Colts pointing fingers after loss

After a very disappointing loss to the New Orleans Saints in the Super Bowl, the Indianapolis Colts have let the finger-pointing commence.

Quarterback Peyton Manning already made it clear he was upset with some of the conservative play-calling leading into halftime.

President Bill Polian hasn’t been shy to dish out the criticism either, blaming the offensive line and special teams for the loss.

He said that the offensive line did not play up to their capabilities while the special teams made a number of mistakes that really cost them.

Polian said that the team was prepared well and knew what they had to do to win the game, but that it came down to poor execution.

Thursday, February 11, 2010 at 6:37 pm by steve

Colts stunned by Saints, 31-17

The Indianapolis Colts saw a first-half lead evaporate and their Super Bowl hopes go up in flames in a 31-17 loss to the New Orleans Saints.

The Colts seemed to have complete control of the game for most of the first half, although a slight momentum shift seemed to start near halftime.

The game completely changed when the Saints caught the Colts by surprise with an onside kick to start the second half and recovered it.

They quickly drove down the field to score a touchdown to take a 13-10 lead, but the Colts then answered back again to go up 17-13.

The Saints then ran off 18 unanswered points, which included a field goal, touchdown, two-point conversion and then an interception returned all the way back that sealed the victory.

at 1:39 pm by steve

Freeney Sits, Wayne Practices Day Before Super Bowl

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

Super Bowl preview

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

Manning likely to become highest paid QB

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

Wayne injures knee in practice

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.

at 7:03 am by steve

Freeney has torn ligaments in ankle

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

Freeney’s Ankle Continues to Heal

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

Colts Planning on Record Deal for Manning

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.

at 8:12 pm by bryan