Saints Set Points Record, Beat Colts 62-7

He might as well have had both feet up by the middle of the third quarter.

Drew Brees completed 31 of 35 passes for 325 yards and five touchdowns, and the Saints set a franchise record for points and victory margin in a 62-7 demolition of the hapless Indianapolis Colts on Sunday night.

"I was real proud of how we played tonight, how we handled the week of practice," said Payton, standing on crutches after the game. "We spent a lot of time during the week just talking about us beginning to play our best football, because we really felt while we were 4-2, we hadn't done that."

Payton had called offensive plays from the sidelines since he took his first head coaching job with New Orleans in 2006, but that changed after he was caught up in a tackle along the sideline during a loss at Tampa Bay last week and was injured. Payton had surgery on Monday and didn't attend a practice until Thursday.

Sitting high up in the Superdome for the game against the Colts, he had to like what he saw down below, where offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael Jr. called plays for the first time.

Brees had two touchdown passes to Marques Colston and one to Darren Sproles in the first quarter. His fourth and fifth touchdown tosses went to second-year tight end Jimmy Graham in the third quarter.

It seemed the Saints (5-2) could do whatever they wanted, also rushing for 236 yards.

"We had a great game plan. We played with a lot of confidence. Pete did a phenomenal job," Brees said. "It was just our night, one of those games that doesn't come along too often. ... We needed a win like this, especially after the past week and everything we've gone through."

The Saints' point total tied the most in a game by any team since the AFL merged with the NFL in 1970.

The Saints previous franchise high for points in a game was 51 on three occasions and their largest previous victory margin was 42 over Denver in 1988.

When the large video board in the Superdome showed Payton peering out from the booth, the crowd erupted. By the time the third quarter ended, there wasn't much of a crowd left.

Colston had seven catches for 98 yards.

Brees wasn't intercepted before he was replaced by Chase Daniel late in the third quarter, a move that prevented New Orleans' starting quarterback from extending his NFL record of four straight games with at least 350 yards passing.

Mark Ingram rushed for 91 yards on 18 carries but limped to the locker room early in the fourth quarter with what Payton said was a heel injury, adding that X-rays were negative. Sproles carried 12 times for 88 yards, including a 16-yard touchdown.

The Saints had 557 yards and a team-record 36 first downs.

The winless Colts (0-7) are guaranteed to have fewer than 10 victories in a season for the first time in nine years, and at this rate they might not win many games at all.

"That team played better than we did in every area and we just got whooped across the board," Colts coach Jim Caldwell said. "It's one of those things that once you don't do the little things right, there is a lot of bad things that happen to you. Obviously, I have to take responsibility for our team and the way that they played."

Colts quarterback Curtis Painter was only 9 of 17 for 67 yards and had an interception returned 42 yards for a touchdown by Leigh Torrence.

"We just didn't play near well enough," Painter said. "We made a few too many mistakes in the beginning, and any time you're playing a team as good as them, they're going to make you pay. We just kind of got off to a rough start and you've got to credit them. They played well."

For the seventh game this season, Colts star quarterback Peyton Manning was forced to watch because of a neck injury that has sidelined him all season.

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Saints rookie RB Ingram bruised heel vs. Colts

Saints head coach Sean Payton didn’t offer a specific injury update on rookie running back Mark Ingram, who suffered a bruised heel in Sunday night’s 62-7 stomping of the Colts according to Mike Triplett of the New Orleans Times-Picayune.

However, Payton did say that Ingram’s status could affect whether or not the team decides to activate tailback Chris Ivory from the physically-unable-to-perform list.

“It would be predicated on where we feel we’re at with Mark,” said Payton, who said he wants to see how Ingram feels 24-48 hours after the game.

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Are Colts’ Mathis, Wayne available?

Published: October 14th, 2011 | Tags: Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis Colts, Michael Lombardi, NFL Total Access, NFL trade deadline, Robert Mathis

The NFL trade deadline doesn’t typically bring about any blockbuster, last-minute deals. But that doesn’t stop us from speculating and keeping an eye out at the latest reports being floated about.

