Colts Gab

The Indianapolis Colts will look to get their current roster pared down even further when they host the Cincinnati Bengals Thursday from Lucas Oil Stadium.

Thursday’s battle marks the 19th preseason meeting between the clubs in the past 26 years. The lone time the teams have not met in preseason since 1992 was in 2000. This is the eighth consecutive year and the ninth time in the last decade the clubs have battled to conclude preseason play. Indianapolis reaches Thursday’s game with after dropping a 37-17 home decision to San Francisco (8/15), falling, 34-21, to Buffalo (at Toronto, 8/19) and dropping a 59-24 contest last Thursday at Green Bay. Cincinnati dropped a 16-7 decision to Dallas on August 8 in the Hall of Fame Game. The Bengals earned two home wins (33-24 over Denver, 8/15; 22-9 over Philadelphia, 8/20), then lost last Saturday at Buffalo, 35-20.

There are several players who didn’t participate in the Green Bay game and their status for Thursday’s contest isn’t known as of this posting. They are: QB Tom Brandstater, TE Dallas Clark, C Jeff Saturday, OTs Charlie Johnson and James Williams, WR Austin Collie, RBs Devin Moore and Allen Patrick, DBs Jerraud Powers, Glenn Sharpe and Kevin Thomas.

TV/Radio Listings: WTTV-TV telecasts with Don Fischer, Mark Herrmann and Jeffrey Gorman (field reporter). 1070-The Fan/HANK-FM, 97.1 broadcasts with Bob Lamey, Will Wolford and Kevin Lee (field reporter).

WHAT: Friday, August 27th, the Indianapolis Colts, Tom Zupancic and the Exchange Club of Speedway will host the 4th Annual Zup’s BBQ for Kid’s, benefiting the Children’s Bureau. Title sponsors for the event are: Huntington Bank, O’Charley’s, Indiana Farm Bureau, RCI, and Bose, McKinney & Evans. Fans that come out to the BBQ will have the choice of BBQ from O’Charley’s, Squealers, and Dawson’s on Main. For only $10, fans will be able to fill their plate with a choice of BBQ, 2 sides, Frito Lay Chips, and a Coca-Cola beverage. All profits from the Zup’s BBQ for Kid’s will benefit the Children’s Bureau.

Zup’s BBQ for Kid’s elements include:

·Colts Cheerleaders

·Free Colts Posters

·Colts In Motion Traveling Museum

·Colts Pro Shop Merchandise Sales

·Enter to Win Colts Tickets

·Indiana Blood Center – Donations

·Live Music

·“Celebrity” Rib Eating Contest 12:15-12:30pm

WHEN: Friday, August 27, 2010 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

WHERE: Monument Circle Indianapolis, IN

The Celebrity Rib Eating Contest, hosted by O’Charley’s, will take place at 12:15pm, and feature local TV/Radio/Newspaper celebrities from Indianapolis. The celebrity who cleans the most ribs in a five (5) minute time frame will be declared the winner of the rib eating contest and will receive a trophy and a $100 gift card to O’Charley’s.

The Indianapolis Colts and the Exchange Club of Speedway would also like to thank the following organizations for their generous support of the 4th Annual Zup’s BBQ for Kids; Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, O’Charley’s, Huntington Bank, Bose McKinney & Evans, RCI, Ray’s Trash, Sports Graphics, Coca-Cola, Frito Lay, Maingate, Martin University, 1070 The Fan and 97.1 Hank FM.

The Indianapolis Colts were quite busy, personnel-wise, as they released a quarterback but also aded a pair of free agents to the roster, according to the Associated Press.

Specifically, the Colts released undrafted free agent QB Tim Hiller while signing running back Allan Patrick and defensive Glenn Sharpe. Both players practiced with the Colts on Monday, a mere three days before the team visits the Green Bay Packers for its third preseason game.

Patrick was a seventh-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens in 2008 while Sharpe signed with the Atlanta Falcons as an unsigned free agent before signing with New Orleans.

Meanwhile, Hiller is an undrafted rookie from Western Michigan.

The Indianapolis Colts host the San Francisco 49ers49ers in their preseason opener at Lucas Oil Stadium Sunday at 1 p.m. Head Coach Jim Caldwell expects the starters to play only in the first quarter.

The Colts were busy bright and early on Thursday as NFPost.com reports that the team has signed cornerback Marcus McCauley to a contract.

McCauley was quite busy during the 2009-10 season, playing for Washington, New Orleans, Minnesota, Tampa Bay and Detroit.

Indianapoilis also reached an injury settlement with undrafted rookie cornerback Thad Turner.

By and large, the Indianapolis Colts have been an high-octane offensive team, with a bend-but-not-break defense. But with some astute signings on the defensive side of the ball (Gary Brackett, Antoine Bethea, Dwight Freeney, Robert Mathis and a finally healthy Bob Sanders) totalling in the neighborhood of $242 million since 2006, the Colts should finally be able to reap some benefits.

Fortunately for the team, their defensive coordinator Larry Coyer has a system in place that will enable the defensive line and subsequently the secondary to be able to be more aggressive than in the past.

As in any professional team sports, with so much money invested in the defense, playing time will be hard to come by, save for the usual suspects.

Assuming that Freeney, Sanders and Mathis remain healthy through the entire 2010-11 season, the Colts’ defensive line can be lethal, especially in passing situations. And Sanders – we already know about his pass coverage abilities; that goes without saying.

The defensive line, for the most part, is set with Freeney and Mathis as bookends with wither Eric Foster and Daniel Muir spelling each other at defensive tackle.

Linebacker is likely going to consist of Brackett, Clint Session and either Phillip Wheeler or Cody Glenn starting. Fortunately, the Colts have many options at LB, so this is a position of strength.

