The Indianapolis Colts understand that tough schedules come with the territory after you win a Super Bowl. However, that didn’t stop a few eyebrows from being raised when the NFL released the team’s 2007 slate.
After a Week 6 bye, the Colts are on the road against AFC South rival Jacksonville, followed by a trip to Carolina to meet the Panthers, an NFC title contender. That’s followed by a home date against New England and a road trip to San Diego to meet the Chargers.
What had tongues wagging at Colts headquarters was that the Jacksonville and San Diego games are at night – two of five night games Indianapolis will play this year. Of the five, which also include contests against Baltimore and Atlanta, only tonight’s season opener against the New Orleans Saints will be played at the RCA Dome.
“I have to admit, I wondered a little bit about what was going on with that,” coach Tony Dungy said.
As it turned out, the answer was as American as Mom and apple pie – it was a matter of dollars and cents.
“I was talking about it with (television executive) Dick Ebersol,” Dungy continued. “And he told me that television prefers to have us in big, prime-time games, but playing on the road. That way, they feel the scores will be closer than they would be if we were playing at home. And that helps sell the game and all their advertising that goes with it.”
Some Colts officials felt that despite being the defending Super Bowl champions, the schedule may have been an example of the small-market team from the heartland being slighted by the suits in the NFL offices in big, bad Manhattan. A number of players said they noticed the oddity, but that ultimately, it just didn’t matter.
“Day, night, home, away, we’ve got to play them all anyway and it comes down to the same thing – trying to figure out a way to get a ‘W,”‘ wide receiver Reggie Wayne said.
