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Like one of Gerome Sapp's favorite books, Angels and Demons, the Indianapolis Colts' past two seasons have been fast-paced, intriguing, and have kept their viewers suspended and thrilled.
But wait a second ... who is Gerome Sapp?
Oh sure, you're familiar with the Peyton Mannings and the Edgerrin Jameses of the world, but what about their lesser-known supporting cast?
Gerome Sapp is a third-year defensive back that currently sits as a backup safety on the Colts depth chart behind starters Bob Sanders and Mike Doss.
At 6-1, 216 pounds, he is a hard-hitting safety, but don't pin him as a jock. He's cerebral on the field and off it.
After all, he did graduate from Notre Dame with a bachelor's degree in finance. Football is most definitely a priority for him, but it's pretty rare to find an NFL player who can speak fluently about blanketing routes or leveraged buyouts.
But that's exactly why his stock has matured in the Colts defense. Tony Dungy doesn't necessarily require media stars — he loves to employ intelligent and versatile players.
That trend is more evident on the offensive line than at any other position in Indianapolis. They are not exactly a who's who of linemen and only one (Tarik Glenn) was a Pro Bowl selection last year. But in the last 96 games, they have only allowed 120 sacks as a group, the lowest total in the NFL.
The newest addition to the protection scheme is fourth-round pick Dylan Gandy, who comes from a pro-style Texas Tech offense and has played both guard and center.
Offensive line coach Howard Mudd has made a name for himself by molding quality prospects into quality offensive linemen and Gandy is the next in line.
Once his sprained right foot heals up, Gandy will slide into the starting lineup and protect the precious cargo that is Peyton Manning.
But Gandy isn't just an agile bully that pushes roadblocks out of the way. In college, he garnered All-Big 12 honors not only for football, but for academic studies, as well.
While Sapp enjoys his Bloomberg and the newspaper business section in the comfort of his own home, Gandy is more of an outdoorsman. He likes to fish, hike, and camp while occasionally plugged into the serene tunes of Shane Barnard.
With 65-man rosters in the NFL, it is hard to get familiar with all the cogs, but these two will be important for the Colts this year.
Sapp is not only vital as a special teams contributor, he can play both the strong and free safety spots, which is crucial, considering Doss and Sanders have yet to make it through a full season.
Gandy will also be depended on heavily in his first season. The offensive line, which led the NFL in fewest sacks allowed last year (14), has permitted 20 in the preseason.
These two are not attention-seekers like Terrell Owens and his agent, Drew Rosenhaus. They, along with their agent from X-A-M Sports, don't do a lot of unnecessary talking, but they sure do the walking.
Dan Brown and Shane Barnard mix like Mondays and me.
"No man ever said on his deathbed, 'I wish I had spent more time at the office.'" — Senator Paul Tsongas
Don't miss next week's installment of "I Hate Mondays," sponsored by CyberSportsbook.com, a great sportsbook for horse racing and casino action!
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