. The Suns, championship-less, yet far more successful than the majority of sports franchises since their inception 44 years ago, will likely be facing a makeover. One that could take years to perform. Screw up, and a decade could be lost. No one knows for sure.

They have no rising stars, just a host of broken toys revved up once more and a lot of quality bench guys who aren’t good enough to anchor a winner. They’re not bad enough to be broke, but not good enough to have a chance. They’re locked in nothingness.

Assuming Nash leaves for one last chance at a ring, they will have no stars. Mind-blowing given how loaded PHX was not too long ago. Talk about a fleeting memory.

In a town with 4 pro teams, their stock went up, soared into the clouds, and then crashed in a blaze of sadness smack dab in the middle of what could have been and what the hell do we do now.

The Suns are the college student who just graduated and stayed in their college town, clinging to all those great times. Locked into the nostalgia. Wishing they could get another crack at a time now passed. If they go home, they have to start over.How many people truly enjoy starting anew?

Sometimes it’s just safer to stay where you are. Phoenix infact, tried that for a few years, holding onto their iconic do everything point guard, Nash and Grant Hill, but with another season of middling mediocrity, the Suns find themselves smack dab in a horrible identity process. They can try to patch up a flawed car with some nicer parts or they can move on, count the memories, stick them in their back-pocket, and prepare for an unknown and hopefully eventually bright future.

Like the job market, the Suns have been rendered as nothing more than another face. They’re there, but so are a bunch of other suitors. It’s a crowded field, and a competitive market and it’s a scary thought when you don’t know what you want or who you want to be.

But that’s where they are.

Sometimes you have to face the music and admit to the reality. Other times you can try to get by with what you have.

The Suns tried to keep what little left that they had going. The music stopped.

There’s no more chairs.

An era is over.

That’s life. That’s sports.

That’s the vicious churning of the cycle.

The 2012 NFL Draft is a few days away. With speculation at an all-time high, Juiced Sports looks into the Juiced Crystal Ball for answers.

1. Let’s start with an easy one: Every team that has a 1st, 2nd and 3rd round pick will draft at least one wide receiver at some point in the three-day period. This isn’t the most stellar group of WRs ever, but it is one of the deepest. You can get a quality guy all the way up until, at least, the fifth round.

2. Quintin Coples is a going to be the biggest slider of the first round. Stephon Gilmore will be the fastest riser on Thursday. Not due to talent, but due to work ethic.

3. Minnesota will pass on Matt Kalil (either because they trade down or decide to draft Morris Claiborne, CB from LSU. Not a huge fan of that potential move because as  I’ve stated before, I think Kalil is the best prospect at his position since Jonathan Ogden.

4. The Defensive Rookie of the Year will not be a first round pick in 2012. Depending on where they go, I would say Harrison Smith (safety) of Notre Dame or Ronell Lewis (pass rusher) of Oklahoma, could fit the bill.

5. There will be at least three trades within the first 12 picks (not counting the Skins-Rams deal for RG3). My guess is that the Rams, Browns, and Panthers will be involved.

6. After his recent assault arrest, Alfonzo Dennard of Nebraska, will get the LaGarrett Blount treatment and go undrafted. A short time ago, Dennard was considered a Top 25 pick. You throw bows, that’s how it goes. Not to mention, his obvious lack of speed. He’ll make a roster as a fourth safety, not as cornerback, like he played in college.

7. Oakland and new GM, Reggie Mackenzie, will deal with what they’ve been dealt. Mackenzie will trade back, at least twice, to acquire more youth. Mackenzie has made a lot of good decisions, considering Oakland’s cap issues and lack of draft picks.

8. Justin Blackmon will fall to the Jaguars and they’ll pass him up and trade back to draft Michael Floyd. There is simply not enough separation between the two players. Floyd is bigger but has character and injury issues. The Jags definitely want out of their current pick, which is by far the least enviable pick in the draft when you have as many needs as they do.

9. The Buffalo Bills will trade up to grab USC offensive tackle, Matt Kalil, if he falls past the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at pick five. I think Minnesota would be wrong to pass on him but the Bills would reap the benefits.

10. One team will double dip on Miami Hurricanes (my guess: the New York Giants with Lamar Miller and Tommy Streeter). Miller would replace Brandon Jacobs, and while they have two completely different styles, Miller can move the chains and adds a play-making ability to the position. Streeter would replace Mario Manningham in the long run.

11. Mike Adam’s love for weed will not push the Ohio State offensive tackle out of the first two rounds. North Alabama cornerback, Janoris Jenkins’ similarities to Antonio Cromartie in the parenting department, will knock him out of the first round. Jenkins is a Top 10 talent but his off-the-field issues have to scare both teams and scouts. If you’re a team that digs giving out cash advances, be my guest.

12. Whoever gets drafted by the Minnesota Vikings will be renting. The Vikes are not long for Minnesota. The whole situation is deplorable. Vikings’ owner, Zigi Wulf, wants to stay, but the state government isn’t budging. They don’t realize what losing a professional football team does to your city and/or state. Maybe they should ask Baltimore, Cleveland and Houston how that goes.

13. Kansas City will take a quarterback in the first two rounds. Matt Cassel is a good player, but he isn’t a “franchise guy.” He’s the starter this season, but after that, anything goes.

14. Players with return ability will be over-drafted. FIU’s T.Y. Hilton and Florida’s Chris Rainey will be taken in the late-2nd/early 3rd round despite having 4th or 5th round ability at their “primary” positions. This is understandable considering the lack of quality special teams in the league at this time.

