Colts News

Colts players are idolized now, but they were fans as kids
Comment
November 20
Indianapolis Star
 
"Kelvin Hayden was well-grounded as a south-side Chicago youngster. He knew who he was: Walter Payton. He knew where he was going: the NFL. Hayden wasn't going to grow up to be like Payton. He was going to grow up to be Payton. He had the little shoulder pads. He had the Bears helmet. He had the Pro Football Hall of Fame running back's navy blue and orange No. 34 jersey. Put them all on and Hayden had everything an awed 10-year-old could want but one. "Me and my cousin didn't have a football," Hayden said. "So we played each other with a juice carton, just him and me, one on one. He'd have the juice carton, and like, 'Set. Go.' "We played all up and down the block as our football field." ..."
Familiar Gonzalez report: He's still 'close' to returning
Comment
November 20
Indianapolis Star
 
"As Anthony Gonzalez has discovered, being "close" to returning from a knee injury isn't close enough. The Indianapolis Colts receiver insisted Thursday afternoon that he's on track and close to rejoining the offense after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee earlier this month. The procedure was deemed necessary after Gonzalez aggravated an injury to the same knee during the rehabilitation process. He first injured the knee in the season opener. "I felt like I was close the last time," Gonzalez said. "So in that sense, it's a little hard to say. I do feel the 'scope I had helped a lot. Now it's just a matter of getting a little flexibility back and all my strength back. "But I ..."
Sayers was Colts coach's first boss
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November 20
Indianapolis Star
 
"Jim Caldwell was so new he squeaked. He was a year out of the University of Iowa, a rookie assistant coach at Southern Illinois. "My first job as a full-time assistant," the Indianapolis Colts coach said. "I was a 22-year-old sitting at my desk and the athletic director walks into my office. He leaves and I call my dad and I said, 'You know, I just had the opportunity to meet my all-time favorite.' " Gale Sayers served as Southern Illinois' athletic director from 1976-81. Caldwell grew up in Beloit, Wis., not far from the Illinois border and just northwest of Chicago, where Sayers was a star for the Chicago Bears. There was no bigger star in football. He had no bigger fan than Caldwell. ..."
Here's what Colts are missing
Comment
November 20
Indianapolis Star
 
"The Indianapolis Colts' excellent run in special teams coverage suffered a setback when New England's Wes Welker broke a 67-yard punt return last week. Welker is no slouch. He leads the NFL with a 15.1-yard average on punt returns. Kickoffs and punts can be an unpredictable element from week to week. And as Colts fans will remind, this team hasn't exactly set the world on fire when returning kicks. Here are a few specialists who have been burning hot: Courtney Roby, the Indianapolis native and former Colts returner who is now with the New Orleans Saints, ran a kickoff back 97 yards for a score at St. Louis last week. Suppose the Colts would like to have him back? The former North Central ..."
Offense improves, but sputters lately
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November 20
Indianapolis Star
 
"The buzz about Baltimore at the beginning of the NFL season centered on how these Ravens could score. They opened with three consecutive games of 30-plus points and have had two more since. Always associated with defense, the Ravens have bumped up their scoring to a 24.7-point average. The team's 24.1 average in 2008 was the second highest in its 14-year history. Much of that is attributed to a franchise in the second year of what has been a most successful transition -- coach John Harbaugh arrived last year, as did quarterback Joe Flacco and running back Ray Rice. The Ravens made it to the AFC title game. Flacco is building off that. His completion numbers are up 5 percent from his rookie ..."
DeVan loving life in this new arena
Comment
November 20
Indianapolis Star
 columnist Bob Kravitz
"So, you want to be inspired? Seven months ago, Indianapolis Colts starting right guard Kyle DeVan was back in his hometown of Vacaville, Calif., living with his mom, working as a substitute teacher and as an assistant high school wrestling coach. His football dream was fading into the distance. He wasn't drafted after graduating from Oregon State in 2007, and in 2008, he was cut by the Washington Redskins and New York Jets before catching on with the -- yes -- Boise (Idaho) Burn of Arena Football League2. His AFL2 season was done and nobody was calling. At least not yet. "Most teachers had me put on a movie," he said, smiling. "One elementary teacher left a lesson plan, so we were doing ..."
Stover returns to Baltimore with Colts
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November 19
Baltimore Sun
 
