Indianapolis — Keiwan Ratliff was a second-round draft pick by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2004. Now a cornerback for the Indianapolis Colts, Ratliff has a hard time believing that the Bengals have fallen as much as they have.
“It was tough, what with all the talent that they have over there, to see what’s happened. So many of the guys that were there when I was there, like [quarterback] Carson [Palmer], [wide receiver] T.J. [Houshmandzadeh], [wide receiver] Chad [Johnson, or Ocho Cinco]. It’s hard to understand it all,” Ratliff said after Sunday’s 35-3 win over the Bengals.
“I had a good time playing against them.
“It was just like I was back at practice [with Cincinnati], going up against Housh and the guys. We’re all still friends and we’re all really competitive in everything that we do. So that part of it was fun.”
Ocho Cinco, by the way, did not start against Indianapolis due to what was termed a “coach’s decision.” He saw limited playing time the rest of the way, although he did have five catches for 79 yards.
Middle linebacker Buster Davis, meanwhile, get to set his sights on this week’s home game with the Detroit Lions. Davis was a third-round draft pick by Arizona last season but spent most of his rookie year on the Lions’ practice squad. He was released by Detroit on Aug. 31 and was quickly picked up by the Colts.
With starter Gary Brackett sidelined for the next few weeks with a cracked right fibula, Davis stepped in and made his first NFL start against the Bengals. He was credited with three unassisted tackles but did a nice job of helping to get the Colts in the right defensive alignments.
“I told you [media] to come back and talk to me after the [Cincinnati] game,” Davis joked. “I do want to play well [against the Lions]. But that’s the game coming up. I always want to play well. The Colts have given me a chance to play now and I want to make the most of the opportunity.”
• One streak snapped — Despite Indianapolis’ win Sunday, the Tennessee Titans clinched the AFC South title with a 28-9 win over the Cleveland Browns.
The Colts had won the last five division crowns. It’s the second time since the AFC South was created in 2002 that Tennessee has annexed the division title. The Titans were able to clinch due to all possible tiebreakers.
• Injury list — Strong safety Bob Sanders started for the first time in four weeks after being sidelined with a swollen right knee. Sanders responded with a team-high eight tackles against the Bengals.
Center Jeff Saturday (calf) was close to playing but was a last-minute scratch by the Indianapolis coaching staff. He is expected to be available for work against the Lions this week. Defensive tackle Keyunta Dawson (hamstring) and Brackett were also sidelined.
Running back Joseph Addai missed practice time last Friday due to a sore knee but started against Cincinnati. He saw limited work after incurring a shoulder injury during the game.
“He probably could have come back in, but we decided to hold him out the rest of the game,” Colts coach Tony Dungy said.
Rookie running back Chad Simpson (ankle) and rookie defensive tackle Eric Foster (pinched nerve in his shoulder) were also hurt. Both are expected to play against Detroit. Safety Melvin Bullitt came out of the game briefly but was able to return. He has been bothered by sore ribs in recent weeks.
• Record-keeping — Peyton Manning completed 26 of 32 passes for 277 yards and three touchdowns against the Bengals. Manning had a quarterback efficiency rating of 134.0. His 81.3 completion percentage was his 10th career game with 80 percent or better (with a minimum of 15 attempts).
His three touchdown passes marked the 51st career three-touchdown game and his 100th career two-plus-touchdowns game.
Manning passed former NFL New England and Dallas quarterback Drew Bledsoe for the seventh-most passing yards in league history Sunday. He now has 44,611. He also posted his 11th consecutive 20-plus touchdown season (22 this year), the second-longest such streak in NFL history behind Brett Favre’s 12 (1994-2005). He is also the first NFL player to post 11 consecutive 20-plus touchdown seasons to start a career. He had been tied with Dan Marino with 10.
He also eclipsed 3,000 seasonal passing yards for the 11th consecutive season and he is the only player in NFL history to post 3,000-plus passing yards in the first 11 seasons of a career.
Marvin Harrison recorded his second reception of 67 yards this season (the first was against Baltimore Oct. 12). It was the seventh-longest catch and run of his NFL career. Harrison had three catches for 78 yards against the Bengals.
Defensive end Robert Mathis now has a team-leading 11.5 sacks (53.5 for his career) and five forced fumbles this season. He has totaled multiple sacks in three consecutive games. It was Mathis’ third career double-digit sack season. It also marks the 13th double-digit sack total in franchise history.
Defensive end Dwight Freeney, meanwhile, now has 9.5 sacks and 27 quarterback hurries for the year. Freeney’s 69.5 career sacks is a franchise record.
Cornerback Kelvin Hayden had the first multiple interception game by a Colts player since Brackett against Baltimore last Dec. 9. His fourth quarter 85-yard interception return for a touchdown, his second pick of the game, was the sixth-longest in franchise history and the first returned for a touchdown since safety Matt Giordano had an 83-yard interception return for a score against New Orleans on Sept. 6, 2007.
• Pregame inactives — The Colts’ pregame inactives were outside linebacker Tyjuan Hagler (knee), linebacker Rufus Alexander, tight end Jamie Petrowski, wide receiver Roy Hall, rookie defensive end Curtis Johnson, Brackett, Saturday and Dawson.
