Author Archives: Kent Sterling
Colts sign Eric Fisher – LT problem solved, knock wood! IU Football schedule released! Pacers tonight
Colts get their left tackle – Eric Fisher signs! When will he be available?
We know Eric Fisher can block former Colt defensive end Bjoern Werner, but we are hoping for more once he finishes rehabbing his torn Achilles.
Pro Bowl left tackle Eric Fisher has signed a one-year, $9.4 million contract to play for the Indianapolis Colts, and there is great rejoicing in central Indiana.
Let’s put a hold on planning the championship parade though. Fisher is recovering from a torn Achilles tendon he suffered in the AFC Championship Game while playing for the Kansas City Chiefs against the Buffalo Bills. That injury was the reason Fisher was available, as the Chiefs would not have otherwise cut him to save some cash and cap space.
When healthy, Fisher is one of the best left tackles in the NFL. He was the #1 overall selection in the 2013 NFL Draft, and has anchored the Chiefs line since. Inserting a fully rehabbed Fisher into an offensive line with Quenton Nelson, Ryan Kelly, Mark Glowinski, and Braden Smith would give the Colts a dynamic group of maulers to open gaping holes for running back Jonathan Taylor and protect quarterback Carson Wentz.
But rehabbing a torn Achilles is a dicey proposition. While the tendon is often stronger as the result of the surgery, the atrophy that sets in while the leg is immobilized can be a very difficult hurdle to clear on the way toward a full recovery. The timing of the injury, January 24th, means Fisher would need to bounce all the way back in seven months to play the entire season. That seems unrealistic.
Here is the data of rehab times and return windows for players who have a surgically repaired Achilles, according to a 2017 study by the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society:
“Seventy-eight Achilles tendon ruptures were identified in professional football players during the 2010-2015 NFL seasons. 58% of these injuries occurred during the preseason. Of those that suffered an Achilles tendon rupture, 26% did not ever return to play in the NFL. Players who did return to play in the NFL took an average of 9 months to recover after the date of injury. Across all positions, there was a net decrease in power ratings by 22% and a net decrease in approximate value by 23% over 3 years following player return after Achilles tendon rupture. Across all positions, running backs saw the biggest decrease in production with a 78% decrease over 3 years post-injury in both power ratings and approximate value.”
This was published four years ago, so there is a likelihood further advancements have been made that might shorten the recovery time a little bit. It’s important to note that a left tackle’s work is done as much with the upper body as the legs. So if the window is nine months as suggested by the AOFAS, that would put Fisher back on the field in mid-October – maybe six or seven games into the season.
That’s a great reason to be optimistic about the 2021 Colts and to be bullish – again – on how general manager Chris Ballard executed the draft. When he took Kwity Paye at #21 rather than trade back with that pick to gain equity that could be used to trade up from #54 (the pick he eventually used to select Dayo Odeyingbo), people assumed the Colts would have a problem filling their urgent need at left tackle. While Fisher being healthy for 10-12 games appears to be the best case scenario, it sure beats a rookie out on the island learning on the fly while Wentz bears the brunt of his mistakes.
A lot has to go right for the Colts to be as good on the field as they appear to be on paper, but signing Fisher is a significant step in the right direction.
Colts and Eric Fisher still talking; Pacers tonight @ terrible Cavs! IU Soccer at 5p!
Colts draft picks talk Dayo Odeyingbo hope to play this year & Will Fries just wants to learn and stick!
Colts QB Ehlinger’s brother dead; imploding Pacers stun Hawks; IU Basketball seems on right path!
Colts position groups graded – who got a C? Pacers imploding right before our eyes! Wayer leaves Chatard
Pacers Nate Bjorkgren’s future murky after in-game screaming match between Goga Bitadze and assistant coach
Injured Pacers center Myles Turner holds back assistant coach Greg Foster as he yells at center Goga Bitadze.
There is no putting this genie back in the bottle, and you can pick your genie among Pacers center Goga Bitadze, assistant coach Greg Foster, and head coach Nate Bjorkgren.
When ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski writes that a team is in turmoil because of a head coach’s communication issues, the last thing that team needs is for the turmoil to turn devolve into chaos.
That’s what happened during last night’s Indiana Pacers home loss to the Sacramento Kings. After Bitadze allowed Mo Harkless to dunk unopposed in the third quarter, Foster was understandably displeased. On the other end, Bitadze hit a three and then turned to Foster and told him to “sit the f*&$ down.” Foster stood, forcefully responded, and the team came between the two before the shouting could escalate into a physical confrontation.
After the game, Bjorkgren told the media, “We’re in a frustrating stretch here. A lot going on with the challenges of navigating through a season. The competitive juices are flowing and things like that will happen.” No. Things like that do not happen, not publicly…not during a game.
That internal hysteria is not indicative of a team or coaching staff that respects one another. Players do not admonish coaches so publicly, and assistants do not step brazenly in front of a beleaguered head coach to dress down a player. Behind closed doors, all kinds of things happen. There are occasional fights and frequent arguments on every team. Over the course of a 72-game season in the midst of a pandemic, tensions will be high, but public displays of intense internal acrimony this outrageous are unfathomable.
Even in the great hockey movie Slapshot, Ned Braden (Michael Ontkean) saved his criticism of player-coach Reg Dunlop (Paul Newman) for the locker room and team bus. That movie depicted professional sports insanity at the highest level. The Pacers trumped it last night.
To say what happened reflects poorly on Bjorkgren’s leadership is a massive understatement. It shows a cultural lack of respect for authority from everyone involved, and as one of the most stable organizations in professional sports last night seemed a bizarre lapse. If that is what we see during televised games, imagine what mayhem is routine in the locker room and during practice!
On the positive side, the Pacers are finally interesting. Their style of play is a tough watch, the defense is non-existent, and their 30-35 record is as blah as blah gets. But now there is a reason to tune in tonight as they take on a very good Atlanta Hawks team, led by former coach Nate “the Sarge” McMillan.
Say what you will about McMillan running an antiquated offense that led to postseason failures. That dust up between Bitadze and Foster never would have happened on his watch. And after winning 57.4% of his games in four years with the Pacers, his Hawks have won at a 69.7% clip after he took over for Lloyd Pierce who was fired with a 14-20 record.
The questions Woj advanced about Bjorkgren’s future with the Pacers appear to have been answered. The horses have broken loose from the barn, the genie is out of the bottle, and a franchise that has been a model of stability for 35 years appears to be adrift without a culture to guide it.
[An hour after this story posted, the Pacers issued this release: “The Indiana Pacers announced Thursday they have fined center Goga Bitadze and suspended assistant coach Greg Foster for one game due to their in-game conduct during Wednesday night’s game. This is an internal team matter and no further details will be released.”]
Colts sign linebacker, wait on Fisher; Pacers unspooling as asst. coach rips Goga! Cubs complete sweep!
Indianapolis Colts to look at Eric Fisher! Pacers Nate Bjorkgren should get another year, unless…