Indianapolis Colts Football

ANOTHER UNDRAFTED KICKER READY TO LEARN FROM THE CLUTCHEST OF CLUTCH–ADAM VINATIERI

Brandon McManus wasn’t even a teenager when Adam Vinatieri kicked his first game winning field goal at Super Bow XXXVI.

Now at the age of 21, McManus will be calling the 40-year old Vinatieri a teammate.

McManus was signed by the Colts as an undrafted free agent and while there might not seem like an immediate need for a placer kicker in Indianapolis, the tutelage under Vinatieri is invaluable.

“I’m definitely excited to come in and learn from (Vinatieri),” McManus said during the Colts rookie minicamp. “I think anyone that’s a young kicker now has watched him win all those Super Bowls and how clutch of a kicker he is.”

NFL kickers are largely measured on how clutch they are when the game is on the line and no one holds a stronger resume than Vintatieri.

Brandon McManus drills a kick at the 2013 Colts rookie minicamp. esume than Vinatieri.

He has 24 game winning field goals in his NFL career and it’s that aspect of the game that McManus also holds in the highest regard.

“That’s one part of my game that I like to try and drive around is being a clutch kicker,” McManus said. “I’m excited to learn the ropes of what it takes to be an NFL kicker.”

McManus comes to the Colts after four seasons as the kicker for Temple University.

He hit game-winning field goals three times for the Owls and leaves as the school’s all-time leader in points (338) field goals (60-of-83) and punting average (45.4).

Over the past few seasons, training camp has allowed for a few pressure packed situations for Colts kickers not named Vinatieri with the 18-year veteran resting his right leg.

Sooner or later Vinatieri’s career will eventually come to a close with a chapter saved for Canton, Ohio.

As of this past weekend, McManus hadn’t met Vinatieri but he didn’t need to turn far to look at No. 4’s locker and know what the man owning that space stands for in kicker’s lore.

“Anytime they got across the 50 (yard-line) in a end-of-game situation, you knew Adam was going to make the kick,” McManus said. “I think that’s a lot of trust that he’s grown through coaches and his team through that aspect.”

DAILY CLIPS: APRIL 18TH

COLTS NEWS (LOCAL AND NATIONAL)
Indianapolis Cols QB Andrew Luck’s goals for Year 2? Win a title, get better at everything
Colts former GM Bill Polian: ‘you’ve got to try and win every game’
Colts notes: LB Pat Angerer rebounding from second surgery on broken foot
Indianapolis Colts’ best draft picks: No. 4, DE Dwight Freeney
Colts offseason conditioning: what’s new after getting reacquainted in locker room
Sizing up the Colts’ pre-NFL draft roster: linebackers
Colts Notebook: Vinatieri expects warm welcome for Manning
Indianapolis Colts cheerleader: Most amazing feeling in the world
Colts’ new-look offense defies definition

COLTS.COM
2013 NFL Draft: Defensive tackles
Colts Mailbag
Colts top draft pick: tight end
Only going to get better

AFC SOUTH BLOG
On enthusiasm at the start for Jaguars
A look at Titans’ unofficial depth chart
Another Mel mock? You bet!
On AFC South and 2010 draft’s first round

NFL NEWS
Ertz, Eifert top NFL prospects at tight end
Antioch’s Quinton Patton races toward NFL
Jaguars Notebook: Blaine Gabbert not worried about possibility of drafting QB
Clay Matthews signs extension
Peyton Manning wants faster offense
No perfect time

AFC TEAM NEWS
Tim Tebow may or may not be in competition for NY Jets’ QB job, says GM John Idzik
Jaworski likens Manuel to Kaepernick

NFC TEAM NEWS
NY Giants’ Justin Tuck says team won’t miss Victor Cruz until Week 1 of NFL season
Lack of mental errors pleases Bears’ Trestman

LEGENDARY SUMMERALL PASSES

Pat Summerall never suited up for the Colts, but his fabulous playing and broadcasting career certainly intersected the franchise.

