Rob Barber

On Wednesday I had the great privilege to sit down the the Colt’s President, Bill Polian, in his office for about an hour and a half.

We talked baseball, football, coaching, kids and leadership. I had met him once before but appreciated his generosity and relaxed nature. We sat on a chair and couch in front of his desk and exchanged stories and shared a lot of laughs. He also gave me a lot of great advise which I’ll share later.

I must say however, it’s a bit surreal when the day before he’s meeting with the President of the Cubs and he’s referring to Joe Paterno, Marv Levy and Tony LaRussa like we’re all buddies. He’s won the NFL’s Executive of the Year award six times and will most certainly be in the Hall of Fame.

So in a very disappointing year for the Colts, it’s still important to remember that even if the Golden Era for the Colts has passed (and I don’t believe it has), it WAS a Golden Era similar to the Big Red Machine of the 70’s and the New York baseball era in the 50’s with Willy Mays, Mickey Mantle and Duke Snyder. We’ve had the great pleasure to watch history up close.

And even though we wish they would have gone undefeated and won another Super Bowl or two, the journey was worth it primarily because all of the men on the field who represented our great city and state, did us proud. From Jeff Saturday to Reggie Wayne to and especially Payton Manning, they have been great role models; examples of how to be a good teammate and leader. They didn’t have the lapses in judgement that have plagued other players, teams and organizations. They have been humble, supportive and heavily invested in the community and for that we should all say thanks.

In paraphrasing Dr. Seuss, “don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened”. As for the future? Stay positive. While I don’t know if Payton will play or stay. I don’t know if Andrew Luck is in the wings or what lies ahead for that matter. But the reason for my optimism is knowing that a great (not perfect), system is in place and it represents my state in a way that makes me proud.

While we will all forever love the “thrill of victory” and hate the “agony of defeat”, rest assured better days are ahead for this franchise, if for no other reason than because a Polian is on the job.

By Jake Chapman, Showcase U Co-founder

Very Important People are watching you every game you play, whether you realize it or not.  If you want to be taken seriously as collegiate prospect, you need to be aware that your performance, behavior, body language, effort and sportsmanship are always under review.  Letting your guard down and having a “moment” may cause an observer to form an opinion of you that doesn’t necessary reflect who you are as a person or athlete.

We are all human.   We make mistakes, have bad games and get frustrated in the heat of competition, but the best athletes have a SHORT TERM memory and are able to shake off a bad play and respond with greatness.  I’ve talked with several scouts and college coaches who have told me that their first impressions carry a lot of weight when recruiting.  If they are there to watch you play, THEY ALREADY KNOW YOU ARE A GOOD PLAYER.  They want to see what separates you from the rest of their prospects.  Make sure your “separators” are positive attributes…and remember, they show up on game film and video too.

So, besides colleges coaches, who are the other VIPs that have their eyes on you?  Let’s discuss:

Your Family

Parents and siblings are your biggest fans and at times, your biggest critics.  You are a reflection of your parents and there is no better way to make them glow with pride than to hustle, play fair and positively encourage your teammates.   Stay focused, disciplined and resilient in the heat of the battle and steer clear of behavior that could bring shame and embarrassment to you and your loved ones.

Your Coaches

In the world of college recruiting, your most important advocates are your high school coaches.  They play a crucial role in your success and can positively and/or negatively impact your chances to play athletically at the college level.  During your career, they spend as much time with you as your family and friends.  They see you how you handle adversity and can vouch for your character.  Make it easy for them to confidently look a college coach in the eye and give an enthusiastic testimonial on your behalf.

Your Teammates

If you haven’t heard it before, one of the most fulfilling things to have in competition is the respect of your peers.  Being a good teammate is displaying character when you are having a great game or the worst game of your life.  Again, no one is perfect.  True competitors SHOULD be upset with poor performance.  If you are reading this blog, there is a good chance you are one of the better players on your team.  Set a good example example for the players that look up to you.  Show the rookies that you respect the game, always play hard and instill a positive and encouraging behavior that defines your program and leaves a lasting impact.

