I got a question for Ravens fans about the Colts

[Steve0x]

Its been 32 years ago since Colts left Baltimore. Do we still hate the Indy Colts or should we let it go and let bygones be bygones? I know these fans in Cleveland still hate us they feel Mr Model robbed them. 

[52liveforever]

40 minutes ago, Steve0x said:

Its been 32 years ago since Colts left Baltimore. Do we still hate the Indy Colts or should we let it go and let bygones be bygones? I know these fans in Cleveland still hate us they feel Mr Model robbed them. 

At this point I'm more upset they took pagano from us.

[Tru11]

dont care

[JoeyFlex5]

its obvious who has been the superior franchise since they left baltimore. 

 

peyton manning is the only reason you can even have a conversation comparing these 2 franchises, he was there for what.. 14 years? and its been an absolute trainwreck outside of that ONE PLAYER carrying the team for that entire stretch, and in that stretch they only achieved one super bowl, and then had a trainwreck falling out with said player who carried them. so 14 out of 32 years, successful thanks to ONE PLAYER, otherwise they have been one of the most poorly managed teams in the league with a dumpster fire front office, and one of the trashiest owners in all of football. currently they are burying their team, they get andrew luck first overall who would be an absolute world beater with some kind of supporting cast, but they have given him none, they draft wr after wr, seemingly ignore the defense and offensive line, and then give luck the biggest contract of all time and because of repeated bonehead drafts they have no team to field around him and never will because of his contract.

the ravens have been around for only 20 of those 32 years, in that stretch we have seen countless assistant coaches move on to HC jobs, we have watched one mid round pick after another cash in on huge deals elsewhere because our excellent scouting finds high end players in low places, our front office has set the bar for what a well run franchise looks like, build by drafting a core based on BPA, right player right price, etc. etc. our first super bowl came after only 4 years, we were the attitude team of that generation. we started off our franchise with 2 players in one draft who were both GOATs at their position, we had an erratic stretch where we were still feared and always competitive, and then finally found a franchise qb and have been a perennial juggernaut ever since. the ravens are model of excellence, smart moves in free agency, smart drafting(for the most part), a balanced team who is never overly weak in one area(aside from our secondary falling apart recently). i dont know what else a fan could ask for from their franchise, we have been an extremely unlucky team as far as injuries and other things go, ray rice, sergio kindle, jimmys lisfranc, the monroe debacle, guys like mcphee and kruger and KO getting offered unrealistic contracts, pitta sizzle and smittys injuries, perrimans injury, all the dropped passes over the years, absolutely horrible calls by the refs, and yet we have still been one of the absolute best franchises of the past 20 years with 2 super bowls to show for it.

 

TLDR; who are the colts anyway?

[Tank 92]

The animosity was gone 10 years ago after Peyton publicly recognized how wrong it was that Irsay left the way he did. He was the face of their franchise and that brought closure. 

[Somerset Ravens]

I grew up with the Baltimore Colts as my team. I was a season ticket holder when they left. It hurt deeply when the team packed up and moved to Indianapolis. Over the years the pain has diminished but I still have animosity toward the Irsay family. I recognize they had the right to move, it was a business decision. At the time the team was not good and was not getting strong support from the community. I wish Irsay would have left the Colt name and team history behind when he snuck off in the middle of the night.

I am now thrilled to have the Ravens as my team ! 

[harfordravenfan]

Great summary Joeyflex5.

Every fan is different, some may never get over it and others will or have already. Once we got a team again i was happy (except for losing our history) but the 2000 team ending my bitterness.

Still trying to figure out if it's our past success settings too high of expectations or just fans being fans that drive such negativity on this boards at times. Few teams have had the success our team has in such a short period of time 

[K-Dog]

I still prefer to just call them Indy.

I don't like them, but it is more like a team thing as opposed to a city thing.

 

If you are fielding further opinions,  if you weren't alive when they left, you have a very different perspective. 

I am 47. I remember. 

[Guest]

I saw the Colts play in Memorial Stadium, but the Team we recently had here was far more entertaining.

Neither Team as we knew them is playing here now, but if it was up to me, Teams would not relocate to other cities and neither would fan favorite players. A team can get up and leave in today's NFL without changing cities. Oh sure, we understand the ostensible constraints, regardless, it doesn't build continuity for players or fans.

[law215]

Irsay kept the name of Colts when he moved the team to Indy. Model at least let the tradition of the Browns stay in the city so the  transition was different. A lot of the great Colt players like Makey, Smith, Donovan, Jonny U identify with Baltimore anyway. Irsay was just being a drunk jerk. Other cities like Oakland and St Louis have experienced this as their team bounce back and forth to LA, but none have as much tradition as the Baltimore Colts. The greatest game vs the Giants, Superbowl 3, and Jonny U . Yes, I still like to se the Irsay's Colts suffer with their over-hyped, turnover machine, QB Luck.