"It's an emotional reunion for fans every time the Indianapolis Colts return to Baltimore, but there will be a stronger tug on the heartstrings Sunday. Matt Stover, one of the most beloved Ravens in team history, will kick against his former team for the first time as a member of the rival Colts. For 13 seasons, Stover remembers hearing thunderous cheers from Ravens fans after countless clutch kicks. When he takes the field Sunday - suiting up for a Colts team that crushed this city in 1984 by moving to Indianapolis - he doesn't know what reaction to expect. "I would hope that I have left a legacy here and that my reputation stands true and people honor that," Stover told The Baltimore Sun. ..."
Surpassing Mackey humbles Colts' Clark
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November 19
Indianapolis Star
 
"Dallas Clark is in position to one-up the man who helped revolutionize the tight end position, appropriately enough in the city where John Mackey became a Hall of Famer and remains a legend. With one reception Sunday afternoon in Baltimore, the Indianapolis Colts' veteran breaks Mackey's franchise record for career receptions by a tight end. Don't think for a second, though, that Clark envisions himself surpassing Mackey. No way, not ever. "No, no, that'll never, never, never end up like that,'' Clark said Wednesday. "He's the man. "Any time that I've ever been (mentioned) in the same sentence with him, that's just a great honor. For what he did for Baltimore . . . what he did for the ..."
Brackett knows all about Rice
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November 19
Indianapolis Star
 
"There was a time Indianapolis Colts middle linebacker Gary Brackett considered Ray Rice a protégé. Come Sunday, Brackett will treat him as a threat. Rice is the Baltimore Ravens' do-everything running back. He is a 5-8, 210-pound blur who has rushed for 662 yards with a 5.2-yard average. He has six touchdowns and has caught more passes than any NFL running back, 49 for 451 yards and one touchdown. Rice has 177 "touches" from scrimmage. Only nine players have more. "He definitely will get the ball. That's a guarantee," Brackett said. "He's a very talented football player: low center of gravity, runs the ball well, good vision and has that home run speed." Rice's long run of 50 yards and ..."
New England Patriots quickly put Indianapolis Colts loss behind them, prepare for New York Jets
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November 19
New York Daily News
 
"The Patriots are no strangers to controversy or drama, which gives them some pretty good practice for reacting to it. They got back to practice Wednesday for the first time since Bill Belichick's Barry Switzer imitation in Indy, vowing to put the Colts loss behind them and to focus on Sunday's rematch against the Jets. With this team, you believe them. "We've won so many games in this locker room, we're quick to turn it off and turn it back on," Junior Seau said. "Right now, we need to have a short-term memory. That's the only reason you're going to succeed in this league, whether it's good or bad. Go to work the next day." "We're playing the Jets. It's always a good week for us," Tom ..."
NFL probes cameraman's fall at end of Colts-Patriots game
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November 18
Indianapolis Star
 
"The NFL is reviewing an incident at the end of the Indianapolis Colts-New England Patriots game when an NBC cameraman ended up on the ground after brushing against a member of the Patriots security detail. An NFL spokesman told The Star the league is "looking into" the incident involving a veteran shooter Peter Stendel, who got tangled up and dropped onto the playing surface at Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday night. The incident occurred after the Patriots lost 35-34 after a controversial call by New England coach Bill Belichick to go for a first down on fourth-and-2 that failed. Video and still images showed Stendel as he pursued -- along with other photographers -- Belichick ..."
Pats shut down Freeney
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November 18
Indianapolis Star
 
"Dwight Freeney arrived at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday expecting just about anything from the New England Patriots. They didn't disappoint, frequently bringing in a third tackle, Mark LeVoir, to help block him. "They did a great job," said Freeney, the Indianapolis Colts defensive end. "They quick-counted when they needed to. They slid the protection when they needed to. I was guessing wrong sometimes. I couldn't get there. "Like I've always said, if (sacks) come, they come; if they don't, they don't. You don't really know when it's going to happen. The big thing is about winning the game." The Colts did that, 35-34, to move to 9-0 with a visit to Baltimore coming Sunday. Freeney had sacks ..."
Colts teammates say Johnson's effort to 'improve' overblown
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November 18
Indianapolis Star
 
