The Colts will finally have starting running back Edgerrin James back after what was called an injury to his transverse process. James has missed the last couple games, but the depth behind him is now banged up, and it’s important that James returns this Sunday. The Colts also re-signed former sixth round running back Brian Allen, to add to depth behind James due to injuries to Ricky Williams, James Mungro, and Dominic Rhodes.
Tarik Glenn who is excepted to return to the Colts starting line up was forced to sit out of Wednesdays practice due to his lingering knee problems, his play on Sunday is still considered questionable. Another injured lineman, Ryan Diem, is expected to come back after missing the last three games due to a high ankle sprain he is still listed as questionable for this Sunday’s game. Diem’s come back is important, today (Wednesday) in practice former starting right tackle Adam Meadows had to leave with a sprained knee.
Some other Colts that are listed as questionable are, cornerbacks Cliff Crosby (groin), and Joseph Jefferson (pelvis) and running back Ricky Williams is listed as doubtful.
The Texans are coming into the RCA dome only for their second time, with much of their team intact. Starting cornerback Aaron Glenn who has been out with a nagging groin injury, wants the chance to play against Marvin Harrison. Some other players on the Texans that are hampered by injuries, Linebacker Charlie Clemons (ankle) listed as questionable, offensive guard Milford Brown (Knee), defensive end Gary Walker (toe), and cornerbacks Jason Bell (knee) and Kenny Wright (head).
Coming off their bye week, and their first loss of the season, the Indianapolis Colts need to regain their momentum that has been building up all season. The Colts defense needs to regain their composure, by taking rookie running back Dominic Davis out of the game early. When the defense does that it, will be up to Dwight Freeney and company’s job to keep the pressure on David Carr to make sure he doesn’t have the adequate amount of time to throw the ball two his young receivers Johnson, and Gaffney. One of the main issues from last season for the Texans was their inexperienced offensive line, it seems to still be an issue.
The Colts offense is going to have to get out of their early game slumps. The Colts offense doesn't seem to fire on all cylinders until the second half. There is nothing better to see a team make a comeback, but why does a team with more offensive weapons than a couple of teams combined even have to come from behind? Peyton Manning needs to lead a solid first drive, put the first points on the board, and keep the lead through out the game. As mentioned before, Edgerrin James should be back and healthy to provide an extra threat for the Texans defense to key on.
DID YOU KNOW:
This will be a special game for Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney. Freeney recorded his first NFL sack against the Texans. With Edgerrin James returning to the line up, he now has a chance to gain those 19 yards to surpass former Colt Eric Dickerson on the franchise record to move into third. Also, the Indianapolis Colts rank fourth in the league with the most wins between 1999-2003. Colts quarterback Peyton Manning has started his first 86 games of his career, the most by any NFL quarterback to start a career.
http://story.theinsiders.com/a.z?s=63&p=2&c=192632
Tarik Glenn who is excepted to return to the Colts starting line up was forced to sit out of Wednesdays practice due to his lingering knee problems, his play on Sunday is still considered questionable. Another injured lineman, Ryan Diem, is expected to come back after missing the last three games due to a high ankle sprain he is still listed as questionable for this Sunday’s game. Diem’s come back is important, today (Wednesday) in practice former starting right tackle Adam Meadows had to leave with a sprained knee.
Some other Colts that are listed as questionable are, cornerbacks Cliff Crosby (groin), and Joseph Jefferson (pelvis) and running back Ricky Williams is listed as doubtful.
The Texans are coming into the RCA dome only for their second time, with much of their team intact. Starting cornerback Aaron Glenn who has been out with a nagging groin injury, wants the chance to play against Marvin Harrison. Some other players on the Texans that are hampered by injuries, Linebacker Charlie Clemons (ankle) listed as questionable, offensive guard Milford Brown (Knee), defensive end Gary Walker (toe), and cornerbacks Jason Bell (knee) and Kenny Wright (head).
Coming off their bye week, and their first loss of the season, the Indianapolis Colts need to regain their momentum that has been building up all season. The Colts defense needs to regain their composure, by taking rookie running back Dominic Davis out of the game early. When the defense does that it, will be up to Dwight Freeney and company’s job to keep the pressure on David Carr to make sure he doesn’t have the adequate amount of time to throw the ball two his young receivers Johnson, and Gaffney. One of the main issues from last season for the Texans was their inexperienced offensive line, it seems to still be an issue.
The Colts offense is going to have to get out of their early game slumps. The Colts offense doesn't seem to fire on all cylinders until the second half. There is nothing better to see a team make a comeback, but why does a team with more offensive weapons than a couple of teams combined even have to come from behind? Peyton Manning needs to lead a solid first drive, put the first points on the board, and keep the lead through out the game. As mentioned before, Edgerrin James should be back and healthy to provide an extra threat for the Texans defense to key on.
DID YOU KNOW:
This will be a special game for Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney. Freeney recorded his first NFL sack against the Texans. With Edgerrin James returning to the line up, he now has a chance to gain those 19 yards to surpass former Colt Eric Dickerson on the franchise record to move into third. Also, the Indianapolis Colts rank fourth in the league with the most wins between 1999-2003. Colts quarterback Peyton Manning has started his first 86 games of his career, the most by any NFL quarterback to start a career.
http://story.theinsiders.com/a.z?s=63&p=2&c=192632
INDIANAPOLIS - After a week to rest his throwing arm, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning appears ready for Sunday's game against the Houston Texans.
Manning, who is off to perhaps the best start of his six-year NFL career, has completed 139-of-203 passes for 1,593 yards and 12 touchdowns through the first six games of the season.
But Manning said his arm was tired after the Colts' 23-20 overtime loss to Carolina two weeks ago.
He let backup Brock Huard do most of throwing during the team's two practices last week. Colts coach Tony Dungy gave players three days off before they returned for an afternoon workout Monday.
Manning spent the latter part of his bye week at home in New Orleans, visiting family and watching younger brother Eli play quarterback for the University of Mississippi in a home game against Alabama.
"I didn't throw any last week. I practiced, but it was just handoffs on running plays," Manning said Thursday. "My arm sort of needed a little rest, and it feels live."
Heading into Sunday's game with Houston, Manning will have a familiar face accompanying him in the offensive backfield. Running back Edgerrin James will be back after missing the last three games with a lower back injury.
"Anytime you are playing offense, you want to be the one dictating," Manning said. "And so with Edgerrin in there, we can hopefully be a little more two-dimensional."
---
GLENN DECISION DUE FRIDAY: Offensive tackle Tarik Glenn probably won't know his status for Sunday's game until just before kickoff.
Glenn has been sidelined for the past two weeks with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee. He did not practice Wednesday or Thursday.
"We should know more on Friday," Dungy said. "If he doesn't practice on Friday, I'd say that there's a pretty good chance that he won't play on Sunday."
---
MEADOWS, CROSBY, HARRIS ALSO OUT: The availability of offensive tackle Adam Meadows, along with cornerbacks Cliff Crosby and Walt Harris, should also be known by the end of practice Friday.
Meadows twisted his knee during a pre-practice walk-through on Wednesday and sat out Thursday's workout. Should Glenn and Meadows both be forced to miss Sunday's game, rookie offensive tackle Makoa Freitas is expected to get his second straight start at left offensive tackle.
Crosby, meanwhile, suffered a pulled groin against Carolina two weeks ago and has not practiced since. Harris has been bothered by tendinitis in his right knee since the start of training camp and has been held out of midweek practices for most of the season. He has, however, started every game this season.
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/7087932.htm
Manning, who is off to perhaps the best start of his six-year NFL career, has completed 139-of-203 passes for 1,593 yards and 12 touchdowns through the first six games of the season.
But Manning said his arm was tired after the Colts' 23-20 overtime loss to Carolina two weeks ago.
He let backup Brock Huard do most of throwing during the team's two practices last week. Colts coach Tony Dungy gave players three days off before they returned for an afternoon workout Monday.
Manning spent the latter part of his bye week at home in New Orleans, visiting family and watching younger brother Eli play quarterback for the University of Mississippi in a home game against Alabama.
"I didn't throw any last week. I practiced, but it was just handoffs on running plays," Manning said Thursday. "My arm sort of needed a little rest, and it feels live."
Heading into Sunday's game with Houston, Manning will have a familiar face accompanying him in the offensive backfield. Running back Edgerrin James will be back after missing the last three games with a lower back injury.
"Anytime you are playing offense, you want to be the one dictating," Manning said. "And so with Edgerrin in there, we can hopefully be a little more two-dimensional."
---
GLENN DECISION DUE FRIDAY: Offensive tackle Tarik Glenn probably won't know his status for Sunday's game until just before kickoff.
Glenn has been sidelined for the past two weeks with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee. He did not practice Wednesday or Thursday.
"We should know more on Friday," Dungy said. "If he doesn't practice on Friday, I'd say that there's a pretty good chance that he won't play on Sunday."
---
MEADOWS, CROSBY, HARRIS ALSO OUT: The availability of offensive tackle Adam Meadows, along with cornerbacks Cliff Crosby and Walt Harris, should also be known by the end of practice Friday.
Meadows twisted his knee during a pre-practice walk-through on Wednesday and sat out Thursday's workout. Should Glenn and Meadows both be forced to miss Sunday's game, rookie offensive tackle Makoa Freitas is expected to get his second straight start at left offensive tackle.
Crosby, meanwhile, suffered a pulled groin against Carolina two weeks ago and has not practiced since. Harris has been bothered by tendinitis in his right knee since the start of training camp and has been held out of midweek practices for most of the season. He has, however, started every game this season.
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/7087932.htm
INDIANAPOLIS - The Indianapolis Colts needed another terrific performance from Peyton Manning yesterday.
He delivered it.
Manning repeatedly burned the Houston secondary as the Colts, after a sluggish start, defeated the Texans, 30-21, and climbed to 6-1.
