INDIANAPOLIS —
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.
“Hair’s coming back in. It’s a little gnarly. I haven’t found a gel yet that will quite calm it down. We’re still looking for one. My wife is trying to help me out. But I feel great and I’m obviously very fortunate to be back here and be doing this combine deal,” the second-year head coach voiced.
A relatively young Colts squad used Pagano’s forced absence as a rallying point as the team turned a 2-14 record in 2011 into an 11-5 mark last season. Now, with their coach appearing to be back on the road to a full recovery, what can Indianapolis do for an encore?
“You know what? We set our expectations high a year ago when we got here. We knew where everybody basically had us [previewing the upcoming season] based on all the turnover. Front office, coaching staff, players, etc.,” Pagano recalled.
“We know what the expectations are now. The players have set high expectations for themselves. The bar is really high. And so we’re just going to keep working the process, continue to build the monster, and move forward. I fully expect to back up last year with another great season.”
• Moving ahead — After going through a life-altering experience such as the one he experienced last fall, Pagano admits that he doesn’t know if he’ll ever get back to feeling the way he did prior to the leukemia diagnosis.
“I don’t know if it will ever be the same, to be honest with you. I feel pretty normal now as far as going through the normal stuff that a football coach goes through in a day-in, day-out basis,” he said. “But whether it will ever be exactly the same, I don’t think it will ever be that way. Like I said, I feel good. Most of that is behind me. I feel good where I am at right now.”
Pagano said that he was under no restrictions on what he can or can’t do in terms of his normal coaching regimen. Well, almost no restrictions.
“Very little media. There won’t be any more Wednesday pressers or on Monday. Dr. [Larry] Cripe, you’ll have to talk to him,” the Colts coach joked. “But, no, really there’s no restrictions. Like anybody else who has dealt with some form of cancer or blood disease, leukemia, whatever it is, you’ve still got a process to go through.
“I’ve got a couple of years still of medication that I’ll take for a couple of weeks every three months. Then you’ll go in for a few years, every six months for three years after that. If you’re still in remission after five years, then you’ll get a certificate and a badge and then send you a something that says you’re healthy, that you’re free of any more doctors visits.”
• Looking at the draft — Indianapolis came away from last year’s draft with four starters (quarterback Andrew Luck, tight ends Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen, and running back Vick Ballard) and one key backup (wide receiver T.Y. Hilton).
Can the Colts come close to duplicating that type of success this year? Pagano certainly hopes so. Like general manager Ryan Grigson had stressed day earlier, there are no overriding preconceived areas of need in the first round.
Most observers expect Indianapolis to be in the market for help along the offensive and defensive lines, at outside linebacker and in the defensive secondary. A big-play receiver with some size might also be on the team’s shopping list.
“You know what? We’re going to look at everything. Obviously a ton of players here to look at. We’ve analyzed ourselves pretty good as far as self-scout,” the Colts coach said. “There’s some areas there I think we all know that need to be addressed. Other than one or two areas, we’re going to take a look at everybody here and then plug in a few pieces to help us.”
• Free agents — Before the Colts can go shopping for veteran free agents from other teams, decisions must be made as to which of their own free agents they will want to keep.
Indianapolis has 14 unrestricted free agents and four restricted free agents. The Colts’ unrestricted players include wide receiver Donnie Avery, cornerback Darius Butler, linebacker Moise Fokou, offensive guard Tony Hills, nose tackle Antonio Johnson, offensive tackle Winston Justice, punter Pat McAfee, defensive end Fili Moala, running back Mewelde Moore, cornerback Jerraud Powers, quarterback Drew Stanton and linebacker Jamaal Westerman.
Linebacker A.J. Edds, offensive guard/tackle Jeff Linkenbach, offensive guard Seth Olsen and cornerback Cassius Vaughn are the team’s restricted free agents.
It would appear as if McAfee, Powers and Moala are the most probable of the UFAs to be re-signed.
“[McAfee] is huge. He is a major priority in free agency. Obviously, we’ve reached out and we’re working to get [him] re-signed. You saw what he did for us. He’s a great weapon. Not just on kickoffs and touchbacks and those types of things, kicking out of the end zone,” Pagano said.