Your Fans

As a father of 2 young future stars, I’ve noticed that my sons watch a high school “ball game” much differently than I.  They lock in on their favorite player, which probably includes you, and they watch your every move.  They watch you before the game.  They watch you in huddles, on benches and in dugouts.  They observe your body language, copy your mannerisms, style and attire….and yes…they can even read your lips.  You are a role model and your actions and behaviors influence the youth in your community. It is an HONOR to represent your school in competition and if you are lucky enough to participate in front of supportive fans, please do so with class.

There is a new way to measure an athlete’s power and it has nothing to do with lifting weights.

Nielsen/E-Poll’s new N-Score was created by CSE analytics to quantify the value of an athlete’s brand effectiveness (marketing power). While on-the-field success is part of the equation; perhaps the most leveraged measurement has to do with the choices an athlete makes in his personal life.

For example, the brand power of Tiger Woods, Michael Vick and Brett Favre remains affected by poor off-the-field decisions. Meanwhile, the squeaky-clean and wholesome Tim Tebow’s “power” value is 165, well above superstar status, even with a modest rookie year in the NFL. Choices make brands. Good choices build brand power and are rewarded financially.

So what kind of things are measured? Off-the-field metrics include an athlete’s name awareness, appeal, influence, trustworthiness, overall popularity, and a number of other attributes. Another tool used by Nielsen/E-Poll was a public survey that essentially asked participants what they thought of certain athletes–how much influence does each athlete have? That is good news for our kids because it means we are about to be more intentional in paying athletes to be good citizens as well as penalizing those who “don’t care” what fans/consumers think.

In the 2011 rankings, Peyton Manning is valued as the most powerful athlete in all of sports. While his on-the-field performance can’t be minimized, his greatest financial asset is how he is perceived by his peers and in the sports world in general. Manning works hard on being at his personal best while remaining the consumate team (and company) player. He’s tough, cool, calm and collected. He’s funny and animated. He’s smart, charitable and consistently makes good decisions in his personal life (or at least avoids the publicly dumb ones). And as if that weren’t enough, Manning is simply likable and extremely humble.

Even if you’re not a Colts’ fan, it is hard not to have a deep respect and admiration for Peyton Manning. He embodies the American sports ethic, and we take notice as does corporate America. The amount of money an athlete makes from endorsements is yet another off-the-field metric in the “power calculation.” Last year, Manning earned $15 million from Reebok, Gatorade, Mastercard and Oreo. Not bad for being good.

“Credibility is the currency by which sporting figures’ effectiveness as endorsers is measured,” says Stephen Master, Vice President, Nielsen Sports. “From Wall Street to Washington, people want to surround themselves with individuals of influence.”

Therefore if the N-Score formula is a reliable predictor of influence, it might also tell us something about leadership.

What we say, how we dress, the choices we make will affect our value and the opportunities that follow. Wise choices will have positive implications: jobs, schools, scholarships and increased opportunities. Poor choices can cause a loss of of control and independence. It can close doors, create financial distress, and in extreme situations create problems with the law.

Every day coaches, bosses, teachers, admission counselors, family and others make value judgements about your leadership. So even though no one may ever hand you an endorsement check, the same qualities used to determine the value of Peyton Manning’s influence are being used by those around you to place a value on your brand. The higher the value, the greater your influence, the stronger your leadership.

And while the currencies may vary, you will, mostly likely, receive the fair market value for the brand you choose to become. Choose wisely.

I was pleasantly surprised to hear Auburn University Head Football Coach Gene Chizik and the Auburn players remain humble in the interviews after winning the BCS National Championship last night. It’s always welcome but especially after an NFL season plagued with fines, wining millionaires and trash talking coaches. It’s good to be reminded of the boys who play for pride and an education.

