Colts Gab

It is official: the Simeon Rice experiment is over.  The Indianapolis Colts on Tuesday released the defensive end.  Rice was claimed off waivers from the Denver Broncos after starting DE Dwight Freeney suffered a season-ending foot injury against the San Diego Chargers.  Rice played the past two games, both as a reserve, recording a sack.  The Colts also re-signed Luke Lawton, who played the first 6 games mainly on special teams, but was released last month.

Colts wide receiver Marvin Harrison did not play in last night’s game against the Atlanta Falcons.  It was the fifth time in six games the Pro Bowl receiver sat out due to a nagging knee injury.  Harrison bruised his knee in a game against Denver on September 30th.  He has 20 catches for 247 yards and a touchdown this season.

For the past few weeks the Colts had not been playing up to the level we had been use to seeing from them. Thanksgiving night, the team once again looked sluggish at the start, falling behind 10-0 to the lowly Atlanta Falcons in the Georgia Dome. From there though, Peyton Manning and the Colts D took over, and just like that the team seemed to return to form in a 31-13 win.

The Colts have and still are suffering from plenty of injuries, but Thursday night in Atlanta they got back one big piece of the offense, wide out Anthony Gonzalez. He was Manning’s favorite target, catching 105 yards worth of passes. Reggie Wayne had six catches for the now 9-2 Colts for 104 yards and a score.

The Falcons seemed to be playing inspired ball, scoring on their opening drive with a Morten Anderson 34-yard field goal and then QB Joey Harrington hit Roddy White with a 48-yard scoring pass to make it 10-0 in the first quarter. For the fans of the now 3-8 Falcons, that would be about all they would have to cheer about.

After starting hot the Colts defense put the smack down on the Falcons offense, holding them to 92 yards in the second half. The big turnaround for Indy was the second quarter, as they rallied for 21 points with Manning throwing for scores to Wayne, Dallas Clark and Ben Utecht. By the time the first half gun sounded, the Colts were up 21-13.

The second half was much of the same, with the Colts defense stepping up, and the Falcons offense not showing much. Indy was able to pound the ball with the running back combo of Kenton Keith (74 yards on 17 carries) and Joseph Addai (44 yards 10 on carries) to keep drives moving. Indy added 10 points in the third on a Addai 4-yard run and a Adam Vinatieri 24-yard field goal to seal the scoring.

Next week the Colts return home for a key AFC South showdown with the solid Jacksonville Jags at 1pm.

For those who are impatient about Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Marvin Harrison’s return to the football field, there’s two words for you:  remain patient.  Why, you ask?  Well, according to Colts president Bill Polian, Harrison’s knee is fine, except for one little detail – the inflammation around the knee, thanks to a burst bursa sac (which is healing), has yet to go down.

As those of you who have watched the Colts’ games as of late, the team ha suffered by the absence of Harrison, and the gameplan has proven that.  No timetable has been set for Harrison’s return; however, head coach Tony Dungy told Phil Richards of the Indianapolis Star, “We’re hoping for this week.  Realistically, maybe Jacksonville (on Dec. 2), but we’ll see.”

Harrison has been unavailable for comment; he has missed 5 of the past 6 games since the injury and WR Reggie Wayne has been the “go-to” guy in the passing game.  But regardless – and despite what the team has told anyone externally – Harrison is missed in the Colts’ offense, as he opens things up, both in the passing game and to a degree the running game, as well.

Come to your own conclusions, but if you’re an Indianapolis Colts fan (like I am), then any positive news on the injury front is most welcome.  Some good news did come in on Monday as Colts head coach Tony Dungy is reporting that wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez and offensive tackle Tony Ugoh could very well be back for the Thanksgiving game against Atlanta.

Another offensive tackle, Ryan Diem, who suffered an ankle and knee injury against the Chiefs this past weekend, could possibly return as well; his status, however, is uncertain.  So it is entirely possible that he may be a gametime decision.  Meanwhile, WR Aaron  Moorehead, who suffered a back injury during the Chiefs game, looks to be questionable for Thursday’s game.  Dungy added that reserve tight end Bryan Fletcher and reserve cornerback Dante Hughes could possibly return this week after missing a game each.

