INDIANAPOLIS — Call it a friendly rivalry. That pretty much describes the relationship between Indianapolis Colts weakside linebacker Freddy Keiaho and middle linebacker Gary Brackett.
Brackett, the Colts’ defensive captain, has been among the team’s tackling leaders for the three previous years. Before the 2008 regular season got underway, however, Keiaho and Brackett came up with a little wager to see how would end up as the team’s top tackler.
There was one condition placed on the bet, though. The player with the fewest tackles by the end of the season would contribute to the other’s favorite charity. Through the first six games of the current season, Brackett has edged ahead with 61 total tackles. Keiaho, who had been the team’s top tackler earlier in the year, is running a close second with 57 stops.
Such is life in the Colts’ lockerroom, especially for two guys whose lockers are close together. Their friendship shouldn’t really come as that much of a surprise since their NFL career somewhat parallel each others.
Brackett was an undersized linebacker who was not drafted after playing for a college program — Rutgers — that hadn’t received the national attention that it has in recent years. Keiaho, meanwhile, was a third-round draft pick from San Diego State whom many outside observers figured was also undersized to be an every-down player in the league.
Both have become starters for the Colts, using their speed and athletic skills to make plays all over the field. While both are relatively quiet off the field, they are two of the most animated linebackers on the Indianapolis roster come game day.
Brackett is already being recognized as one of the most underrated middle linebackers in the NFL. Keiaho is starting to become noticed more and more for his combination of power and quickness.
He’s also becoming known for the passion that he brings to each and every practice and game. This is a guy that hates to lose. Keiaho — his given name is Naivote Taulawakeiaho — was that way in college. And he has brought that emotional style to the Colts.
In the wake of last week’s 34-14 loss to the Green Bay Packers, the 5-foot-11, 226-pound native of Suva, Fiji (he’s the only Fijian-born player in the NFL) was one of the last players to leave the Indianapolis locker room. He sat in front of his cubicle long after the game was over, still in uniform, fuming about the way the Colts had lost.
As a collegiate senior, his San Diego State team struggled to get wins. It ate him up.
“I’m crying in the locker room after every loss,” Keiaho told a writer from the San Diego Union-Tribune. “It’s really emotional for me, because I put so much effort into everything I do. And to not get the return I want, it hurts.
“There are a lot of people in this community that want this team to do well, and it’s tough, because we can’t get over the hump.”
Want to see emotion? Take a look at the Colts’ 2006 Super Bowl XLI video. Watch the pregame scenes, with the military jets flying low over Miami’s Dolphin Stadium. Check out Keiaho’s reaction, the tears rolling down his face.
On the flip side, how about earlier this season when he was called for pass interference on a crucial third-down play late in the Jacksonville game. Keiaho had inadvertently bumped into a Jaguars receiver and was flagged for the play. Jacksonville was awarded a first down and proceeded to drive the ball downfield for the game-winning field goal.
He could have ranted and raved about the call, which could have gone either way. But he didn’t.
“I thought that the game was over,” Keiaho said at the time. “I didn’t know that they had called a penalty on me. But what are you going to do?”
Since being drafted in 2006, he has played strong-side linebacker and middle linebacker before finally settling in at his current position. His progress there has been relatively smooth, although he has tried to play more within himself and not go running around without a purpose.
Colts coach Tony Dungy likes what he’s seen so far. And he knows that the best may be yet to come.
“Freddy has everything we’re looking for to play that spot [weak-side linebacker]. He certainly knows it much better now and is playing fast and playing very hard,” Dungy said.
Staying healthy is the key, according to Keiaho. He’s been beset by a series of injuries over the last couple of seasons.
“‘You can’t make the club when you’re in the tub’ is the saying. It’s all about staying healthy,” he said. “Last year, I caught some bad breaks.
“Hopefully this year I won’t catch those same breaks and play in all 16 games.”
Dungy would like to see that happen.
“Freddy is coming on. He’s been very consistent for us. [Weakside linebacker] is a spot that’s probably tailor-made for him to use his speed and his instincts to run to the football,” the Colts coach said. “He’s growing as a player every week. And I think he’s going to be very good for us.”
