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Indianapolis Colts Injuries

Probable

Player Injury Type Injury Date
Matt Stover calf 02/07/2010
Aaron Francisco hand 02/07/2010
Joseph Addai shoulder 02/07/2010
Antoine Bethea back 02/07/2010
Gary Brackett knee 02/07/2010
Ryan Diem knee 02/07/2010
Charlie Johnson foot 02/07/2010
Ryan Lilja back 02/07/2010
Robert Mathis shoulder 02/07/2010
Adam Vinatieri hip 02/07/2010
Reggie Wayne knee 02/07/2010
Melvin Bullitt knee 02/07/2010
Tony Ugoh knee 02/07/2010
Antonio Johnson shoulder 02/07/2010
Mike Hart ankle 02/07/2010
Jamey Richard shoulder 02/07/2010
Jacob Tamme ankle 02/07/2010
Donald Brown foot 02/07/2010

Questionable

Player Injury Type Injury Date
Dwight Freeney ankle 02/07/2010
Jerraud Powers foot 02/07/2010

Out (IR / Out / Suspended / Physically unvailable)

Player Injury Type Injury Date
Daniel Federkeil concussion 11/22/2009
Tyjuan Hagler biceps 11/04/2009
Marlin Jackson knee 11/05/2009
Bob Sanders biceps 11/06/2009
Jim Sorgi shoulder 12/09/2009
Anthony Gonzalez knee 12/24/2009
Tom Santi back 01/02/2010

Indianapolis Colts Roster

AFC South Standings

W L T PF PA
Indianapolis 14 2 0 416 307
Houston 9 7 0 388 333
Tennessee 8 8 0 354 402
Jacksonville 7 9 0 290 380

(updated 1.4.2010 at 4:48 AM EST)


Offseason schedule/preview

Bethea and Jennings' offseason status will depend on whether a new CBA is reached before March 5th. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

More photos » Michael Conroy - AP

Bethea and Jennings' offseason status will depend on whether a new CBA is reached before March 5th. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

  • Feb 24- Mar 2  NFL scouting combine
  • March 5th  New league year begins, Cap removed if a new CBA is not in place, Free agency begins
  • April 22-24   NFL Draft


Colts Free Agents

Exclusive Rights (cannot sign with any other team if they are offered a 1 year, league minimum deal)

Restricted (can be offered one of 4 tenders that allow the team the option of matching any contract offered, and requires draft pick compensation from the signing team (round depending on the tender offered, high salary tender=high pick compensation) if the offer is not matched.

Currently in limbo, (if a new CBA is signed these players with be unrestricted free agents, if one is not, the cap is removed and these players are restricted free agents under the CBA's uncapped rules)

RFA tenders are: 1st and 3rd round picks (2.79mil last year), 1st round (was 2.2mil), 2nd round (was 1.55mil) and the low tender (was 1.01mil) which has compensation equal to the players original draft round. In addition if the tender amount is less than 110% the players previous salary, the tender amount is 110% the players previous years' salary rather than the normal amount.

Unrestricted, (free to sign anywhere)

Colts Draft picks

1 (31)

2 (63)

3 (95)

4, 5, and 7's placement within the draft will be effected by compensatory picks. The Colts 6th rounder this year was traded to Philly to the 7th rounder used to select Pat McAfee

 

Compensatory picks, each year 32 total picks are added to the draft on the end of the 3rd through 7th rounds in compensation for unrestricted free agents lost. The Colts lost 4 players who could net them extra late round picks. Darrell Reid (3yr, 6.8mil), Keiwan Ratliff (1yr 630K) Hunter Smith (1 yr, 899K) and Dominic Rhodes (2 yrs, 2.55mil).

 

So, that's the plan. The draft/free agency talk kicks off here. Build us a Colts roster that'll be even better than this years excellent team.

664 comments  |  0 recs |

Yes, the two-point conversation call was indeed a blown call

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Lance Moore (16) makes a catch on a 2-point conversion while defended by Indianapolis Colts cornerback Jacob Lacey (27) during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl XLIV football game in Miami, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2010. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

More photos » Mark J. Terrill - AP

about 22 hours ago: New Orleans Saints wide receiver Lance Moore (16) makes a catch on a 2-point conversion while defended by Indianapolis Colts cornerback Jacob Lacey (27) during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl XLIV football game in Miami, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2010. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

The Saints scoring on the two-point conversion was indeed a blown call.

