In my line of work, we spend time at the beginning of each of the year, the quarter and the month outlining the key messages we want to convey to our audience. Sometimes the key message is tactical, like the status of a project. Sometimes it reflects a strategic goal, like growing a profitable business, or focusing on developing people.
This edition of Luke Links is named after what appears to be the key message emanating from the Colts these days - that things are as we expect them to be. The rookies are going to make mistakes, the coaching job is an extremely busy one, and the veterans are already working to improve. In Jim Caldwell's lexicon, "it's what it is."
FROM THE SADDLE
Official Team News
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John Oehser (Colts.com) Jim Caldwell points out that things are as expected for the rookies, and praises the professionalism of the team. He also confirms that the return game is less than ideal.
- John Oehser Javarris James got a lot of calls, but was waiting for one from a specific team
- John Oehser Peyton and Brackett made quite an impression on Jerry Hughes when they delivered a message to remember
- Jeffrey Gorman (Colts) goes one-on-one with Pat Angerer, Ricard Mathews and Jacques McClendon
GREEN APPLES AND ROAD APPLES
Positive and Negative Analysis
- Eric Peterson (INFORUM) Pierre Garcon continues his relief efforts for Haiti
- John Oehser (Indy Football Report) takes a pre-OTA look at both the offense and the defense
- Phil Richards (Indy Star) profiles Chris Polian
- Mike Chappell (indy Star) answers readers' questions, and reports that Ray Fisher and Brandon James are eager to put Peyton Manning in better starting position this year
- Nate Dunlevy (18to88.com) continues his series on what we can expect from our new draftees, including Ricardo Mathews, Kavell Conner, and the return game
- USA Today places the Colts atop the power rankings. That's useful. They also prefer Belichick and Pioli to Polian in terms of personnel management.
- Andy Benoit (NY Times) calls Peyton tops in the league. He rates Dallas Clark as the #5 TE, and Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis #1 and #8 DEs, respectively.
- John Oehser (Red Line Editorial) Antoine Bethea is proud of his ability to stay on the field
OUTSIDE THE STABLE
Around the League
- Aaron Wilson (National Football Post) reports that Jaguars' DE Bryan Smith is out for the season with a torn ACL
- Bryan Mullen (The Tennessean) The devastating floods in Tennessee have impacted LP Field, but it appears the Titans' practice facility has been spared
- Richard Justice (Houston Chronicle) Texans' owner Bob McNair expects his team to be a playoff team this year
- John Clayton (ESPN) The offseason is full of hope for teams who have not been successful lately
- Peter King (Sports Illustrated) summarizes the trouble for key members of the Saints should the charges of vicodin theft be proven