Summerall kicked for the New York Giants in the 1958 and 1959 NFL Championship games won by the Colts (23-17 in overtime in 1958; 31-16 in 1959).

When the Colts were in Super Bowls III and V, NBC broadcast the games and by the time the club reached Super Bowls XLI and XLIV, Summerall had retired.

Summerall, who passed away yesterday in Dallas at age 82, did a handful of games with John Madden for FOX Sports as Indianapolis started piecing together a marvelous run around the 1999 season.

Pat Summerall and John Madden in the broadcast booth.

I asked him once around that time how long it had been since he had seen the club play in person.  He responded, “My gosh, it was Super Bowl V.”

Summerall worked for networks that traditionally did not cover the AFC extensively and to have him assigned to a game meant the Colts were doing well or were playing a premier cross-conference foe, like Dallas, Washington or San Francisco.

Once covering one of our preseason games, Summerall announced the starting defensive line at the lead of the broadcast.  With his cadence, inflection, rich tone and pause, he made those four Colts sound like they were bound for Canton.

A day before we hosted the Cowboys on November 17, 2002, Summerall told me the game would be the 1,004^th broadcast of his career.  Overnight, we worked up a scoreboard tribute to him and flashed it up during the game.  Typically, our classy fans rose and applauded one of the true legends who helped shape the sport.

Summerall enjoyed his visits to Indianapolis.  He quite likely enjoyed every moment he had around the game, and did he have some moments.

Summerall was on 16 Super Bowl broadcasts, among many other CBS and FOX assignments.

Some football fans remember him being paired with Tom Brookshier, though most probably associate him better with John Madden.  Regardless of his on-air partner, Summerall provided the soundtrack for many cherished broadcast calls.

Summerall’s last Super Bowl call has a somewhat-related Colts tie.  He was covering Super Bowl XXXVI for FOX in February of 2002.

Adam Vinatieri hit a game-ending 48-yard field goal as New England beat St. Louis, 20-17.  It was the first time a Super Bowl ended with a game-winning scoring play.

His call was quintessential Summerall, “It’s right down the pipe.  No time on the clock.  And the Patriots have won Super Bowl XXXVI.  Unbelievable.”

Summerall checked in from time-to-time after retiring.  He felt a connection to the Colts because of Tony Dungy and the faithful way in which Dungy lived.  It made a tremendous impression on him.

Those calls were fun interruptions to a work day.  You never wanted them to end, and usually they lasted about 15 minutes.  He did most of the talking.  I was smart enough to shut up and listen to a legend.

He always said at the end of the call, “Say hi to Tony, and Peyton.”

THREE COLTS PLAYERS HAVE BRAGGING RIGHTS IN NCAA TOURNAMENT

The NCAA Tournament has been trimmed down to the Sweet 16 and for nearly all the 75 players currently on the Colts roster, fandom will have to turn elsewhere than the colleges they attended.

For wide receiver Reggie Wayne (Miami), nose tackle Brandon McKinney (Michigan State) and running back Delone Carter (Syracuse) hope is still there to watch their respective schools cut down the nets in Atlanta a week from Monday.

For others like Erik Walden (Middle Tennessee State) the dream died in the play-in game.

A trio of Ole Miss Rebels (cornerbacks Marsahy Green/Cassius Vaughn and offensive tackle Bradley Sowell) saw their school go from a No. 13 seed to a shot away from making the Sweet Sixteen.

Players that saw their schools bow out in round of 64 included: safety Sergio Brown/running back Robert Hughes (Notre Dame), outside linebacker Justin Hickman (UCLA), offensive tackle Ben Ijalana (Villanova), offensive tackle Jeff Linkenbach/defensive tackle Ricardo Mathews (Cincinnati), wide receiver Jabin Sambrano (Montana), nose tackle Martin Tevaseu (UNLV) and kicker Adam Vinatieri (South Dakota State).