Does that "devalue" the Saints winning the Super Bowl? No, but it was still a pretty big blown call. The radio announcers for Westwood One were particularly upset with how the refs overturned the call on the field of an incomplete pass, which it was. Lance Moore did not have complete possession of the football as it crossed the goal line plane when the Saints were trying to take a 24-17 lead. A ref was right there, watching the catch, two feet away and made the correct call. Replay over-turned it, but the explanation for the over-turned call was very poor.

Here's the official explanation from outgoing NFL V.P. of officiating Mike Pereira (via NFL spokesman Greg Aiello):  "By rule, when a receiver with possession of the ball is in the act of going to the ground and performs a second act by reaching out to break the plane, that completes the process of the catch and the ball is dead when it breaks the plane."

But that's not what the rule says.  Here's the operative language:  "If a player goes to the ground in the act of catching a pass (with or without contact by an opponent), he must maintain control of the ball after he touches the ground, whether in the field of play or the end zone.  If he loses control of the ball, and the ball touches the ground before he regains control, the pass is incomplete.  If he regains control prior to the ball touching the ground, the pass is complete."

Basically, Pereira is applying an interpretation based on the assumption that Moore, while falling, secured possession and pushed the ball deeper across the goal line, before losing possession.

Again, that's not what the rule says.  It says that if the player is going to the ground in the act of catching a pass, he must maintain control after he touches the ground.  Not during, but after.  In other words, he must keep the ball until he comes to rest.

In the end, it was not a major play that necessarily decided the outcome. It's just another example of how all the breaks went the Saints way.

109 comments  |  0 recs |

BBS Photos from Super Bowl 44

These were taken before, during, and after. Hope you enjoy. All photos were taken with the <plug> Spint Pal Pre phone. </plug>

Cimg0679_medium

Continue reading this post »

5 comments  |  0 recs |

Allow me to disagree with Peter King

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Pierre Garcon (85) is shoved by New Orleans Saints cornerback Usama Young (28) after making a touchdown reception during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl XLIV football game in Miami, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2010. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

More photos » Mark J. Terrill - AP

1 day ago: Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Pierre Garcon (85) is shoved by New Orleans Saints cornerback Usama Young (28) after making a touchdown reception during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl XLIV football game in Miami, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2010. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

From Peter King:

I can't get over the Pierre Garçon drop in the second quarter. Might have been the biggest play in the game.

I don't know about that. For me, giving up two TD drives in two key, critical moments in the game were the key "plays" in the game; the TD off the onside kick, and the TD after the missed Matt Stover FG. Again, you pay defensive players to come up with critical stops at critical times. Those were two critical times, and the Colts didn't stop them.

I'm not throwing the defense under the bus or anything. I'm just saying that if the Saints are stopped on any of those drives, the Colts win. Harping on a dropped ball in the second quarter is a bit much, especially since Garçon played so well for much of the game. The play of the game was the onside kick. Before that, the play of the game was the Colts stuffing the Saints on the goal line. The Colts just didn't make enough plays on defense to win. That is, really, the bottom line, and part of the reason for that was because Drew Brees played brilliant football.

Man, it's weird disagreeing with Peter and not calling him a "douchebag." I think he used some kind of Tibetan mind control on me as we sat in the hotel bar a few nights ago and talked football.

Oh, and if you haven't read our interview with Peter King, here it is again. I'd like to thank him again for taking the time to talk. Remember, King blew off Tunison, (because, you know, Tunison is a schmuck and all) but said yes to me. Yet another reason to not insult Peter King. In fact, we will praise him. Yay PK!