15. This is a big year for rotational defensive linemen. While the defensive end class isn’t stellar, plenty will be taken early by teams with an already full stable at the position. Best “rotational” defensive end in this draft is Virginia’s Cam Johnson.

16. With teams passing more than 50% a game, the need for quality cover guys is on the rise. The third round will see a large run on nickel and spot-starting corners. Best of the bunch: Dwight Bentley of Louisiana-Lafayette. Don’t let the small school fool you; this kid can play.

17. Alas, Vontaze Burfict of Arizona State, will be drafted…in the Canadian Football League. As many pundits have said, he’s not a very good player. His Combine and both Pro Days were considerably disastrous. The once-1^st round pick is now likely a camp body. It’s probably 50-50 on if he will make an opening day roster.

18. The Tyson Alualu (high draft pick you’ve never heard of) Award will go to Amini Silatolu of Midwestern State. The mammoth offensive guard (6-4, 311) will be taken early in the 2^nd day of the draft.

19. There will be at least three veteran player trades during draft weekend. The likely suspects are Denver running back Knowshon Moreno, Philadelphia cornerback Asante Samuel, and pretty much anyone on the Raiders.

20. While many fans love short-passers Russell Wilson of Wisconsin and Kellen Moore of Boise State, neither will be drafted before the 3^rd round. Most people say they won’t get drafted because of there size, but if you watch them carefully, they both have major flaws that were protected by their offensive schemes. Wilson is likely a career back-up and spot starter. Moore is going to be wishing that NFL Europe still existed.

With the 2012 NFL Draft just two weeks away and most of the free agency madness of March in our rear-view mirror, we at Juiced Sports present the 2012 Juiced Sports Big Board (Top 100).

The cream of the crop may rise to the top, but in this year’s draft, there is plenty of value at key spots. While this is one of the weaker drafts for safeties, defensive ends and offensive tackles, this year is full of talented running backs, linebackers, and wide receivers. Just because your team doesn’t grab a top 32 guy in the first round, doesn’t mean they won’t find value in the second.

1. Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
2. Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor
3. Matt Kalil, OT, LSU
4. Trent Richardson, HB, Alabama
5. Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU
6. Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State
7. Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
8. Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina
9. Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College
10. Quinton Coples, DE/DT, North Carolina
11. David DeCastro, OG, Stanford
12. Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame
13. Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama
14. Michael Brockers, DT, LSU
15. Cordy Glenn, OG/OT, Georgia
16. Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A& M
17. Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina
18. Riley Reiff, OT/OG, Iowa
19. Courtney Upshaw, OLB/DE, Alabama
20. Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor
21. Nick Perry, DE/OLB, USC
22. Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford
23. Dontari Poe, NT, Memphis
24. Mark Barron, SS, Alabama
25. Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford
26. Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama
27. Whitney Mercilus, OLB/DE, Illinois
28. Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse
29. Rueben Randle, WR, LSU
30. Andre Branch, DE/OLB, Clemson
31. Jerel Worthy, DT/DE, Michigan State
32. Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State
33. Vinny Curry, DE, Marshall
34. Devon Still, DT, Penn State
35. Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech
36. Kendall Reyes, DT, Connecticut
37. Lamar Miller, HB, Miami
38. Bobby Wagner, OLB, Utah State
39. Kevin Zeitler, OG, Wisconsin
40. Doug Martin, HB, Boise State
41. Dont’a Hightower, ILB, Alabama
42. Zach Brown, OLB, North Carolina
43. Dwayne Allen, TE, Clemson
44. Lavonte David, OLB, Nebraska
45. Peter Konz, OL, Wisconsin
46. Brandon Thompson, DT, Clemson
47. David Wilson, HB, Virginia Tech
48. Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska
49. Harrison Smith, SS, Notre Dame
50. Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina
51. Bobby Massie, OT, Mississippi State
52. Shea McClellin, OLB/DE, Boise State
53. Brandon Weeden, QB, Oklahoma State
54. Jayron Hosley, CB, Virginia Tech
55. Jared Crick, DT/DE, Nebraska
56. Josh Robinson, CB, Central Florida
57. Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers
58. Chris Polk, HB, Washington
59. Ronnell Lewis, OLB, Oklahoma
60. Bruce Irvin, OLB, West Virginia
61. Jamell Fleming, CB, Oklahoma
62. LaMichael James, HB, Oregon
63. Kelechi Osemele, OG, Iowa State
64. Brian Quick, WR Appalachian State
65. Billy Winn, DE, Boise State
66. Mychal Kendricks, ILB, California
67. Brandon Boykin, CB, Georgia
68. Kirk Cousins, QB, Michigan State
69. Ben Jones, OL, Georgia
70. Bernard Pierce, HB, Temple
71. Juron Criner, WR, Arizona
72. Sean Spence, OLB, Miami
73. Mike Martin, DT, Michigan
74. Mitchell Schwarts, OT, California
75. Orson Charles, TE, Georgia
76. Zebrie Sanders, OT, Florida State
77. Alameda Ta’amu, DT, Washington
78. Josh Chapman, DT, Alabama
79. Demario Davis, OLB, Arkansas State
80. Markelle Martin, FS, Oklahoma State
81. Greg Childs, WR, Arkansas
82. Brandon Washington, OG, Miami
83. Josh Kaddu, OLB, Oregon
84. Ladarius Green, TE, Louisiana-Lafayette
85. Marvin Jones, WR, North Carolina
86. Antonio Allen, SS, South Carolina
87. Dwight Bentley, CB, Louisiana-Lafayette
88. Chase Minnifield, CB, Virginia
89. Brock Osweiler, QB, Arizona State
90. Michael Egnew, TE, Missouri
91. James-Michael Johnson, ILB, Nevada
92. Cam Johnson, DE, Virginia
93. Keenan Robinson, OLB, Texas
94. Trumaine Johnson, CB, Montana
95. George Iloka, FS, Boise State
96. Casey Hayward, CB, Vanderbelt
97. Ron Brooks, CB, LSU
98. Chris Rainy, RB, Florida
99. Nick Toon, WR, Wisconsin
100. Tony Bergstorm, OT, Utah