"As the protector of Peyton Manning's blind side, Indianapolis Colts left tackle Charlie Johnson entered this season blanketed in question marks. Media and fans wondered if the fourth-year pro could keep the three-time NFL MVP quarterback upright. They dwelled on plays from earlier years, when the typical pro initiation meant sacks and pressures allowed. Nine victories into the season, the doubt about Johnson has disappeared. He has proven he can handle a difficult job -- his only sack allowed was to Pro Bowl end Mario Williams of Houston. So what happened to the guy who was once the whipping boy for criticism? Not much, actually. "Perception and reality," said Colts right tackle Ryan Diem. ..."
Where are the Manning haters?
Comment
November 17
Washington Examiner
 
"You know who you are. Three years ago -- at about this time of year as a matter of fact -- you tried to look like a know-it-all. "Peyton Manning is a loser," you smugly told your friends. "Couldn't win at Tennessee when it mattered. Can't beat the Patriots in the playoffs when it matters. Chokes at home against the Steelers when it matters." You didn't like all his commercials -- not even the one where he chants "cut that meat" at the butcher. You hated his annoying pointing and primping and gyrating as he gets the Colts' offense set. "Just snap the ball, you bum!" Sure, you had to eat your words a bit when Indianapolis won the Super Bowl later that year. And yeah, the Saturday Night Live ..."
Colts have shown they're masters of the great escape
Comment
November 17
Indianapolis Star
 
"A franchise-record crowd was on hand for the Indianapolis Colts' latest Houdini act Sunday evening at Lucas Oil Stadium. The vast majority of the 67,476 were there till the end: Colts 35, New England Patriots 34. Empty seats were as rare as supporters for Bill Belichick's decision to go for it on fourth-and-2 at his own 28-yard line with 2 minutes, 8 seconds on the clock. And why not? "We've been there before," said wide receiver Reggie Wayne, whose 1-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Peyton Manning with 13 seconds left completed the improbable comeback. Manning agreed. "We have been in a lot of these situations," he said. Coach Jim Caldwell has used prior comebacks to lay the ..."
Colts gain edge, thanks to Belichick
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November 17
Buffalo News
 
"The NFL's rivalry of the decade turned in another game for the ages Sunday night as the Indianapolis Colts remained unbeaten after rallying to defeat the New England Patriots, 35-34. The game was reminiscent of the 2006 AFC Championship Game when the Colts overcame an 18-point deficit to knock out the Patriots, 38-34. But the Colts had three quarters to pull off that comeback. On Sunday, they were down 17 points with a little more than 12 minutes left in the game. The Colts-Patriots matchups (12 since 2001) have defined seasons and often determined home-field advantage in the AFC playoffs. The Colts (9-0) clearly have the inside track now. Some observations from Week 10 in the NFL: • ..."
New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick defends his fourth-quarter gamble in loss to Colts
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November 17
New York Daily News
 
"In New England, they're calling it temporary insanity. In New York, they're calling it a temporary reprieve. Did the head coach go loco when he rolled the dice on fourth-and-2 from deep in his own territory Sunday night? Whatever the case, Bill Belichick certainly changed the dynamic of the AFC playoff race when his call blew up in his poker face, Peyton Manning and Reggie Wayne doing the final honors for the unbeaten Colts, who rallied from 17 points down for a 35-34 win. Belichick didn't change his tune Tuesday at his day-after press conference Foxborough, where his team will attempt to avenge its earlier defeat to the now-bumbling Jets Sunday. "Same thing I said after the game. I ..."
After this game, Bill Belichick must love (our) company
Comment
November 16
Indianapolis Star
 columnist Bob Kravitz
"Maybe the Lucas Oil Stadium mice burrowed their way into Bill Belichick's brain. Or maybe one of those indoor fireworks, which set off a small fire at the 50-yard line early in the game, set his cranium on fire and caused a short-circuit. How could it happen? How could the best football coach in the modern history of the game, Coach Hoodie, The Genius, actually go for it on fourth-and-2 at his own 28-yard line with 2:08 remaining in a game his team was leading 34-28? How did it come to pass that Belichick, a brilliant man, suddenly channeled his inner Barry Switzer, eschewing the obvious punt, arrogantly choosing to go for the first down? Call it hubris. Call it stupidity. Call it Colts ..."
Colts rally from 17 down to beat New England Patriots
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November 16
Indianapolis Star
 
