INDIANAPOLIS —
For 22 players currently on the Indianapolis Colts roster, tonight’s preseason game with the Cincinnati Bengals could very well be the first time that many of them will be playing in a National Football League game.
NFL teams trimmed their rosters to 75 players last Monday. They have to be down to 53 players by Friday afternoon. Whatever happens tonight — both good and bad — at Lucas Oil Stadium (7 p.m., WNDY) will go a long way in determining their immediate futures.
“You know every one [preseason game] is important. The last one is just as important as the first one. I’ve been around the league 11 years now, and I’ve seen guys come out of nowhere the last week and make a case for themselves,” Colts coach Chuck Pagano said earlier this week.
“Either from a special teams standpoint, or on offense and defense and make it really hard on the coaching staff and the personnel people to determine who is going to make that 53rd spot, so to speak. So it’s really important for all those guys.”
Case in point. In 2003, rookie wide receiver Brad Pyatt entered the final game of the preseason on the outside looking in. Pyatt, an undrafted free agent from Northern Colorado, was trying to crack the Indianapolis roster any way that he could.
In that game, also against Cincinnati, the Arvada, Colo., native had a couple of notable kickoff and punt returns. His performance impressed then-Colts coach Tony Dungy so much, Pyatt eventually made the Indianapolis regular-season roster.
Later that season — in the Colts’ fifth-game against defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay — it was Pyatt’s long kickoff return that helped kick start a wild late fourth quarter comeback in a 38-35 overtime win.
“There’s a formula [for deciding on the final regular-season roster], if you will, on both sides of the ball and special teams. Typically special teams is easy, you usually get three specialists. That’s the easy one. Then offense and defense you try to balance it out,” Pagano explained.
“And then special teams plays a role in that as far as backup linebackers and your backup running backs and wide receivers and how those guys affect special teams. So, there’s a certain number on each side of the ball, and special teams, that you’re looking for to round that 53 out.”
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n Facing the Bengals — The Colts come into tonight’s game with a 1-2 preseason record, dropping the last two games on the road to Pittsburgh and Washington. Indianapolis won its only other home preseason matching, knocking off the St. Louis Rams 18 days ago.
While he wasn’t sure just how long the first offensive and defensive units would end up playing against the Bengals, Pagano still wants to come away with a win and set a positive tone heading into the regular-season opener at Chicago on Sept. 9.
“Looking back at last week’s game, we’ve got to clean up some things. Execution [is important]. We’re looking for timing and things like that, but we want to execute better. See how they respond as far as running the football on offense and stopping the run when those guys are out there, so we’re going to challenge them in that regard,” the Colts coach said.
“And then, like last week, these guys have got a front four that can put pressure on you, as well as they love to blitz linebackers and secondary personnel. We’ve got to do a great job in the pass protection part of it. But then, for the young guys, this is really their last opportunity, obviously to go out and showcase themselves and make a case for themselves as far as making this team.”
In addition to an improved performance across the board, Pagano wants to come out of this evening’s matchup as healthy as possible. The Colts are already hurting at several key positions with nose tackle Brandon McKinney out for the year with a knee injury and inside linebacker Pat Angerer sidelined for at least six weeks with a fractured foot.
“I think any game you want to come out clean, and we’ve had our fair share [of injuries] so we’d love to get out of this one as healthy as possible. But there’s still some question marks out there, and there’s still some guys out there fighting for jobs. Like I said before, a lot of those back end of the roster spots that guys are fighting for and it’s going to be determined on special teams,” he said.
“There’s going to be a lot of young guys, obviously, getting a lot of playing time in this last ball game. Like I told them this morning, we’re going to prepare to go win this football game, and we’re going to play well and take the next step. There’s nothing that we would like more than to play well and win the football game at home and start off the regular season on a good note.”
n Roster move — In a late roster move Tuesday evening, the Colts claimed wide receiver Kashif Moore and waived-Injured wide receiver Jarred Fayson. If Fayson goes unclaimed, he will revert to the Colts’ Injured Reserve list.