Manning completed 22 of 30 passes for 269 yards and three touchdowns. Meanwhile, Houston (2-5), which lost its third straight game, was hindered by its loss of starting quarterback David Carr.
Carr suffered a sprained right ankle late in the first quarter, missed two series, returned to lead the Texans on a touchdown drive, then left again late in the first half after aggravating the injury. He did not play in the second half.
"It felt like it got rolled on," said Carr, who was scheduled to undergo an MRI today. "The X-ray looked fine, so I went back out for that next series. Then, on the touchdown, I think I messed it up again. So it was about time to get out of there."
Tony Banks, Carr's replacement, went 12 for 17 for 88 yards. Carr had gone 8 for 9 for 62 yards and thrown a touchdown pass.
After the Colts settled for a 31-yard field goal by Mike Vanderjagt for the first points of the game, the Texans took advantage of a fumble by Brad Pyatt, who was returning a punt for Indianapolis.
Houston got the ball at the Colts' 28, and two plays later, Domanick Davis rumbled 15 yards for a touchdown and a 7-3 lead.
Davis finished with 25 carries for 109 yards, becoming the first NFL rookie to post 100-yard games in his first two starts since Denver's Mike Anderson in 2000.
Carr then returned to lead the Texans on a 79-yard drive that was capped by his 1-yard TD pass to Billy Miller and made the score 14-3.
From there, it was all Manning.
"Usually," he said, "we use the run to set up the pass. But these guys mix their coverages a lot, so we wanted to throw the ball, then kind of work the run a little bit."
"Everything worked like clockwork," said running back Edgerrin James, who gained 104 yards on 23 carries after having sat out three games with an injury.
www.philly.com
He delivered it.
Manning repeatedly burned the Houston secondary as the Colts, after a sluggish start, defeated the Texans, 30-21, and climbed to 6-1.
Manning completed 22 of 30 passes for 269 yards and three touchdowns. Meanwhile, Houston (2-5), which lost its third straight game, was hindered by its loss of starting quarterback David Carr.
Carr suffered a sprained right ankle late in the first quarter, missed two series, returned to lead the Texans on a touchdown drive, then left again late in the first half after aggravating the injury. He did not play in the second half.
"It felt like it got rolled on," said Carr, who was scheduled to undergo an MRI today. "The X-ray looked fine, so I went back out for that next series. Then, on the touchdown, I think I messed it up again. So it was about time to get out of there."
Tony Banks, Carr's replacement, went 12 for 17 for 88 yards. Carr had gone 8 for 9 for 62 yards and thrown a touchdown pass.
After the Colts settled for a 31-yard field goal by Mike Vanderjagt for the first points of the game, the Texans took advantage of a fumble by Brad Pyatt, who was returning a punt for Indianapolis.
Houston got the ball at the Colts' 28, and two plays later, Domanick Davis rumbled 15 yards for a touchdown and a 7-3 lead.
Davis finished with 25 carries for 109 yards, becoming the first NFL rookie to post 100-yard games in his first two starts since Denver's Mike Anderson in 2000.
Carr then returned to lead the Texans on a 79-yard drive that was capped by his 1-yard TD pass to Billy Miller and made the score 14-3.
From there, it was all Manning.
"Usually," he said, "we use the run to set up the pass. But these guys mix their coverages a lot, so we wanted to throw the ball, then kind of work the run a little bit."
"Everything worked like clockwork," said running back Edgerrin James, who gained 104 yards on 23 carries after having sat out three games with an injury.
www.philly.com
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indianapolis Colts defense still isn’t playing perfectly, but, in the opinion of coach Tony Dungy, it is improving.
Two weeks after criticizing his players for blown assignments and missed tackles, Dungy acknowledged that practicing in pads, focusing on fundamentals and putting more emphasis on tackling is paying dividends for the Colts.
“We’ve still got to be more disciplined and tackle a little better,” he said Monday. “But I saw some light Sunday that I didn’t see the week before.”
Although the Colts averages did not improve — notably the 131 yards rushing and 4.7 yards per carry — in Sunday’s 30-21 victory over Houston, it was clear Dungy’s message was well-received.
Players spent much of last week talking about fundamentals and filling gaps, points players were still emphasizing Monday.
“We tackled a little better in the second half,” linebacker Marcus Washington said. “In the first half, we didn’t play our game.”
The difference was clear.
In the first half, Houston rushed 15 times for 72 yards. In the second half, it managed 13 carries for 59 yards, 12 of which came on a fake field goal.
Part of the discrepancy could be attributed to the Texans being forced to play catch-up.
But the Colts saw it another way.
“Sometimes when you’re not doing things as well as you could, you need a kick in the butt,” Washington said. “We’d better get those problems corrected before we go down to Miami.”
———
UPON EVEN FURTHER REVIEW: Dungy has made no secret of his disdain for the NFL’s replay system.
Now he is finding support for his position.
In a profanity-laced tirade following Baltimore’s 26-6 victory Sunday, Ravens coach Brian Billick called for the elimination of replay after twice getting burned on calls.
Dungy wasn’t surprised.
“Well, I don’t use profanity, but I guess we think alike,” Dungy said with a smile.
Billick and Dungy both served on coach Dennis Green’s staff in Minnesota during the 1990s, which Dungy suggested may be why the two hold similar positions.
www.thehj.com
Two weeks after criticizing his players for blown assignments and missed tackles, Dungy acknowledged that practicing in pads, focusing on fundamentals and putting more emphasis on tackling is paying dividends for the Colts.
“We’ve still got to be more disciplined and tackle a little better,” he said Monday. “But I saw some light Sunday that I didn’t see the week before.”
Although the Colts averages did not improve — notably the 131 yards rushing and 4.7 yards per carry — in Sunday’s 30-21 victory over Houston, it was clear Dungy’s message was well-received.
Players spent much of last week talking about fundamentals and filling gaps, points players were still emphasizing Monday.
“We tackled a little better in the second half,” linebacker Marcus Washington said. “In the first half, we didn’t play our game.”
The difference was clear.
In the first half, Houston rushed 15 times for 72 yards. In the second half, it managed 13 carries for 59 yards, 12 of which came on a fake field goal.
Part of the discrepancy could be attributed to the Texans being forced to play catch-up.
But the Colts saw it another way.
“Sometimes when you’re not doing things as well as you could, you need a kick in the butt,” Washington said. “We’d better get those problems corrected before we go down to Miami.”
———
UPON EVEN FURTHER REVIEW: Dungy has made no secret of his disdain for the NFL’s replay system.
Now he is finding support for his position.
In a profanity-laced tirade following Baltimore’s 26-6 victory Sunday, Ravens coach Brian Billick called for the elimination of replay after twice getting burned on calls.
Dungy wasn’t surprised.
“Well, I don’t use profanity, but I guess we think alike,” Dungy said with a smile.
Billick and Dungy both served on coach Dennis Green’s staff in Minnesota during the 1990s, which Dungy suggested may be why the two hold similar positions.
www.thehj.com
Tony Dungy gave the defensive backs playing on the "look team" unusual instructions, and freedom, as the Indianapolis Colts prepared for Sunday's clash with the Miami Dolphins in Pro Player Stadium.
Grab Marvin Harrison. Shove Reggie Wayne. Hold any receiver trying to get off the line of scrimmage. Jostle, impede, obstruct.
Dungy issued this directive to Harrison, Wayne and the other receivers: Deal with it.
Miami features one of the more noteworthy cornerback groups in the NFL with Sam Madison, Patrick Surtain, Terrell Buckley and Jamar Fletcher. Some argue it's a unit that pushes the envelope when it comes to getting up close and personal with receivers.
"Very physical," Colts quarterback Peyton Manning said. "They press, man-to-man, bump-and-run on just about every single play, which is something most teams don't do."
Wayne laughed when he considered the challenge of going against Miami's physical secondary. Been there, he said.
"It's like going up against Florida State," said Wayne, who sparred with the Seminoles' corners during his career at Miami (Fla.). "Those guys are physical. They hold and grab.
"I just do what I've been doing since college. You don't let them hold you. You don't let them grab you. It's part of the game. If they get away with it, they win."
That was the essence of Dungy's message and the reason for his approach during practice this week.
As Manning directed the No. 1 offense against the "look team," which simulates that week's opposing defense, the defensive backs were allowed to do whatever it took to cover the receivers.
Penalties weren't called, and might not be Sunday.
"You can't expect flags," Dungy said. "You just have to get open and fight for the ball and compete."
The Dolphins' defensive mind-set seems to test an officiating crew's tolerance for physical play. Occasionally, they cross the line and draw a penalty. Frequently, they're allowed to do what they do, which is disrupt and force turnovers.
Miami has snatched 13 interceptions, tied for the league lead. Surtain has an NFL-best six.
Manning doesn't accuse the Dolphins' corners of getting away with roughing up receivers, which can interrupt timing between a quarterback and his receivers.
But he made it clear Miami's approach requires special attention. If receivers are slow to get off the line and get into their routes, the quarterback might have to hold the ball a split-second longer. That gives the Dolphins' pass rush, led by ends Jason Taylor and former IU standout Adewale Ogunleye, extra time to exert pressure.
The Colts' passing game has enjoyed mixed success against Miami's secondary.
Including the postseason, Manning has faced the Dolphins 10 times. He has passed for 14 touchdowns while suffering 17 interceptions. Eight of the interceptions have come in the past three meetings, all losses.
Harrison, meanwhile, hasn't been bothered by the "press" coverage. In 14 appearances against the Dolphins, including the postseason, he's managed 78 receptions for 1,062 yards and eight touchdowns.
Harrison's last game against Miami in 2002 was one of the best of his career: 11 receptions, 144 yards, one touchdown.
"You're not going to stop him. The guy's a great player," Miami coach Dave Wannstedt said. "The biggest thing when you say 'Marvin Harrison' is trying to limit how many big plays he's going to get."