"The largest home crowd in the Indianapolis Colts' 57 seasons of NFL membership witnessed one of the club's most improbable victories Sunday night at Lucas Oil Stadium. What Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne had characterized as "the halfway Super Bowl" turned on a hair-brained decision. New England coach Bill Belichick opted to go for a first down on fourth-and-2 from the Patriots 28-yard line with 2:08 to play. Three plays after Colts safety Melvin Bullitt hammered running back Kevin Faulk down after a 1-yard gain, Peyton Manning's 1-yard pass to Wayne made the Colts 35-34 winners. The crowd of 67,476 exploded. Colts ran frantically all over the field. Heads sagged on the New England ..."
Belichick's shot backfires on Patriots
Comment
November 16
Indianapolis Star
 
"Strange, without question. Unconventional, to say the least. But New England coach Bill Belichick thought his team could win Sunday night with one more play. The Patriots needed 2 yards for a first down, and it didn't matter that they were ahead by just six points and standing on their 28-yard line with 2:08 remaining. Belichick took the shot. And did it ever backfire on the coach hailed in New England as a genius for his three Super Bowl triumphs. Tom Brady's pass to Kevin Faulk was complete but came up short, allowing the Indianapolis Colts to cash in on the short field for the game-winning touchdown and a 35-34 comeback victory that was as improbable as it was stunning at Lucas Oil ..."
Bullitt's tackle of Faulk on 4th down turns game
Comment
November 16
Indianapolis Star
 
"With the New England Patriots facing a fourth-and-2 at their 28-yard line with 2:08 remaining and leading by six points, safety Melvin Bullitt and the Indianapolis Colts defense headed to the sideline. It had done its job, forcing a late punt. Not so fast. "We left the field prematurely,'' Bullitt said. Rather than punting, Patriots coach Bill Belichick sent quarterback Tom Brady back onto the field. "They challenged us,'' Bullitt said. "They said, 'We're going out, we're going to take it.' "And they didn't. We finished it.'' On the game-defining play, Brady went to his short-yardage standout, running back Kevin Faulk, on a quick turn-in. Bullitt read it, closed, stopped Faulk short of the ..."
Patriots go for it; the Colts win it
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November 16
Washington Post
 
"Bill Belichick has pressed plenty of the right buttons while coaching the New England Patriots to three Super Bowl titles. But when he made the boldest of fourth-quarter gambles Sunday night at Lucas Oil Stadium, it backfired on him and the Patriots, and the Indianapolis Colts escaped with an improbable 35-34 comeback triumph that kept them unbeaten. The Colts got a one-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Peyton Manning to wide receiver Reggie Wayne to cap their rally from deficits of 24-7 in the first half and 31-14 early in the fourth quarter. The Colts scored 21 fourth-quarter points in improving their record to 9-0 and prevailing in the latest high-profile get-together between these ..."
Bill Belichick heads off victory
Comment
November 16
Boston Herald
 columnist Ron Borges
"Is there an insanity defense for football coaches? That's about the best the "In Bill We Trust" crowd is going to be able to come up with this morning to explain away what happened at Lucas Oil Stadium last night because not even Edward Bennett Williams would try to argue this case in front of a jury of Bill Belichick's peers. Maybe the Twinkie defense that got Dan White a reduced sentence after assasinating the mayor of San Francisco and a city councilman named Harvey Milk might work. A Bay area shrink named Martin Blinder convinced a jury that White's "capacity for rational thought" had been diminished by eating junk food so maybe there's a defense for anything. Anybody check Belichick's ..."
Peyton Manning picks Patriots apart in 4th quarter
Comment
November 16
Boston Herald
 
"There was a time when anything and everything the Patriots defense did to Peyton Manning made him cringe. They owned him. Those days seem so long ago. Nowadays, you get the feeling it's the other way around. The Pats are nothing more than his human puppets. That's sure the way it looked when Manning rallied the Colts from a 17-point, fourth-quarter deficit last night. "I got no words," said nose tackle Vince Wilfork, as he fled the locker room, dodging reporters following the devastating 35-34 loss. Manning had engineered an 18-point comeback in the 2006 AFC Championship Game, so this was nothing new in the Patriots/Colts rivalry, which early in this decade was lopsided in the Pats' favor, ..."
Colts capitalize on Patriots failure
Comment
November 16
Boston Herald
 