Moore (5-9, 180), a rookie who played collegiately at Connecticut, was recently released by Cincinnati.
n Indiana State connections — They’ll be plenty of former Sycamores around Lucas Oil Stadium tonight.
Bengals rookie wide receiver Justin Hilton, who signed with Cincinnati as an undrafted free agent after a two-year career with ISU, was waived by the Bengals on Wednesday evening.
Cincinnati offensive assistant Kyle Caskey is a former Indiana State offensive line and tight ends coach, working on the staffs of Lou West and Trent Miles. He’ll be one of the Bengals assistants in the press box.
Kyle Monroe, an ex-Indiana State defensive back and the son of former Sycamore running back Ken Monroe, has been hired by the Colts to work with the team’s media relations department on game days this season.
n Youth football teams honored — Tonight marks the Colts’ USA Football Month Game. In conjunction with USA Football, the Colts awarded tickets for the Cincinnati game to numerous local youth football programs.
Forty youth players will be on-field with the Colts for the National Anthem. Prior to this evening’s kickoff, the Colts also will present a $10,000 check to benefit local youth and high school football.
Colts
Pagano, Colts looking for diamonds in the rough in preseason finale
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Colts' coordinators enjoying getting rookies acclimated
While the Indianapolis Colts put their rookies and a handful of second-year players through workouts this weekend at the team’s Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center, a pair of first-year coordinators are getting a chance to do some valuable on-field work as well.
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Werner, 36 others open Colts’ mini camp
The Indianapolis Colts welcomed 37 players to the start of the team’s rookie mini camp Friday at the West 56th Street headquarters.
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Colts hoping for more high marks on draft picks
A year ago, the Indianapolis Colts received high marks for the impact players the team added through the NFL draft.
Of the 10 players selected, five ended up either starting or seeing extensive playing time (quarterback Andrew Luck, tight ends Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen, wide receiver T.Y. Hilton and running back Vick Ballard) during the Colts’ 11-5 season.
While this year’s class may not rival that group in terms of name recognition and flash, it may produce just as many major contributors once the 2013 season gets underway. -
Werner at top of game
Bjoern Werner was a late comer to football. But after being selected in the first round of the 2013 National Football League draft by the Indianapolis Colts, Werner realizes that he has reached the pinnacle of the sport in a relatively short amount of time.
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Colts select pass rusher Werner in first round
The Indianapolis Colts selected Florida State defensive end Bjoern Werner. The 6-foot-3, 266-pound defensive lineman can also play left outside linebacker.
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Colts in wait-and-see mode for tonight’s NFL draft
As the 2013 NFL draft gets underway tonight at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, the Indianapolis Colts are continuing their wait-and-see stance in regard to the first-round pick.
The draft begins at 8 p.m. — televised by the NFL Network and ESPN — with the Kansas City Chiefs making the night’s first selection. Teams will have 10 minutes to make their decisions during the first round. Indianapolis will have the 24th overall pick in the first round.
There will be only one round tonight. The second and third rounds are scheduled for Friday, beginning at 6:30 p.m. with seven minutes allotted per pick in the second round and five minutes allowed in the third. The final four rounds are slated to begin at noon Saturday with four minutes between selections.
As it stands now, Indianapolis does not have a second-round pick. It was traded to Miami last fall in exchange for veteran cornerback Vontae Davis. But second-year general manager Ryan Grigson has nut ruled out the possibility of trading down from the first round if the Colts aren’t satisfied with the players available. -
Direction clear for Colts in 2013 draft
The Indianapolis Colts head into the 2013 NFL Draft with some definite plans.
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Colts veteran among those excited to see Luck's growth in 2013-14
Veteran defensive end Cory Redding is a big fan — literally and figuratively — of Indianapolis Colts second-year quarterback Andrew Luck.
