"When former Colts safety Bob Sanders returns to the NFL, it will be in a San Diego Chargers uniform.

But a massive image of the two-time Pro Bowler still hangs on the outside of Lucas Oil Stadium -- for now, anyway.

Eventually, the 30-by-60-foot stadium banner will be torn down and replaced by another key player, joining quarterback Peyton Manning, defensive end Dwight Freeney, tight end Dallas Clark and wide receiver Reggie Wayne on the Downtown home of the Colts.

It's unclear, however, when that will happen or who the new player will be, said Colts Chief Operating Officer Pete Ward.

"It's a team decision. There are no rules, no timetable to it. In the past, we've selected players who we thought best represented the team. . . . (Sanders) was an outstanding player for us, and he was very involved in the community."

But that doesn't mean the 2007 Defensive Player of the Year has earned a permanent spot on the stadium's south exterior.

"The image will come down, simply because he's no longer with the team," Ward said of Sanders, who was released Feb. 18. Knee and biceps injuries limited him to nine regular-season appearances during the past three seasons. He missed the final 15 games and the playoff loss to the New York Jets last year after tearing his right biceps tendon in the season opener at Houston.

Thursday night, Sanders agreed to a one-year contract with the Chargers, financial terms of which were not disclosed.

What will become of the discarded banner is unclear, too.

"It's a difficult question to answer, given the size and weight," said Ward, who doesn't expect an auction to be among options. "They're really most appropriate for the exterior of a stadium."

In a perfect world, Ward said Friday, the team would have a lot more player banners hanging on the stadium than the four currently on display."