SCOTT JACOBS

Shockers! I’m sure someone will do the research on this, but I can’t recall another tournament in recent memory boasting 9 double digit seeds surviving the second (**cough cough**) first round:

A breakdown by seed (note: the only seeds unscathed through 2 so called rounds: 14 and 16, though we could technically be obnoxious and state that 14. BYU beat 14. Iona and 16. Western Kentucky beat 16. Mississippi Valley St. and 16. LIU Brooklyn beat… o whatever).

This is going off the second round (seeds that won):

09: 1-3 (St. Louis)
10: 2-2 (Xavier, Purdue)
11: 2-2 (NC State, Colorado)
12: 2-2 VCU, USF)
13: 1-3 (Ohio)
14: 0-4
15: 2-2 (Norfolk State, Lehigh) — It had been over 4000 days since a 15 beat a 12. In hours, 2 did it. First time ever. 5th, and 6th all time.
16: 0-4

Only two of those came from yesterday and in all honesty was VCU beating Wichita State that shocking (see what I did there) or Colorado dethroning UNLV?

Which means that of the 16 games that were played on Friday, 8 were one by the underdog. Eight!

And it could’ve been more: 3. FSU barely squeaked out a win over 14. St. Bonaventure.

This is what’s whacky:

- In the midst of all this upset madness, the East went completely chalk 1-8. Unbelievable considering how many big name teams were falling today.
- Both the South and Midwest regions lost half of their favored seeds in the second round; The West was luckier with just 2 upsets.
- The ACC, Big 12, and Big 10 had 3 clear cut top 3 teams in each conference and each one lost one of those today: 2. Duke, 2. Missouri, 4. Michigan.

So while Saturday is about big-time matchups, Sunday is about big time quirkiness:

Were you expecting either of these matchups when the brackets were unveiled:

Xavier-Lehigh, USF-Ohio (2 of those 4 teams are going to the Sweet 16… Xavier is a top caliber team with Tu Holloway, but c’mon, the other 3…)

Duke and Michigan were bounced on the same night. Missouri takes their Tigers to the SEC after bowing out in the second round. Karma perhaps? After winning the Big 12 tourney title Tigers fans were taunting “SEC, SEC”

Teams left by power conference:

SEC: 3 (Kentucky, Vandy, Florida)
ACC: 3 (UNC, FSU, NC State)
Big10: 5 (Michigan State, Ohio State, Indiana, Wisconsin, Purdue)
Big12: 4 (Kansas, Baylor, Iowa State, K-State)
Big East: 6 (Syracuse, Georgetown, Marquette, Louisville, Cincinnati, USF)
Pac12: 1 (Colorado)

Teams left from other conferences:

VCU, Xavier, Lehigh, St. Louis, New Mexico, Murray State, Norfolk State, Creighton, Gonzaga, Ohio)

How about by state:
O-H-I-O, Kentucky and the Sunshine State (basketball state, what?) have the most teams left in the dance. Let’s break it down all the way down:

4 Ohio (Ohio State, Ohio, Xavier, Cincinnati)
3 Florida (FSU, UF, USF)
3 Kentucky (Kentucky, Louisville, Murray State)
2: Virginia (VCU, Norfolk State – talk about housing bracket busters!)
2: Indiana (Indiana, Purdue)
2: Kansas (Kansas, K-State)
2: North Carolina (UNC, NC-State)
2: Wisconsin (Wisconsin, Marquette)

11 states and Washington D.C. make up the rest of the bracket.

All in all, 20 states are left and 1 District of Columbia.

Awesome possible Sweet 16 matchups (assuming this weekend is a little more normal):

Kentucky-Indiana
Xavier-Baylor
Michigan State-Louisville
Marquette-Florida
Syracuse-Vandy
FSU-Ohio State
Georgetown-Kansas

And if Creighton shocks the world and knocks out UNC, we’ll have a Sweet 16 matchup of, gasp, this:

Creighton-USF  or this: Creighton-Ohio. Madness!

That’s enough of that! Two qualms:

1) C’mon refs! Enough with the lane violations. It’s not right for you to decide the outcome of a game, nevermind possibly 2.
2) Those scoreboards: unless your HDTV is crystal clear it is hard as heck to read Double Bonus and Bonus underneath each team’s name. Clean it up.

Besides that it’s been one heck of a tournament. More madness surely to come.

Photo: Getty

*The Oakland Raiders gave up their third round pick this year when they drafted Ohio State QB Terrell Pryor in the 2011 NFL Supplemental Draft.

Round 1

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Luck is the pick; there is no doubt about it at this point. How fortunate is this team to essentially transition from Peyton Manning to Andrew Luck with just a season in between.

