Bob Kravitz Of Indy Star: Branch May Provide Intel For Colts, 'Doubt' He'll Be Active
BOSTON (CBS) - Indy Star columnist Bob Kravitz appeared on the Toucher and Rich show Tuesday morning to talk about the Saturday night primetime matchup between the Colts and the Patriots.
In one of Kravitz's more recent columns prior to Wildcard Weekend, he made the case that Colts fans should be rooting for a San Diego win over Cincinnati - in essence setting up a game with the Patriots and not the Broncos.
Given the depleted wide receiver corps of the Patriots and the injury list that could fill an 8 x 10 sheet of paper, Kravitz thinks the Pats are "very good," but also more vulnerable than the Broncos.
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The Colts allowed 44 points to Andy Reid's Chiefs on Saturday afternoon in what Kravitz called their worst defensive performance of the year, so for Patriots fans who think this next game will be a walk in the park - like Jon Wallach for instance - Kravitz thinks you're sorely mistaken.
We know how good the quarterback is. In just his second year in the league, Bob Kravitz believes Andrew Luck is already a top five at the position.
Indianapolis can surely hang their hat on Luck to produce, but one player the Colts can't count on this weekend is running back Trent Richardson.
The Colts acquired the former Alabama star in a trade with Cleveland earlier on this season, where they gave up a first round pick in the 2014 draft.
So far, he hasn't lived up to his billing.
"He's not the player everyone thought he was," said Kravitz on Tuesday. "He just doesn't have any burst. The Colts are going to come to really regret that move. I thought he was going to be the Edgerrin James to Andrew Luck's Peyton Manning - we were all wrong about this guy."
Patriots-Colts: How Do They Match Up?
The big news coming out of yesterday was the Colts signing former Patriots wide receiver Deion Branch five days prior to their playoff game.
Branch hasn't played one snap all season, but with a hamstring injury likely to sideline speedster Darrius Heyward-Bey, the Indianapolis resident could provide some help at the position...or maybe it's just to get under Belichick's skin.
"In truth, they brought in Deion a couple of weeks ago for a workout. Deion lives here in Indianapolis, he's been on their radar for quite some time, so they needed somebody."
"I doubt that he'll be active for the game, but maybe he can provide a little bit of intel. Sure, it's a little bit of gamesmanship, but maybe the Patriots can pick up Gary Brackett," joked Kravitz.
Listen below for the full interview:
