From Mort's Chat (9/8/05)

[BrudLee]

Here's the thing about the Colts Defense: at some point, we have to realize that Tony Dungy isn't going to suddenly work up some magic on them. He inherited a bad defense four years ago. Now, after four years of personnel moves, drafts, and detailed work, they just "kinda suck", rather than suck outright.

He's like the anti-Billick. Billick came in with an offensive pedigree, and wins with defense. Dungy does the opposite. A lot of it is personnel. Dungy has Manning - and if you have an Uzi, you don't fill it with BB's. So you get top receivers. Billick has Ray-Ray. When you have a MLB that talented, you have to make sure he's in the position to make plays - so you surround him with other good players.

Decisions like that make it harder to pick up talent on the other side of the ball. First, you've got less money. Second, a team gets an identity. The Ravens are a defensive team, so when a stellar offensive talent gets the opportunity to play there (I'm looking your way, Owens), he runs like a scalded cat, because he feels he'll not get his due.

Simon likely wouldn't have chosen the Colts if he had a real free agency period to decide. He would have received better offers from more teams, and would be on a team that would feature his abilities more (and for more money). Given his abbreviated tour of free agency, he took his best available option to win - he joined a team that has won double digits the last three years.