OK, I wouldn’t have complained MUCH.

No disrespect to Gigson, the Colts had a great year but how does John Elway not get the award? Everyone knows he brought in Peyton but look at the other players that made an impact. Dan Koppen, Brooking, Jim Leonard, Stokely, and Tridon Holliday. All players made a huge contribution to the 13 and 3 season.

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Point of note, only one other GM decided to put in a waiver claim on Holliday, and that was Grigson – the Broncos ended up with him because they had a higher WW priority at that point. So any points Elway gets for that, you kinda have to give Grigson as well. Grigson’s draft picks had much more impact even discounting Luck (since Elway didn’t have a first rounder) – of the Broncos picks, Wolfe has been fine and Hillman and Trevathan at least contributed, but that’s about it. The Colts got a pair of TEs who combined for 70+ catches, 800+ yards, and 5 TDs, a WR who caught 50 balls for 861 yards and 7 TDs, and a RB who started carrying the load 6 games into the season and ended up with 814 yards.

And even draft aside, I counter the above by pointing out Donnie Avery (who everyone thought was physically done), Jerrell Freeman (CFL player from a D3 school), Cory Redding, Vontae Davis, Samson Satele, and a few other guys, all while managing a transition from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defense with 37 million in dead money (one source I found had the Broncos as only having a bit over 5 million in dead money as of November), not to mention choosing to re-sign Reggie Wayne when everyone thought he was 1) old and 2) going somewhere else.

How were the Seahawks a few plays from the Super Bowl? They were a few plays from the NFC Championship, but that would have been a whole new road game.

Schneider took a QB that no one wanted with the 75th pick, who then went out and arguably outperformed all rookie QB’s and looks to be the best Draft Day value in years.

He took Bobby Wagner and it was considered a reach. Wagner is in the running for Defensive ROY.

Bruce Irvin was a factor in a few games and led all rookies in sacks.

Robert Turbin was a great backup to Marshawn Lynch, and both Jeremy Lane and Greg Scruggs played important snaps as late round picks.

With all due respect, I really don’t see how it’s even a question.

Just ask Mel Kiper who recently changed his Draft Day grade for the Seahawks from a C- to an A.

Bruce Irvin, most sacks by a rookie, R Wilson should be offensive rookie of the year (robbed as MVP of pro bowl) and a steal in the 3rd round, Wagner a candidate for defensive rookie of the year, Sherman, Browner and on and on. Tough division and a few plays from the Super Bowl. 2nd youngest team in the NFL.

Speilman also deserves huge kudos as the Vikings made a similiar jump with a much harder schedule. Many people predicted them to be in th bottom three teams again while the Colts were expected to be better, just not this much.

Improving Gms & improving QBs are only going to make this game that much better!!

They fully deserved this year’s 11-5 record, but given the steep odds they faced by not having Manning last year, that 2-14 record they limped home with was clearly abnormal.

And then let’s not totally disregard the potential of an Andrew Luck-driven tank job last season to get the number one overall.

Not that Grigson won’t be a fine GM, but following a 2-14 Colts team without Manning is sort of like following a team formerly coached by Rich Kotite. Better things are going to happen the next season.

Also say what you want about Jim Irsay, but the Colts are consistently among the model franchises in the NFL and the Grigson hire further proves it.