Anyways, this has made me think about why I like Marvin as a WR...it was always the connection with Peyton that made him sweet, but over the course of the last 2.5 years or so, his importance has greatly diminished. Yea, he's still getting the numbers. Yea, he's still fucking with the opposing defense. That's all great and everything. But, and I don't have any numbers what-so-ever to back this up, if you noticed, when Peyton needs someone to go to in an important situation, it's more and more common to see Reggie Wayne or Dallas Clark getting the ball.
Now it could be because defenses refuse to let Marvin hurt them anymore. Could be, could not be. But let's face it, Marvin doesn't like having pressure on him and he sure as hell doesn't like contact which is great if you're an awesome route runner, like he is, but not so great if the only two routes you want to run anymore are the deep out and the go.
Listen, he's had a stellar career, and it'd be asinine for me to say that he's done, but the evidence is out there. In previous seasons you'd expect at least one huge play from him each game, and you'd usually get it (unless it was against New England in the playoffs) but it's been different the last two seasons. Think about it, when you think of Peyton's record year, the one where he threw 49 TD's, you think of all the sick throws to Marvin with Reggie Wayne and Stokley being the 2nd and 3rd reads. The last 2 years tho, all i can remember is that ridiculous catch he made against the Pats in New England, the one where he was tipping the ball and all that. Pretty sweet.
But look at the playoffs last year, he didn't get shit, it was the Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark show. Now, Marvin is still a key cog in the Colts offense right? Well, considering he's been MIA the last two games and the Colts destroyed the Jags and Panthers, I'd say the Colts are looking just fine. And lets face it again, Peyton is the key to that offense. You could trot Brian Robiskie and Brian Hartline out there with Rory Nicol and Peyton would still go for at least 250 and 2 TD's. Plus, Reggie Wayne is becoming one of the better WR's in the league, which always helps to ease that pain...or mask it.
But here's the thing, Marvin is listed as Doubtful for Sunday's game. He's been out the last 2 weeks, and hasn't practiced. His knee must be FUCKED, either that or it's something else. You could tell in the playoffs that he was sulking, he wanted the ball, and wouldn't, or couldn't get it and that must have been killing him. Same story this year. I'm not saying he took himself out of action this year, but it must be hard to see the guy you've spent almost your entire career with beginning to find other guys, when before you were his no. 1 target. Yea it sounds 90210 drama-ish, but it has to have some weight.
Back in his prime, Marvin was easily one of the top 3 recievers in the league, with maybe TO and Randy Moss as peers. You could also make a case for Torry Holt, but Holt always seemed like Marvin Lite to me. I loved watching Marvin play back then. He was a master technician, his routes unparalleled and almost uncoverable. His deep speed and his ability to catch anything near him was just uncanny, almost as impressive as the fact that he wasn't a dickbag and didn't actively try and steal the spotlight. It was shocking in the age of Keyshawn and TO that a WR was a team player, someone who worked hard and treated the games as a job. I always connected with that for some reason, hard work, getting the job done, moving on...it just seemed like a novel concept.
I was always pissed when the Colts lost in the playoffs, which is odd because I'm obviously a Browns fan. I just love watching Peyton and Marvin operate on the football field, it's awesome when it's on, and plus I hate the Patriots more than Osama. But skill position players don't have long careers with precious few notable exceptions. Marvin NEVER liked contact, and frankly, I don't blame him. He is very small and very thin, especially to try and go over the middle against some juiced up LB who has 60 lbs. on him.
Sure, maybe he isn't the toughest guy on the field, but he was arguably the best WR in the game for a 8 year stretch. His numbers rival Jerry Rice's. Just think about that. He is on pace to actually reach some of Jerry Rice's stastical achievements, something that was considered impossible no more than 10 years ago. Yet Marvin did it with nary a NFL Countdown segment revealing how he needs, "sexy" in his "game." To think that Marvin was almost unstoppable and to see him now, not even able to dress for the biggest game of the year, it kinda sours my opinion on him.
Am I looking to far into this? Probably. Actually most definately. I should be able to take the man's word that he is truly hurt. I should be able to accept that he probably has a really fucked up knee right now. But, for some stupid reason, I don't see it that way. I see it as a continuation of a souring mood, a brooding, unhappy player who isn't ready to realize that his role is diminished. Someone who doesn't feel that drive to keep going through pain as so many other NFL players do. He's old, he's been through a lot, he's taken a lot of hits and ran a shit ton of yards, it's the natural regression that people go through when they age. Yet, Marvin always seemed Rice-ian in the fact that he'd keep going because his polished technique was such an asset that it could trump the erosion of natural ability. It's hard to come to grips with rooting for a declining player, and it makes you question why you rooted for a player on another team to begin with. But Marvin was always that guy who was fun to root for for me. I loved the quiet ass kicking that he delivered every Sunday, but I'm beginning to think that this is the end of the road.
PATS-COLTS RE-EVALUATION: As much as I was just pining over the loss of Marvin, I don't think it's going to make much of a difference in the game, which is odd to say. It makes me a little less confident in my pick, but I'm sticking with it.
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