Redding, who has become one of the Colts’ lockerroom leaders after just one season with the team, thinks he has some reasonable expectations of Indianapolis’ former No. 1 draft pick. -
Heyward-Bey feeling fortunate to hook up with Luck
Add one more player to the list of veteran free agents signed by the Indianapolis Colts this offseason.
Former Oakland Raiders wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey agreed to a a deal with the Colts late Monday evening. Bey, who played collegiately at Maryland, was the seventh player selected in the first round of the 2009 National Football League draft. -
Colts sign nose tackle
Another day, more player signings for the Indianapolis Colts.
Nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin agreed to terms with the Colts on Tuesday evening and officially signed with the team Wednesday. Franklin (6-1, 315) is a 10-year NFL veteran with stops in Baltimore (2003-06), San Francisco (2007-10), New Orleans (2011) and San Diego (2012). -
Colts sign Matt Hasselbeck to back up Luck
The Indianapolis Colts’ roster moves just keep coming.
While the Colts haven’t yet added that big-name wide receiver that team owner Jim Irsay hinted at in tweets over the weekend, Indianapolis has addressed one area on offense.
Former Tennessee Titans quarterback Matt Hasselbeck had agreed Monday night to be the Colts’ primary back-up to second-year starter Andrew Luck. He officially signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the team Tuesday morning.
“We are very pleased to announce the signing of Matt Hasselbeck,” general manager Ryan Grigson said in a prepared statement. “His body of work, intangibles, and extensive league experience speak for themselves. Those factors, plus his familiarity with our offensive scheme, will make him a great asset to our team and its vision as we move forward.” -
Colts likely done signing free agents, for now
With the possible exception of adding a few lesser-priced players, the Indianapolis Colts’ big-time foray into the veteran free-agent marketplace is pretty much done.
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Landry, Jean Francois join Colts defensive unit
After adding five veteran free agent players to the Indianapolis Colts roster on Tuesday, general manager Ryan Grigson plucked two more plums late Wednesday night and Thursday afternoon.
New York Jets safety LaRon Landry and San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Ricky Jean-Francois both signed contracts with the Colts. Landry, a strong safety who appears to be a bigger version of former Indianapolis Pro Bowler Bob Sanders, and the versatile Jean-Francois are expected to make immediate impacts on the Colts’ defensive unit. -
Colts introduce free-agent signees
What the Indianapolis Colts accomplished last season — posting an 11-5 record and earning an AFC wild-card berth with a young team plus having that kind of success without its head coach on the sidelines for 12 games — didn’t go unnoticed by players around the NFL.
That was especially true for the five veteran free agents who were added to the Colts’ roster Tuesday. Offensive tackle Gosder Cherilus (Detroit), cornerback Greg Toler (Arizona), outside linebacker Erik Walden (Green Bay), offensive guard Donald Thomas (New England) and linebacker Lawrence Sidbury (Atlanta) admitted as much Wednesday.
“I felt like this would be the best fit for me at this point in my career. I really liked what I saw was happening with the program here and the way things have taken shape. I feel like we have a really great team here and it’s on the rise. I really wanted to be a part of that,” Thomas said during a teleconference interview with the Colts’ media. -
Colts sign five free agents, filling needs at offensive line, cornerback
The Indianapolis Colts were a busy team on the opening day of the National Football League’s veteran free agent market, which got underway at 4 p.m. Tuesday.
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Jeff Saturday retires as a Colt
An Indianapolis Colt for life. Pencil in Jeff Saturday for that honor.
The 14-year veteran center in the NFL put an official stamp on a career Thursday that began in Baltimore in 1998 and ended in Green Bay in 2012. But it was those 13 seasons in between — from 1999 to 2011 in which he played for Indianapolis — when Saturday earned his greatest rewards. -
Saturday thrilled to retire as a Colt
The 14-year veteran center in the National Football League put an official stamp on a career Thursday that began in Baltimore in 1998 and ended in Green Bay in 2012. But it was those 13 seasons in-between — from 1999 to 2011 in which he played for Indianapolis — that Saturday earned his greatest rewards.