"With a record crowd of 67,476 inside Lucas Oil Stadium and millions watching from their living rooms, Bill Belichick's decision will not go unnoticed. It will be debated over and over and over. A high-powered showdown between NFL superpowers came down to a few inches on a failed fourth-down conversion, inches that separated the jubilant from the devastated, inches that allowed Peyton Manning one more crucial possession. Yet inside that Patriots locker room, following a gut-wrenching 35-34 loss to the Colts, there was no questioning of the call. Just regret at not being able to do what the coach asked of them. "You go out there, play well the whole game, then let it slip like that, it's bad ..."
Colts Pull Off Improbable Win as Patriots' Gamble Backfires
Comment
November 16
New York Times
 
"For most teams, failing to score after an interception and fumble recovery in the end zone on consecutive drives would signal disaster and send everyone home shaking their heads about squandered opportunities. Everyone left Lucas Oil Stadium shaking their heads Sunday night all right, but it was over one of the most confounding coaching decisions imaginable, a stunner by Bill Belichick that gave Peyton Manning a short field to engineer a stunning 35-34 comeback victory. Belichick has built a storied and championship-laden career on the back of his coaching acumen. But his decision to keep his offense on the field for fourth down needing 2 yards at the Patriots' 29 yard line with two ..."
Clark is a marked man
Comment
November 15
Indianapolis Star
 
"Dallas Clark is coming off one of the best games by a tight end in NFL history. The Colts veteran had a career-high 14 receptions in last Sunday's victory over Houston, one shy of tying the league record. Clark offered some advice as he looked ahead, beginning with tonight's prime-time clash with the New England Patriots in Lucas Oil Stadium. Don't get too used it, he said. "You can throw out that stat,'' Clark said. "(Houston) was a different game. We wanted to attack. We wanted to get them running, get them tired and try to take advantage of that. To do that, it's best when you throw the ball a lot. Quarterback Peyton Manning threw early, late and often. He had 25 attempts in the first ..."
Big game? Sure, with home field at stake
Comment
November 15
Indianapolis Star
 
"Here's theory No. 1 regarding the latest installment of Indianapolis Colts vs. New England Patriots, which unfolds this evening at Lucas Oil Stadium: It's just another game. "Just (number) nine of 16,'' Colts linebacker and defensive captain Gary Brackett insisted. "Just another game that's on the schedule,'' wide receiver Reggie Wayne chimed in. "Nothing more, nothing less. See them every year, like a divisional opponent.'' Theory No. 2: Theory No. 1 is a bunch a baloney. Anyone who dismisses tonight's prime-time heavyweight fight as just another bout on the card certainly has his priorities in order, but isn't a student of history. Recent history. The Colts and Patriots are meeting for a ..."
Colts vs. Patriots: Epic rivalry continues tonight
Comment
November 15
Indianapolis Star
 
"There's a guy in town, name is Larry Bird. Throughout the 1980s, he was one half of sport's greatest team and individual rivalry -- the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers, Bird and Magic Johnson. He, too, has heard all the talk from the Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots, how tonight's nationally televised game is . . . here it comes . . just another game. "Just another game," deadpanned Bird, the Indiana Pacers president. "Yeah, right. I don't buy any of it." In the 1980s, when Bird and Magic were saving the NBA, the Lakers and Celtics rarely played during the regular season, given the fact the two played in different conferences. But when that rare game or two got scheduled ..."
Transition from Dungy to Caldwell has been seamless for 8-0 Colts
Comment
November 15
Boston Globe
 
"Jim Caldwell has never been one to glorify himself. The message of Luke 14:11, which Caldwell often recites to keep himself grounded, was ingrained in the 54-year-old rookie coach of the Indianapolis Colts while he was growing up in Beloit, Wis. His parents, coaches, and teachers instilled in him the humility that, Caldwell says, "kept me on the right path.'' Caldwell is off to an impressive 8-0 start as Tony Dungy's successor in Year 1 A.D. (After Dungy). A disciple of Dungy, having served as an assistant under him one year in Tampa Bay (2001) and seven in Indianapolis as Peyton Manning's quarterbacks coach, Caldwell assumed the reins Jan. 13, almost a year after Colts owner Jim Irsay ..."
A night to choose sides
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November 15
Boston Globe
 