Hagler did not practice last week but might be able to return for this week’s game with Detroit.
Colts
Colts Notebook: Indy corner Ratliff can’t believe how far his old team has fallen
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Colts have stocked up on tight ends
Just because Dallas Clark is now in Tampa Bay and Jacob Tamme has moved on to Denver doesn’t mean that the tight end position has become any less important to the Indianapolis Colts offense.
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Colts working on rebuilding as Luck finishes at Stanford
With No 1 quarterback Andrew Luck finishing up architectural classes at Stanford, coach Chuck Pagano’s rebuilding project goes on as scheduled during the Indianapolis Colts’ organized team activity practices at the team’s West 56th Street headquarters.
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Colts have no plan to move from Anderson
Apparently the Indianapolis Colts and Anderson University officials found a way to work out a few last-minute snags concerning the team’s summer training camp site.
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Colts’ new QB has a lot to keep him busy
With three days of rookie mini-camp now behind him and a few more weeks of college class work still ahead, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck has come to a crossroads.
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Mr. Irrelevant may find home with Colts
Chandler Harnish might be Mr. Irrelevant to most of the National Football League, but the former Norwell High School standout — who grew up in Bluffton — has a real chance to stick around the Indianapolis Colts locker room for awhile.
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All eyes on new Indy quarterback
Day One of the Andrew Luck era went off without a hitch Friday at the Indianapolis Colts’ West 56th Street practice facility.
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Colts fill need at cornerback
While the Indianapolis Colts failed to add any cornerbacks among the 10 players selected during this past weekend’s National Football League draft, general manager Ryan Grigson and the team’s scouting department were able to snag three undrafted free agents to play the position.
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New Colts GM, coach pleased with first draft
In a sense, first-year general manager Ryan Grigson and coach Chuck Pagano were rookies during the 2012 NFL draft.
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Colts’ new look comes into shape tonight at MSG
A changing of the guard. That’s what fans of the Indianapolis Colts can look forward to when the NFL draft commences tonight at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
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Colts confirm that Luck is choice
It’s official. The Indianapolis Colts will select former Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck with the first pick in the 2012 NFL draft Thursday night.
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Colts know, but won't say who No. 1 pick will be
With the first round of the NFL draft just a week away, Indianapolis Colts first-year general manager Ryan Grigson admitted Wednesday that team officials know who they are going to select with the No. 1 overall pick.
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New-look Colts open against Bears
While the Indianapolis Colts knew back in February who they would be playing during the 2012 regular season, there were plenty of questions about the dates, locations and times of those games.
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Colts look nothing like team of old with workouts under way
For the first time since last month’s massive roster purge, Indianapolis Colts players — both those that are returning as well as some of the newer additions — were available to talk about the franchise’s immediate future during an open lockerroom session Wednesday.
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Former Colts Saturday, Diem decide their NFL futures
The revolving door to the Indianapolis Colts locker room keeps spinning at the team's headquarters on West 56th Street.
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Going to Denver: Manning’s move bound to shake up AFC
The Denver Broncos got their Man. Make that Peyton Manning.
Pending final contract negotiations, Manning will join John Elway’s Broncos with hopes of winning another Super Bowl.
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Wayne surprises many with move
Welcome home Reggie Wayne.
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Wayne stays put in Indy
After a week of bad news for Indianapolis Colts fans that included the release of quarterback Peyton Manning, tight end Dallas Clark, running back Joseph Addai, middle linebacker Gary Brackett, safety Melvion Bullitt and quarterback Curtis Painter, finally something positive.
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Indianapolis puts team roster under knife
Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay sounded the warning bell during Wednesday’s press conference announcing the release of 14-year quarterback Peyton Manning.
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MARK BENNETT: Manning leaves great memories for Colts fans
The emotion behind the words was obvious.
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Peyton-palooza: Manning will have significant number of suitors
Rex Ryan’s Jets need leadership in a lost locker room.
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Irsay offers only ‘circumstances’
So if Indianapolis owner Jim Irsay wanted Peyton Manning to stay with the team, what happened?
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UPDATE: Colts announce they’re releasing Manning
Peyton Manning’s record-breaking run as quarterback of the Indianapolis Colts ended today, when owner Jim Irsay announced the team would release its best player.
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Colts, Peyton Manning prepared to part ways?
It looks very much as if an era will be coming to a close today.
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Colts agree to deal with Mathis
After signing a multi-year deal on Monday, it looks as if Pro Bowl defensive end Robert Mathis will play his entire National Football League career with the Indianapolis Colts.
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Colts defense about to receive overhaul
Changes are coming quickly for the Indianapolis Colts defense.
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Luck may be ready to go from start
Talk about walking into a pressure-packed situation.
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Choices at QB are plentiful for Indianapolis
Whatever decision the Indianapolis Colts ultimately make on who will be the team’s starting quarterback in 2012, the job will ultimately be in good hands.
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Pagano ready to begin Colts' rebuilding process
With the Peyton Manning situation still unresolved, a pair of recently hired Indianapolis Colts — coach Chuck Pagano and general manager Ryan Grigson — are moving on with plans to rebuild the franchise.
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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.
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