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Saturday to retire as Colt on Thursday
Former Indianapolis Colts center Jeff Saturday will make his retirement from the National Football League official on Thursday.
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Indianapolis franchises punter McAfee
A week ago, Indianapolis Colts coach Chuck Pagano said it was a priority that the team retain the services of punter Pat McAfee.
McAfee, an unrestricted free agent who’s contract is due to expire March 12, was designated as the Colts’ franchise player Friday. The move allows Indianapolis extra time to work out a long-term deal for the team’s special-teams ace.
“He’s huge. He’s a major priority in free agency. Obviously, we’ve reached out and are working to get Pat re-signed,” Pagano said during the National Football Scouting Combine. “We saw what he did for us last year. He’s a great weapon, not only kickoffs and touchbacks. -
Colts GM enjoying time at combine
Indianapolis Colts second-year general manager Ryan Grigson makes no bones about it. He enjoys watching prospective football players strut their stuff.
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Colts keeping eye on large crop of talented linemen in NFL Draft
According to most National Football League draft observers, this year’s crop of prospects is deep with quality offensive and defensive linemen.
Among the offensive line candidates who have been showcasing their talents at the National Football Scouting Combine, which began in earnest Thursday and wraps up on Tuesday, the spotlight has been on the offensive tackles. Offensive left tackles in particular. -
Colts' Pagano back to full work schedule at combine
Back and ready to go.
That’s the attitude Indianapolis Colts coach Chuck Pagano is taking during the National Football Scouting Combine, which completed its second day of operations Friday at Lucas Oil Stadium. During a wide-ranging press conference at the combine, Pagano confirmed that he is back to a full work regimen after missing 12 games last fall as he battled a rare form of leukemia.
After undergoing cancer treatments that featured heavy doses of chemotherapy, the second-year head coach was able to return to the sidelines for Indianapolis’ final regular-season home game against Houston and for the team’s AFC wild-card matchup with eventual Super Bowl champion Baltimore. -
Colts looking forward to different approach to draft in 2013
A year ago, the Indianapolis Colts had the first overall pick in the 2012 National Football League draft.
It was a foregone conclusion that the Colts would select former Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck with the selection. While Indianapolis front office and player personnel officials certainly had to do their due diligence in preparing for the draft, the Colts find themselves this year in a bit different situation.
The team will have the 24th overall pick in the first round, which is a double-edged sword. Indianapolis picks lower in the round due to a successful season. But the pool of available can’t-miss talent isn’t quite as plentiful as drafting earlier in the round. -
Former Pro Bowl selection Freeney won't return to Colts
The news coming out of the Indianapolis Colts headquarters Friday afternoon was not totally unexpected. Team officials have confirmed that two veteran players – former Pro Bowl defensive end/outside linebacker Dwight Freeney and wide receiver Austin Collie — will not be returning for the 2013 season.
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Colts’ new offensive coordinator will offer variety
Quarterback Andrew Luck running the Pistol offense? Wide receiver T.Y. Hilton lining up in the Wildcat?
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Colts moving on to the off season
Moving on. That’s the immediate plans for the Indianapolis Colts as they head into the off season.
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Baltimore ends Indy’s playoff run early
The Baltimore Ravens want one long final ride for Ray Lewis. Having disposed of Andrew Luck and the Colts, they now face a more imposing challenge.
Next up, Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos. -
Switching sides: Colts-Ravens matchup includes old friends on new teams
Just as Baltimore Ravens players and coaches will be seeing some old friends returning to M&T Bank Stadium today, several Indianapolis Colts veterans will also have an opportunity to renew acquaintances with a familiar face.
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Pagano prepares Colts for tough crowd in Baltimore
As a former resident of Baltimore, Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano knows all about the hard feelings that still run strong about the move of the Colts franchise to Indianapolis in 1984.
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Pagano marvels at Colt’s progress
In the minutes after last Sunday’s win over AFC South champion Houston, Indianapolis Colts coach Chuck Pagano marveled at how the 2012 season has progressed for his team.
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