2. Washington Redskins (STL): Richard Griffin III, QB, Baylor

RG3 better be the best player in the draft for what the Redskins paid for him (two 1st round picks and one 2nd round pick to move up four slots). With a lack of top-end college talent coming in over the next few years, the Skins need to sign veteran talent to bolster Griffin’s prospective career in D.C.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

If this wasn’t such a QB-hungry league, Matt Kalil would be the 2nd pick at worst. While he has the frame of former top offensive tackle picks, his athleticism far-exceeds his predecessors. This will be a more important pick for the Minnesota than last year’s selection for Christian Ponder (who is competing with on-again, off-again QB Joe Webb for a shot at starting).

4. Cleveland Browns: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma St.

Blackmon looked like he was going fall after his so-so combine, but his pro day reopened eyes. The Browns have lacked a number one WR since the beginning of time and Blackmon can definitely fill that void. While he may not have the best hands or size, he is talented and can spread the field.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

Ronde Barber’s future is looking cloudy with retirement looming and Aqib Talib may be facing a suspension or  worst in the coming year; the Bucs need to look at other options. Claiborne is one the best cover corners to come out of college in a while and Patrick Peterson’s success will no doubt help hype up his former LSU teammate’s draft stock.

6. St. Louis Rams (WAS): Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

While this is almost definitely a reach when you consider Floyd’s off-the-field past, his talent is definitely top ten. The only issue with trading out of the top five is that the Rams miss out on what should be their top two targets (Kalil, Blackmon). Floyd will give the Rams a viable first option for Sam Bradford and could be just what Jeff Fisher needs to give the St. Louis offense a kick in the pants.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

The Jags have had issues for years getting to the quarterback. With Ingram in toe, the pressure is on for opposing QBs in the AFC South.

8. Miami Dolphins: Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

The Fins, whether they land Peyton Manning or not, need a long term solution at QB. Tannehill has been injured since the draft process started but he has all the tools necessary to succeed at the next level. New Miami offensive coordinator, Mike Sherman, coached Tannehill at Texas A & M and should know him better than anyone else.

9. Carolina Panthers: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

Brockers has a ton of potential and great size.  With the Carolina defense hurting, a push up the middle could help the defensive line significantly. Brockers is defensive tackle prospect in the mold of defensive end and fellow college one-year wonder, Jason Pierre-Paul.

10. Buffalo Bills: Quinton Coples, DT/DE, UNC

The Bills are switching to a 4-3 and could no doubt use the versatility of Coples on their line. While Coples doesn’t have a defined position, he ability as a run stopper and pass rusher is unquestioned.

11. Kansas City Chiefs: Dontari Poe, NT, Memphis

Poe lit up the combine but has the makings of a major boom/bust prospect. Kelly Gregg is getting up there in age and the Chiefs have few holes. It’s time for an upgrade at nose tackle.

12. Seattle Seahawks: Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois

Chris Cleamons is a good pass rusher but is getting older and with Red Bryant being the only other guy at DE, they need another. Mercilus has gone up and down draft boards more than anyone it seems. He has superior athleticism to most prospects and could do well in Pete Carroll’s defense.

13. Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

No matter who the QB is next season, Arizona needs to protect him. Part of the reason that Kevin Kolb was so injury prone, is because the Arizona offense line gave up the second most sacks in the league.

14. Dallas Cowboys: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Michael Jenkins has regressed significantly over the years and Terence Newman is as good as gone. Jerry Jones has never shied away from character issues and Kirkpatrick has been dropping due to his pre-draft weed issues, but has top talent.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

Kuechly just seems like the perfect fit in Philly, which is why this pick won’t likely happen. If the pick is made though, he is a sure-tackler and can take hold of a defense.

16. New York Jets: Trent Richardson, HB, Alabama

Shonn Greene is a decent option at running back but he isn’t likely the THE GUY in the Jets backfield. Richardson has all the abilities of a top five running back and could be a good outlet guy for the struggling Mark Sanchez.

17. Cincinnati Bengals (OAK): Reilly Reiff, OT/OG, Iowa

Reiff played tackle in college but most scouts project him to play guard in the pros. The Bengals want to continue to run often, so a good interior presence could open up the flood gates.

18. San Diego Chargers: Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama

Antwan Barnes is the only pass rush in San Diego so he needs a running (or rushing) mate. Upshaw has a high motor and pass rush skills to match. This could be a major steal on the first day of the draft.

19. Chicago Bears: Fletcher Cox, DT, Miss. State

The Bears have shuffled defensive lineman for years, but Fox can serve as long term solution to the carousel that is the Bears defensive line. Cox is use to going against tough competition in the SEC, so the NFC North could be a less daunting for the big man for Mississippi State.

20. Tennessee Titans: Nick Perry, DE, USC

It’s been only two years, but I think it is fair to call Derrick Morgan a bust. The Titans haven’t been able to get him on the field, so Nick Perry can do the job. Perry is outrageously athletic and has the speed to get around offensive linemen.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Mark Barron, SS, Alabama

Chris Crocker got owned down the stretch last season and is at the downside of his career, so the Bengals need to upgrade. With Reggie Nelson likely to leave town in free agency, this move seems all but imminent.

22. Cleveland Browns (ATL): Lamar Miller, HB, Miami

Peyton Hillis has gone from feel good story to complete mess in just two years and the Browns have little to show with Brandon Jackson and Montario Hardesty. Lamar Miller is very fast back with the ability to catch and could serve a special role in Pat Shurmur’s West Coast offense.

23. Detroit Lions: Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

It’s hard to decide what is more of a need for the Lions: cornerback or offensive tackle. The Lions go for value at 23 and draft Jenkins who has had character issues throughout his college career, but is likely a top prospect talentwise.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Stephen Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

Ike Taylor looked foolish in the playoff loss to Denver and the Pittsburgh secondary has begun to show their age. Gilmore is extremely impressive as a ballhawk and could be the perfect compliment to Taylor in the secondary.

