It's been a nice run of a record-tying nine straight post-season berths for my Colts entering the 2011 campaign. However, will it continue? I'm sorry to say no. Why? It's going to be very difficult for our superman/QB Peyton Manning to come off of his 2nd straight offseason neck surgery without a scratch. It's also tough to get neck soreness to vanish quickly coming off the repair of a bulging disk. Peyton continues to be evaluated after diagnostic tests were done on him by a number of specialists. All in all, Manning's prognosis for his complicated neurological recovery cannot be very optimistic. In fact, radio talk show reports from Michael Vincent of 1070 AM and Indy TV station WTHR concur Peyton's slow recovery. Not having these doctors working on Manning full tilt most of the summer due to the lockout only makes missing Week 1 eminent. I personally think one of his specialists has suggested going back into his neck to try to help alleviate some of the pain and soreness Peyton is currently experiencing. If Manning chooses this scenario, he will be lost for at least 3 months and could mean the season. I can't begin to tell you the void that will be felt without a QB who threw for 4,700 yards last season and 54,828 yards for his carrer. His 17/33 TD/INT ratio can easily be reversed if he's not ready to go at all. I saw the writing on the wall several weeks ago. You know things don't look good when you sign a QB ready for the scrap heap in Kerry Collins. Is he the answer? I think a resounding no. The Colts haven't the experience nor the mobility of any of their remaining QB's to keep defenses honest. The Colts have really two healthy receivers in Reggie Wayne and Pierre Garcon at WR. Most of the rest of the receiving corp has either had an injury or is currently hobbled by one. It's going to take considerable time for them to get on the same page with Collins or Painter. Plus, will the Colts offense be willing to mesh with the old Penn Stater? In Week 1, I assure you the Indy OL will necessitate max protection schemes to buy time for the statuesque Collins. Just as heavy of a burden will be felt by the Colts defensive line with Pro Bowl DE's Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis. I'm not sure how effective the Colts' Tampa-2 scheme will be under Defensive Coordinator Larry Coyer considering there's a good chance they'll be used long-term being on the field 32+ minutes per game. This season, Indy has Houston twice, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, New Orleans, Atlanta, New England and Baltimore to contend with on their schedule. The best I see is a no-show 7-9 overall record. Here's the irony of it all. If there's any year the Colts wanted to make the Super Bowl really bad, this is the year. They would be hosting it at the end of the 2011-12 season at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Even if Manning can miraculously heal and get into form by the 8th week of regular season with the Colts at least at 3-4, their chances of making the playoffs are still 60-40 against. As a handicapper/realistic Colts fan, my predicted outcome is the golf course for January. By MIKE HANDZELEK
 

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