Notes
Starting offensive left tackle Tarik Glenn has been upgraded from questionable to probable for Sunday. He did not practice Friday, but that was precautionary after Glenn handled a one-hour workout Thursday. He has missed the past two games with a strained ligament in his left knee. . . . Right tackle Ryan Diem (abdomen) practiced Friday and might be available Sunday. Veteran backup tackle Adam Meadows did not practice and his status might not be known until Sunday. Because of the various health issues along the offensive line, the team might sign tackle Jim Newton to the active roster from the practice squad. . . . Rookie tight end Dallas Clark did not practice Friday and might miss his second consecutive game with a hamstring injury.
http://www.indystar.com/articles/7/088733-2037-036.html
Grab Marvin Harrison. Shove Reggie Wayne. Hold any receiver trying to get off the line of scrimmage. Jostle, impede, obstruct.
Dungy issued this directive to Harrison, Wayne and the other receivers: Deal with it.
Miami features one of the more noteworthy cornerback groups in the NFL with Sam Madison, Patrick Surtain, Terrell Buckley and Jamar Fletcher. Some argue it's a unit that pushes the envelope when it comes to getting up close and personal with receivers.
"Very physical," Colts quarterback Peyton Manning said. "They press, man-to-man, bump-and-run on just about every single play, which is something most teams don't do."
Wayne laughed when he considered the challenge of going against Miami's physical secondary. Been there, he said.
"It's like going up against Florida State," said Wayne, who sparred with the Seminoles' corners during his career at Miami (Fla.). "Those guys are physical. They hold and grab.
"I just do what I've been doing since college. You don't let them hold you. You don't let them grab you. It's part of the game. If they get away with it, they win."
That was the essence of Dungy's message and the reason for his approach during practice this week.
As Manning directed the No. 1 offense against the "look team," which simulates that week's opposing defense, the defensive backs were allowed to do whatever it took to cover the receivers.
Penalties weren't called, and might not be Sunday.
"You can't expect flags," Dungy said. "You just have to get open and fight for the ball and compete."
The Dolphins' defensive mind-set seems to test an officiating crew's tolerance for physical play. Occasionally, they cross the line and draw a penalty. Frequently, they're allowed to do what they do, which is disrupt and force turnovers.
Miami has snatched 13 interceptions, tied for the league lead. Surtain has an NFL-best six.
Manning doesn't accuse the Dolphins' corners of getting away with roughing up receivers, which can interrupt timing between a quarterback and his receivers.
But he made it clear Miami's approach requires special attention. If receivers are slow to get off the line and get into their routes, the quarterback might have to hold the ball a split-second longer. That gives the Dolphins' pass rush, led by ends Jason Taylor and former IU standout Adewale Ogunleye, extra time to exert pressure.
The Colts' passing game has enjoyed mixed success against Miami's secondary.
Including the postseason, Manning has faced the Dolphins 10 times. He has passed for 14 touchdowns while suffering 17 interceptions. Eight of the interceptions have come in the past three meetings, all losses.
Harrison, meanwhile, hasn't been bothered by the "press" coverage. In 14 appearances against the Dolphins, including the postseason, he's managed 78 receptions for 1,062 yards and eight touchdowns.
Harrison's last game against Miami in 2002 was one of the best of his career: 11 receptions, 144 yards, one touchdown.
"You're not going to stop him. The guy's a great player," Miami coach Dave Wannstedt said. "The biggest thing when you say 'Marvin Harrison' is trying to limit how many big plays he's going to get."
Notes
Starting offensive left tackle Tarik Glenn has been upgraded from questionable to probable for Sunday. He did not practice Friday, but that was precautionary after Glenn handled a one-hour workout Thursday. He has missed the past two games with a strained ligament in his left knee. . . . Right tackle Ryan Diem (abdomen) practiced Friday and might be available Sunday. Veteran backup tackle Adam Meadows did not practice and his status might not be known until Sunday. Because of the various health issues along the offensive line, the team might sign tackle Jim Newton to the active roster from the practice squad. . . . Rookie tight end Dallas Clark did not practice Friday and might miss his second consecutive game with a hamstring injury.
http://www.indystar.com/articles/7/088733-2037-036.html
MIAMI -- With a little luck and a lot of help, Peyton Manning broke his losing steak against the Miami Dolphins.
Manning threw for 266 yards, survived a potentially disastrous interception in the closing moments, and the Indianapolis Colts beat Miami 23-17 Sunday.
Indianapolis and Manning had lost four games in a row to the Dolphins, and he's just 3-8 against them. But a fluke completion helped the Colts take the lead for good, and they turned away a scoring threat by Miami with two minutes left when Brian Griese lost a fumble.
The Colts improved to 7-1, matching their best start since 1977. Only Kansas City (8-0) has a better record.
The Dolphins fell to 5-3, the same record they had at midseason in 2002, when they missed the playoffs. All of their defeats have been at home.
With the help of two Colts turnovers, Miami tried to rally from a 23-14 deficit in the final four minutes.
After Olindo Mare's 23-yard field goal trimmed the margin to six, Terrell Buckley intercepted Manning by stepping in front of a short pass intended for Reggie Wayne, giving the Dolphins the ball at the Colts 15 with 2:45 left.
But on second down Griese fumbled when sacked by Dwight Freeney. Raheem Brock recovered, and Indy ran out the clock.
The ball also bounced Indianapolis' way on a pivotal play in the second quarter. A pass by Manning slipped through the hands of Marvin Harrison to teammate Marcus Pollard for a 51-yard gain, setting up the field goal at the end of the first half that put Indy ahead to stay.
Manning threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Troy Walters, and the Colts controlled the ball for nearly 38 minutes, in part because their defense was so stingy.
Miami's Ricky Williams ran for just 36 yards on 13 carries, his fifth consecutive game under 100 yards. Griese, making his second start in a row with Jay Fiedler sidelined by a sprained knee, was 18-for-29 for 231 yards. He lost two fumbles, both forced by Freeney.
Indy's Mike Vanderjagt kicked field goals of 50, 44 and 25 yards. He's 21-for-21 this season and has made his past 25 attempts dating to last season.
Edgerrin James ran 26 times for 89 yards against a defense hurt by uncharacteristically sloppy tackling.
Still, Miami led for most of the first half until that odd completion gave the Colts the momentum.
With rain falling, a short pass slithered through the hands of Harrison and was caught 10 yards farther downfield by a wide-open Pollard, who sprinted to the 11.
Pollard caught a touchdown pass on the next play, but the score was negated by a holding call on Ryan Diem. As the half ended, Indianapolis settled for a 25-yard field goal and a 9-7 lead.
Harrison also dropped a pass that would have given the Colts a first down in the third period, and he lost a fumble in the final quarter.
But he was sure-handed on a flea-flicker, curling back to catch an underthrown pass by Manning for a 30-yard gain. That led to a 1-yard touchdown run by James to put the Colts ahead 16-7.
The Dolphins needed only four plays to answer. Griese threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Chris Chambers -- the first catch by a Miami wide receiver -- to make the score 16-14.
Manning capped a 91-yard drive with the scoring pass to Walters with 9:40 left.
Harrison's fumble at midfield gave the Dolphins a chance to rally. They had a first down at the Colts 5 but settled for Mare's field goal with 3:10 remaining.
www.sportsline.com
Manning threw for 266 yards, survived a potentially disastrous interception in the closing moments, and the Indianapolis Colts beat Miami 23-17 Sunday.
Indianapolis and Manning had lost four games in a row to the Dolphins, and he's just 3-8 against them. But a fluke completion helped the Colts take the lead for good, and they turned away a scoring threat by Miami with two minutes left when Brian Griese lost a fumble.
The Colts improved to 7-1, matching their best start since 1977. Only Kansas City (8-0) has a better record.
The Dolphins fell to 5-3, the same record they had at midseason in 2002, when they missed the playoffs. All of their defeats have been at home.
With the help of two Colts turnovers, Miami tried to rally from a 23-14 deficit in the final four minutes.
After Olindo Mare's 23-yard field goal trimmed the margin to six, Terrell Buckley intercepted Manning by stepping in front of a short pass intended for Reggie Wayne, giving the Dolphins the ball at the Colts 15 with 2:45 left.
But on second down Griese fumbled when sacked by Dwight Freeney. Raheem Brock recovered, and Indy ran out the clock.
The ball also bounced Indianapolis' way on a pivotal play in the second quarter. A pass by Manning slipped through the hands of Marvin Harrison to teammate Marcus Pollard for a 51-yard gain, setting up the field goal at the end of the first half that put Indy ahead to stay.
Manning threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Troy Walters, and the Colts controlled the ball for nearly 38 minutes, in part because their defense was so stingy.
Miami's Ricky Williams ran for just 36 yards on 13 carries, his fifth consecutive game under 100 yards. Griese, making his second start in a row with Jay Fiedler sidelined by a sprained knee, was 18-for-29 for 231 yards. He lost two fumbles, both forced by Freeney.
Indy's Mike Vanderjagt kicked field goals of 50, 44 and 25 yards. He's 21-for-21 this season and has made his past 25 attempts dating to last season.
Edgerrin James ran 26 times for 89 yards against a defense hurt by uncharacteristically sloppy tackling.
Still, Miami led for most of the first half until that odd completion gave the Colts the momentum.
With rain falling, a short pass slithered through the hands of Harrison and was caught 10 yards farther downfield by a wide-open Pollard, who sprinted to the 11.
Pollard caught a touchdown pass on the next play, but the score was negated by a holding call on Ryan Diem. As the half ended, Indianapolis settled for a 25-yard field goal and a 9-7 lead.
Harrison also dropped a pass that would have given the Colts a first down in the third period, and he lost a fumble in the final quarter.
But he was sure-handed on a flea-flicker, curling back to catch an underthrown pass by Manning for a 30-yard gain. That led to a 1-yard touchdown run by James to put the Colts ahead 16-7.