25. Denver Broncos: Zach Brown, OLB, UNC

D.J. Williams is suspended for a large part of the 2012 season and Joe Mays is a free agent, so Brown would start right away on the weakside. He runs like a safety so his coverage skills are a plus, but his lack of size makes him hard to trust on running plays.

26. Houston Texans: Peter Konz, OL, Wisconsin

Incumbent starter, Chris Myers is likely to leave in free agency, so the Texans have to do their best to plus that hole. Konz is the best center prospect in the draft and play right away.

27. New England Patriots (NO): Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

The ever-changing offensive line in New England is constantly being upgraded with luxury picks. With rare size and speed for an offensive lineman, Glenn can play all over the line, giving the Pats some much appreciated versatility.

28. Green Bay Packers: Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

Mark Tauscher is out in Green Bay, so the team needs to add a bookend to Derek Sherrod. Adams wasn’t really impressive at the NFL Combine, but his college play speaks for itself.

29. Baltimore Ravens: Devon Still, DT/DE, Penn St.

The Ravens normally pick for value  this late in the draft and this year will be no different. Still can rush the passer, but is more of a run stopper.

30. San Francisco 49ers: Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers

The 49ers need a lot of help at wide receiver with most of their own hitting the open market. Sanu has the ability to play inside or out and can be a valued asset to Harbaugh and Co.

31. New England Patriots: Jerel Worthy, DT/DE, Michigan St.

Another luxury pick goes for the defensive line in New England. Worthy can eat up blockers, allowing for serious pass rushing from the Patriot linebackers.

32. New York Giants: Chris Polk, HB, Washington

Brandon Jacobs is already gone and this season proved Ahmad Bradshaw can’t carry the load alone. Polk has a lot of skeptics but he has the talent to be taken here. He also gives the Giants a better pass-catching option out of the backfield.

Round 2

33. St. Louis: Josh Robinson, CB, UCF

The Rams went through numerous DBs last season, so they need to add both depth and starters in the secondary. Robinson’s speedy forty should put him in position at this spot.

34. Indianapolis: Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford

The best way to make sure Andrew Luck is comfortable at the next level is to give him a safety net. What better way to replace Dallas Clark, then with Luck’s college teammate?

35. Minnesota: Alshon Jeffrey, WR, South Carolina

The Vikings dig South Carolina wide receivers (Sidney Rice, Troy Williamson) and Jeffrey is a big upgrade over Michael Jenkins.

36. Tampa Bay: Rueben Randle, WR, LSU

The Bucs are looking to add Vincent Jackson. If they can’t get him, Randle could be a nice consolation prize.

37. Cleveland: Andre Branch, DE, Clemson

The Browns hit with Jabaal Sheard last season, now they can add another second round defensive end to the mix.

38. Jacksonville: Brandon Weeden, QB, Oklahoma St.

Blaine Gabbert has been less than impressive, so Weeden can come in and give him some competition.

39. St. Louis (WAS): Harrison Smith, S, Notre Dame

As previously mentioned, the Rams secondary is a bit of a mess. Smith can learn from veteran Quintin Mikell.

40. Carolina: Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

The Carolina cornerbacks were awful last year and Dennard has first round talent, so it should be a match.

41. Buffalo: Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse

Buffalo’s switch to the 4-3 is in need of more scheme-related talent and Jones fits the bill.

42. Miami: Kendall Reyes, DT, Connecticut

Miami hasn’t decided what scheme they want to run but Reyes fits both. He could be the replacement to Paul Soliai or Kendall Langford.

43. Seattle: Brandon Thompson, DT, Clemson

Thompson can offer an upgrade over the underwhelming play of Alan Branch.

44. Kansas City: Vinny Curry, OLB/DE, Marshall

Justin Houston was a great find last season and Tamba Hali is one of the best in the business, but everyone needs depth when it comes to the pass rush.

45. Dallas: Kevin Zeitler, OG, Wisconsin

The Cowboys offensive line continues to change. Zeitler comes from a program that practically manufactures offensive linemen.

46. Philadelphia: Bobby Wagner, OLB, Utah St.

Philly has a well-publicized need at linebacker and Bobby Wagner may be the best option as a strong side guy.

47. New York Jets: Dont’a Hightower, ILB, Alabama

With Bart Scott gone, the Jets need a new man in the middle. A victim of team’s needs, Hightower falls far past his projected draft position.

48. New England (OAK): Ronnell Lewis, OLB/DE, Oklahoma

The Pats need a pass rushing force and Lewis can be the answer.

49. San Diego: Jayron Hosley, CB, Virginia Tech

Hosley is great value at this pick and Quintin Jammer isn’t getting any younger.

50. Chicago: Zebrie Sanders, OT, FSU

Jemarcus Webb has filled in admirably at left tackle for Chicago, but he could use some serious competition.

51. Philadelphia (ARI): Brandon Boykin, CB, Georgia

Joselio Hanson is a good slot corner, but Boykin would be a significant upgrade.

52. Tennessee: Kelechi Osemele, OG, Iowa St.

CJ2k could use some running lanes and Osemele is a top interior lineman. His small school status makes him slide.

53. Cincinnati: Doug Martin, HB, Boise St.

Cedric Benson is on the way out and the Bengals need a compliment to Bernard Scott.

