Colts Gab

Colts RB Joesph Addai has been named as the AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his outing against the Panthers Sundau.  “Our offensive line, the offense and defense all around was doing a great job,” Addai said Wednesday “I was able to be in a situation to make plays and that’s what happened.”  Addai rushed for 100 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries in the Colts’ 31-7 victory. Addai also caught a four-yard touchdown pass from Colts quarterback Peyton Manning.

Colts owner and CEO Jim Irsay announced to fans today during a special Colts Blue Tuesday rally that they’ll have a chance to win five authentic Super Bowl 41 rings.  During the announcement which took place on monument circle, downtown, Irsay said, “We’re making history in the NFL today by showing how much we value our fans, fans that we know are the best in the world.”  The Quest For The Ring Contest, is an opportunity never before made available to the public.  Entrants will have to prevail through three stages, with the final challenge, being held during halftime of the Indianapolis Colts home game on December 2nd, 2007.  All proceeds will be donated to Indiana charities through the Indianapolis Colts Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit organization.  For a complete list of contest details and rules, click on the:  Quest for the Ring link.

As the Colts prepare for their game with the Patriots, ticket prices for fans are in the high-end range now.  eBay auctioneers, scalpers and online brokers are hoping to get as much as $55-hundred for exclusive club seating.  TicketNow.com is offering tickets at prices a little lower, around $12-hundred for a lower-level sideline seat and $1,659 for a seat in a VIP suite.  The 7-and-0 Colts host the 8-and-0 Patriots Sunday at the RCA Dome.

The Colts are calling for all hands on deck Sunday for their monster showdown with the Patriots at the RCA Dome, and with it are hoping that they have back 8-time Pro Bowl receiver Marvin Harrison and starting cornerback Marlin Jackson.  Harrison was held back from playing Sunday’s game at Carolina against the Panthers with his sore left knee.  He had played the week before at Jacksonville, but Tony Dungy felt it was in the best interest of Harrison’s long term health to give him the game off.  He hurt the knee the first time in week four at home vs the Broncos.

As for Jackson, Dungy was optimistic that he would be back after leaving Sunday’s game vs the Panthers in the third quarter with a neck injury.  The injury took place after jarring the ball loose from Panthers tight end Jeff King.  Another player held out Sunday that should be back is linebacker Freddy Keiaho, a first-year starter.  He sat out the Carolina game with a head injury.

Joseph Addai carried the ball for 100 yards and three touchdowns as the Colts ran over the Carolina Panthers 31-7 at Bank of America Stadium.  Peyton Manning threw for two touchdown passes and moved ahead Johnny Unitas as the franchise’s career leader in TD strikes.  Reggie Wayne caught seven passes for 168 yards, including a 59-yard touchdown bomb to seal the victory.  With the win, the Colts became only the second team in NFL history start three straight seasons 7-and-0.  The Colts host the 8-and-0 Patriots next week in Indianapolis.  Vinny Testaverde got his second start but could not generate much offense.  He went 12-for-20 with 82 yards and an interception before being pulled in favor of David Carr, who threw for 103 yards.  DeShawn Fosters’ three-yard touchdown run was the only highlight for the 4-and-3 Panthers.

The Indianapolis Colts, at least for the foreseeable future, have a backup quarterback for Peyton Manning (sounds almost contradictory, doesn’t it?).  QB Jim Sorgi has signed an extension to his current contract that will keep him in Indianapolis until the 2010 season.  Matt Brei, Sorgi’s agent, confirmed the signing but would not divulge the financial details.  Sorgi has been Manning’s backup since the Colts drafted him back in 2004.  He has played in ten games, completing 59-of-90 passes for 619 yards with 5 touchdowns and only 1 interception.

Updating a story earlier from today, the Colts have ruled wide out Marvin Harrison out for tomorrow’s showdown with the Panthers in Carolina.  Harrison’s knee is not healed enough to let him go, despite him playing in Jacksonville on Monday night in the convincing win over the Jags.  The team also announced that strong side Linebacker Freddy Keiaho will miss the game.  Keiaho will miss the contest with post-concussion syndrome.

Colts wide out Marvin Harrison may or may not play Sunday depending on pregame warmups when he takes the field in Carolina.  Harrison will try his left knee out, and if it is not stable enough, he will sit.  He missed practice again on Friday and coach Tony Dungy said that his status was “iffy” since he didn’t practice.  Harrison hurt the knee back on September 30th in a win at home over Denver.  He didn’t play against the Bucs the following week, and did play Monday night vs the Jags and caught just three passes for 16 yards.  “It’s how he feels and how much he’s able to do,” Dungy said. “We want him to feel right. (Monday night), he did and felt good going into the game. If he does again this week, we’ll play him. If he doesn’t, we’ll hold him out.”

The Colts will travel to Charlotte and put their perfect record up against the 4-and-2 Panthers at Bank of America Stadium.  Indianapolis improved to 6-and-0 after a 29-7 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday Night Football.  Peyton Manning threw for 259 yards and a touchdown, and also ran for a score, as the Colts remained one of two unbeaten teams in the NFL.  Carolina is coming off of their bye week and will be without starting quarterback Jake Delhomme for the rest of the season after he underwent elbow surgery.  Vinny Testaverde stepped in for injured backup David Carr and led Carolina to a 25-10 win over the Arizona Cardinals in Week Six.  The Panthers have never lost to the Colts in three meetings, with the last win coming in overtime, 23-20, in 2003 at Indianapolis.

Defensive end Dwight Freeney has been named this week the AFC’s defensive player of the week. He has had two sacks and has forced fumbles and has recorded the first safety of his career. That happened Monday night when the Colts won 29-7 over Jacksonville. Freeney finished with four tackles. This is the fourth time Freeney has won the award since 2002.