The secondary, depending on the health of some players, will probably have Bob Sanders and Melvin Bullitt at safety and Jerraud Powers and probably Jacob Lacey at cornerback.

But when the smoke clears, there will be battles at all of the defensive positions, save for the DEs, a couple of the LBs and certainly playing time in the secondary. Suffice it to say, the secondary is deep. And let’s not forget about Jerry Hughes. Although one would assume he is a defensive end, there is the possibility that he can also do some pass rushing at one of the linebacker slots.

If Coyer can whip the defense into decent shape and resemble or even improve over last year, they will make Peyton Manning’s job that much easier.

After all, that’s what they’re supposed to do, right?

Photos: Colts.com

Personally, I expected it to happen. And those who follow the Indianapolis Colts probably did – or at least hope he did – expect it to happen.

What I am referring to is Reggie Wayne and the rumor that he was going to skip training camp.

Well folks, you can rest easy as Mike Chappell of the Indianapolis Star reports that the wide receiver, on his website, indicated that he will, in fact, arrive in anderson in time for training camp.

According to Wayne, there has steady rain down in South Florida which necessitated the change of scenery. I would venture to say that it has more to do with his contract progressing along as opposed to the weather in Florida, although Wayne has two years left on his current contract and the Colts have indicated that they will not address his deal right now.

Because Reggie is Peyton Manning’s go-to guy, it is imperative that he shows up. My guess is that team owner Jim Irsay will look into Wayne’s contract and ensure that he spends the rest of his career in Indianapolis. Wayne and Robert Mathis tried to pull the “I want more money” stunt back in June, with no appreciable results for either player.

Let’s face it – Reggie is hardly “underpaid”. He and Mathis will have to do what other Colts players in similar circumstances will have to do: take a number and have a seat.

Phil Richards of the Indianapolis Star is reporting that seventh-round draft pick Kavell Conner has agreed to terms with the Indianapolis Colts.

The terms of the contract dictate that is is a four-year deal totalling $1.835 million, with a signing bonus of $45,000. Conner is a linebacker from Clemson who had a career-best 103 tackles – including seven for losses – as a senior.

The Indianapolis Colts, in their quest to better market the team, are embarking on a three-city tour, starting on Monday, July 19 and ending on Wednesday, July 21.

Below are the details, courtesy of Colts.com:

The 2010 Make It Personal Tour marks the seventh year in a row the Indianapolis Colts have hosted a summer traveling marketing campaign featuring players and cheerleaders. The Colts Make It Personal Tour is brought to you by Meijer, the Indiana Corn Marketing Council and Indiana Soybean Alliance, Bluegreen and Harrison College.

Date: Monday, July 19, 2010
Time: 4-6pm

Address:
Delaware County Fair
1210 N. Wheeling Ave.
Muncie, IN 47303

Make It Personal Tour elements include:

Colts player (or alumni) autograph signings
Colts cheerleader autograph signings
Register to win Colts pre-season tickets
Donate blood to the “Bleed Blue Blood Drive”
Register kids for the Colts Kids Club or Crib Club
Free Colts giveaways
Test your abilities on a rock climbing wall
Attempt to catch and NFL punt from a Jugs machine
Colts interactive Inflatables
Mountain Slide
Helmet Bouncer
Quarterback challenge football toss
See Colts In Motion the clubs traveling museum
The Colts would like to highlight the following special notes for fans to consider when planning a trip to a Make It Personal Tour stop:

The Colts encourage all fans to arrive early.
The line for player and cheerleader autographs may be cut off at any time to ensure the Tour remains on schedule.
All Make It Personal Tour stops are rain or shine.
Team practice schedules and meeting times may cause for player’s to arrive late or depart early.
The player’s names will not be announced prior to the players arrival to each city.
Fans will be allowed one autograph per person, however fans may get back in line for additional autographs.
All Colts Make It Personal Tour stop times are local.

The team is also scheduled to make stops in Lafayette at Harrison College on Tuesday, July 20 from 4:00-6:00 PM (local time) and Fair Oaks, Indiana at Fair Oaks Farm on Wednesday, July 21; the event at Fair Oaks will also be from 4:00-6:00 PM (local time).

UFAs: OG Daniel Federkeil (not tendered), OLB Tyjuan Hagler (not tendered), CB-RS T.J. Rushing (not tendered), PK Matt Stover, OT Michael Toudouze (not tendered).

RFAs: None.

Key arrivals: Ex-Ravens non-tendered RFA OT Adam Terry, March 15; Ex-Chiefs non-tendered RFA OG Andy Alleman, March 6.

Key departures: Non-tendered RFA OLB Freddie Keiaho, April 26 (to Jaguars); Non-tendered RFA S Aaron Francisco, April 12 (to Panthers); Cut RB-KR Chad Simpson, April 10; Non-tendered RFA CB Tim Jennings, March 16 (to Bears); Non-tendered RFA WR Hank Baskett, March 11 (to Eagles); Non-tendered RFA CB Marlin Jackson, March 10 (to Eagles); Cut OG Ryan Lilja, March 8; Cut QB Jim Sorgi, March 5.

Key re-signings: RFA S Antoine Bethea, June 11 (four years, $27 million); RFA OT Charlie Johnson, April 21 (one year, $1.8 million); RFA DT Antonio Johnson, April 17 (one year, $1.644 million); RFA S Melvin Bullitt, April 13 (one year, $1.7 million); RFA DT Daniel Muir, April 13 (one year, $1.8 million); UFA MLB Gary Brackett, March 5 (five years, $33 million, $12 million guaranteed).

Note: UFA means unrestricted free agent; RFA means restricted free agent; FFA means franchise free agent. Any RFA who was not tendered by his team became an unrestricted free agent as of March 5.

Source: ProFootballWeekly.com