54. Detroit: Cam Johnson, DE, Virginia

Cliff Avril may holdout after getting the Franchise Tag and Corey Williams is already a goner, so Johnson can enter the rotation and eventually take over for the aging Kyle Vaden Bosch.

55. Atlanta: Mychal Kendricks, ILB, California

Curtis Lofton appears likely to leave in free agency, so Kendricks  may be able to take over his role.

56. Pittsburgh: Nick Toon, WR, Wisconsin

Hines Ward has left and Mike Wallace could be signed despite the restricted tender, so the Steelers need a backup plan.

57. Denver: Orson Charles, TE, Georgia

John Fox loves pass catching tight ends and Charles is just that.

58. Houston: Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech

With Andre Johnson frequently missing time for injury, the Texans needs to have guys they can depend on at the WR position.

59. New Orleans: Amini Silatolu, OG, Midwestern St.

Carl Nicks is likely a free agent departure, the Saints need to develop his replacement.

60. Green Bay: Billy Winn, DE/DT, Boise St.

The Packers missed Cullen Jenkins last season and Winn might be able to solve their problems.

61. Baltimore: Jonathan Massoqui, OLB/DE, Troy

Jarrett Johnson is aging and a free agent, so Massoqui can add some youth to the pass rush.

62. San Francisco: Brian Quick, WR, Appalachian St.

Despite Sanu, San Fran needs to plug holes at wide receivers and Quick is a big body that can provide redzone help for Alex Smith.

63. New England: Bruce Irvin, OLB/DE, West Virginia

As mentioned, the pass rush needs to improve in New England and Irvin can continue that improvement.

64. New York Giants: Dwayne Allen, TE, Clemson

With two tight ends injuring their ACLs in the Super Bowl, the Giants needs to replace some missing pieces.

Round 3

65. Indianapolis: Bobby Massie, OT, Mississippi St.
66. St. Louis: Mike Martin, DT, Michigan
67. Minnesota: Mitchell Schwartz, OT, Cal
68. Cleveland: Isiah Pead, HB, Cincinnati
69. Tampa Bay: Antonio Allen, DB, South Carolina
70. Washington: Joe Adams, WR, Nebraska
71. Jacksonville: Lamichael James, HB, Oregon
72. Buffalo: Travis Lewis, OLB, Oklahoma
73. Miami: Tommy Streeter, WR, Miami
74. Chicago (CAR): Chase Minnifield, CB, Virginia
75. Kansas City: Casey Heyward, CB, Vanderbilt
76. Seattle: Josh Norman, CB, Coastal Carolina
77. Philadelphia: Nick Foles, QB, Arizona
78. New York Jets: Juron Criner, WR, Arizona
79. Oakland (Supplemental Draft)
80. San Diego: Brandon Washington, OG/OT, Miami
81. Chicago: Lavonte David, OLB, Nebraska
82. Arizona: Tank Carder, ILB, TCU
83. Dallas: Brock Osweiler, QB, Arizona St.
84. Tennessee: George Iloka, S, Boise St.
85. Cincinnati: Greg Childs, WR, Arkansas
86. Atlanta: James Brown, OT, Troy
87. Detroit: Bernard Pierce, HB, Temple
88. Pittsburgh: Brandon Mosley, OT, Auburn
89. Denver: Ben Jones, OL, Georgia
90. Houston: Vontaze Burfict, ILB, Arizona St.
91. New Orleans: Tony Bergstorm, OT/OG, Utah
92. Green Bay: Ronnie Hillman, HB, Louisiana-Lafayette
93. Baltimore: Dwight Jones, WR, UNC
94. San Francisco: Marcus Fortson, DE/DT, Miami
95. New England: Leonard Johnson, CB, Iowa St.
96. New York Giants: Chris Givens, WR, Wake Forest

“Circumstances… Those circumstances,” said Colts long-time owner Jim Irsay.

“Times change, circumstances change,” said Peyton Manning.

It was the buzzword of the day, and the final cue to a 14 year relationship that produced the most successful era of Colts football. Ever.

“Growing up together in an organization,” Irsay said, “I was a 37 year old owner and he was a 22 year old player.”

That’s how it began. What started out as a tough decision on whether to draft Manning or Washington State star Ryan Leaf (seems laughable now), ended 14 seasons later: with a Super Bowl ring, a pair of near perfect seasons, countless records broken, a shiny new stadium, and amazingly the Colts back where this all began: at the bottom, staring down the rest of the NFL from their league worst 2-14 record (they were 3-13 in 1997), as they prepare to take another franchise QB with the 2012 #1 pick.

And memories.  So many memories.

“I sure have loved playing football for the Indianapolis Colts,” said an emotional Manning, fighting off any tears. “I leave the Colts with nothing but gratitude.”

“There will be no other Peyton Manning,” said Irsay, who hesitated multiple times during the farewell press conference, trying to keep his emotions in check.  “It’s unparalleled.”

It was weird seeing the two standing side by side, appearing totally at peace with what they tried to portray as a mutual decision, good for both parties.  After a firestorm of P.R. chess moves ever since the Colts season ended, and especially during the Super Bowl, which was fittingly hosted by Lucas Oil Stadium, the house many believe that Peyton built, this felt real.  And though the relationship appeared broken beyond repair at times, this press conference wasn’t held just to look good in the eyes of the media.

It felt genuine.
It felt real.
It felt final.

“Peyton was the ring leader,” said Irsay.

Here comes the real circus.

“We tried to put each other in each other’s shoes,” said Irsay. “We both wanted to be together… It’s been tearing at our hearts trying to find the best solution.”