Colts
Colts' Keiaho brings passion to weakside linebacker
25-year-old took last week’s loss especially hard
- Colts
-
-
Colts welcome Manusky aboard as defensive coordinator
On Thursday, Indianapolis Colts general manager Ryan Grigson, coach Chuck Pagano and potential No. 1 draft pick Andrew Luck led the parade.
Grigson and Pagano confirmed the hiring of several assistant coaches, including defensive coordinator Greg Manusky, Marwan Maalouf (special teams), Roy Anderson (safeties), Alfredo Roberts (tight ends) and Brandt Boyer (assistant special teams). -
Mathis, Garcon at top of Colts’ wish list; Wayne isn’t
Expect defensive end Robert Mathis and wide receiver Pierre Garcon to be priorities for the Indianapolis Colts during free agency.
-
Manning tiptoes around health questions
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning and team owner Jim Irsay came to an agreement last week to keep any lingering issues about Manning's future with the team on the backburner during Super Bowl week.
-
Back home again in Indiana
Former Indianapolis Colts coach Jim Caldwell has landed a job as quarterbacks coach for the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens announced Caldwell’s hiring Monday.
-
Patriots first to arrive in Indy
Welcome to Super Bowl Week.
-
Pagano wants aggressive defense with Colts
When the Colts went looking for a new head coach, a good portion of the team’s fans made it clear that they wanted a departure from the laid-back style of former coaches Tony Dungy and Jim Caldwell.
-
Irsay: Manning comments should have stayed in-house
Not only did the Colts introduce new head coach Chuck Pagano during an afternoon press conference, team owner Jim Irsay also made his feelings known about recent comments that quarterback Peyton Manning made.
-
Colts go with defensive specialist
The Indianapolis Colts, after a weeklong search process, finally landed themselves a head coach Wednesday.
-
Caldwell can’t survive 2-14 season in Indy
The offseason moves just keep on coming for the Indianapolis Colts.
-
Colts fire head coach Caldwell
Tribune-Star correspondent Tom James reports that Colts head coach Jim Caldwell has been fired. No other details are known at this time.
-
Colts hire Eagles exec Grigson as GM
The Indianapolis Colts formally announced former Philadelphia director of player personnel Ryan Grigson as the team’s new general manager Wednesday.
-
Colts hire Eagles executive Grigson as GM
The Indianapolis Colts have hired Eagles executive Ryan Grigson as their new general manager.
-
Irsay: Colts are in 'rebuilding stage'
So are the Indianapolis Colts in a retooling or a rebuilding mode heading into the offseason?
If you ask the players, they would prefer to use the retooling philosophy. In their minds, get some injured players back and the Colts can be right back in the thick of the AFC South title race and once again be a contender for the AFC championship.
Team owner Jim Irsay, though, sees a tougher road ahead. -
Colts give the boot to Polian duo
It didn’t take long for Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay to start making moves with his team.
One day after Irsay’s Colts dropped a 19-13 road decision to Jacksonville, giving Indianapolis a 2-14 record and the No. 1 pick in the 2012 National Football League draft, longtime Colts executive Bill Polian and his son, vice-president/general manager Chris Polian, were both fired.
-
Interesting subplots abound in Colts-Jags game
This afternoon’s AFC South matchup between the Indianapolis Colts (2-13) and Jacksonville Jaguars (4-11) is the regular-season finale for both teams.
-
Colts players a fan of Murphy's promotion to defensive coordinator
Cohesion. That’s the word the keeps coming up when coach Jim Caldwell and many of the team’s players are asked about the turnaround of the Indianapolis Colts’ defensive unit.
-
To win or to lose? For Colts fans, it's not an easy question
With the No. 1 draft pick on the line if the Indianapolis Colts were to lose Sunday at Jacksonville, it’s easy to see why a lot of the team’s fans wouldn’t mind seeing the team fall to the Jaguars.
-
Colts’ Freeney to play in seventh Pro Bowl
Despite a team record of 2-13 heading into the final week of the National Football League regular season, there was some good news coming out of the Indianapolis Colts’ West 56th Street facility Tuesday night.