The Dolphins needed only four plays to answer. Griese threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Chris Chambers -- the first catch by a Miami wide receiver -- to make the score 16-14.
Manning capped a 91-yard drive with the scoring pass to Walters with 9:40 left.
Harrison's fumble at midfield gave the Dolphins a chance to rally. They had a first down at the Colts 5 but settled for Mare's field goal with 3:10 remaining.
www.sportsline.com
Question: An important, 23-17 AFC victory over the Miami Dolphins Sunday. Now, the Colts are 7-1 after eight games. Obviously a good start, but how do you feel about the team now going forward?
Answer: The key for us is doing what we do best and staying focused and the key will be being able to continue to do that. But in a way, some of the injuries have helped us do that. We’ve had to concentrate on doing what we do and not get too exotic, not get bored. In a way, it’s probably been a little of that making us concentrate and play fundamentally.
Q: How big was the Dolphins game? You went down to Miami and beat a good team with a good defense – and beat them playing their game.
A: That one and the Tennessee game (a 33-7 victory in September) probably were mentally big for us. These were two teams we hadn’t had a lot of success against recently. Everything we preached was, ‘We don’t have to do anything different. We just have to do what we do and eliminate our mistakes.’ I think guys believed it. Now, having experienced it and having had success, they realize we didn’t do anything different. We looked at all the tapes from the games we’d played and said, ‘We’re going to do the same things, use the same style. If we just do what we should do, we should be fine.’ To win those two games, I think that’s going to help us down the road when we play teams like New England and Buffalo. To beat those teams, you’ve got to stick to what you do, and we’ve done that so far this year.
Q: Was this a step forward in the sense that the defense made the big play at the end? This wasn’t (Colts quarterback) Peyton Manning throwing the big pass or leading the big drive.
A: I think that was fun, but even more than that, I thought we got back to our fundamentals on defense – doing what we talked about doing: stopping the run, forcing them to throw, getting pressure on the quarterback, creating things. Good things will happen to us when teams can’t run the ball. It was great to get that play at the end, but more than that, it was not allowing them to run. We were physically on top of our details and fundamentals.
Q: You look over the statistics of that game. You ran 76 plays and the Dolphins ran 48. You had a 37:40-22:20 time-of-possession advantage. That’s how the Dolphins usually win games, but the Colts beat them at their game.
A: It was gratifying and had we executed a little better on a couple of things, it shouldn’t have been a nail-biter at the end. I think it shows what we’re capable of doing. We were able to run the ball and control the clock on a team that’s really a very good run defense. We were able to not let them possess it and keep our offense off the field. We were 9-for-10 on third down defensively. They were 1-for-10 and we put them in some long-yardage third downs by not letting them run the ball. Again, it was doing the things we always talked about doing.
Q: Until the end of the game, when you had the two turnovers that kept them in it, was that the best example of DungyBall? Was that how you want to see this team play?
A: Probably, yes. We said we didn’t think they would make us punt very much. We thought if we didn’t turn the ball over, we could move it and score. We had a couple of things happen against us early in the game – a dropped ball on the first possession, a missed chance on the second possession, then we missed on 4th-and-1. But overall, we were moving it. We scored 16 points in a row. We did what we wanted to do. We had a nine-point lead, and that was really the one thing we didn’t do: We didn’t put the hammer on them. But other than that, it was a great way to go down and win it. We had several opportunities to put the hammer down. If (cornerback) Nick Harper catches his ball (a fourth-quarter interception), we have a chance to get the ball at midfield, then we almost hit one to (wide receiver) Reggie (Wayne) when we’re up 23-14. Even (wide receiver) Marvin (Harrison’s) fourth-quarter fumble, if you hang on to it and punt it, you put them down at the other end with about five minutes to go. They would have had to go the length of the field twice at that point. But all in all, it was good. To go down and beat the Dolphins that way, it was a big win.
Q: Two weeks ago, there were a lot of panic buttons being pushed – albeit, outside the team – about the defense. You kept saying, ‘Execution, techniques and fundamentals.’ That wasn’t just lip-service on your part. That’s what it was, wasn’t it?
A: It really was just execution. I just finished watching our first game against Jacksonville (on September 21), and they’re running the same plays Miami ran. Against Jacksonville, we’re hitting gaps with the wrong shoulder or we’re dropping into pass coverage when they’re running. We’re doing things you can’t explain. Why were we doing it? (Jaguars running back) Fred Taylor had 100-something yards against us, and a lot of it was our mistakes. Miami, five weeks later, runs the same plays as Jacksonville. The Dolphins get 36 yards because we’re playing it right and tackling. There aren’t a whole lot of secrets involved. I can’t explain why we do it some weeks and some weeks we don’t.
Q: As a coach, how do you avoid getting caught up in the highs and lows? It’s a very week-to-week league.
A: It’s the teams that don’t self-destruct that have success. That’s what we talked about from the first day of training camp, ‘Play sound, fundamental football. Don’t turn it over. Don’t give up big plays. Don’t beat yourself with penalties. Play sound on special teams.’ You do that, you’re going to be in just about every game. Then, it’s a matter of having good enough players to make some plays. If you have a Marvin Harrison or a Peyton Manning or a (defensive end) Dwight Freeney, you depend on those guys to make a play to win the game. But when you’re in every game, that’s all you can ask for and you should be in every game if you don’t blow yourself out of it with dumb mistakes. That’s what we’ve done a better job of not doing this year.
Q: There’s been so much talk about Dwight Freeney. Three sacks Sunday, two forced fumbles. Put him in perspective, if you can.
A: Dwight can be a force in those types of games. In games where we shut down the other team’s run, he always has a chance to have those types of games. We haven’t done that enough recently to give him enough obvious passing situations to tee off. As our run defense improved at the end of last year, that’s when he started putting up the numbers. In games when he’s had multiple-sack games or really been a factor, it has been games like Sunday’s, where we’ve put people in a lot of second- and third-and-longs, where we’ve known they were going to throw the ball. I would say he’ll continue to play the way he plays, and if we defensively can do what we’re capable of doing, we can set him up to have some big games.
Q: You’ve obviously been around elite-level pass rushers. How does he compare with some of the best you’ve seen?
A: He’s very similar. Derrick Thomas used to have those kinds of days and John Randle and Chris Doleman did, too. Warren Sapp is capable of that, and Simeon Rice is capable of it. He’s in that category of, ‘If You Are in a Passing Situation and We Know You Have to Throw, He Can Disrupt Things.’ If you don’t double-team him or chip him or something, he’s one of those talented guys who can create a lot of havoc.
Q: With Freeney on one side, right end Raheem Brock gets overlooked sometimes, but he had the big fumble recovery at the end of the game Sunday. He seems to have a knack for the big play.
A: He makes big plays. He’s very athletic. He’s around the ball a lot. He hustles. He plays hard. He’s developing more and more pass-rush moves and he’s always been stout against the run, a strong guy. The thing he does is he plays hard every down. When you play hard, you keep running and you hustle, a lot of times you’re around the ball. He’s a good player and kind of a prototypical left end. He can do a lot of things, and he’s got an ability to rush the passer. He’s not just a first-down player at all.
Q: One final area: the running game Sunday. It seems like it maybe wasn’t there at the beginning, and the offensive line and running backs almost had to will themselves to be productive Sunday. Talk about that effort.
A: I thought (Offensive Coordinator) Tom (Moore) did a great job calling the game. Even though we’re down 7-0 in the first half, he didn’t get into just a throwing mode. We knew we didn’t want to do that against those guys. It wasn’t until late in the second quarter that we really got it going. We had great patience. We stayed with it. We just had a feeling it was going to come. (Running back) Edgerrin (James) is running very strong, and I think he’s going to continue to do that. (Running back) Dominic (Rhodes) has spurted. He’s gotten in there and hit some big plays. I like the way we’re running the ball right now.
http://www.colts.com
Answer: The key for us is doing what we do best and staying focused and the key will be being able to continue to do that. But in a way, some of the injuries have helped us do that. We’ve had to concentrate on doing what we do and not get too exotic, not get bored. In a way, it’s probably been a little of that making us concentrate and play fundamentally.
Q: How big was the Dolphins game? You went down to Miami and beat a good team with a good defense – and beat them playing their game.
A: That one and the Tennessee game (a 33-7 victory in September) probably were mentally big for us. These were two teams we hadn’t had a lot of success against recently. Everything we preached was, ‘We don’t have to do anything different. We just have to do what we do and eliminate our mistakes.’ I think guys believed it. Now, having experienced it and having had success, they realize we didn’t do anything different. We looked at all the tapes from the games we’d played and said, ‘We’re going to do the same things, use the same style. If we just do what we should do, we should be fine.’ To win those two games, I think that’s going to help us down the road when we play teams like New England and Buffalo. To beat those teams, you’ve got to stick to what you do, and we’ve done that so far this year.
Q: Was this a step forward in the sense that the defense made the big play at the end? This wasn’t (Colts quarterback) Peyton Manning throwing the big pass or leading the big drive.
A: I think that was fun, but even more than that, I thought we got back to our fundamentals on defense – doing what we talked about doing: stopping the run, forcing them to throw, getting pressure on the quarterback, creating things. Good things will happen to us when teams can’t run the ball. It was great to get that play at the end, but more than that, it was not allowing them to run. We were physically on top of our details and fundamentals.
Q: You look over the statistics of that game. You ran 76 plays and the Dolphins ran 48. You had a 37:40-22:20 time-of-possession advantage. That’s how the Dolphins usually win games, but the Colts beat them at their game.
A: It was gratifying and had we executed a little better on a couple of things, it shouldn’t have been a nail-biter at the end. I think it shows what we’re capable of doing. We were able to run the ball and control the clock on a team that’s really a very good run defense. We were able to not let them possess it and keep our offense off the field. We were 9-for-10 on third down defensively. They were 1-for-10 and we put them in some long-yardage third downs by not letting them run the ball. Again, it was doing the things we always talked about doing.