That tone starts at home. It’s also recruited and modeled from the top down. Great coaches not only say it’s about the team, they have to back it up player by player because the team is a collection of individuals and each person brings something different to the program. To ask a lot from players, you have to get them to buy in. And to do that, they have to believe you are genuine. I think there’s something special going on at Auburn.

Right after the game Coach Chizik said, ” it is really hard for me to describe the feeling that I have for the Auburn family. I look down here to my left and I see three guys along with a locker room of 100 more that have just defied all the odds. I’m not sure if 15 weeks ago anyone believed that we could do this except us. And this is the most unbelievable group of young men I have been around. I feel very blessed. God has blessed my life to be around a great administration, a great Auburn family. These guys represent Auburn on the field, off the field, in the community the right way. We said that we wanted to go from good to great. And I can sit here tonight and I can tell you that Auburn — the Auburn Tigers are the best football team in the United States tonight.”

Nick Fairly, the dominant and NFL bound defensive lineman for the Tigers, responded to a question about his five tackles in the backfield with “it’s not about me, it’s about our front four…” Call me old-fashioned but I like it.

There’s something to appreciate about a young player when he can give that answer on the spot. Good job mom and dad. Good job Coach Chizik.

Cam Newton talked about their approach. “We are a blessed team just to be — just to have this type of setting. Coach Chizik told us to act professional on this business trip. And, you know, we did. We had fun, but we still had — we still knew we had a task at hand to accomplish.”

It was really my first time to hear Cam Newton talk and it’s easy to see why he’s so good. What a deserving Heisman Trophy winner and natural leader for this team.

It will be fun to follow the careers of each young man. Hopefully they maintain their sense of humility and class as they move to the next level.

But for today, who would of thought a man named Chizik would be the king of Alabama?

War Eagle!

I have to admit, I’m a bit intrigued by the “Colts in decline” mantra that feels like the national consensus outside of Indiana.

At issue, is the era of the Indianapolis Colts (more specifically Peyton Manning). This season, for some, seems to be the beginning of the end of the Colts. This season’s aberration is the unfortunate and proverbial “perfect storm”. But for many fans, the lessons of this season aren’t going away. The funny thing is, this team may not be either.

Sometimes theres more to the story than what show up in the win column. The Baseball Writers Association of America recently had to place a value on the win column in voting for the American League Cy Young. They gave the award to Felix Hernandez over the Yankee’s CC Sabathia (21 wins) and David Price of the Devil Rays (19 wins). Wins is often viewed as the key statistic in garnering votes. Not this year. Hernandez won the award by a comfortable margin.

Hernandez, who pitches for Seattle, won just 13 games and lost 12 as the Mariners finished 29 games out of first place and scored the lowest supporting run total of any team since 1973. There was a lot of speculation before the voting about the worthiness of Hernandez given the almost .500 record. However, when the Baseball Writers considered the context (lack run support) in his performance (in terms of fewer wins), their verdict came back loud and clear. Context is a factor. And in this case, may have made his achievement all the more astonishing. The writers awarded Hernandez 21 of 28 first place votes. A dominant 2.67 ERA stands on its own. He was the best pitcher in the American League in spite of not having the wins. I think the baseball writers got it right.

As with the case of Hernandez, the wins don’t even come close to telling the story of this season for the Indianapolis Colts, or Peyton Manning. That’s not to say the Colt’s will win the Super Bowl or that Manning should be the MVP. However, it’s not an apples to apples comparison of Manning and Tom Brady, as some have implied, to say that Brady has had a great year in spite of some adversity (losing Randy Moss and throwing to rookie Rob Gronowski). That’s like saying both President Obama and Haitian President René Préval had a tough year.

Tough is losing the 2007 NFL Defensive Player of the year again in the first quarter of the first game – then his replacement (Melvin Bullitt). Tough is losing another starting and promising corner Jerraud Powers (IR) and Kelvin Hayden questionable for much of the season. Tough is being without your defensive captain, Garry Bracket for six games and the other season-opening line backer, Clint Sessions, who is emerging but is still out. A patched together, next man up defense has turned into a wounded band of brothers who are now on the next, next, next man up. Tough is the group that “can’t stop the run”, quietly holding Maurice Jones-Drew, Darren McFadden, and Chris Johnson, below 50 yards rushing each. They’ve also quietly won four in a row with this rather motley crew of defenders. That’s tough in a tough situation.