36 comments  |  0 recs |

KSK is funny, but Mike Tunison is kind of a cowardly little bitch. I approached him in good faith during Super Bowl week, said hi, and he kind of blew me off like the uppity little prick he very much comes off as in his writing. Whatever. We never spoke the rest of the week, and I think the guy did maybe two hours of total work the entire time he was in Miami. He spent most of the time in the media workroom watching You Tube videos (I think midget porn, but no proof, yet). Also, based on how Tunison carries himself, I doubt he'll ever had the balls to say any of the the stuff he writes to my face, because he certainly didn't do so when he had the chance all week. But hey, that's why Mike is Mike, double chin and all. Nice backpack, douchebag.

about 12 hours ago Stampedeblue_tiny BigBlueShoe 57 comments 0 recs

Post-Super Bowl Hangover: Colts Fan Edition

Indianapolis Colts fans Noah Smith, left, of Zionsville, Ind., and Gage Simpson, of Saratoga, N.Y., react to the Colts' 31-17 loss to the New Orleans Saints, as they watch the broadcast of the NFL football game at a Super Bowl party at restaurant in Indianapolis on Sunday, Feb. 7, 2010. (AP Photo/Tom Strickland)

More photos » Tom Strickland - AP

about 21 hours ago: Indianapolis Colts fans Noah Smith, left, of Zionsville, Ind., and Gage Simpson, of Saratoga, N.Y., react to the Colts' 31-17 loss to the New Orleans Saints, as they watch the broadcast of the NFL football game at a Super Bowl party at restaurant in Indianapolis on Sunday, Feb. 7, 2010. (AP Photo/Tom Strickland)

Anger and frustration from the loss will likely linger for a few days. That's OK. In fact, it's expected. You wouldn't be a fan if you weren't mad, angry, confused, frustrated, looking to assess blame, etc. It's human nature. It's fan nature.

The Colts out-gained the Saints by 100 yards. They out-rushed them 99 yards to 51; 5.2 a carry to 2.8. Peyton Manning was not sacked, and completed 68% of his passes. The longest play the Colts gave up on defense the entire game was a 21 yard catch by Lance Moore.

In the end, the game came down to two drives: The Saints driving for a TD after their successful onside kick, and the Saints scoring a TD after Matt Stover's missed 51 yard FG.

If the Colts defense stops the Saints on either of those drives, they likely win the ballgame. Drew Brees completed 86% of his passes, and most of them were dinks, dunks, and screens. However, when he got in the red zone on those two key drives, they scored TDs. That's why they won, and the Colts lost.

Again, I was at the game live, and I do not think this is the kind of thing were we, as fans, can point fingers at any one thing or person and say "HIM! He's why we lost." Getting mad at Jim Caldwell for asking Matt Stover to make a 51 yard FG is silly. Stover was making those kicks in warm-ups. He just missed it. It's nothing more complicated than that. And getting mad at Stover doesn't make sense either. Stover was great all year, and the team is not playing in the Super Bowl without him.

Here's the bottom line: The Colts came out hot, got a lead, and looked in great shape. However, a team (the Colts) that never gives up leads, did. They then got the lead back, taking a 17-16 advantage, but then proceeded to give it right back to the Saints. Brees in the fourth quarter was magnificent. This wasn't a game of mistakes or bad judgment. Even Manning's INT was a good throw. Tracy Porter just made a great play. It's really nothing more than that. I guess the frustration comes from the fact that the Colts did all the right things to win, but didn't. The Saints just made more plays. Their defense came through in the clutch. Ours didn't. 

After the game, Dwight Freeney told reporters that his ankle was very painful. Gutty performance by D Free last night. Who knows how this game would have gone if he played healthy. But, that's football.

Again, I caution all of you to not fall into the traps laid by simplistic morons who have no genitals and likely have a stash of child porn somewhere on their hard-drives. Schmucks like these make stupid generalizations about things the don't understand. Manning did not "choke." He played brilliantly. Every reporter near me last night was saying that. Brees just played a bit better. Sean Payton gambled on several calls, and won them. The fourth down goal-line call in the second quarter was bad for them. The onside kick to start the second half was good. This game was all about the Saints feeding off the very pro-Saints crowd and using that energy to push them over the top. Reporters all around me covering Super Bowls for years stated they'd never seen a team have such a crowd advantage in a Super Bowl.

And, in the end, we didn't lose to a chump team with a bunch of schmucks running the show. We lost to a team that had been through a lot. There was also a lot of mutual respect between both clubs after the game. In the bowels of the stadium afterward, as Jeff Saturday was leaving to get on the team bus, Jonathan Vilma run up to him and told him something in his ear. Jeff turned to him and said he appreciated whatever Vilma told him. They hugged and parted ways.