That brings us to the Colts. The winless, Payton Manning-less Colts. It’s a foregone conclusion the Colts won’t be in the playoff hunt, and thus could be in a position to unload veteran players.

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Which brings us to WR Reggie Wayne and DE Robert Mathis, who are both currently scheduled to become free agents following the season.

“I would assume both players are available for the right price,” NFL Network’s Michael Lombardi told “NFL Total Access” Friday.

Well, there is that.

“Once the franchise tag decision is set (by the Colts), now the Colts have assets,” Lombardi added. “Can they get something for those assets before they lose them in the free-agent market? Now, remember, a compensatory pick for players of this caliber typically would be a third-round pick. I’m sure teams would have to pay significantly to get both players.”

Incidentally, we might add, both Wayne and Mathis were held out of practice Thursday for non-injury related reasons. It’s not uncommon to give veterans a mid-week day off, but Wayne was listed as missing practice Friday for the same reason.

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Is Manning's Value More Than Colts Bargained For?

But not enough.

Manning isn't just the most valuable football player of his era. He belongs in the conversation for most valuable in any team sport ever. He's mastered the game like no one since Otto Graham took the Cleveland Browns to the championship match in each of his 10 seasons more than a half-century ago.

Indy's error-riddled, injury-plagued 0-5 start to this season, while Manning recovers from two neck surgeries that sidelined him for the first time in his pro career, is a testament to it. But it's only one of many.

"We've been spoiled by great quarterback play for a long time," Colts defender Robert Mathis said after a second straight second-half letdown resulted in a 28-24 loss to Kansas City last weekend. "But the fact of the matter is we have got to hold our end up."

The Colts have become a cautionary tale about what happens when a team ties its fate to one player, and that player can no longer go. Think of the Chicago Bulls after Michael Jordan walked away from basketball the first time. Or, to cite an example of NFL history repeating itself, how long the old Baltimore Colts wandered in the league's wilderness searching for Johnny Unitas' replacement.

Using the draft, trades and free-agent pickups, NFL contenders continually strive to strike a balance between the strength of their offenses and defenses. But in the modern game, with its increasing emphasis on scoring and protecting quarterbacks more than any other player on the field, a top-flight passing attack has become paramount. Manning was so successful for so long that the Colts became dangerously lopsided.

During his tenure, their running game became an afterthought and the defense, used to chasing opposing quarterbacks forced to throw often to make up the deficits Manning built, evolved into a one-dimensional unit. They were fast enough to pressure the passer, but too small to win most wars of attrition.

With hindsight, it's easy to see how Indianapolis owner Jim Irsay and football chief Bill Polian were caught unprepared. Manning, who turned 35 in March, hadn't missed a game since the Colts used the first pick of the 1998 draft to get him. During that span, only Drew Brees of New Orleans contributed more to his team's total offense — 72 percent vs. 71 — though that covers only the past five seasons, compared to 13 for Manning.

Brett Favre, who holds several NFL passing records Manning is still chasing, ranked third at 68 percent during a 10-year stint in Green Bay. Even Tom Brady, the Patriots' three-time Super Bowl-winning QB whom Manning is most often measured against, comes in at the same 68 percent after 10 complete seasons as the starter in New England. All three rivals' value to their teams was propped up by better, more consistent running games and defenses.

"I can't even think of too many guys from any era whose teams were so dependent on the success of just one guy," Pro Football Hall of Fame historian Joe Horrigan said. "Brady, to some extent, now. In the recent past, Dan Marino with the Dolphins, Barry Sanders with the Lions and Jim Kelly in Buffalo, considering how much of the no-huddle offense relied on his calls. Unitas, too, but Johnny had Lenny Moore to run and Raymond Berry to catch passes for most of his stay. ... But I'd say the closest guy to Manning was probably Otto Graham.

"Because he was involved in every phase — and this is taking nothing away from his coach and mentor, Paul Brown — Graham was what we used to call a 'field general.' And taking nothing away from the great quarterbacks since then, up until now, I don't see any of them fit that description as well as Manning does."

Even as better statistical tools make it easier to assess a player's performance in the context of a team, they still reveal only so much about his real value. Difficult as that is to measure, it's one category where Manning clearly blows away the competition.