[Edgar]

Of course we still hate them.

[usmccharles]

I think it might just be a generational thing.  I am only 31 and I honestly don't know much, if anything about the Baltimore Colts, I know the story of what happened.  The only time I ever bring it up is when someone tries to give me crap about the Ravens actually being the Browns.  So that being said, I have no ill feelings towards the Colts other than the fact they took Pagano, I really liked him as our DC.  Oh, Isray is an idiot....

[Steve0x]

Well i can understand why Browns fans still hate us. Cause the new Browns only have 1 10 game winning season unlike the Ravens have 9 10+ game winning seasons. So thats not our fault were so succeessful.  

[edthehead]

 

 maybe generation or a IDK thing, but it is a part of me 

 1. colts suck

 2.  anything john elway is affiliated with 

 3. paul tagliabue  

as far as the browns at least they kept their name and stats, so their anger is more of envy  

again,,, 

ART Modell should be in the HOF, 

[Moderator 2]

Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it. 

I will never forget that snowy March night, I was still in school.  Please don't tell Baltimore Colts fans to 'get over it'.  I had a hard time warming up to the Ravens for two reasons I had 3 little kids 1 an ill newborn and 2 I did not like the way we were taking someone else's team.  A friend of our could not stand my Redskin love, as a Kid I had an AFC team and NFC team, so told me to get a babysitter and took me and my Steelerfan husband to two games, by the end of the second team hubby had written a check for 3'psl's.  My dad bought the 3 rd seat and my mom babysat. (Steelerfan husband converted before I did and comes from far a Western MD so it's understandable) I will never be over the move, but I bleed purple-- I think of it as my HS boyfriend, I graduated from high school and him lol I lost a lot of the acrimony in 2006 season playoffs under Steve McNair, 1 touchdown was all we needed to win that game. I wanted NOTHING to do with football until April.  Steve Bisciotti was a Colts fan and lived through that mess and I'm pretty sure he would not do the same thing to us.

For those that wish to read up on the subject: SI used to have a great article but can't find it

http://www.si.com/vault/1986/09/29/114072/though-the-colts-bolted-for-indy-the-band-marches-on-in-baltimore

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Band_That_Wouldn't_Die

 

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/colts/2014/03/29/indianapolis-baltimore-move-30-year-anniversary-mayflower/7053553/

 

http://www.wbaltv.com/sports/1984-report-Colts-leave-Baltimore-overnight/25076348

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltimore_Colts_relocation_to_Indianapolis

[Steve0x]

Heres my take what Browns should do. Hire Nick Caserio as GM.  Nick Caserio was director of player personnel on New England Pats and keep him. One thing Ravens do so well is stability and consistency. I say this keep Nick Caserio for at least 8 seasons and see if they don't improve. Its gonna take a long while to build the Browns i mean a long time. Patience is the key. Seems the Browns owner doesn't have any patience just like Irsay was  he didn't have the patience to wait to see how they develop. Like in 1980 Colts had a good head coach Mike McCormick remember him? But Irsay didn't want to wait he wanted a winner right now. If he would stuck with Mike McCormick They might been a contender in 1983 and Elway would have came to Baltimore.   

[Ravensfan23]

There is a large portion of Ravens fans who don't even know the Colts started in Baltimore and even more so don't know the story behind them leaving. I was born in 84, so I grew up knowing Baltimore didn't have a team but never really experienced the hate. The only hate I had was for the Redskins because it seemed they were shoved down my throat being the closest team to cheer for. So I never really had a strong hatred for the Colts, i just knew not to like them. Even reading the stories and watching the videos of the Colts leaving town that snowy night didn't grow my hatred because I never experience the feeling of "My Team" being ripped away from being. 

Now fast forward to today and my son is 13 years old he barely even identifies Peyton Manning as a former Colts QB. He doesn't know the QB deprived years of the Ravens, all he knows is the playoffs every year ultra successful Ravens. He hates the Patriots and the Steelers but has not care about the Colts whatsoever. So I think that whole storyline is over. Especially after winning 2 SuperBowls, i think the only reason why the Browns still hate Baltimore is because they aren't having any success and being in the same division forces them to see all the Ravens success first hand. 

[Tiznut]

2 hours ago, usmccharles said:

I think it might just be a generational thing.  I am only 31 and I honestly don't know much, if anything about the Baltimore Colts, I know the story of what happened.  The only time I ever bring it up is when someone tries to give me crap about the Ravens actually being the Browns.  So that being said, I have no ill feelings towards the Colts other than the fact they took Pagano, I really liked him as our DC.  Oh, Isray is an idiot....