Q: Until the end of the game, when you had the two turnovers that kept them in it, was that the best example of DungyBall? Was that how you want to see this team play?
A: Probably, yes. We said we didn’t think they would make us punt very much. We thought if we didn’t turn the ball over, we could move it and score. We had a couple of things happen against us early in the game – a dropped ball on the first possession, a missed chance on the second possession, then we missed on 4th-and-1. But overall, we were moving it. We scored 16 points in a row. We did what we wanted to do. We had a nine-point lead, and that was really the one thing we didn’t do: We didn’t put the hammer on them. But other than that, it was a great way to go down and win it. We had several opportunities to put the hammer down. If (cornerback) Nick Harper catches his ball (a fourth-quarter interception), we have a chance to get the ball at midfield, then we almost hit one to (wide receiver) Reggie (Wayne) when we’re up 23-14. Even (wide receiver) Marvin (Harrison’s) fourth-quarter fumble, if you hang on to it and punt it, you put them down at the other end with about five minutes to go. They would have had to go the length of the field twice at that point. But all in all, it was good. To go down and beat the Dolphins that way, it was a big win.
Q: Two weeks ago, there were a lot of panic buttons being pushed – albeit, outside the team – about the defense. You kept saying, ‘Execution, techniques and fundamentals.’ That wasn’t just lip-service on your part. That’s what it was, wasn’t it?
A: It really was just execution. I just finished watching our first game against Jacksonville (on September 21), and they’re running the same plays Miami ran. Against Jacksonville, we’re hitting gaps with the wrong shoulder or we’re dropping into pass coverage when they’re running. We’re doing things you can’t explain. Why were we doing it? (Jaguars running back) Fred Taylor had 100-something yards against us, and a lot of it was our mistakes. Miami, five weeks later, runs the same plays as Jacksonville. The Dolphins get 36 yards because we’re playing it right and tackling. There aren’t a whole lot of secrets involved. I can’t explain why we do it some weeks and some weeks we don’t.
Q: As a coach, how do you avoid getting caught up in the highs and lows? It’s a very week-to-week league.
A: It’s the teams that don’t self-destruct that have success. That’s what we talked about from the first day of training camp, ‘Play sound, fundamental football. Don’t turn it over. Don’t give up big plays. Don’t beat yourself with penalties. Play sound on special teams.’ You do that, you’re going to be in just about every game. Then, it’s a matter of having good enough players to make some plays. If you have a Marvin Harrison or a Peyton Manning or a (defensive end) Dwight Freeney, you depend on those guys to make a play to win the game. But when you’re in every game, that’s all you can ask for and you should be in every game if you don’t blow yourself out of it with dumb mistakes. That’s what we’ve done a better job of not doing this year.
Q: There’s been so much talk about Dwight Freeney. Three sacks Sunday, two forced fumbles. Put him in perspective, if you can.
A: Dwight can be a force in those types of games. In games where we shut down the other team’s run, he always has a chance to have those types of games. We haven’t done that enough recently to give him enough obvious passing situations to tee off. As our run defense improved at the end of last year, that’s when he started putting up the numbers. In games when he’s had multiple-sack games or really been a factor, it has been games like Sunday’s, where we’ve put people in a lot of second- and third-and-longs, where we’ve known they were going to throw the ball. I would say he’ll continue to play the way he plays, and if we defensively can do what we’re capable of doing, we can set him up to have some big games.
Q: You’ve obviously been around elite-level pass rushers. How does he compare with some of the best you’ve seen?
A: He’s very similar. Derrick Thomas used to have those kinds of days and John Randle and Chris Doleman did, too. Warren Sapp is capable of that, and Simeon Rice is capable of it. He’s in that category of, ‘If You Are in a Passing Situation and We Know You Have to Throw, He Can Disrupt Things.’ If you don’t double-team him or chip him or something, he’s one of those talented guys who can create a lot of havoc.
Q: With Freeney on one side, right end Raheem Brock gets overlooked sometimes, but he had the big fumble recovery at the end of the game Sunday. He seems to have a knack for the big play.
A: He makes big plays. He’s very athletic. He’s around the ball a lot. He hustles. He plays hard. He’s developing more and more pass-rush moves and he’s always been stout against the run, a strong guy. The thing he does is he plays hard every down. When you play hard, you keep running and you hustle, a lot of times you’re around the ball. He’s a good player and kind of a prototypical left end. He can do a lot of things, and he’s got an ability to rush the passer. He’s not just a first-down player at all.
Q: One final area: the running game Sunday. It seems like it maybe wasn’t there at the beginning, and the offensive line and running backs almost had to will themselves to be productive Sunday. Talk about that effort.
A: I thought (Offensive Coordinator) Tom (Moore) did a great job calling the game. Even though we’re down 7-0 in the first half, he didn’t get into just a throwing mode. We knew we didn’t want to do that against those guys. It wasn’t until late in the second quarter that we really got it going. We had great patience. We stayed with it. We just had a feeling it was going to come. (Running back) Edgerrin (James) is running very strong, and I think he’s going to continue to do that. (Running back) Dominic (Rhodes) has spurted. He’s gotten in there and hit some big plays. I like the way we’re running the ball right now.
http://www.colts.com
With 2 mins+ to go deep in their territory Indy plays not to lose. Instead of trying seriously they want to run up the middle and hand the ball back over to Jax up 23-21. Not good enough. And, that is their downfall each game it seems. Playing not to lose. Actually seems normal in the NFL.
Jax 28 Indy 23
Colts 7-2
Jax 28 Indy 23
Colts 7-2
JAGUARS 28, COLTS 23: At Jacksonville, Fla. - Fred Taylor scored on a 32-yard touchdown play with 1:08 left Sunday to lift the Jaguars to a surprising victory.
Taylor, who promised payback to Colts safety Mike Doss for his rough play in the first meeting between the teams this season, finished with a season-high 152 yards to help the Jaguars (2-7) defeat the Colts for the first time in franchise history.
"He spoke out this week, which doesn't happen too often," coach Jack Del Rio said. "What we talked about as a team is, when one of our guys puts himself out there, we have to back him up."
They did, and the Jaguars earned the first victory in franchise history over the Colts (7-2), who fell into a first-place tie with Tennessee in the AFC South.
After Taylor's score, Peyton Manning needed to move 66 yards with one timeout to engineer his 19th career game-winning drive. But he threw an interception to Deke Cooper with 11 seconds remaining to end his chances.
Indianapolis walked away with a loss and some prickly issues to go with it:
The Colts played the final three quarters without receiver Marvin Harrison, who strained his hamstring, and whose status for next week wasn't immediately known.
Also, some players were snippy in the locker room, upset with play-calling that was heavy on screen passes and light on handoffs. Edgerrin James finished with 15 carries for 44 yards and six catches for 26 yards.
"Maybe I'm not good enough, but I don't make those decisions," said James, who shared significant time with Ricky Williams.
www.azcentral.com
Taylor, who promised payback to Colts safety Mike Doss for his rough play in the first meeting between the teams this season, finished with a season-high 152 yards to help the Jaguars (2-7) defeat the Colts for the first time in franchise history.
"He spoke out this week, which doesn't happen too often," coach Jack Del Rio said. "What we talked about as a team is, when one of our guys puts himself out there, we have to back him up."
They did, and the Jaguars earned the first victory in franchise history over the Colts (7-2), who fell into a first-place tie with Tennessee in the AFC South.
After Taylor's score, Peyton Manning needed to move 66 yards with one timeout to engineer his 19th career game-winning drive. But he threw an interception to Deke Cooper with 11 seconds remaining to end his chances.
Indianapolis walked away with a loss and some prickly issues to go with it:
The Colts played the final three quarters without receiver Marvin Harrison, who strained his hamstring, and whose status for next week wasn't immediately known.
Also, some players were snippy in the locker room, upset with play-calling that was heavy on screen passes and light on handoffs. Edgerrin James finished with 15 carries for 44 yards and six catches for 26 yards.
"Maybe I'm not good enough, but I don't make those decisions," said James, who shared significant time with Ricky Williams.
www.azcentral.com
When Tony Dungy meets with his team today to start talking about the New York Jets, he might want to put down the game plan for a minute and address a more important issue.
The whining.
The grousing.
And what sounds, more and more, like pettiness and rank selfishness.
The worst part of all that? It has come from the three guys who are supposed to be leading the Indianapolis Colts to heights they've never before known. It has come from Marvin Harrison. It has come from Peyton Manning. And it has come from Edgerrin James.
The Triplets. Unplugged.
You know what Dungy's message ought to be today?
Put a plug in it. Now. Before this feel-good story stops feeling quite so good, and the Colts come apart at the seams the way their basketball-playing brethren did in the second half of last season.
The most surprising, and certainly the most disturbing comments came from Harrison, who, on the rare occasions he says anything, almost always says the right thing. But there he was Monday afternoon, casually being asked about his hamstring injury when, out of the blue, he brought up his lack of touches.
"Do you anticipate playing Sunday?" he was asked.
"If it's anything like the first half in Jacksonville, I might as well do what I was doing," Harrison said. "Hanging out."
Wow. Who knew there was a Marvin Ratio?
One of the things we've most appreciated about Harrison is how different he is from me-first louts such as Randy Moss, Terrell Owens and, of course, Keyshawn Johnson. Now, suddenly, he's saying everything but "throw me the damned ball."
Selfishness never smells particularly good, but it's especially noxious when the team is winning. And while the Colts are merely a .500 team the past month, that 7-2 record is no mirage. Even in a flawed league -- Kansas City excepted -- the Colts are less flawed than most, and have every reason to believe they can make a run at a Super Bowl berth.
The fact is, Harrison was complaining about seeing only two passes, one of which he caught for a 30-yard touchdown, in a half when the Colts took a 20-7 lead and racked up huge numbers.