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Colts RB Addai Expects to Miss Game vs. Bengals

Republicans are trying to unravel workers’ rights that have existed since the Great Depression

If Medicaid’s equal access provision goes unenforced, providers will not participate.

He’s been ridiculed right and left, but Room for Debate asks, is his “9-9-9” plan so far-fetched?

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Painter to Garcon Clicking for Colts

They have teamed up for 271 yards and four touchdowns and helped the Colts offense at least resemble what Indy fans have grown accustomed to.

Garcon had touchdown receptions of 87 and 59 yards at Tampa Bay, then followed up with five catches for 125 yards and two more scores last Sunday against Kansas City. He has more yards and touchdowns the past two weeks than players like Calvin Johnson, Steve Smith, Mike Wallace and Greg Jennings.

It has been a rare bright spot for the Peyton Manning-less Colts (0-5) headed into Sunday's game at Cincinnati (3-2).

The connection between Painter and Garcon developed during the summer.

"We worked out a lot," Garcon said. "With the lockout, we just had more time to take advantage of us being together and throwing with each other. It's working out good for us."

Their success hasn't led to a win so far this season, but Painter has developed well and Garcon, not Reggie Wayne or Dallas Clark, leads the team in receiving yards and touchdowns.

It's a scenario that seemed unimaginable a month ago.

The Colts brought Kerry Collins in to start at quarterback after Manning had his third neck surgery. Collins struggled, then had a concussion, and Painter had his a chance.

Painter has a 100.0 quarterback rating and hasn't thrown an interception. The Colts have been competitive enough that Coach Jim Caldwell says Painter will keep the starting job after Collins recovers.

"Curtis is our starter, plain and simple," Caldwell said. "That's the way it is. He's playing well, he's doing a nice job, and I think you'll continue to see him develop."

As a rookie, Painter famously stepped in for Manning to try to preserve Indy's unbeaten 2009 season. The 14-0 Colts pulled their starters in the third quarter against the New York Jets, and a 15-10 lead quickly turned into a 29-15 loss.

After not playing at all in 2010, Painter opened this year's camp with the first unit while Manning recovered from neck surgery. The team then brought Collins out of retirement, but Painter started showing signs of progress.

He completed 11 of 21 passes for 171 yards with two TD passes in a preseason game against Green Bay. In his first regular-season action this year, Painter directed the Colts to a game-tying touchdown against Pittsburgh in an eventual loss.

The next week, against Tampa Bay, Painter passed for 281 yards and two scores. He followed that by throwing for 237 yards in the first half against Kansas City, the ninth-highest first-half total in Colts history.

"I think everybody has witnessed and understands that he has talent and ability," Caldwell said. "It was just a matter of experience more so than anything else. Obviously, I think you can see that the more reps he gets and the more opportunities he gets, than the better he plays."

The Colts players never lost confidence in Painter, but instead of just being happy for him when he performs well, the team expects it.

"Curtis did what Curtis is supposed to do," said Wayne, who leads the team with 22 catches. "He came in as a starting quarterback. He took what they gave him and he excelled at it. It's no surprise."

Getting playing time behind Manning always was going to be a challenge.

"Obviously, you're not going to get many when you're behind the greatest of all-time," receiver Austin Collie said. "Reps are Curtis' friend right now, and he's gotten plenty of them so far. He's just going to keep on getting better, but he's playing excellent."

With Clark and Collie returning from injuries, Garcon was not expected to be near the top of the pecking order. Instead, Garcon has 19 catches, Clark has 14 and Collie has 12. He has overcome a history of drops to rank eighth in the NFL with 420 yards receiving.

Garcon said he, like Painter, needed time to fine-tune his game.

"The more time you're in this offense and the more experience you have in this offense the more you're comfortable with it," he said. "You're comfortable with the guys around you, and you're comfortable with what you can do and what not to do. Now, as I get older, it's a lot easier and more comfortable to play in this offense, to do things, set guys up and make plays."

Garcon has shown signs that he could be special. He had 11 catches for 151 yards in the AFC championship game against the New York Jets in 2009.