-
Colts’ last game not without questions
Are the Indianapolis Colts treating Sunday’s game at Jacksonville as the final game of the season or just the next game on the schedule?
-
Colts celebrate second straight division victory
Indianapolis Colts fans finally got a little luck on their side Thursday night at Lucas Oil Stadium.
It may not have been Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, who is expected to the top pick in next spring’s National Football League draft. -
With latest win, Colts provide suspense for 2012 draft position
Now that the Indianapolis Colts have posted two straight wins in their last two games, including Thursday night’s 19-16 victory over AFC South champion Houston, many of the team’s fans find themselves in quite a quandary.
The Colts will take a 2-13 record into next week’s New Year’s Day regular-season finale at Jacksonville. -
Colts face another tough running test
The credit for the Indianapolis Colts’ win over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday can go in a couple different directions.
-
Colts taking no risks with injured Manning
Both Bill Polian and Jim Caldwell are looking to the future when it comes to injured quarterback Peyton Manning.
-
More wins to come?
With a win finally under their belts, the Indianapolis Colts (1-13) now look forward to two days of intensive work beginning today.
-
FINALLY! THEY WON
It was a day of firsts for the Indianapolis Colts.
-
Polian hopes to set ‘record straight’
Indianapolis Colts vice chairman Bill Polian didn’t like what he was hearing prior to and during Sunday’s National Football League home game with the Tennessee Titans.
-
Polian shares thoughts on QB situation
With the Indianapolis Colts’ chances of clinching the No. 1 pick in the 2012 National Football League draft getting closer with each succeeding loss, talk among fans and team observers invariably goes to the possibility of the team selecting Stanford junior quarterback Andrew Luck.
-
Colts prepared for Hasselbeck or Locker
The Indianapolis Colts defense is preparing to face a two-pronged offensive attack when the Tennessee Titans visit Lucas Oil Stadium Sunday.
-
Colts could still become spoiler
Time is running short for the 2011 Indianapolis Colts.
-
Colts have three more chances to win
The Indianapolis Colts may be 0-13 for the season, but the team keeps battling.
- More Colts Headlines
-
Colts welcome Manusky aboard as defensive coordinator
Police: Houston Found Dead in Her Hotel Room
Recording Superstar Whitney Houston Dead at 48
Palin Brings Anti-Washington Message to CPAC
Maine GOP Chairman Says Romney Wins Caucuses
Fans 'Speechless' Over Houston's Death
Androgynous Model Walks Runway As Man and Woman
Raw Video: Deadly Blasts in Syria
Obama Scraps Birth Control Mandate
US Airmen's Killer Sentenced to Life in Germany
Latest Jason Wu Collection Shows Chinese Roots
ShowBiz Minute: Madonna, Beresford-Redman, Pawsc
Raw Video: Whitney Houston's Last Performance
Paul Suffers Narrow Loss to Romney in Maine
Stars Show Support at AMFAR Charity Gala
Snow Strands Italian Towns
Navy Names Ship for Gabrielle Giffords
Raw Video: Rough Seas Stop Oil Removal
The Muppets Are Oscars Bound!
Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Obama
BCBG Kicks Off NY Fashion Week
Lusetich: AT&T Rd. 3 recap
Whitney Houston's body is removed from hotel
Raw Video: Aurora Borealis As Seen From Space
Whitney's Final Days - EXCLUSIVE
Romney Tops Santorum in CPAC Straw Poll
First glimpse of Blue Ivy Carter
Angry Dad Shoots Teens Laptop
Peek inside Barbie's closet
Absolute Lin-sanity
Madonna's Daughter Shaves Head
5 Killed in Wrong-way Crash on I-10 in La.
Test on Comforter in Powell Unit Shows Blood
Hero Driver Saves Kids From Burning Bus
Funeral to be held for Powell boys
Sandusky on having to stay inside and people turning on him
Woolly Mammoth Caught on Camera?
Did JLo 'Assault' Marc Anthony on Camera?
Christie Brinkley's Runway Slip
Toddler forced to run half-naked in snow