Clearly, this has been on Harrison's mind for more than one day. Earlier in the season, ESPN's sideline reporter, Suzy Kolber, told viewers Harrison had expressed his discontent over diminishing numbers.
That, though, is what makes it even more galling.
This wasn't one game. It's been a season-long thing. A season-long thing in a season that has featured a 7-2 record and an offense that has generally operated like clockwork. The more Manning has distributed the ball to different receivers, the better the Colts offense has performed.
Is this about winning, or numbers?
There is no player in the NFL I admire more than Harrison for his work ethic and professionalism and commitment to greatness. We are blessed in Indianapolis to get to watch him nearly every Sunday. But on Monday, he sounded a strangely discordant note.
And he wasn't alone.
After the game Sunday, Manning was asked about the huge number of screens the Colts threw at Jacksonville. He wasn't asked because anybody thought they were horrifically ineffective; it was just one of those matter-of-fact did-you-see-something-in-the-films questions.
He responded with the football equivalent of "don't shoot me, I'm only the piano player," dumping the load on the coaching staff -- and presumably offensive coordinator Tom Moore.
It was the kind of response I used to hear all the time from a younger John Elway. It served its purpose. It got Dan Reeves fired.
And then there's Edge.
Now, I'll cut Edge a bit more slack, even if he hasn't stopped saying "Maybe I'm just not good enough" in two days. When his substitute du jour was in the lineup late in winning efforts, Edge had no gripes.
This time, the Colts lost, and they lost by using Ricky Williams at a time generally reserved for Edge.
If he was surprised about carrying the ball once in the fourth quarter, or being on the sidelines when the Colts needed to bleed the clock and get just one first down, he wasn't entirely alone.
So far, Dungy has publicly handled this minor tempest by shrugging it off, saying it's a function of guys just wanting the ball. But, then, you're never going to hear Dungy tell the media, "The best thing we can do is shut up and play."
No.
That's something he needs to say in private.
Soon.
http://www.indystar.com/articles/6/092012-8376-036.html
The whining.
The grousing.
And what sounds, more and more, like pettiness and rank selfishness.
The worst part of all that? It has come from the three guys who are supposed to be leading the Indianapolis Colts to heights they've never before known. It has come from Marvin Harrison. It has come from Peyton Manning. And it has come from Edgerrin James.
The Triplets. Unplugged.
You know what Dungy's message ought to be today?
Put a plug in it. Now. Before this feel-good story stops feeling quite so good, and the Colts come apart at the seams the way their basketball-playing brethren did in the second half of last season.
The most surprising, and certainly the most disturbing comments came from Harrison, who, on the rare occasions he says anything, almost always says the right thing. But there he was Monday afternoon, casually being asked about his hamstring injury when, out of the blue, he brought up his lack of touches.
"Do you anticipate playing Sunday?" he was asked.
"If it's anything like the first half in Jacksonville, I might as well do what I was doing," Harrison said. "Hanging out."
Wow. Who knew there was a Marvin Ratio?
One of the things we've most appreciated about Harrison is how different he is from me-first louts such as Randy Moss, Terrell Owens and, of course, Keyshawn Johnson. Now, suddenly, he's saying everything but "throw me the damned ball."
Selfishness never smells particularly good, but it's especially noxious when the team is winning. And while the Colts are merely a .500 team the past month, that 7-2 record is no mirage. Even in a flawed league -- Kansas City excepted -- the Colts are less flawed than most, and have every reason to believe they can make a run at a Super Bowl berth.
The fact is, Harrison was complaining about seeing only two passes, one of which he caught for a 30-yard touchdown, in a half when the Colts took a 20-7 lead and racked up huge numbers.
Clearly, this has been on Harrison's mind for more than one day. Earlier in the season, ESPN's sideline reporter, Suzy Kolber, told viewers Harrison had expressed his discontent over diminishing numbers.
That, though, is what makes it even more galling.
This wasn't one game. It's been a season-long thing. A season-long thing in a season that has featured a 7-2 record and an offense that has generally operated like clockwork. The more Manning has distributed the ball to different receivers, the better the Colts offense has performed.
Is this about winning, or numbers?
There is no player in the NFL I admire more than Harrison for his work ethic and professionalism and commitment to greatness. We are blessed in Indianapolis to get to watch him nearly every Sunday. But on Monday, he sounded a strangely discordant note.
And he wasn't alone.
After the game Sunday, Manning was asked about the huge number of screens the Colts threw at Jacksonville. He wasn't asked because anybody thought they were horrifically ineffective; it was just one of those matter-of-fact did-you-see-something-in-the-films questions.
He responded with the football equivalent of "don't shoot me, I'm only the piano player," dumping the load on the coaching staff -- and presumably offensive coordinator Tom Moore.
It was the kind of response I used to hear all the time from a younger John Elway. It served its purpose. It got Dan Reeves fired.
And then there's Edge.
Now, I'll cut Edge a bit more slack, even if he hasn't stopped saying "Maybe I'm just not good enough" in two days. When his substitute du jour was in the lineup late in winning efforts, Edge had no gripes.
This time, the Colts lost, and they lost by using Ricky Williams at a time generally reserved for Edge.
If he was surprised about carrying the ball once in the fourth quarter, or being on the sidelines when the Colts needed to bleed the clock and get just one first down, he wasn't entirely alone.
So far, Dungy has publicly handled this minor tempest by shrugging it off, saying it's a function of guys just wanting the ball. But, then, you're never going to hear Dungy tell the media, "The best thing we can do is shut up and play."
No.
That's something he needs to say in private.
Soon.
http://www.indystar.com/articles/6/092012-8376-036.html
Indianapolis already without Harrison for Jets showdown
Indianapolis Colts starting tight end Marcus Pollard is expected to miss at least two games after spraining a knee ligament in practice
POLLARD INJURED HIS left knee Thursday when he got tangled with other players while blocking on a running play.
In addition to missing Pollard for Sunday’s game against the New York Jets, the Colts expect wide receiver Marvin Harrison to sit out with a strained hamstring.
Pollard could be also be sidelined for Indianapolis’ game against Buffalo on Nov. 23, coach Tony Dungy said.
Pollard has 23 receptions for 366 yards and two touchdowns this season.
msnbc.com/news
Indianapolis Colts starting tight end Marcus Pollard is expected to miss at least two games after spraining a knee ligament in practice
POLLARD INJURED HIS left knee Thursday when he got tangled with other players while blocking on a running play.
In addition to missing Pollard for Sunday’s game against the New York Jets, the Colts expect wide receiver Marvin Harrison to sit out with a strained hamstring.
Pollard could be also be sidelined for Indianapolis’ game against Buffalo on Nov. 23, coach Tony Dungy said.
Pollard has 23 receptions for 366 yards and two touchdowns this season.
msnbc.com/news
INDIANAPOLIS -- One week, the Indianapolis Colts defense makes a game-saving stop. The next, Marvin Harrison or Edgerrin James break open the game with a single play.
On Sunday, aggressive play-calling and punter Hunter Smith's trickery swung the momentum in a 38-31 victory over the New York Jets.
To coach Tony Dungy, the Colts are using a formula that seems custom-made for winning: play hard, take advantage of opportunities, and find different ways and different people to finish the job.
"I think a lot of good teams are in that mode," Dungy said Monday. "Every week is a different challenge."
Dungy isn't suggesting the Colts (8-2) are playing at a Super Bowl level or even that they are playing their best football. But only Kansas City has scored more points and has more wins, and the Colts are tied with Tennessee for the AFC South lead.
Yes, Dungy still has concerns about a run defense that has allowed six 100-yard runners in its last eight games, has been slipping in the NFL rankings and forces too few turnovers.
But this is the bottom line: If the Colts win Sunday at Buffalo, they will be 9-2 for only the second time since 1977, and they're winning in some surprising ways.
"It's not about problems, it's about winning," defensive end Dwight Freeney said after Indianapolis' latest victory.
The Colts have thrived because they've been able to survive the potholes that usually swallow up NFL teams:
-They're 4-1 on the road, tied for the league's best mark with Kansas City.
-They've won at various times without Harrison, James and tight end Marcus Pollard, three key ingredients in their potent offense.
-They've survived without scoring a touchdown, beating Cleveland 9-6, and proved Sunday they're still capable of winning shootouts, too.
-They've won in improbable fashion, in a miraculous comeback in Tampa Bay, and won going away, as they did at New Orleans.
-On Sunday, without five starters, with 21 of 53 players listed on the injury report, and without a key replacement, Troy Walters, for most of the second half, they still managed to pull one out.
"I think that's the way it should be," Dungy said. "We have a lot of guys who can play the game and we have confidence in all of them."
The difference this year is that everybody has been making contributions, not just the offensive triple threat of Peyton Manning, Harrison and James.
Brad Pyatt's 90-yard kickoff return jump-started the comeback at Tampa Bay. Reggie Wayne's career day against Jacksonville sparked another comeback. Freeney's game-ending forced fumble preserved a win at Miami.
That's just the start.
The most unlikely scenario unfolded Sunday when holder Smith had the Colts line up for a 38-yard field goal late in the third quarter. The usually conservative Dungy gambled.
Smith took the snap, then cut through the left side of the line and darted untouched into the end zone for his first touchdown in five NFL seasons. It broke a 31-31 tie and the backs of the Jets.
"I didn't even know the fake was on," said kicker Mike Vanderjagt, who hasn't missed a field goal or extra point this season and has already booted two game-winners. "Obviously they gave us the look we were looking for."
Given their string of success, what Dungy sees now is a team confident it can overcome anything: injuries, poor performances, big deficits, even blown leads.
For a team that hasn't won a playoff game since 1995, that hasn't been to a Super Bowl since 1970, it's created a different mind-set - and given Dungy the sense this could be a special season.