"We've all seen over the years that he's an explosive individual that has great speed and power," Caldwell said. "He can catch it and run with it, he can go deep and he can catch it short and turn it into a long gain. Pierre's having quite a year thus far, and I think you've seen him in spurts do it before. He's been able to put a few back-to-back this time around."

__

Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/cliffbruntap

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Seriously? Jeff George Thinks He Can Pick Up the Colts Offense in Just Days

With some fans suggesting that the Colts use their 0-2 start as a reason to tank it and win the rights to draft Stanford’s Andrew Luck, one memorable Indianapolis passer from yesteryear believes he could be the answer for the Peyton Manning-less squad.

That would be 43-year-old Jeff George, the once-strong-armed (and still-cantankerous) passer whom the Colts chose with the first overall pick in the 1990 NFL Draft following a blockbuster trade. “Just talked to Jeff George, who lives in Indy and says he could pick up that Colts offense in a matter of days,” tweeted Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times.

George put up intriguing numbers as the Falcons’ QB from 1994 to 1996 (including 4,143 yards and 24 touchdowns for Atlanta’s 1995 wild-card squad) before bouncing around to Oakland, Minny, Washington, Seattle — and finally a cup of coffee in Chicago in 2004, before his career finished.

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Jeff George says he’s ready to take over Colts

With some fans suggesting that the Colts use their 0-2 start as a reason to tank it and win the rights to draft Stanford’s Andrew Luck, one memorable Indianapolis passer from yesteryear believes he could be the answer for the Peyton Manning-less squad.

That would be 43-year-old Jeff George, the once-strong-armed (and still-cantankerous) passer whom the Colts chose with the first overall pick in the 1990 NFL Draft following a blockbuster trade.

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“Just talked to Jeff George, who lives in Indy and says he could pick up that Colts offense in a matter of days,” tweeted Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times.

Yawn.

Never short on big promises, George’s offer to spell an over-his-head Kerry Collins from the team’s horror-show start is considerate, but it’s unlikely Indy would invite him back into the fold. George’s 14-35 record over four seasons represented one of the uglier episodes in Colts history.

It’s certainly not the first time George has attempted to talk his way back into the league. Ten seasons after he led the 1999 Vikings to an 8-2 mark in relief of an injured Randall Cunningham, George told the St. Paul Pioneer Press he would have led an Adrian Peterson-led team to the Super Bowl.

“There’s no doubt about it,” George said in 2009. “Because of the type of defensive personnel they have, and when you have an Adrian Peterson … you line him up with a veteran quarterback, who knows where to go with the ball, it’s an unstoppable combination.”

George put up intriguing numbers as the Falcons’ QB from 1994 to 1996 (including 4,143 yards and 24 touchdowns for Atlanta’s 1995 wild-card squad) before bouncing around to Oakland, Minny, Washington, Seattle — and finally a cup of coffee in Chicago in 2004, before his career finished.

And stayed finished.

– Marc Sessler

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NFL / Indianapolis Colts 98 [VHS]

Most films about high school football players usually fall into one of two categories: glossy jock romance or locker-room sex farce. This one defies the odds and scores both as decent character study and decidedly unsentimental sports melodrama. It's not only a helluva coming-of-age yarn, but also, like Paul Newman's Slapshot, it's a bracing look at the hopes and dreams of blue-collar survivors. Tom Cruise plays a mill-town football star determined to escape the same traps that ensnared his parents. Craig T. Nelson, in a terrific villain role, is the coach who takes revenge when Cruise's ambitions drift a little too close to home. Michael Chapman, Martin Scorsese's favorite cinematographer, made his directorial debut with this gritty little winner, which benefits from being shot on location in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and which is set to a great Jennifer Warnes-Chris Thompson theme song. Lea Thompson and Christopher Penn co-star. In 1983, another Cruise vehicle had even better moves: Risky Business. --Glenn Lovell

Price: $14.95

Click here to buy from Amazon

Texans RB Foster will miss opener vs. Colts

Published: September 11th, 2011 | Tags: Arian Foster, Ben Tate, Derrick Ward, Houston Texans

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UPDATE: Foster officially was ruled out when the Texans released their inactive players at 11:30 a.m. ET. Ward will start in Foster’s place.