“It’s been nice to have someone to bounce those emotions off of,” said Manning, about the many discussions he and Irsay have had through this difficult and odd conclusion. “You have to keep it in perspective, but I am at peace with it.

“I will always be a Colt, that will never change. I have nothing but appreciation.”

It was portrayed as a divorce between a pair that had been attached at the hip since 1998, but I see it as more of a trial separation.  After being with each other so long they’re testing out what it’s like on the other side.  But make no doubt about it, after Manning retires, I expect their relationship to be as strong as it’s ever been.

Words like “memory lane” and “reflection” and “just how awesome it’s been,” were thrown around by Manning.

14 years is a long time. In the fickle, ever-changing, what have you done for me lately sports world it’s practically an eternity.  This is a relationship not often duplicated in sports.  Tom Brady and Robert Kraft almost split after Brady’s injury, which basically cost him his 2008 season; For Matt Cassell of all people. Could you imagine?

The Eagles cut ties with Donovan McNabb, who has been drifting around the NFL like a hobo on the highway ever since. The Rams cut Kurt Warner. These are all just recent examples of great players and their franchises saying goodbye.

It happens. It just does.

“Circumstances was the third guy in the room,” said Manning. “Jim and I will have a strong relationship forever.”

Irsay’s Colts have a long road ahead and they’ll be banking on mega-prospect Andrew Luck to justify the nationwide “Suck for Luck” campaign his play elicited.  As Irsay said repeatedly, the Colts are rebuilding. Their salary cap situation is a mess. They’re at least a few years away.

“The plane ran out of gas,” the Colts owner lamented. “Injuries, erosion, the time on the roster.

“To duplicate what we’ve done in the last 12 years, that’s hard to do.”

“I have so many, I really do,” said Manning, when asked about his favorite memories. “This is a relationship business… It’s behind the scenes, the laughs, the memories… these will never go away.”

Irsay and Manning were separated by maybe a foot or two at the press conference, but it seemed clear they were on the same page and that neither had a chip on their shoulder.

“I want to see him come back and play great,” said Irsay. “I want that opportunity for him to succeed at the end of his career.”

The press conference ended, Manning and Irsay gave a nice brief hug for the cameras, with the Colts long-time owner patting the back of the man who carried his franchise for nearly a decade and a half, before they disappeared out of the room and into the unknown.

What happens next, no one knows for sure.

But one thing’s for certain: this felt like closure. And it was done with nothing but class.

Photo: AP

In 1939 college hoops instituted what would become the NCAA tournament, an 8 team single elimination playoff, to crown a champion. There were 3 rounds and none of the games were televised.  Why? Well, television didn’t exist at the tourney’s birth. Twelve years later, the tournament was expanded to 16. A few years later it expanded again. By 1975 there were 32 teams. In 1979, the season that many believe changed the game (think Larry versus Magic), the field was increased to 40. A season later that became 48. Three seasons later it was over 50. It kept expanding, it kept growing. TV and ESPN helped lead to its explosion. The 24 hour sports cycle made it an unstoppable unofficial national holiday.

By 1985, the little tournament birthed in 1939, had grown from 8 teams to 64 (8 times as much) and it wasn’t so much a playoff, it was a marathon. College hoops’ popularity had exploded and March Madness was in full bloom.

For 15 years college hoops stuck with that system and it was widely accepted as the best post-season in sports.  Then came a one game play-in in 2001, and the scary, outlandish idea of expanding to a cool 96 just a few years ago. Fortunately, smarter heads prevailed, and the field simply added 3 more play-in games, creating the First Four to nicely balance the much-hyped Final Four.

No longer was it necessary to be great, merely above average had become good enough.  VCU took their First Four ticket and seized the opportunity, shooting the lights out to an improbable, almost unexplainable Final Four appearance.

The underdog fan in all of us was pleased, while old-fashioned traditionalists were bothered.  We ended up with a Final Four which included the Rams and Butler. These were not the 4 best teams. Everyone knew that.  These 4 teams had merely survived.

More exciting? Yes. More games? Yes. More interest? Yes. College hoops had scored another outlet for Cinderella to squeak through, and everybody loves a good Cinderella. But by the semi-finals, the elusive Final Four had given us 2 of them. As a sports fan, it felt wrong. It was too much. The best teams were supposed to have knocked them off, and retain normalcy in the pecking order. Traditional powers, who had traditionally outstanding seasons were left on the outside looking in, despite their superior overall resume. All because they stumbled once along the way.

Now we have more bubble teams, more excitement for schools that once never had a shot, and the most wild post-season in all of sports.

But rarely do the best teams win anymore. Even rarer is it for all 4 number 1 seeds to make it to the Final Four. Fans call this parity, traditionalists call this depressing.

Which is why there’s a major divide between those who love baseball’s new post-season proposal (expected to go into effect this coming year) of two more wild card teams, and those who hate it.

New age fans, sticklers for maxing out more games and more races are ecstatic. Teams notoriously clipped from the post-season because of the behemoths that they can’t financially compete with, now have renewed hope.  More teams get into the playoffs which means two more games, and more cities tuning in late (better attendance figures, better TV ratings), hoping their team can get into the dance.

Traditionalists are sick to their stomach.  What started out as the World Series in 1903 is about to balloon to 10, a number not nearly as extreme as college hoops expansion, but that is until you consider the context.

From 1903-1968 you won your league or you went home.  The AL and NL didn’t play each other, expansion had yet to take over the game, and there was roughly half the teams there are today. You won your league, you went right to the World Series. Other teams didn’t collect $200 or pass go. They were done.