38 and born and raised in California. Could give two shakes about the colts. 

[BmoreBird22]

9 hours ago, JoeyFlex5 said:

TLDR; who are the colts anyway?

Just curious; how old are you anyway?

[Ravenseconbeast]

Its tough for people who actually experienced the mess that Irsay family left on Baltimore.  

To a much younger generation, it probably means very little.   I think most people are fine.   

[usmccharles]

12 minutes ago, Tiznut said:

38 and born and raised in California. Could give two shakes about the colts. 

yea, basically what I thought.  IMO, I feel that it only affects people in the Baltimore area or longtime colts fans.  Ive never really even lived in the Baltimore area...California as well now. 

[Willbacker]

I'm 50 and still remember the Colts but I really didn't become a major football fan until after they left but I'll never forget the dirty rotten way they snuck out. I clearly remember Vince Bagli (sportsbroadcaster at the time) with tears in his eyes while the Mayflower vans were driving out of the Colts facilities at the time. Extremely sad day for Baltimore.

It also kills me that a lot of sportscasters and other fans in general still have this wide belief that the NFL told Modell he could not take the name of the team and had to leave the records and history in Clev. Bullcrap!! The team was gonna be known as the Baltimore Browns but it was the people here in Balt that said we want a fresh start with new name. We dam sure didn't want nobody elses history especially after the way we got jobbed. Hope a lot of you remember this. I remember personally sending in the name of the Noreasters as a possible name for the new team. Wanted to put a low pressure system on the side of the helmet lol but it didn't make the cut. I remember the 3 final choices being Marauders,Americans and of course the Ravens.

[balfan23]

Grew up on the Colts (see avatar ...), had the opportunity to see them at Memorial Stadium. Endured the dread of the Super Bowl III loss (that the sport media world continues to celebrate almost 50 years later) and the joy of Super Bowl V (which no one seems to remember even happened). For me, no pain in sports compares to the loss of the Colts.

You ask "Do I still hate the Indy Colts" ... I don't think I'd use the term "hate". However, as long as "Indy" (NEVER the "Colts") wears that uniform and is run by anyone named "Irsay", I will want them to lose. I may prefer that they win if they face off against the Steelers or Pats, but that's about it. 

I have never, ever been "mad" at the fans in Indy or of their city. My anger is focused on the Irsay family and the NFL for letting Irsay steal our history. The Ravens are now my team and should the league determine that the Colts name and logo should be returned to the city of Baltimore (which obviously will never happen), I would not to change who we are now.

Why do I maintain the Unitas avatar? Despite the Ravens being my team now (and hopefully forever) those who don't know our history need to be reminded of it, since the league stole it away from us. I keep it to pay homage to Baltimore's football roots and to see to it that we fans of Baltimore football never forget those roots. 

[balfan23]

Anyone who wants a good history lesson on the topic, check out the 30 for 30 "The Band That Wouldn't Die". It gives a very solid perspective on the situation and indicates how the adversarial relationship between ownership and the fan base began the moment the Irsay family purchased the team. "It is not your team, it is MY team" ... and immediately began to level the threats of moving the team within the 1st year of his ownership. What a wonderful way to start the relationship with your new team and the fan base.

Then, just watch Irsay's drunken press conference rant to see the kind of man we were dealing with. It is an eye opener, for anyone who did not witness it live. 

[Steve0x]

16 minutes ago, balfan23 said:

Grew up on the Colts (see avatar ...), had the opportunity to see them at Memorial Stadium. Endured the dread of the Super Bowl III loss (that the sport media world continues to celebrate almost 50 years later) and the joy of Super Bowl V (which no one seems to remember even happened). For me, no pain in sports compares to the loss of the Colts.

You ask "Do I still hate the Indy Colts" ... I don't think I'd use the term "hate". However, as long as "Indy" (NEVER the "Colts") wears that uniform and is run by anyone named "Irsay", I will want them to lose. I may prefer that they win if they face off against the Steelers or Pats, but that's about it. 

I have never, ever been "mad" at the fans in Indy or of their city. My anger is focused on the Irsay family and the NFL for letting Irsay steal our history. The Ravens are now my team and should the league determine that the Colts name and logo should be returned to the city of Baltimore (which obviously will never happen), I would not to change who we are now.

Why do I maintain the Unitas avatar? Despite the Ravens being my team now (and hopefully forever) those who don't know our history need to be reminded of it, since the league stole it away from us. I keep it to pay homage to Baltimore's football roots and to see to it that we fans of Baltimore football never forget those roots. 

So did i. I followed the colts since i was a teen back in 1974. When i was a child i was mostly an O's fan. My dad didn't give a crap about the Colts, He was mostly an O's fan he loved Baseball didnt care for other sports. But i followed the O's,Colts and then Maryland Basketball. Later on i started watching NASCAR.    