"Every week, one unit gets stretched a little more than the others," he said. "You can win with defense or special teams or whatever, and I think you have to have a feel for that and an understanding of that."
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com
On Sunday, aggressive play-calling and punter Hunter Smith's trickery swung the momentum in a 38-31 victory over the New York Jets.
To coach Tony Dungy, the Colts are using a formula that seems custom-made for winning: play hard, take advantage of opportunities, and find different ways and different people to finish the job.
"I think a lot of good teams are in that mode," Dungy said Monday. "Every week is a different challenge."
Dungy isn't suggesting the Colts (8-2) are playing at a Super Bowl level or even that they are playing their best football. But only Kansas City has scored more points and has more wins, and the Colts are tied with Tennessee for the AFC South lead.
Yes, Dungy still has concerns about a run defense that has allowed six 100-yard runners in its last eight games, has been slipping in the NFL rankings and forces too few turnovers.
But this is the bottom line: If the Colts win Sunday at Buffalo, they will be 9-2 for only the second time since 1977, and they're winning in some surprising ways.
"It's not about problems, it's about winning," defensive end Dwight Freeney said after Indianapolis' latest victory.
The Colts have thrived because they've been able to survive the potholes that usually swallow up NFL teams:
-They're 4-1 on the road, tied for the league's best mark with Kansas City.
-They've won at various times without Harrison, James and tight end Marcus Pollard, three key ingredients in their potent offense.
-They've survived without scoring a touchdown, beating Cleveland 9-6, and proved Sunday they're still capable of winning shootouts, too.
-They've won in improbable fashion, in a miraculous comeback in Tampa Bay, and won going away, as they did at New Orleans.
-On Sunday, without five starters, with 21 of 53 players listed on the injury report, and without a key replacement, Troy Walters, for most of the second half, they still managed to pull one out.
"I think that's the way it should be," Dungy said. "We have a lot of guys who can play the game and we have confidence in all of them."
The difference this year is that everybody has been making contributions, not just the offensive triple threat of Peyton Manning, Harrison and James.
Brad Pyatt's 90-yard kickoff return jump-started the comeback at Tampa Bay. Reggie Wayne's career day against Jacksonville sparked another comeback. Freeney's game-ending forced fumble preserved a win at Miami.
That's just the start.
The most unlikely scenario unfolded Sunday when holder Smith had the Colts line up for a 38-yard field goal late in the third quarter. The usually conservative Dungy gambled.
Smith took the snap, then cut through the left side of the line and darted untouched into the end zone for his first touchdown in five NFL seasons. It broke a 31-31 tie and the backs of the Jets.
"I didn't even know the fake was on," said kicker Mike Vanderjagt, who hasn't missed a field goal or extra point this season and has already booted two game-winners. "Obviously they gave us the look we were looking for."
Given their string of success, what Dungy sees now is a team confident it can overcome anything: injuries, poor performances, big deficits, even blown leads.
For a team that hasn't won a playoff game since 1995, that hasn't been to a Super Bowl since 1970, it's created a different mind-set - and given Dungy the sense this could be a special season.
"Every week, one unit gets stretched a little more than the others," he said. "You can win with defense or special teams or whatever, and I think you have to have a feel for that and an understanding of that."
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com
The Buffalo Bills will have to overcome a near-perfect mismatch this week if they are going to snap their three-game losing streak.
The Indianapolis Colts are coming to town with the second-highest scoring offense in the NFL.
The Bills are the second-lowest scoring team in the league.
Colts quarterback Peyton Manning is tied for the league lead in touchdown passes with 19. Bills quarterback Drew Bledsoe is tied for last in the league among full-time QBs with six TD throws. Manning had six TD strikes in ONE GAME this year - a 55-21 win over New Orleans. The Bills haven't scored 55 points in the last five games combined.
If those figures mean big trouble for Buffalo, the Bills players weren't acknowledging it Wednesday.
"We love our offense," said safety Lawyer Milloy.
Come again, Lawyer?
"We believe in our team," Milloy said. "These are the guys we have. We're all we have. When you have tough times, it's the guys in this locker room who are going to turn it around. We believe in each other. We know that they have it in 'em. . . . We have to keep playing solid ball on defense, giving them as many chances as we can. We really believe that at some point - and hopefully soon - they're going to get it turned around and start playing the way they're capable of playing."
Milloy and his fellow defenders are going to need all the positive thinking they can muster Sunday.
The Bills' offense, which is averaging just 11 points per game the past eight weeks, has a good chance of being without running back Travis Henry.
The Bills' defense gets a slight break because it's unlikely Colts receiver Marvin Harrison will play. But the absence of both Harrison and premier tight end Marcus Pollard did not stop the Colts from scoring 38 points against the New York Jets on Sunday.
"You're never gonna hear us use injuries as an excuse," Manning told Buffalo-area reporters Wednesday. "Marvin and Marcus are two of our biggest playmakers, so we've really relied on Reggie Wayne, who's having a tremendous season. . . . You hear the old, boring cliche that young guys have to step up and that's the case here."
Manning has the Colts (8-2) in first place in the AFC South and is contending for the league's most valuable player award. The sixth-year quarterback is on pace for the most passing yards of his career (4,601), the highest completion percentage (68.1) and the best touchdown-to-interception ratio (30 to 13).
"When you have a big-time quarterback like we have, he can make a lot of things happen and make up for a lot of deficiencies," Colts coach Tony Dungy said.
"He's playing as well as he's ever played," Milloy said. "We're facing a very smart quarterback who understands defenses and his personnel. He has a lot of trust in everybody. He'll throw everybody the ball, he'll get it to them in time and he doesn't take a lot of hits."
The Bills' defense ranks fourth in the NFL in yards allowed and sixth in points allowed. It is second against the pass.
Milloy said the secondary has to avoid assignment mistakes because if one is made, Manning will exploit it.
"You really have to play a sound, disciplined defense," he said. "You have to trust that the people in front of you are going to stop the run if you're supposed to be in deep coverage. You can't afford to go up and help out. That's how you saw Tampa Bay falter (in the Bucs' Monday night loss to the Colts). You see people starting to peek in trying to make plays and boom - he beats you."
www.buffalonews.com
The Indianapolis Colts are coming to town with the second-highest scoring offense in the NFL.
The Bills are the second-lowest scoring team in the league.
Colts quarterback Peyton Manning is tied for the league lead in touchdown passes with 19. Bills quarterback Drew Bledsoe is tied for last in the league among full-time QBs with six TD throws. Manning had six TD strikes in ONE GAME this year - a 55-21 win over New Orleans. The Bills haven't scored 55 points in the last five games combined.
If those figures mean big trouble for Buffalo, the Bills players weren't acknowledging it Wednesday.
"We love our offense," said safety Lawyer Milloy.
Come again, Lawyer?
"We believe in our team," Milloy said. "These are the guys we have. We're all we have. When you have tough times, it's the guys in this locker room who are going to turn it around. We believe in each other. We know that they have it in 'em. . . . We have to keep playing solid ball on defense, giving them as many chances as we can. We really believe that at some point - and hopefully soon - they're going to get it turned around and start playing the way they're capable of playing."
Milloy and his fellow defenders are going to need all the positive thinking they can muster Sunday.
The Bills' offense, which is averaging just 11 points per game the past eight weeks, has a good chance of being without running back Travis Henry.
The Bills' defense gets a slight break because it's unlikely Colts receiver Marvin Harrison will play. But the absence of both Harrison and premier tight end Marcus Pollard did not stop the Colts from scoring 38 points against the New York Jets on Sunday.
"You're never gonna hear us use injuries as an excuse," Manning told Buffalo-area reporters Wednesday. "Marvin and Marcus are two of our biggest playmakers, so we've really relied on Reggie Wayne, who's having a tremendous season. . . . You hear the old, boring cliche that young guys have to step up and that's the case here."
Manning has the Colts (8-2) in first place in the AFC South and is contending for the league's most valuable player award. The sixth-year quarterback is on pace for the most passing yards of his career (4,601), the highest completion percentage (68.1) and the best touchdown-to-interception ratio (30 to 13).
"When you have a big-time quarterback like we have, he can make a lot of things happen and make up for a lot of deficiencies," Colts coach Tony Dungy said.
"He's playing as well as he's ever played," Milloy said. "We're facing a very smart quarterback who understands defenses and his personnel. He has a lot of trust in everybody. He'll throw everybody the ball, he'll get it to them in time and he doesn't take a lot of hits."
The Bills' defense ranks fourth in the NFL in yards allowed and sixth in points allowed. It is second against the pass.
Milloy said the secondary has to avoid assignment mistakes because if one is made, Manning will exploit it.
"You really have to play a sound, disciplined defense," he said. "You have to trust that the people in front of you are going to stop the run if you're supposed to be in deep coverage. You can't afford to go up and help out. That's how you saw Tampa Bay falter (in the Bucs' Monday night loss to the Colts). You see people starting to peek in trying to make plays and boom - he beats you."
www.buffalonews.com
INDIANAPOLIS - The Indianapolis Colts continue to rely on familiar faces in shoring up their injury-depleted receiver corps.
Last week, it was former Colts wide receiver Terrence Wilkins. On Tuesday, it was free agent JaJuan Dawson.
With the status of Marvin Harrison (strained hamstring) and Troy Walters (hamstring) still in doubt for Sunday's game against Buffalo, Dawson's addition gives the team another receiver experienced in working with Peyton Manning.
Dawson, a former standout at Tulane, spent the last several offseasons working out at the Colts quarterback's annual summer passing camp.
"I like having guys here that I have some sort of connection with," Manning said. "He's a guy that I've basically worked out with every summer for part of the last seven years."
Dawson, picked in the third round in 2000, played two seasons with the Cleveland Browns. He was released from the Houston Texans in 2002 having totaled 52 career receptions for 664 yards and two touchdowns.
His signing reunites him with former Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Brandon Stokley, also an alum of Manning's camp.