“I sat in a hospital bed and at home [last season] for 12 weeks just watching him pin guys inside the 20 and inside the 10 over and over. To have a weapon like him is a tremendous asset.”
Powers has also impressed the Colts coach with his attitude both on and off the field.
“He’s a heck of a football player and we’d love to re-sign him and have him back,” he said, adding that he preferred to describe Powers as unlucky rather than injury prone. The cornerback has missed most of the last two seasons due to injuries, including last season’s turf toe problem.
“I’m keeping my fingers crossed [on bringing back Powers]. If he’s not [back], he’s going to be playing for somebody and playing good football.”
Pro Sports
Colts' Pagano back to full work schedule at combine
- Pro Sports
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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. -
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. -
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 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. -
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' 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. -
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At just 20 years of age, the former Robinson, Ill., standout who took his talents to Champaign for two years is getting his feet wet at the highest level of basketball.
Close to 300 fans, many of whom watched Leonard take the Maroons to the 2010 IHSA Class 2A state championship, rode on charter buses to watch him battle the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis last week. -
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Do-or-die Bills next for Colts
Indianapolis Colts interim coach/offensive coordinator Bruce Arians is quite aware that the Buffalo Bills are coming into Sunday’s game at Lucas Oil Stadium (1 p.m. kickoff, CBS Sports) facing a do-or-die situation in regard to the postseason.
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How will the Colts rebound vs. the Bills?
The big question for the Indianapolis Colts as they prepare for Sunday's home game with Buffalo is a pretty simple one.
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Colts healthy entering key road game
If all goes well during today’s short walk-through practice, it appears the Indianapolis Colts will be in pretty good health heading into Sunday’s nationally televised (4:25 p.m., CBS Sports) road game with the New England Patriots.
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Colts, Patriots renew rivalry for 10th straight year
Once again, Sunday afternoon at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., it’s the Indianapolis Colts playing the New England Patriots.
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Times have changed
A lot has changed for the Indianapolis Colts since a 22-17 home loss to Jacksonville on Sept. 23.
For starters, that’s the only game the 1-7 Jaguars have won this season. Indianapolis, meanwhile, has posted wins in four of its last five games and is rolling along with a 5-3 record.
Many Colts point to that loss in the third week of the season. Indianapolis led 14-3 at the half and were ahead 14-13 after three quarters of play.
In fact, the Colts led 17-16 with 0:45 remaining in the game. That’s when Jacksonville quarterback Blaine Gabbert connected with speedy wide receiver Cecil Shorts III on an 80-yard pass play that resulted in the final margin of victory.
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Not pretty, but Colts take win
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Colts wish linebackers could play more at same time
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Pagano gives Colts 4 days off
With a bye this weekend, the Indianapolis Colts went through a short week of practice before taking a long four-day weekend.
Indianapolis coach Chuck Pagano put the Colts through workouts Tuesday and Wednesday before allowing the team to scatter across the country.
Players are due back Sunday evening as Pagano and his coaching staff hope to hit the ground running heading into Indianapolis’ Oct. 7 home game with Green Bay. -
Tentative agreement reached on NFL referees' contract
The NFL and the referees’ union reached a tentative contract agreement at midnight today, ending an impasse that began in June when the league locked out the officials and used replacements instead.
“Our officials will be back on the field starting tomorrow night” for the Cleveland-Baltimore game, Commissioner Roger Goodell said after a day of marathon negotiations.
With Goodell at the table, the sides concluded two days of talks with the announcement of a tentative eight-year deal, which must be ratified by 51 percent of the union’s 121 members. They plan to vote Friday. -
Colts receiver Collie will miss season with knee injury
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Wide receiver Avery starting to feel at home with Colts
Count Indianapolis Colts coach Chuck Pagano and offensive coordinator Bruce Arians as two of Donnie Avery’s biggest supporters.
The Colts’ wide receiver, who has struggled with knee issues the last two seasons after being the first receiver selected in the 2008 NFL draft, opened a lot of eyes in last Sunday’s 23-20 win over the Minnesota Vikings.
Avery hauled in nine passes for 111 yards in the victory, his first big performance since joining the team as an unrestricted free agent last March.
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