"You are a Tom Brady Guy or you are a Peyton Manning Guy. There is nothing in between. The Patriots play the Colts tonight in the marquee matchup of the NFL season. It's the league's annual sweeps spectacular; 33.8 million watched the 2007 game, which happens to be the only one of the last five won by the Patriots. Billions of words have been spilled regarding the history and relative strengths and weaknesses of the Pats and Ponies. But any way you carve it, this game comes down to Brady and Manning. They are the top two players in America's most popular sport. They are at the peaks of their respective careers. And they fight for the same prize every year."
7 reasons why Massachusetts is cooler than Indiana
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November 15
Boston Herald
 
"Author, Author! Indy native Kurt Vonnegut was great, but what say thee to literary heavy hitters Edgar Allen Poe, Henry David Thoreau, Emily Dickinson and the good Dr. Seuss? Musical theater: King of Pop Michael Jackson hailed from Gary, Ind.; Steven Tyler of Aerosmith is a Bay State transplant. Winner: The one still kicking. Team name: Our pro football team is named after the men who won America's independence; theirs is named after Paul Revere's mode of transportation. tate criminal: Indiana native John Dillinger would never survive a gunfight with Southie psycho Whitey Bulger. State Bird: Both states rightly claim French Lick native Larry Bird, but Massachusetts also produced baseball ..."
The Colts-Pats summit meetings
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November 15
Boston Herald
 
"When it comes to the role of summit meetings in affecting the balance of power, it doesn't get much meatier than Colts-Patriots matchups. The former division foes have squared off in each of the past six regular seasons, with the winner securing either the No. 1 or 2 seed in the AFC in five of those seasons. Furthermore, the victor of the annual meeting -- generally scheduled at midseason as a ratings boost for television's November sweeps period -- has gone on to play in the Super Bowl in four of the six seasons, winning three. If either team needs additional motivation today, consider this: Three times since 2003, the Colts and Patriots have had playoff rematches, with the winner of the ..."
Peyton Manning places Indy in big leagues
Comment
November 15
Boston Herald
 
"All eyes will be on Indianapolis tonight when the undefeated Colts square off against the Patriots in a nationally televised game and one of the most hyped pigskin pair-ups so far this season. But it's the camera shots of the Midwest city's skyline, vibrant riverfront downtown and first-class stadium that score points with tourism officials, who credit the team and its marquee quarterback with helping to reshape Indianapolis' image. "It's the rising tide that lifts all ships and in this case, Peyton Manning has been a tsunami," said Bill Benner of the Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association. The Colts' transformation from struggling team to Super Bowl champion has mirrored that of ..."
Game oversized exercise
Comment
November 15
Boston Herald
 
"As Big Games go, tonight's confrontation between the undefeated Indianapolis Colts and your New England Patriots is really not. It should be a good game. It certainly will be an entertaining game. It is guaranteed to be an interesting game. Maybe it is even a lowercase big game because of the history between these two teams the past 10 years or so. But the way it has been endlessly talked and written about for a week straight has been, frankly, far in excess of its true importance. If there had been this much discussion about the ramifications of hedge funds and credit default swaps, we wouldn't all be crossing relatives off our Christmas list to keep our credit card balance in check. ..."
A twist of fate for rookie Brandon Tate
Comment
November 15
Boston Herald
 
"Just two games after seeing his first NFL action, receiver and kick returner Brandon Tate was placed on injured reserve by the Patriots yesterday because of a knee injury, ending his rookie season. To fill Tate's spot on the roster, the Patriots activated quarterback/receiver Isaiah Stanback off the practice squad. Tate was activated off the non-football injury reserve list after Week 6, but suffered a knee injury last week vs. Miami. A third-round pick out of North Carolina, Tate saw action in two games and returned four kickoffs for 106 yards. With Stanback, the Patriots gain versatility, though the promotion does not necessarily mean he will play tonight. During Friday's practice, ..."
The five top determining factors tonight
Comment
November 15
Boston Herald
 
"To the players, this feels like a divisional game. And considering the Patriots and the Colts were in the old AFC East before realignment in 2002, that makes sense. "They're someone we play ever year," veteran Pats running back Kevin Faulk said. "I know when the schedule comes out, the Indianapolis Colts are going to be on it." Since the playoffs following the 2003 season, they've have met once a year, with both teams winning four games. It all contributed to a highly charged, intense atmosphere leading up to tonight's game. From Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning, to Manning vs. the Mastermind (Pats coach Bill Belichick), to defensive end Dwight Freeney vs. the Pats tackles ... and on and on. ..."
To contain Peyton Manning, Bill Belichick must think outside the box
Comment
November 15
Boston Herald
 
