Colts Gab

ProFootballWeekly.com reports that the Colts may have a great shot at getting RB Dominic Rhodes back:

Although it is a relatively small-market organization, few clubs push the limits of the salary cap as routinely as the Colts, which is largely a testament to the headlining talent they’ve acquired over the years. Of course, one of the consequences of such a strategy is their difficulty securing the role players needed to fill out the roster. The salary-cap squeeze already has pushed solid LBs Freddy Keiaho and Tyjuan Hagler out the door, and it’s now hampering their ability to re-sign an offensive player they’d really like to retain: RB Dominic Rhodes. The ninth-year veteran completed his second tour of duty in Indianapolis in 2008, and was arguably more effective than starter Joseph Addai.

The fact that Rhodes has not landed anywhere yet is compelling evidence that the Colts have a realistic opportunity of eventually inking him to a manageable deal, but don’t expect it to happen until after the draft. The Colts already have worked hard at trimming the roster fat, and there’s not much more they can do without knowing how the events over draft weekend will unfold. One thing we have heard is that Indy would rather re-sign Rhodes to a cap-friendly deal than take a flier on a late-round running back who hasn’t proven anything at the NFL level.

From: scouts.com

When the Indianapolis Colts take on division rival Tennessee Titans on Sunday, they are expected to do so without veteran RB Dominic Rhodes (shoulder). Rhodes, who was injured during last week’s victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars, and several other key players will probably be held out of the game since the team’s seeding for the AFC playoffs is secured.

RB Jospeh Addai did not practice today due to his shoulder injury, but is listed as questionable this week against Detroit, the team’s official web site reports. “My sense is we’ll probably hold him out if there’s any question at all,” head coach Tony Dungy said.

With the team playing a Lions team that they can beat without Addai, look for the Colts to hold him out, giving Dominic Rhodes almost all the carries this week with Najeh Davenport as his backup with Chad Simpson dealing with an ankle injury.

If there ever was a time for the Indianapolis Colts to revert to the team of old, Week 10 was it as the AFC South – unless the Tennessee Titans completely collapse – has a divisional winner in place. Enter Peyton Manning and a Colts defense that came up clutch late in the fourth quarter; an interception thrown by Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in the fourth quarter allowed Manning to led the Colts to the game-winning drive, capped by a touchdown pass from Manning to running back Dominic Rhodes, leading Indianapolis to a big 24-20 win over Pittsburgh Sunday at Heinz Field.

The Steelers’ opening drive was 62 yards, capped by a 1-yard TD run by RB Melwelde Moore, giving Pittsburgh an early 7-0 lead; Roethlisberger would later come back to complete a pair of passes which culminated in another TD run by Moore along with a 42-yard field goal by kicker Jeff Reed, pushing the Steelers’ advantage to 17-7. Roethlisberger, however, would throw an INT to Colts CB Keiwan Ratliff gave the Colts the ball at the Steelers 30-yard line with 1:24 left in the first half. Manning would find tight end Dallas Clark in the end zone for a score, putting Indianapolis to within 17-14.

Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri’s 36-yard FG on their opening drive of the third quarter would tie the game at 17; after Roethlisberger threw a pick to Colts safety Tim Jennings with 4:44 remaining in the game, Indianapolis would go on what would prove to be the game-winning drive, with Rhodes accounting for all 32 yards, including the game-winning TD reception.

Manning, while not very accurate, was clutch as he went 21-of-40 for 228 yards and 3 TD’s while Roethlisberger was 30-of-42 for 271 and 3 INT’s. The Colts running game was led by Joseph Addai with 34 yards on 12 carries while Rhodes ran for 28 yards and catching 2 passes for 24 yards and a TD; the Steelers leading rusher was Moore with 57 yards on 24 carries and 2 scores while catching 6 passes for 48 yards.

Reggie Wayne led all Colts receivers with 6 receptions for 114 yards and a TD while Clark caught 3 passes for 24 yards and a score. Pittsburgh receivers were led by Hines Ward who caught 9 passes for 116 yards while TE Matt Spaeth caught 6 for 53 yards. Indianapolis (5-4) plays again on Sunday when they return to Lucas Oil Stadium to host the Houston Texans while Pittsburgh (6-3) remains at home to host the San Diego Chargers – also on Sunday.

The Green Bay Packers hosted the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday at Lambeau Field; however, that was the least of the Colts’ problems. Combine Peyton Manning’s – and the team’s – poor performance along with a resurgence of the Packers’ defense and all of that added up to Green Bay slamming Indianapolis 34-17.

While the Packers got gritty efforts from quarterback Aaron Rodgers and running back Ryan Grant, it was their defense that was their saving grace as they forced the Colts to turn the ball over twice and also made them penalty-prone, as well (Indianapolis committed 12 penalties for 110 yards). The Colts, on the other hand, just had a poor overall team effort – without a doubt Manning being the biggest culprit – as interceptions, along with numerous penalties (many on defense) – doomed the Colts almost from the start of the game. But the Green Bay defense played like the Packers defense of old as they returned two of Manning’s interceptions for touchdowns – one each by safeties Nick Collins and Aaron Rouse.

Manning probably had his worst game of the 2008 season thus far, going 21-for-42 for 229 yards and 2 INT’s while Rodgers gutted out a decent effort, going 21-of-28 for 186 yards and a TD. Dominic Rhodes led the Colts rushing attack with 73 yards on 20 carries and 2 scores while Grant ran for 105 yards and a TD.

Tight end Dallas Clark led all Colts receivers with 81 yards on 8 receptions while Anthony Gonzalez added 5 catches for 72 yards. The Packers receiving corps was led by RB Brandon Jackson with 6 receptions for 37 yards while TE Donald Lee caught a pair for 23 yards and a TD. Green Bay (4-3) will enjoy a bye week before they travel to Nashville to take on the Tennessee Titans on november 2 while Indianapolis (3-3), coincidentally or not, also go to Nashville to take on the Titans next Monday (October 27) night.

The Colts will be without top running back Joseph Addai for tomorrow’s game vs the Packers at Lambeau. The team took Addai from doubtful to out due to his hamstring injury suffered last Sunday in the home win vs the Ravens. Dominic Rhodes will get the start for the Colts in Addai’s place. This season Addai has 216 yards and four TD’s in five games. Rhodes has 104 yards and one score on the season.

After losing him last offseason to free agency, the Colts have brought back running back Dominic Rhodes to the team.  Rhodes signed a one-year deal worth $650,000 according to the Indianapolis Star.  The back was released by the Raiders just after the draft in an expected move.  The 29-year-old ran for over 100 yards in the Colts Super Bowl win over the Bears two years ago, and worked well with then rookie Joseph Addai.  Rhodes that season started all 16 games, but came off the bench for the four postseason games before being the star of the Super Bowl win.

With the Raiders, Rhodes was a big letdown, playing in just 10 games and rushing 75 times for 302 yards and one touchdown.  In seven NFL seasons, Rhodes has run for 2,567 yards with 20 touchdowns and 101 catches for 719 yards and one TD.

John Clayton of ESPN is reporting today that there could be a reunion of sorts with the Colts, as the team is talking about bringing back running back Dominic Rhodes.  The former Colt was released by the Raiders after the team drafted Darren McFadden with the 4th pick in Saturday’s draft.  Rhodes was with Indy from 2001 to 2006, and had a shining moment back in the Super Bowl two seasons ago when he went over 100 yards vs the Bears.  The team did draft Michael Hart in the 6th round of Saturday’s draft.