Like anything, some years were more exciting than others.  But baseball wanted a few more participants in their post-season, so in 1969, they expanded to 2 divisions in both the AL and NL, and a Championship series was born as a prelude to the World Series.  All of a sudden the best record didn’t guarantee you a Fall Classic berth.  Imagine traditionalists and how they reacted then?

From 1969-1984 fans began adjusting to the new system and its best of 5 series format. Then in 1985, baseball expanded each series to 7 games. Some were probably annoyed by that.  Then in 1993, the Marlins and Rockies joined the sport as expansion mates, and baseball forever changed its ways, introducing its 3 division format and a –gasp – Wild Card in each league.

All of a sudden you didn’t have to win your league or your division for that matter, to get in. You could be second place. There was strife then. Rewarding a second place team? Preposterous! But alas the sport had grown, from 16 in 1903 to 28 by 1993.  It was almost like watching evolution.

And a quick side note on that 1903 season – had there been an CS that year, the Boston Americans, 14.5 games ahead of the Philadelphia Athletics, would have had to beat Philly in a series just go get to the Fall Classic. Over a team they had shown themselves superior to by nearly 15 games.

1903-ians would have scoffed at the notion. Looking back it would’ve been ridiculous. But times were different then. People didn’t even have cars!

So is introducing a 5^th playoff team in each league evolution or devolution? Is it natural to expand your playoff field as your overall field increases? Obviously, TV revenue wasn’t taken into account at the turn of the century, because no one knew what the bleep a TV was. People were still excited about silent pictures.

Baseball is introducing more teams to the ball, undoubtedly because they expect the one game playoff in each league to generate more buzz, and it goes without saying that more teams, means more opportunities, which gives more fan-bases the chance to dream big.

I’ve read the arguments from both sides – and the big one against expanding is that it dilutes the field, further blurs what it means to make the playoffs and win your division, and merely sidesteps the fact that the Wild Card is what got us into this quandary in the first place.  Some have argued that second place should garner no spoils. Win your division or get out of the way. People remember who won the pennant back in the day. Nowadays, winning your regular season crown in your league is a footnote on a website.

Great. Here’s a cookie, now go beat that Wild Card team (or if they’re in your division), another division winner.

Stop! Says baseball.  With the introduction of a 5^th team, their belief is that the 1-game winner take all free for all will force teams to go all out, thus disposing them of their best pitcher, and weakening their bullpen, assuming they advance.  Others have suggested, that if you expanded the divisional round to 7 games, it would help restore balance to the giants over the cinderellas.

While St. Louis was a great story, their overall 2011 season was pretty forgettable (and they would have been a blip in the pre-Wild Card years, where the Giants once won 103 games and didn’t get in). They tore up the NL down the stretch, as the Braves bowed down and took it towards the end. It led to the greatest day of regular season baseball I can ever recall, another point of emphasis that this expansion, injures. The Red Sox and Braves don’t completely collapse last season if they still make it into the field as the second Wild Cards. And Tampa’s unbelievable rally would’ve been another footnote in history, because the game wouldn’t have meant a thing.

Which leaves us with this: you can’t please everyone. You can’t appease owners who pay hundreds of millions dollars for their franchise and want another way to win by letting in just the top 2 teams. You can’t please fans who want parity, but also want the top deserving teams. Baseball is already on a tilted scale as is, given the lack of a salary cap, free agency and the explosion of millionaires has flipped traditionalism on its respective butt.

So in essence, by giving each league another playoff spot, you give your smaller market teams a better chance to compete, there-by leveling out just a bit the financial gap of a joke that is the sport’s economic system.

You can’t argue for tradition but bypass the fact that free agency, expansion, and TV has changed the game. Likewise, you can’t argue for expansion, and argue that the best team will have a better chance of winning. It is in that regard that the BCS kind of has it right when they pit 1 vs 2, sans a playoff system. Some years, like this one, the gap between 2 and 3 is miniscule and debate rages.  But it’s the only big-time organization that doesn’t let a party crasher knock out the heavyweight in the playoffs.  Because there is no playoffs.

Say what you will about the BCS – and I’ve said plenty – but it’s the closest thing sports has of guaranteeing us 1 versus 2.  The NFL as we’ve seen is a beacon of parity, and winning the division and getting that home game really doesn’t mean what it once did (Just look up the first decade of the new millennium for countless examples).  In the NBA the better team usually wins, but in 1999 the 8 seed Knicks made the NBA Finals.  In the NHL it’s barely even an upset when an 8 or 7 takes out the top or 2^nd best seed.

And in the NCAA, there’s so many games that one slip-up, and the best team is extinguished for an off-night.

Of course in sports there’s also injuries, unbalanced schedules, off-the-field issues, trades, cuts, and so many other factors that can get in the way. Comparing one era to another, while fun, is usually trivial. The games were different back then, the players weren’t as strong, didn’t have the same technological advances, training, etc. Loyalty was expected, not applauded. Its apples to oranges.

So maybe, after all of this, we should just accept sports for what it is: a fun game where expansion happens. We are a country littered with obesity, and we like more, more, and a little more. Expansion is exactly that: more.

It’s like in little league, when every team and every kid gets a trophy just for competing.

We’re looking to make everyone happy when that’s impossible. But the more teams you let in, the more that go home happy.

Is that what we want? Hope for all?  Or do we want the best handful of teams to duke it out in a system that rewards their regular season greatness?

Sports don’t seem to care as much about the latter anymore.

Whether that’s a good or bad thing, simply depends who you ask.

Photos: AP, Getty