I was a little down when the Colts ditched Hunter "the Punter" Smith a couple of years ago. It had nothing to do with his play; the guy was good enough. I know he hardly ever got on the field; but that is a good thing for the team.

Hunter was just a good dude. I heard him in interviews a few times. I liked the guy. I can remember one where he made up a song pretty much poking fun at himself and how his biggest contribution to the team is holding the ball for extra points and field goals. It was funny stuff.

Anyway...

So in comes this Pat McAfee character. I never really thought much about him last year; I was a little disappointed Hunter was gone, and since the Colts rarely punted he was an afterthought.

That has of course changed this season. With the way things have gone for Indianapolis the only person really getting a chance to shine is the punter since he's now on the field so much (him and Pat Angerer--coolest football name ever-- on the defensive side who is leading the NFL with 105 tackles so far).

Playing is not what has made McAfee cool in my eyes though. Getting busted swimming drunk in the canal in Broadripple (the local bar scene here in Indy) didn't do it either. It certainly wasn't because he started growing his hair out and looking like a dirty hippie.

It's the reason why he started growing his hair and looking like a dirty hippie.

As it turns out, Pat McAfee has been growing his hair out these last couple seasons so that he could make a donation to Locks of Love, a charity that makes wigs for children with cancer. He got his locks cut during thanksgiving weekend.

Like many of us he has known a number of people, close friends and family, that have been affected by cancer. Although it is a small thing in the big picture of what the disease does to people, he saw doing this as a small way to help people who are in need.

When we typically hear more about the bad things that players do it is good to hear that there are some that are willing and able to take the initiative to do something on their own (and not because the team, their lawyers/probation officers, or the NFL told them to).

Kudos to you Mr. McAfee, and Happy Holidays.

If you do happen to know a really big guy that is also reasonably light on his feet you might be able to get him a job with the Indianapolis Colts.

Just by looking at the team's results for the last week, you can surmise that the team could/should be in the market. So far the team O-line has given up 10 sacks (11th in the NFL) and 27 hits on the QB (5th most). As if that wasn't enough, the rushing attack is averaging only 83 yards a game (28th). The passing game does not rate much better (26th).

True, the Colts never have a running game, but without Peyton behind center they need one.

Developing any kind of offense without blocking is impossible. To make that task just a little but harder for the Colts, their line has been absolutely ravaged with injuries:

• Tackle Anthony Castanzo (ankle)
• Tackle Ben Ijalana (knee)
• Guard Ryan Diem (ankle)
• Guard Joe Reitz (ankle)

When Jim Caldwell took over for Tony Dungy, he knew that he would one day have to deal with having to replace Peyton Manning at quarterback. Although he and the rest of the football world thought he would have some more time to get ready for it, that time is clearly behind him.

For a brief moment on Monday it appeared like the team was going to do what we all know is coming and put Peyton on the IR, but apparently Irsay is holding out hope for the end of the season still. That doesn't help Caldwell much now of course.

After last week, the job definitely got a but tougher for Caldwell. Kerry Collins may have the stats and the career experience, but one would think that he would be clicking better with the first team by now. Now that he may have a concussion to go with the sore shoulder he is already suffering from, the team may need to look elsewhere for a QB.

Curtis looked good in his final preseason action, but was obviously rusty when he stepped in for Collins Sunday night. Colts fans around the country were throwing things at their televisions when he missed a wide open Pierre Garcon. As bad as that was, the fumble and subsequent Pittsburgh touchdown just hurt.

Funny thing is that if Curtis got hurt the team would have turned to Pat McAfee. Yep, that's right--the punter.

Luckily that did not happen, but looking ahead to Tampa Bay, should Painter start due to Collins ailing and get hurt the team will be stuck with a punter playing quarterback. If I need to tell you that can't happen than you must not know a thing about football.

Good thing is that it will not. The team has brought back Dan Orlovsky to give the team a little depth.

Injuries may force Caldwell's hand when it comes to who he starts, but what if injuries were not an issue? Who would be the best one to go with:

1. Kerry Collins- the veteran who has been there and done that, but it is not clear if he still knows how to do it
2. Curtis Painter- at times he has looked good; at times he has looked like he belongs playing on Friday night at the local high school.
3. Dan Orlovsky- he's here. He has started games as a pro in the past and done half way decent; not good--just decent.
4. Pat McAfee-- I had to include him just because the Colts actually listed him as a back up QB. The thought still makes me chuckle.

Who would you play?

Oh yeah-- did you hear that the team has thought about using Peyton just in the red zone? Do I need to say how incredibly stupid that would have been?