Not how I pictured Marvin Harrison's end with the Colts

I thought Marvin Harrison's career in Indianapolis would end differently. Something more along the lines of an in-season announcement about a retirement so the home fans could salute Marvin and enjoy what games were left in his Indy career.

The last-minute press conference to announce his end with the Colts in an effort to save $6M was not what I had in mind.

It's certainly not fitting for the end of Marvin's career in Indy. Marvin gave much more to the Colts, our community and the NFL to deserve this kind of an end.

But such is life in the NFL. This is the reality of the system that allowed the Colts to have and keep Marvin in the first place.

This is also a sign of the times for where Marvin is at in his career. Four years ago we don't even flinch at a $13M salary cap hit. Now the Colts are in a position where carrying $9M of dead weight against the salary cap and having $6M of open cap space provides them more utility than a healthy, 37-year old Marvin Harrison. I think that's the saddest part of all.

Marvin's best work.

I must say, though, that it's with mixed emotions that I bid farewell to Marvin. On one hand, I am forever indebted to him for what he brought to the Colts and the City of Indianapolis. He, along with Peyton Manning and Edgerrin James, brought us winning football and everything that comes with it. What made Marvin such a pleasure to watch was how he went about this business -- he never danced, called attention to himself or put himself above the rest of the team like other wide receivers. Marvin caught the ball, scored touchdowns and pitched the ball back to the referee. Marvin was all substance and no style, which is a quality that is very endearing to a Midwesterner like me. To say that I'm lucky to have watched Marvin in person throughout his entire career is an understatement.

On the other hand, there are parts to Marvin Harrison I won't miss. Like the legal trouble. Part of the deal with Marvin's lack of style came the silence ... I'm convinced we didn't really know the real Marvin Harrison. I'm not sure anyone in Indianapolis really knew him. So it's hard to say what will eventually come of the shooting incident outside his nightclub. I am glad that the Colts and the City of Indianapolis won't be part of it.

I also won't miss the regression in performance. Marvin developed a case of alligator arms in 2008 for the first time in his career. Marvin dropped balls he used to catch. Marvin didn't seem to get open the way he used to. In the playoffs the last three years, Marvin all but disappeared. 

While I'll miss watching Marvin Harrison, part of dealing with the end of his career in Indy is knowing that the Marvin Harrison we're losing now isn't the Marvin Harrison from 2004. I have a feeling we had lost him already.

Now we're left to wonder what the Colts will do with the $6M in salary cap savings. Will they re-sign Jeff Saturday, or will they use the money in free agency? Or will they hold onto the extra space to address the roster after the Draft?

I think the bigger question, though, is if Marvin's departure will signify an end to the high precision Colts passing offense and a transition to a run first, defensive-minded team. I'd prefer that over the high precision offense because I believe that will put the Colts in the best position to win in the playoffs. 

If that doesn't happen, then perhaps the $6M will be used to acquire Marvin's replacement.