For us, it's just a tough game to take, but the reality is our team had a tremendous season. No Bob Sanders. No Anthony Gonzalez. No Marlin Jackson. No Adam Vinatieri. A re-shuffled offensive line. Injuries to Freeney. New head coach. New defensive coordinator. And yet, they make it to the Super Bowl. They took a young team and squeezed the most of of it. Guys like Pierre Garçon and Austin Collie really developed into big play, big game receivers. Joseph Addai and Donald Brown have what it takes. And, of course, Peyton Manning is still God.

No need to hang our heads. No need to think this was a lost season. With the core group we have, the Colts will always have a chance. This will NOT be the last Super Bowl this group has seen. That, I promise you. Write that down. Carve it into your forehead. Chisel it in stone. We. Will. Be. Back.

Go Colts!

121 comments  |  0 recs |

Colts lose Super Bowl 44; Saints 31 - Colts 17

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Lance Moore (16) makes catch on a 2-point conversion while defended by Indianapolis Colts cornerback Jacob Lacey (27) during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl XLIV football game in Miami, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2010. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

More photos » Mark J. Terrill - AP

about 22 hours ago: New Orleans Saints wide receiver Lance Moore (16) makes catch on a 2-point conversion while defended by Indianapolis Colts cornerback Jacob Lacey (27) during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl XLIV football game in Miami, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2010. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

It's a very bitter pill to swallow, but the facts are that the Saints were better. Despite the Colts out-rushing and out-gaining the Saints, the Saints made the plays to win and the Colts didn't. It's easy to place the blame on Peyton Manning, and Manning-haters will likely do so.

Ignore them.

Manning did all he could, throwing for over 333 yards and a score. However, in the end, the Saints offense simply could not be stopped in the second half. Because the Saints offense was so dominant in the second half, this forced Manning to take chances in the fourth quarter, down 24-17 with a little over 5:00 left. And with chances come turnovers. Thus, the pick six, which was really a great play by Indiana University alum Tracy Porter, who has had one helluva playoff run. Porter jumped Wayne's route, and the gamble paid off. As shake n bake so accurately put it, most of the Saints gambles paid off.

Can't give enough respect and props to Purdue alum Drew Brees. His running game was totally shut down, and without any truly big plays, he was able to carve up the Colts secondary for 288 yards and 2 TDs. Also, the fake kick called by Saints head coach Sean Payton was tremendous.

In the end, the Saints were just a bit better. The score does not give justice to how close and how exciting this game was. I give major props to Joseph Addai and the running game. They came to play. The defense contained Reggie Bush and the Saints running game. Dwight Freeney was able to make an impact, getting a key sack.

But, again, it just was not enough. Hats off to the Saints. If a "good guy" team beat us, it was them. It's a wonderful story that they won. Dave of Canal Street Chronicles is next to me, and he's damn near crying. I know for many of you this does not comfort you, but I must admit that it is a little overwhelming to see the fans here reacting to the Saints winning. This stadium was so loud for them, it might as well have been a home game for them.

I want to thank all of you posters and readers for contributing today and all throughout the week. We will have more fallout throughout the evening, including our own post game quotes and photos from the locker rooms.

Chin up, Colts fans. This was a helluva season; a season no one expected our guys to have. No shame in losing to the Saints. As always, keep the haters at bay.

Go Colts!

1325 comments  |  3 recs |

Quick Recap, Great gamblers win sometimes

Sean Payton's big swinging pair was on display as the Saints gambled and won. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

More photos » Chris O'Meara - AP

Sean Payton's big swinging pair was on display as the Saints gambled and won. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

As is their style, the Saints played an aggressive risky gameplan. As with the previous 18 games their gambles paid off. Calling the Saints gamblers is not a slap at their talent. A team that isn't elite doesn't make it to the Super Bowl, let alone be close enough to put the game on the line.

The Saints went for it on 4th down on the goal line, they opened the 2nd half with a surprise onside attempt, and Tracy Porter put the exclamation point on the game in a style that perfectly reflects the Saints attitude. Up just a score the Saints stayed aggressive. Porter jumped Reggie Wayne's route, risking the tying TD, but his success ended the game on the spot.

The Saints made it to the Super Bowl and were in position to win because they are a Championship worthy team, they won because their gambling style succeeded more than it failed them.

86 comments  |  0 recs |

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