Heart be still. That’s what has come to mind lately since last week, when Indianapolis Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri missed a clutch field goal last week against the San Diego Chargers. Fortunately for the Colts – and especially Adam Vinatieri – he made a kick when it counted. Vinatieri’s 24-yard FG with only 4 seconds left enabled the Indianapolis Colts to slip past the Kansas City Chiefs 13-10 in a thriller at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis.

The Colts had an unusually unproductive game statistically in the first half, totalling 73 yards. In addition, this game is the first one that Indianapolis failed to score a first-half touchdown. They somewhat turned things around a bit in the 2nd half; with the game tied at 10 with 6:47 left in the game, Colts quarterback Peyton Manning manufactured a masterful drive which ate up a big chunk of the clock before Vinatieri’s game-winning FG.

Indianapolis’ Manning went 16-for-32 for 163 yards with an interception – subpar for him. Running back Joseph Addai had an OK effort, rushing 21 times for 72 yards and a TD while catching 4 passes for 34 yards. Wide receiver Reggie Wayne led all Colts receivers with 4 receptions for 75 yards. Chiefs QB Brodie Croyle, in his first start, had a decent effort, going 19-for-27 for 169 yards with a TD. RB Priest Holmes rushed for 55 yards on 19 carries, while WR Dwayne Bowe led all Chiefs receivers with 7 catches for 64 yards and a TD.

The victory by Indianapolis (8-2) enabled the team to remain atop the AFC South, while Kansas City (4-6) lost their 3rd straight game. The Colts will next fly to Atlanta to take on the Atlanta Falcons on Thanksgiving Day.

The Indianapolis Colts had two bits of business to take care of on Saturday; the first being rookie offensive tackle Tony Ugoh being listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs.  The team also waived defensive tackle Dan Klecko. 

Ugoh has missed the past 2 games with a neck injury but returned to practice this week.  Because of Ugoh’s availability (or lack thereof), the OT position is a bit thin, as reserve Charlie Johnson was injured during last week’s game against the San Diego Chargers.  To address that need, the Colts signed OT Corey Hilliard, a rookie from Oklahoma State.

Klecko was instrumental in last season’s playoffs, as he had a touchdown reception that helped Indianapolis rally from a 21-6 halftime deficit to defeat the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship game.  Klecko re-signed with the Colts in March,  but was limited to 2 tackles in 3 games this season.

The Colts do not look to be all that healthier as they head into Sunday’s home game with the Chiefs. The following players all appear to be out according to ESPN’s John Clayton: wide receiver Marvin Harrison (knee), wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez (thumb), cornerback Dante Hughes (shoulder), cornerback Matt Giordano (hamstring), tackle Dan Federkill (concussion), linebacker Tyjuan Hagler (neck) and cornerback Tim Jennings (upper leg). They are all listed as questionable.  The team did get some good news, as it looks as if tight end Dallas Clark will play in the contest.  He has practiced all week despite a concussion.  The Colts and Chiefs will do battle at 1pm Sunday at the RCA Dome.

Riding a two-game losing streak, the defending Super Bowl champion Colts look to bounce back at home as they host the Kansas City Chiefs at the RCA Dome.  Indianapolis gave up a kickoff and a punt return for touchdown, fell behind 23-0, and saw Peyton Manning get picked off six times against San Diego last Sunday, but still almost won before Adam Vinatieri’s go-ahead field goal attempt sailed wide late in the game as the Chargers held on for a 23-21 victory.  The Colts, who lost to the unbeaten Patriots the week before, still lead the AFC South with a 7-and-2 mark.  The Chiefs are a game back of the Bolts in the AFC West after a 27-11 home loss to the Broncos.  Brodie Croyle will start for KC after replacing the struggling Damon Huard last weekend.  The Chiefs have lost their last two to fall to 4-and-5.