[Steve0x]

8 minutes ago, balfan23 said:

Anyone who wants a good history lesson on the topic, check out the 30 for 30 "The Band That Wouldn't Die". It gives a very solid perspective on the situation and indicates how the adversarial relationship between ownership and the fan base began the moment the Irsay family purchased the team. "It is not your team, it is MY team" ... and immediately began to level the threats of moving the team within the 1st year of his ownership. What a wonderful way to start the relationship with your new team and the fan base.

Then, just watch Irsay's drunken press conference rant to see the kind of man we were dealing with. It is an eye opener, for anyone who did not witness it live. 

The best history is on NFL films. Man what a rich Tradition of the Packers franchise and the oldest rivaly Bears vs Packers  

[ellicottraven]

13 hours ago, Steve0x said:

Its been 32 years ago since Colts left Baltimore. Do we still hate the Indy Colts or should we let it go and let bygones be bygones? I know these fans in Cleveland still hate us they feel Mr Model robbed them. 

Not quite the same thing sir. The Colts left Baltimore like thieves in the middle of the night and took our history and all our achievements along with them. The Ravens when they left Cleveland did no such thing. They left all the accolades of the Browns and the name in Cleveland for the new team to embrace. That was the greatness and graciousness of Art Modell, who is still hated by those fools. Sometimes I wish the Ravens used the Browns name a couple of years before trashing it in favor of the Ravens so all the accolades of the Browns would then belong here in Baltimore and Cleveland would have to choose a new name perhaps the Cleveland Losers - a name that is befitting indeed. So, in summary, there is no comparison between the two cities and what their owners actually did. The Irsays are no Modells by any stretch of imagination.

Edited July 17, 2016 by ellicottraven

[Steve0x]

35 minutes ago, ellicottraven said:

Not quite the same thing sir. The Colts left Baltimore like thieves in the middle of the night and took our history and all our achievements along with them. The Ravens when they left Cleveland did no such thing. They left all the accolades of the Browns and the name in Cleveland for the new team to embrace. That was the greatness and graciousness of Art Modell, who is still hated by those fools. Sometimes I wish the Ravens used the Browns name a couple of years before trashing it in favor of the Ravens so all the accolades of the Browns would then belong here in Baltimore and Cleveland would have to choose a new name perhaps the Cleveland Losers - a name that is befitting indeed. So, in summary, there is no comparison between the two cities and what their owners actually did. The Irsays are no Modells by any stretch of imagination.

Thats not the way the Browns fans feel about us. I want you go to one game in Cleveland when the Ravens are playing there and watch the reaction from the Browns fans and you'll know what I'm talking about.

[ravensdan]

45 minutes ago, ellicottraven said:

Not quite the same thing sir. The Colts left Baltimore like thieves in the middle of the night and took our history and all our achievements along with them. The Ravens when they left Cleveland did no such thing. They left all the accolades of the Browns and the name in Cleveland for the new team to embrace. That was the greatness and graciousness of Art Modell, who is still hated by those fools. Sometimes I wish the Ravens used the Browns name a couple of years before trashing it in favor of the Ravens so all the accolades of the Browns would then belong here in Baltimore and Cleveland would have to choose a new name perhaps the Cleveland Losers - a name that is befitting indeed. So, in summary, there is no comparison between the two cities and what their owners actually did. The Irsays are no Modells by any stretch of imagination.

This sums up my feelings 100%. I always get mad when you see a younger fan feeling sorry for Cleveland. Hopefully their cursed the rest of my lifetime. The Irsays are despicable.  

[Ravensfan23]

3 hours ago, Willbacker said:

I'm 50 and still remember the Colts but I really didn't become a major football fan until after they left but I'll never forget the dirty rotten way they snuck out. I clearly remember Vince Bagli (sportsbroadcaster at the time) with tears in his eyes while the Mayflower vans were driving out of the Colts facilities at the time. Extremely sad day for Baltimore.

It also kills me that a lot of sportscasters and other fans in general still have this wide belief that the NFL told Modell he could not take the name of the team and had to leave the records and history in Clev. Bullcrap!! The team was gonna be known as the Baltimore Browns but it was the people here in Balt that said we want a fresh start with new name. We dam sure didn't want nobody elses history especially after the way we got jobbed. Hope a lot of you remember this. I remember personally sending in the name of the Noreasters as a possible name for the new team. Wanted to put a low pressure system on the side of the helmet lol but it didn't make the cut. I remember the 3 final choices being Marauders,Americans and of course the Ravens.

I generally enjoy your post and point of view on most topics so I say this with the upmost respect. I'm so glad they didn't task you with naming this team brother. lol

The rest of the post is good though.