Colts Gab

The Colts got bad news today on the injury front, as NFL Network’s Adam Schefter is reporting that starting linebacker Tyjuan Hagler suffered a torn pectoral muscle while lifting weights last week, and will be sidelined at least two months, meaning he will miss training camp and could be out for the Colts opener against the Bears.  Hagler started seven regular-season games and then the AFC Divisional Playoff against the San Diego Chargers last season. He finished the season with 54 tackles and one sack.

From: Pro Football Weekly

Like teammate Dwight Freeney, Colts SS Bob Sanders is on course to be ready to go for the start of the regular season. Sanders is recuperating from shoulder surgery and —similar to his limited role in prior offseasons — will be held out of contact drills throughout training camp in order to ensure a healthy return for Week One action.

A limited number of tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday for the  Colts preseason game August 28th.  Tickets will be available at the Indianapolis Convention Center box office and at Ticketmaster outlets.  Tickets for Colts regular season games are already sold out.  The August 28th game against Buffalo will be the first at the new Lucas Oil Stadium.

The Colts defense could use a lift in 2008, and that lift would come big-time if Dwight Freeney is ready to go and be a force again in week one.  The good news on that front is that team insiders say that Freeney is well on his way to be back in playing condition by the Bears opener.  The DE has been trying to come back from a Lisfranc (foot) injury, and while he’s been working through the offseason on it, there was some thoughts about when he’d be 100 percent.  Team doctors have reportedly told him that he’s ahead of schedule with his return, which is great news for the Colts defense.

From: Pro Football Weekly

Word out of Indianapolis is that super-sized WR Roy Hall appears poised to finally make an impact. Injuries and poor fundamentals kept him from so much as catching a pass during his rookie year, but a team insider noted to PFW that he has finally learned how to catch the ball with his hands instead of trapping it against his body and looks markedly more natural on the field. At 6-3 and 240 pounds, he’s always had the body. The insider also noted that undrafted rookie WR Sam Giguere out of Canada has been a revelation. Nonetheless, he faces an uphill battle to earn a roster spot.

The Colts were the AFC South Champs again in 2007, and in 2008 they are looking to make even more of an impact in the tough AFC South.  Here at ColtsGab, we are looking for fans and writers who would be interested in joining our staff in 2008 and being a part of the team in 2008.  The site is growing by leaps and bounds, and we’re looking for dedicated Colts fans that want to be a part.  How much you write and exactly what you’d like to write about is all up to you!  Compensation for your work will be discussed, and your work will be seen by some of the biggest sites in the country!  If interested, drop us an email at matt@nflgridirongab.com with your name and basic info.  Get on board today as the 2008 season closes in!

From: Pro Football Weekly

By trading FB Luke Lawton to the Eagles for a conditional 2009 draft pick Friday, the Colts sent a message that they’re reverting to their core spread-offense principles. The Colts experimented with Lawton as a traditional fullback in ’07, but it’s readily apparent that the team will employ two tight ends instead of a fullback when they want to power the football in ’08.

The Eagles and Colts made a trade earlier today, as the Colts have sent fullback Luke Lawton to the Eagles for a 2009 conditional draft choice.  The deal really means nothing to either side unless Lawton makes the Eagles roster, which if he does, then a choice will go to the Colts for him.  The 27-year-old has been on the Giants and Bill practice squads, and played in 4 games for the Jets back in 2005, and 11 games for Indy last season.

He has never started a game, but last year did score a TD vs the Jags on a 1-yard shovel pass from Peyton Manning.  The Eagles are moving DT Dan Klecko to fullback, but would like to have some more players in the position that have a bit more experience, which is why the did the deal.  They had Thomas Tapeh at that position, but he moved from Philly to the Vikings as a free agent this past offseason.