The Texans have yet to officially deactivate Arian Foster, but team officials don’t expect him to play Sunday against the Colts.

Internally, Foster isn’t in Houston’s game-day plans, according to a source, and no one believes his hamstring will allow him to play. The running back, who led the NFL in rushing last season, would be officially deactivated at 11:30 a.m. ET.

The Texans plan on a heavy rushing workload, with Derrick Ward the starter but with sufficient carries for youngster Ben Tate as well.

For inactives for every Sunday game, visit www.nfl.com/inactives.

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Colts will have WR Wayne, TE Tamme vs. Titans

Published: December 9th, 2010 | Tags: Gary Brackett, Indianapolis Colts, Jacob Tamme, Kenny Britt, Randy Moss, Reggie Wayne, Tennessee Titans, Week 14 inactives

Colts WR Reggie Wayne and TE Jacob Tamme — both listed as questionable this week — are active for Thursday night’s matchup with the Titans.

Both players have been dealing with knee injuries.

Colts LB Gary Brackett, also questionable this week, is active, too.

With no changes to the Titans’ starting lineup, WR Randy Moss will start. Returning wideout Kenny Britt is listed as the No. 2 behind Nate Washington. However, it isn’t known what personnel groupings with which the Titans’ offense could open.

Britt has missed the Titans’ last four games with a hamstring injury. He had 23 receptions for 434 yards and seven touchdowns in Tennessee’s first seven games of the season.

Full inactives list:

Colts
WR Austin Collie
RB Joseph Addai
CB Kelvin Hayden
RB Mike Hart
LB Clint Session
G Jacques McClendon
G Jamie Thomas
DE Ricardo Mathews

Titans
Rusty Smith (No. 3 QB)
CB Ryan Mouton
DB Robert Johnson
LB David Thornton
OT Troy Kropog
DT Sen’Derrick Marks
WR Lavelle Hawkins
DT Dave Ball

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Manning can’t overshadow all of Colts’ problems

It’s been interesting to watch just how much things have changed for the Colts over the course of the season, because we’ve witnessed a progression in how the greatness of QB Peyton Manning can overshadow other issues on his team. And I mean that in the most positive sense.

When injuries first bore down on the Colts, there was no TE Dallas Clark or WRs Anthony Gonzalez. WR Austin Collie was in and out of the lineup and even WR Pierre Garcon was dinged up. But we witnessed the emergence of TE Jacob Tamme and the Blair White Project, and everybody was loving it. There was more of a running game with Joseph Addai, Manning had time to throw and the consensus was he making this group better.

Fast forward a few weeks, and everything has changed for the Colts.

The team has been weathering a perfect storm, in a sense, because they can’t run the ball, the turnover at receiver is now an issue and they have had trouble protecting Manning, who at the same time isn’t playing well as he would like.

I’ve seen Manning clutching the ball often, and he just hasn’t had time to pull the trigger. He’s making too many throws he would like to have back, especially the late interception against the Patriots. The truth is, you can’t totally absolve Manning among the Colts’ problems.

The perception has gone from Manning made his receivers great to the same receivers now just aren’t good enough. I’m wondering which one is real. The truth has to lie somewhere in between.

There is no easy solution for the Colts. Lately they’ve been forced to play from behind, which is a huge issue because their defense is built to rush the passer. The Colts are 29th against the run at 142.8 yards per game, and while losing four of the last five games they’re even worse at 156.2 yards per game. That becomes a problem because they can’t just unleash DEs Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis on teams who can rush the passer.

Playing from behind also changes everything about how Manning goes about his business.

The Colts have to get that figured out in these next four games. They have Tennessee (5-7) twice, go to Oakland (6-6) and have Jacksonville (7-5) at home. If the Colts manage to beat the Titans Thursday night on NFL Network, don’t discount what that means as they will have a couple of extra days to prepare for the Jaguars. If they can utilize it the right way, it might be just enough.

While logic tells me the Jaguars are the best team in the division, I still believe the Colts will find a way to win games and get in the playoffs.