"We saw a great example of Bill Belichick's genius and outside-the-box thinking last Sunday when he moved Vince Wilfork over from his usual spot at nose tackle to defensive end in the Patriots 3-4 defense. With Richard Seymour long gone via trade and Jarvis Green hurt, the next choice for the five-technique end was Mike Wright, but that matchup wasn't favorable against Miami's 6-foot-7, 317-pound tackle Jake Long. So Belichick went with the man-mountain who usually impacts games over center. The switch had Miami flummoxed and confused. It stymied the Dolphins running game because running backs Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams couldn't get to the outside with big Vince holding down the edge ..."
Brown likely to return
Comment
November 14
Indianapolis Star
 
"Indianapolis Colts running back Donald Brown practiced for the third consecutive day Friday and looks to be a go Sunday, when New England visits Lucas Oil Stadium. "Donald looked good," Colts coach Jim Caldwell said. "Donald's very good." Brown hasn't played since the St. Louis game three weeks ago, when he gained 58 yards on two carries. He suffered a shoulder injury on the second, a 13-yard second-quarter run. "As of now," Brown said Friday of his prospect of playing, "I'm going." Less likely to be ready is back-up quarterback Jim Sorgi (throwing shoulder), who is questionable after not practicing all week. If Sorgi can't play, rookie Curtis Painter would back up Peyton Manning, who is ..."
Powers crams for biggest test yet
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November 14
Indianapolis Star
 
"Jerraud Powers always has been a step or two ahead of the pack. After his first season at Auburn University, he was named to the coaches' Southeastern Conference all-freshman team. As a sophomore, he was the Tigers' Defensive Player of the Year. After a competent junior season, he deemed himself ready. He moved on to the NFL, where, indeed, he proved ready. Powers became a first-week rookie starter at right cornerback for the Indianapolis Colts. That requires a rare talent, but Powers is more than that. He is a rare man.

"Jerraud acts as if he's been here on this earth before," Colts coach Jim Caldwell said. "He is just wise beyond his years in terms of the way in which ..."

Indanapolis Colts vs. New England Patriots: Time for annual meeting of legends
Comment
November 14
Indianapolis Star
 
"New England quarterback Tom Brady clearly recalls his first meeting on a football field with Indianapolis Colts counterpart Peyton Manning . It was Sept. 30, 2001, in Foxborough, Mass. Manning was in his fourth NFL season and already a celebrated two-time Pro Bowl player. Brady had completed six NFL passes for a total of 52 yards. He was a sixth-round draft pick in his second season. He was making his first start.

"Peyton came over on our field and said, 'Hey, I'm Peyton Manning,' " Brady remembered. "I said, 'No (kidding).' " Brady and Manning will renew their acquaintance Sunday evening, when the Colts meet the Patriots at Lucas Oil Stadium. It's ..."

Freeney carrying a sackful of expectations
Comment
November 14
Boston Globe
 
"When it comes to playing the Patriots, nothing seems to surprise Dwight Freeney. In fact, the Colts' career sacks leader (80) is eager to see what the Patriots have in store for him Sunday night at Lucas Oil Stadium. "They always have something,'' Freeney said. "One year, I was getting chipped by a receiver, then it was by the back, and then the tight end. Then another year, they acted like they were going to do it and they didn't do it at all. "It's kind of fun for me to go out there and find ways to have an impact on the game.''"
Finish work needed
Comment
November 14
Boston Globe
 
"There has been so much for the Patriots to cover it seemed as if there weren't enough days in the week for coach Bill Belichick. Not only are the Patriots concerned with stopping a Peyton Manning-led offense, they are looking to get their inconsistent offense back to its productive ways. "It's funny, after last week this seems like a short week,'' Belichick said. "It's really not, of course, it's a normal week, but after the bye week and the extra time we had for the Miami game, this one seems a little bit short. It's going by quickly."
Randy Moss: Rush not secondary
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November 14
Boston Herald
 
"There are quite a few analysts, Rodney Harrison included, who feel the Patriots can take advantage tomorrow of a banged-up Colts secondary that will be missing safety Bob Sanders, as well as corners Marlin Jackson and possibly Kelvin Hayden. What does Randy Moss think? Can the Pats exploit the Colts' young backups - rookies Jerraud Powers and Jacob Lacey - much like they took advantage of the Dolphins' first-year players last week? "No. I think people are making too much out of their secondary being hurt," Moss said yesterday. "They pay their guys to go out there to make plays. We also get a check, too. But I'm not looking at it as a young secondary." For those thinking Moss didn't want to ..."
Ben Watson lets play, not stats, do talking
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November 14
Boston Herald
 