Stokley was signed as an unrestricted free agent last spring but his production this year has been slowed by injuries to his foot and hamstring and a concussion.
Manning, meanwhile, doesn't expect Dawson to miss a beat.
"Of the guys that we've brought in since the end of last year, guys like Brandon, Terrence and JaJuan, they are all guys that I've had a history with," Manning said. "I noticed when Terrence came back last week that even though he's been gone for a year, I still have my timing down with him. It was like he was here the whole time."
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HARRISON GETS WORK IN: Harrison got some light work in before Wednesday's practice, and it's still possible that he might play on Sunday.
"He didn't do any route work or anything," coach Tony Dungy said. "We just wanted to see how he was coming along."
Dungy said he wouldn't have a definitive answer to Harrison's availability until later this week.
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MUNGRO BACK: Backup running back James Mungro returned to practice Wednesday for the first time in three weeks and should be available against the Bills.
Mungro had surgery to repair torn knee cartilage and had been unable to go through a full practice. He was activated for last week's game against the New York Jets and has played sparingly on special teams throughout the season.
To accommodate Mungro's return, the Colts waived Brian Allen.
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REAGOR TO PLAY: Veteran defensive tackle Montae Reagor practiced Wednesday and will play this week. With Reagor back, the team waived second-year defensive tackle Brandon Hicks.
Reagor had been sidelined for the past three weeks after straining muscles in his chest.
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GLENN EXPECTED TO RETURN THURSDAY: Offensive tackle Tarik Glenn, who sat out four of the past five games with a sprained left medial collateral ligament, is expected to return to practice Thursday.
Glenn did not practice Wednesday.
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WHITEHEAD TO ACTIVE ROSTER: The Colts signed rookie linebacker Keyon Whiteside off the practice squad and will use him on special teams and as a defensive backup.
Whiteside was one of Indianapolis' sixth-round draft choices in April but was released at the end of training camp. He subsequently signed with the Cincinnati Bengals and was released a month ago.
www.ledger-enquirer.com
Last week, it was former Colts wide receiver Terrence Wilkins. On Tuesday, it was free agent JaJuan Dawson.
With the status of Marvin Harrison (strained hamstring) and Troy Walters (hamstring) still in doubt for Sunday's game against Buffalo, Dawson's addition gives the team another receiver experienced in working with Peyton Manning.
Dawson, a former standout at Tulane, spent the last several offseasons working out at the Colts quarterback's annual summer passing camp.
"I like having guys here that I have some sort of connection with," Manning said. "He's a guy that I've basically worked out with every summer for part of the last seven years."
Dawson, picked in the third round in 2000, played two seasons with the Cleveland Browns. He was released from the Houston Texans in 2002 having totaled 52 career receptions for 664 yards and two touchdowns.
His signing reunites him with former Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Brandon Stokley, also an alum of Manning's camp.
Stokley was signed as an unrestricted free agent last spring but his production this year has been slowed by injuries to his foot and hamstring and a concussion.
Manning, meanwhile, doesn't expect Dawson to miss a beat.
"Of the guys that we've brought in since the end of last year, guys like Brandon, Terrence and JaJuan, they are all guys that I've had a history with," Manning said. "I noticed when Terrence came back last week that even though he's been gone for a year, I still have my timing down with him. It was like he was here the whole time."
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HARRISON GETS WORK IN: Harrison got some light work in before Wednesday's practice, and it's still possible that he might play on Sunday.
"He didn't do any route work or anything," coach Tony Dungy said. "We just wanted to see how he was coming along."
Dungy said he wouldn't have a definitive answer to Harrison's availability until later this week.
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MUNGRO BACK: Backup running back James Mungro returned to practice Wednesday for the first time in three weeks and should be available against the Bills.
Mungro had surgery to repair torn knee cartilage and had been unable to go through a full practice. He was activated for last week's game against the New York Jets and has played sparingly on special teams throughout the season.
To accommodate Mungro's return, the Colts waived Brian Allen.
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REAGOR TO PLAY: Veteran defensive tackle Montae Reagor practiced Wednesday and will play this week. With Reagor back, the team waived second-year defensive tackle Brandon Hicks.
Reagor had been sidelined for the past three weeks after straining muscles in his chest.
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GLENN EXPECTED TO RETURN THURSDAY: Offensive tackle Tarik Glenn, who sat out four of the past five games with a sprained left medial collateral ligament, is expected to return to practice Thursday.
Glenn did not practice Wednesday.
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WHITEHEAD TO ACTIVE ROSTER: The Colts signed rookie linebacker Keyon Whiteside off the practice squad and will use him on special teams and as a defensive backup.
Whiteside was one of Indianapolis' sixth-round draft choices in April but was released at the end of training camp. He subsequently signed with the Cincinnati Bengals and was released a month ago.
www.ledger-enquirer.com
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Tight end Marcus Pollard hopes to miss only one more game and be back in the Indianapolis Colts' starting lineup in time for the team's home game with the New England Patriots on Nov. 30.
Pollard missed last weekend's game against the New York Jets and will be sidelined for Sunday's road game at Buffalo after spraining a ligament in his left knee during practice.
Team officials had first expected the nine-year veteran to miss from two to four weeks. He was replaced in the starting lineup for the Colts (8-2) by rookie Dallas Clark.
"The doctors have said that I am coming along pretty well, so I'd like to try and be back next Sunday," Pollard said Thursday. "I'd really like to be back for that game."
Pollard has 23 receptions for 366 yards and two touchdowns this season.
• Starting offensive tackle Tarik Glenn had been expected to return to practice on Thursday. But Glenn, who has missed four of the Colts' last five games with a sprained left knee ligament, said that he did not believe he would be able to join the workout.
"I'd like to be able to play this week, but we'll see," Glenn said. "I'm just taking it day-to-day right now. It's frustrating sitting out because I really want to be out there. But I don't want to make [the knee injury] any worse than it's already been."
If Glenn is unable to play Sunday against the Bills (4-6), rookie Makoa Freitas will get his fifth start of the season.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com
Pollard missed last weekend's game against the New York Jets and will be sidelined for Sunday's road game at Buffalo after spraining a ligament in his left knee during practice.
Team officials had first expected the nine-year veteran to miss from two to four weeks. He was replaced in the starting lineup for the Colts (8-2) by rookie Dallas Clark.
"The doctors have said that I am coming along pretty well, so I'd like to try and be back next Sunday," Pollard said Thursday. "I'd really like to be back for that game."
Pollard has 23 receptions for 366 yards and two touchdowns this season.
• Starting offensive tackle Tarik Glenn had been expected to return to practice on Thursday. But Glenn, who has missed four of the Colts' last five games with a sprained left knee ligament, said that he did not believe he would be able to join the workout.
"I'd like to be able to play this week, but we'll see," Glenn said. "I'm just taking it day-to-day right now. It's frustrating sitting out because I really want to be out there. But I don't want to make [the knee injury] any worse than it's already been."
If Glenn is unable to play Sunday against the Bills (4-6), rookie Makoa Freitas will get his fifth start of the season.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com
Peyton Manning seemingly has elevated his game to another level this season, and in the process joined an exclusive quarterbacking club.
The Indianapolis Colts' offensive cornerstone will take a 50-40 record as a starter into Sunday's game at Buffalo. Manning joins Troy Aikman and Steve Young as the only quarterbacks since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 who, at the end of their career or currently, pushed their records 10 games over the .500 mark after being 10 games under .500 earlier in their careers.
"He's just playing tremendous ball," Bills quarterback Drew Bledsoe said in a teleconference with Indianapolis media. "I couldn't be happier for the guy.
"I know he's had some adverse times as well, but he's playing great football for them right now and the team is playing well around him."
Lofty expectations followed Manning into the NFL when the Colts made him the first pick in the 1998 draft. Manning was 3-13 as a rookie and 5-15 after his first 20 starts. In his past 70 starts, he's 45-25, including 8-2 this season.
Young opened with a 3-17 record as a starter in Tampa Bay before finding salvation in a trade to San Francisco. He retired after the 1999 season, but not before directing the 49ers to one Super Bowl championship and pushing his record to 94-49 (.657).
Aikman was 0-11 as a rookie starter and won just three of his first 21 starts. Not exactly the type of numbers the Cowboys envisioned when they selected him first overall in 1989. By the time he retired after the 2000 season, Aikman had led Dallas to three Super Bowl titles, been selected to six Pro Bowls and registered a 94-71 record (.570) as a starter.
http://www.indystar.com/articles/8/094874-5998-038.html
The Indianapolis Colts' offensive cornerstone will take a 50-40 record as a starter into Sunday's game at Buffalo. Manning joins Troy Aikman and Steve Young as the only quarterbacks since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 who, at the end of their career or currently, pushed their records 10 games over the .500 mark after being 10 games under .500 earlier in their careers.
"He's just playing tremendous ball," Bills quarterback Drew Bledsoe said in a teleconference with Indianapolis media. "I couldn't be happier for the guy.
"I know he's had some adverse times as well, but he's playing great football for them right now and the team is playing well around him."
Lofty expectations followed Manning into the NFL when the Colts made him the first pick in the 1998 draft. Manning was 3-13 as a rookie and 5-15 after his first 20 starts. In his past 70 starts, he's 45-25, including 8-2 this season.
Young opened with a 3-17 record as a starter in Tampa Bay before finding salvation in a trade to San Francisco. He retired after the 1999 season, but not before directing the 49ers to one Super Bowl championship and pushing his record to 94-49 (.657).
Aikman was 0-11 as a rookie starter and won just three of his first 21 starts. Not exactly the type of numbers the Cowboys envisioned when they selected him first overall in 1989. By the time he retired after the 2000 season, Aikman had led Dallas to three Super Bowl titles, been selected to six Pro Bowls and registered a 94-71 record (.570) as a starter.
http://www.indystar.com/articles/8/094874-5998-038.html