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Colts’ Collie, Addai out for Thursday

Published: December 7th, 2010 | Tags: Austin Collie, Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans, Joseph Addai, Austin Collie, Pierre Garcon, Blair White

The Colts will be without WR Austin Collie (concussion) and RB Joseph Addai (neck) vs. the Titans on Thursday, team owner Jim Irsay said via his Twitter account. (That’s right, the owner is sending out injury reports on Twitter.)

Collie has not played since being injured against the Patriots in Week 11. And in those three games, QB Peyton Manning has thrown 11 interceptions. Manning, however, had some success last year against the Titans, throwing for 579 yards with four touchdowns and an interception in 2009. And the quarterback told reporters that he is not breaking from his routine.

WR Blair White is a solid No. 3 receiver in most fantasy formats. WR Pierre Garcon has heated up in recent weeks to notch at least five receptions in each of his last four games. Including eight receptions for 56 yards and a touchdown against the Cowboys in Week 13. Garcon is a good start on Thursday, even though the Titans have been tough on opposing receivers this year.

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Playbook picks: Colts or Bolts? Tough call

Published: November 24th, 2010 | Tags: Brian Baldinger, Michael Lombardi, Mike Mayock, Playbook picks, Sterling Sharpe

The November Nine. No, it’s not just the name given to the final table at the World Series of Poker. It also represents a feat two NFL teams are trying to accomplish Sunday night.

The Chargers are going for their ninth consecutive November victory, while the Colts are aiming for their ninth consecutive November home win. Which one of those two clubs will achieve their goal?

Sterling Sharpe, Michael Lombardi, Mike Mayock and Brian Baldinger made picks this week. While Lombardi and Mayock both like the Colts to get the job done, Baldinger sides with the Chargers.

Baldinger is also an island with his picks in two other key games. He predicts the Packers and Jaguars will come out on top this week, but Lombardi and Mayock go with the Falcons and Giants.

Without further ado, take a look at all of their Week 12 picks:

“Playbook” combines Xs-and-Os analysis of each NFL game with roundtable debates on the NFL’s hottest topics. For more information, check out NFL Network’s broadcast schedule.

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Colts rule out Collie, so target White

Published: November 23rd, 2010 | Tags: Austin Collie, Blair White, Indianapolis Colts, Pierre Garcon

Some of you know this drill already. If there is a wide receiver or tight end from the Colts available in your fantasy league, go ahead and add him now.

The Colts have already ruled out WR Austin Collie this week vs. the Chargers, meaning WR Blair White will be the team’s third receiver. You should look at White as a possible No. 3 receiver for your fantasy team, too. This holds true despite the fact that the Chargers have allowed the second fewest points to fantasy receivers this season.

Those of you who are frustrated with Collie, keep him on your roster. He has clearly emerged as the Colts’ second option behind WR Reggie Wayne.

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Collie sidelined for Colts

Published: November 21st, 2010 | | Tags: Austin Collie, Blair White, Indianapolis Colts, Week 11 injuries 2010

It looks like Colts WR Austin Collie‘s day in Foxborough is done.

Collie, who suffered a concussion two weeks ago against the Eagles, had his helmet taken away from him on the sideline Sunday, and it doesn’t look like he’ll return against the Patriots. No official word from the Colts on an injury for Collie, but he could have suffered another concussion or head injury.

Losing Collie — who had five receptions for 60 yards in less than one half of play — is tough for the Colts, who continue to be thin at receiver. Behind Reggie Wayne and Pierre Garcon, the Colts likely will go with rookie Blair White as their No. 3 receiver.

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Colts WR Collie back from injury, active vs. Pats

Published: November 21st, 2010 | | Tags: Austin Collie, Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots, Week 11 inactives

Colts WR Austin Collie will return to the gridiron Sunday against the Patriots.

Collie suffered a concussion Nov. 7 when he turned to run up the field and was sandwiched between two Eagles defenders. He fully participated in practice this week and was listed as questionable on the Colts’ final injury report.

TE Brody Eldridge (rib), CB Aaron Francisco (rib), CB Kelvin Hayden (neck) and WR Reggie Wayne (knee) were all listed as questionable but are active.

For the Patriots, G Steve Neal (shoulder) and RB Fred Taylor (toe) are both inactive after being limited in practice and being listed as questionable on the injury report.

