NEWS
One day before the Super Bowl, the Indianapolis Colts are facing a number of injury questions.
All-Pro pass rusher Dwight Freeney, who tore ligaments in his ankle late in the Colts’ 30-17 win over the New York Jets in the AFC Championship game, remains an uncertainty for the Super Bowl as he sat out of the Colts’ practice on Saturday.
Freeney isn’t the only injury question for the Colts—rookie cornerback Jerraud Powers returned to practice on Friday, three weeks after having surgery to repair a fracture in his foot. Powers participated lightly in practice on Saturday.
“He [Freeney] and Powers both are better than yesterday. It’s still day to day,” Colts coach Jim Caldwell said.
Receiver Reggie Wayne appeared to put his injury concerns to rest; after tweaking his knee during Friday’s practice, as Caldwell sounded confident that Wayne would participate in the Super Bowl.
In the long run, these guys are football players. Presuming they’re risking no long term damage and/or they won’t be damaging their team by participating, they’ll all almost definitely be playing tomorrow.
Saturday, February 6, 2010 at 6:58 pm by bryan · No Comments
The Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints are set for what could be a fantastic Super Bowl showdown.
These are the two teams that everyone wanted to see meet in the big game as the season progressed.
The Colts and Saints are probably the two best offensive teams in football, and both have aggressive, underrated defenses.
The Saints have a slightly more balanced offensive attack, but the Colts probably have the more dangerous offense because of Peyton Manning.
New Orleans is very aggressive defensively, but the Colts continued to fly under the radar despite all their recent postseason success. Colts 31, Saints 20.
at 11:16 am by steve · No Comments
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning is likely to become the highest paid player at his position.
Owner Jim Irsay wants to sign Manning to an extension in the offseason to reflect his outstanding career.
Manning’s current contract expires after the 2010 season, which has to be a little bit concerning for the Colts.
It’s highly doubtful that Manning would leave for somewhere else, but you never know what could happen.
A new contract would likely keep the star quarterback in Indianapolis for the remainder of his career.
at 11:12 am by steve · No Comments
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne injured his right knee in practice and had to leave 20 minutes early.
With the Super Bowl now just hours away, Wayne certain has given the team a serious scare.
Apparently, it was a re-aggravation of an injury to the soft tissue above his kneecap. Wayne played most of the season with the injury.
Head coach Jim Caldwell said he is listed as probable on the injury report and has no doubts that he will take the field and start.
The Colts remain mum as to the status of injured defensive end Dwight Freeney, who appears to be closer to playing but is nowhere close to a sure bet.
Indianapolis Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney has torn ligaments in his ankle and is questionable to play in the Super Bowl.
Freeney injured his ankle with two minutes to play in the AFC championship game when he stepped on an opponent’s foot.
The pass-rusher immediately started hobbling around, but he was able to finish out the game.
The Colts continue to say that Freeney just has a sprained ankle and that he is receiving treatment.
Losing Freeney would be a huge blow for the Colts in their effort to rattle quarterback Drew Brees and the explosive Saints passing game.
Friday, February 5, 2010 at 10:32 am by steve · No Comments
As Super Bowl Sunday creeps closer, Colts’ Pro Bowl defensive end Dwight Freeney continues to rehabilitate a torn ligament in his ankle, as he still hopes to play in the big game on Sunday.
“It’s better than yesterday, and yesterday was better than the day before,” Freeney said. “It’s a slow progression right now, but that’s where it is. Every morning I wake up, and it feels a little better.”
Freeney has been doing everything in his power to heal his torn ligament, which he suffered with approximately two minutes left in the Colts’ 30-17 victory over the Jets in the AFC Championship game. He’s been icing the injury, resting in a hyperbaric chamber, and walking around in sand around the Colts’ hotel to toughen up the ankle.
“Sometimes walking is good because it keeps things fluid,” Freeney said Wednesday. “You hear people say he should be in a boot or something. But sometimes it can get stiff, and you’ve got to get that motion back in the ankle. It gets the blood flowing, so I’ve been walking around barefoot and in the sand.”
Freeney remains questionable for the game, but there’s little to no chance he practices this week leading up to the game. He’ll likely be a game-time decision by Colts coach Jim Caldwell.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010 at 8:19 pm by bryan · No Comments
With the Colts preparing for the Super Bowl this week, at least one person in the Colts administration is keeping his eye on the long-term future of the franchise.
Colts owner Jim Irsay confirmed on Tuesday that negotiations to retain Colts QB Peyton Manning, locking him up as a Colt for life, will after the season ends, with Manning’s soon-to-be deal assured to be record-breaking.
“You know it’s going to get done,” Irsay said during media day interviews. “I think it’s clear, and we’ll start on it this summer. That’s been the way we do things [to hammer out an extension when a player is entering the final year of his contract]. And it’ll be the biggest [contract] in history; there’s not much doubt about that.”
Manning’s contract is set to expire after the end of the 2010 season, ironically right along with Patriots QB Tom Brady’s deal. The Colts said that they will keep a close eye on the Patriots/Brady negotiations, but that they fully expect to give Manning as much money as they possibly can.
“It simply comes to one question, and that’s replaceability,” Irsay explained. “Everything is based on the replaceability factor. You make decisions based on who you can afford to target and keep. … Other guys you really want to [re-sign] you might have trouble doing it, because of what it costs you, and how much attention they’re getting [from other teams in free agency]. We don’t have that luxury and we’ve had to work hard.”
With 2010 looming as a potentially uncapped year, Manning could be in line to receive an absurd amount of money. ESPN’s Len Pasquarelli suggested that Manning could command $20 million/year, with a $50 million signing bonus.
Indianapolis Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney sprained his right ankle last week but expects to play in the Super Bowl.
With about two minutes remaining in the game, Freeney was hurt while trying to rush the passer.
Freeney is an undersized defensive end who relies on speed to get to the quarterback, so the health of his ankle is very important.
If he is not 100 percent healthy, it will likely severely limit his effectiveness in getting to the quarterback.
The Colts have played without the oft-injured Freeney plenty of times, but could really use him in the biggest game of the year.
Friday, January 29, 2010 at 5:43 pm by steve · No Comments
The Indianapolis Colts played a flawless second half to take down the New York Jets, 30-17, and advance to the Super Bowl.
The Colts got off to a sluggish start, and the offense seemed surprised at the aggressive defense of the Jets in the early going.
Indianapolis made the proper halftime adjustments, and the offense was humming in the second half.
Quarterback Peyton Manning had a huge day, throwing for 377 yards and three touchdowns. Austin Collie also had a big day, as did Pierre Garcon.
The Colts will face off against the New Orleans Saints in a battle of the two teams that chased perfect regular season records.
The Indianapolis Colts used another strong defensive effort to take down the Baltimore Ravens, 20-3.
In the last three meetings between the two teams, the Colts have held the Ravens without a touchdown.
Those three meetings include two playoff showdowns, so the Colts defense deserves a lot of credit.
The offense did its share too, turning a close game into a significant advantage right before halftime.
Peyton Manning led the Colts to two touchdowns right before halftime, giving them a 14-point lead.
Friday, January 22, 2010 at 6:48 pm by steve · No Comments