Survival is when you again find yourself without your 2007 first round pick, WR Anthony Gonzalez (IR). Without one of the best tight ends in the league, Dallas Clark(IR), and slot receiver Austin Collie(IR), who tied Percy Harvin last year for league receptions by a rookie. Sure that leaves Canton-bound Reggie Wayne. BUT for all his talent, week in and week out he draws the top corners in the league and often double coverage forcing Manning to go to Hatian-born Piere Garcon. I’m not sure Danny Woodhead’s emergence from a division III program is a liability that Brady had to overcome any more than Garcon’s on emergence from Union College was for Manning. Both great stories. Just keeping it apples to apples.

If you think the Colt’s are down to a fish and two sticks, that might seem like a feast to them.

It’s true that Manning gets rid of the ball quicker than anyone in the league. However, he does need a COUPLE of seconds and maybe a half more as some of the new faces try to get a interpret the complex defenses and stay on route. For that, the Colts need a back that can pick up the blitz and catch a pass. For twelve games this season, the backfield has been a carousel. The loss of Joseph Addai for six games was painful. But the Colts now have him back and seem to have found a running game in the process. (another fact that seems to be overlooked).

The pundits just like to say the Colts are last in the league at “something to do with running the football”; yards per carry, yards per game, yards per game over the last give years.. whatever. It’s been tough but things have changed and few seem to notice. Colt’s running backs are valued by their ability to block, receive and then run; in that order. By the way, the top offense and the top defense in the league didn’t make the playoffs (the Chargers). The closest the Colt’s came to a replacement for Addai is the electric but elderly Dominic Rhodes. Meanwhile Manning has been throwing to league unknowns Jacob Tamme and Blair White for most of the season. They’ve performed admirably but there has been an alarming number of drops by everyone – secondary included. I thought last week we might be on the verge of Tom Moore (the semi retired senior offensive guru) moving from consultant to the slot.

So what does this mean to Manning? Basically he’s been without two-thirds of his normal receiving core for most of the season. And the loss of a familiar set of hands would seem pretty significant considering the amount of repetition and improvisations required by the Manning passing game. The lack of experience in at receiver means every smart coach can now take away a lot of his options using their shut down corners and double coverage exclusively on Reggie Wayne. Incredibly, he has found a way to have another Pro Bowl year. The inexperience also means Peyton needs another half second – at times, because young players are still in development NOT because he’s losing his battle with “father time”. It means his pocket has been tighter and he’s been hit more often than the last few years. If his arm was not hit during the last throw of the Patriots game, he might (would) have handed New England another come from behind loss to the Colts.

We’re now down to a couple of sticks and the clouds seem to be rolling in via New York (weird season). We know that the health of the offensive line has been marginal at best and held together by the reliable Jeff Saturday. So considering a closing pocket and the loss of his best blocking back and the initiation of a host of new targets, I thinking it might be a bit premature to attribute much of this season’s adversity to Peyton. Even the string of interceptions were evidence that as great and experienced as Peyton is, he realized that he has to play within himself. His response to the losses, adversity and interceptions? He took ALL of the blame. It wasn’t his to shoulder but that’s what leaders do. He took the heat off the rest of the team and put it squarely on himself. That’s the reason for the “over the hill” talk.

So just like Manning’s theatrics at the line of scrimmage tempt the all-knowing corner into his lair, this season has also drawn the football gods into new territory. And as with the hungry linebacker, they just might find that “Peyton’s Code” has not at all been compromised or that the last chapter is being written. It just might just have been adversity’s way of showing us we’re at the beginning of the sequel, and the best is yet to come.