"This week, Scouts Inc. rated the top 10 tight ends in the NFL. The Patriots' Benjamin Watson didn't make the list. He didn't even warrant an honorable mention nod. That hardly seems right. Although Watson has been plagued by inconsistent play and injuries during past years, his performance this season has been rock solid. Whether it's blocking or catching the football, Watson is off to one of his best starts. He's gone from a possible casualty on cutdown day before the season to a vital cog in the offense. He's made the type of highlight-reel catches that were expected while also serving as a commanding blocker. And not even an honorable mention? "I'm not going to let critics consume me," ..."
Jed Hoyer in Peyton's place
Comment
November 14
Boston Herald
 
"If the Patriots defense is prepared for Colts quarterback Peyton Manning tomorrow, the unit may want to thank Brian Hoyer. The Pats backup QB has been playing the role of Manning for the scout team, a job Hoyer admitted was fairly fun. Along the way, he has impressed his teammates. "No one can really come in and mimic Peyton Manning, but he did do a good job of (trying) to do it," linebacker Adalius Thomas said yesterday. "(Manning) is so demonstrative, and you don't know what some of the things he's doing mean. But Hoyer did a good job." Coach Bill Belichick went out of his way to praise the undrafted free agent from Michigan State, saying he's done more than simply run the plays that ..."
Indianapolis is home, but Rosevelt Colvin dwells on Pats
Comment
November 14
Boston Herald
 
"Rosevelt Colvin has a collection of football helmets on display at the UPS store he owns in Indianapolis, each of them representing a stop on the retired - or maybe we should say semi-retired - linebacker's long and winding gridiron road. He has a helmet from junior high school . . . from Broad Ripple High School . . . from Purdue . . . from the Chicago Bears and, of course, from the Patriots. He also has a white helmet on which appears the NFL logo. There is no helmet from the 32-year-old Indianapolis native's hometown Colts. Nevermind that he grew up rooting for the Colts, or that, when he was in high school, he sold popcorn at the RCA Dome, which was the Colts' home field in those days. ..."
Practicing good health
Comment
November 14
Boston Herald
 
"At the least, the Colts have another factor to think about. At the most, the Patriots have the core of their team back. Seven players who did not participate in practices this week - including several not seen on the Gillette Stadium fields for weeks - made unexpected appearances yesterday. After suffering injuries of all kinds, most were back to work. There was left tackle Matt Light, who has missed three games with a knee injury. There was running back Sammy Morris (torn MCL) and receiver Julian Edelman (broken forearm), both of whom were hurt against the Titans. And center Dan Koppen, who crumpled to the turf holding his knee last week. Don't forget special teamer Eric Alexander ..."
A New Cast Doesn't Slow Peyton Manning
Comment
November 14
New York Times
 
"After the season ended each year, Peyton Manning would walk into Tony Dungy's office clutching a notebook with a list of his perceived weaknesses and things to work on. Last season, there was no meeting. Instead, Dungy called Manning to tell him he was retiring as the coach. But there was still the list. And because it appeared that the only offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Manning had known in the pros were retiring too, the list was longer than ever. "This has been a different type of year," Manning said Wednesday. "This year was really curious." It may be Manning's finest. With two of his top three wide receivers from last season gone (Marvin Harrison into the netherworld ..."
Time for annual meeting of legends
Comment
November 13
Indianapolis Star
 
"New England quarterback Tom Brady clearly recalls his first meeting on a football field with Indianapolis Colts counterpart Peyton Manning. It was Sept. 30, 2001, in Foxborough, Mass. Manning was in his fourth NFL season and already a celebrated two-time Pro Bowl player. Brady had completed six NFL passes for a total of 52 yards. He was a sixth-round draft pick in his second season. He was making his first start. "Peyton came over on our field and said, 'Hey, I'm Peyton Manning,' " Brady remembered. "I said, 'No (kidding).' " Brady and Manning will renew their acquaintance Sunday evening, when the Colts meet the Patriots at Lucas Oil Stadium. It's another episode in the NFL's ..."