Full inactives list:

Colts
DB Justin Tryon
S Bob Sanders
RB Joseph Addai
RB Mike Hart
LB Clint Session
LB Gary Brackett
G Jaimie Thomas
DE Ricardo Mathews

Patriots
WR Taylor Price
RB Fred Taylor
CB Jonathan Wilhite
S Jarrad Page
G Rich Ohrnberger
G Stephen Neal
OT Mark LeVoir
DT Myron Pryor

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Colts TE Tamme not on injury report

Published: November 17th, 2010 | | Tags: Indianapolis Colts, Joseph Addai, Austin Collie, Jacob Tamme, Con Air, Mykelti Williamson

Colts TE Jacob Tamme is the strongest man on Earth. There were reports that Tamme was barely able to walk after Sunday’s win over the Bengals. And yet, Tamme was not even on the team’s injury report on Wednesday.

And the Colts put everybody on the injury report.

What a marvelous recovery. Must be similar to the way that Mykelti Williamson goes from near-death to fighting convicts after an insulin shot in “Con-Air.”

So this should be seen as good news as most people likely do not know who the Colts backup to the backup tight end is. (It’s Brody Eldgridge and Gijon Robinson, though the former is listed above Tamme on the team’s official depth chart.)

Colts WR Austin Collie was limited in practice and is considered “day-to-day.” Keep an eye on his status on Thursday. RB Joesph Addai participated in some pre-practice drills, but was listed as a “non-participation” casualty for Wednesday.

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Colts’ Collie taken off field on stretcher

Published: November 7th, 2010 | | Tags: Indianapolis Colts, Philadelphia Eagles, Austin Collie, Week 9 injuries 2010, Kurt Coleman

UPDATE: The Colts announced Collie officially suffered a concussion.

An NFL game often takes on a serious tone when a violent injury takes place.

Such was the case with Colts WR Austin Collie in Sunday’s game against the Eagles, when he was carted off the field after taking two big hits following what was ruled an incomplete pass during the second quarter.

Collie appeared to haul in a pass from Peyton Manning over the middle of the field, and as he braced for a collision, was first hit on one side by the shoulder of Quintin Mikell, and then took a helmet-to-helmet hit from FS Kurt Coleman an instant later. The back of Collie’s helmet hit the field hard, and the severity of his injury was immediately clear. Collie immediately dropped the ball and appeared to have been knocked unconscious.

Team medical personnel removed Collie’s face mask and strapped him to a backboard before he was taken off the field on a stretcher. Manning came over to offer some words, and TV camera angles clearly showed Collie blinking his eyes. Because of the precautionary measures involved, it’s difficult to speculate on his exact injury or its severity.

And it was difficult to watch.

The play was ruled an incomplete pass, and a unnecessary roughness penalty was called on Mikell as Collie was deemed a “defenseless” receiver. The Colts did not make any immediate announcements.

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Just keep Colts WR White on your roster

Published: November 8th, 2010 | | Tags: Indianapolis Colts, Reggie Wayne, Austin Collie, Pierre Garcon, Blair White, Javarris James

Colts WR Austin Collie is already recovering from his concussion, and his status for Sunday’s game against the Bengals is still in question. But what is not in question is that you need to make sure that you have WR Blair White, and pretty much every Colts player, on your fantasy roster.

Maybe even RB Javarris James, too.

White’s name seemingly comes up every other week as another one of the Colts receivers gets injured. Even when Collie returns, it is only a matter of time before WRs Reggie Wayne or Pierre Garcon go down. At least that seems to be the trend for Colts players this season. So, just keep White to be safe.

We are starting to come to the time of the season when handcuffs are really important. If you have extra space on your roster, add some handcuffs. For instance, if you have any of the remaining Colts receivers, pick up White (though he likely figures into the game plan this week).

Normally, it’s a good idea to keep a bunch of bye week replacements and that extra defense on your roster, just in case. But no need for that anymore. And really, if you are still clinging to the hope that, say, Texans WR Jacoby Jones is going to be a sleeper this season, let that dream die.

Make a move to ensure that your starters are handcuffed. Your roster should be pretty much set, so just make sure your studs are insured.

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