Defensive tackle Kellen Heard (Memphis) watched his Tigers drop a round of 32 matchup with McKinney’s Spartans.

DAY WITH THE PRESIDENT

Today is President’s Day, causing me to remember a special occasion for the Indianapolis Colts.

After winning Super Bowl XLI in 2007, the team was invited to the traditional White House visit made by championship teams.

There, the team would be hosted by President George W. Bush.

The date was April 23 and if President Bush ever had a slow day, this may have been one of them.  One week earlier, his day had been marred by the terrible shootings at Virginia Tech.

It was a beautiful day in the nation’s capital and after visiting soldiers at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, our entourage hit the White House about 1:00 p.m.

The players, coaches and staff toured the White House prior to the ceremony on the South Lawn.

It was a great time seeing the White House in a way many people never will have the chance to see it.  It was fun watching the reaction of our guys.  None acted like a caddy at Bushwood.

Joseph Addai chided Peyton Manning that he had been there before.  Addai had been part of the LSU football contingent that visited after winning the 2003 national championship.  Manning kept asking Joe to knock it off since it was his first time visiting on such an occasion.  I think Joe enjoyed applying the needle.

The team assembled on the South Lawn and waited for President Bush to arrive for the ceremony.  We were prepared for his arrival and waited to present him with a jersey and a specially-made wooden Stetson.

As many presidents are, Mr. Bush was pleasant, witty and a warm host.  When the ceremony was done, I was to take Tony Dungy to do an on-line chat as well as a group of players to meet the media outside the West Wing.  The rest of the travel party was to go back to our buses.

This is when a special day became even more so.

The group going to meet the media included Dungy, Bill Polian, Peyton Manning, Gary Brackett, Adam Vinatieri, Dwight Freeney and Jeff Saturday.  (That Bill chose to meet the media was amusing to me.)

After taking a few moments to assemble the bunch, we were moving past the Rose Garden and were ready to enter a door when someone to our left whistled like a coach and shouted, “Hey, where are you boys going?”

Stopping, we saw President Bush standing with Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, and he was holding a door open.

He motioned for us to join him, and we passed through the door and into the Oval Office.

Having home turf advantage to the extreme, President Bush spent 25 minutes telling us stories about the room and moments related to him and other presidents.

He talked about the artwork, how each president chooses the color scheme, and he spent time explaining decorations that adorned his office.

He spoke about his desk which went back through many presidencies.

At one point, I glanced at my watch.  It was 3:45 p.m.  I wondered what I would be doing the next day at this very time since where I was standing at the moment likely was going to be a bit more special.

A White House photographer captured the action, and Florida Governor Jeb Bush joined the group.

To this day, I can recall President Bush’s comments almost word-for-word.  It was that compelling.

President Bush shook our hands as the occasion adjourned.  It was off to the on-line chat and the assembled reporters.  Five buses of people had to wonder where we were.

President Bush was not the first to host a sports team.  He is not the last as well, and it is a special moment when the leader of the free world can make time for small ceremonies.

Thank you again, sir, and here’s hoping the Colts get that moment again.  If so, we can take Joe Addai.  He knows the layout quite well.

By the way, on Tuesday, April 24 at 3:45 p.m., I was in my office.  I volunteered to write a free agent biography for our media guide.  I waited until that very time to do it, so I could be truthful whenever I relayed the anecdote.  I specifically chose Craphonso Thorpe, a nice kid (who made the team) but one whose first name I thought added to the story.

Happy President’s Day.

VINATIERI HAS FOND MEMORIES OF PLAYOFF GAMES IN BALTIMORE

The last time the Colts traveled to Baltimore in the postseason, the year was 2006.

Memories are fond for Colts fans of an unusually warm January evening that was another chapter in the storied career of kicker Adam Vinatieri.

On a day when the Indianapolis offense struggled to generate touchdowns against the vaunted Ravens defense, it was Vinatieri’s right leg that carried Indianapolis into the AFC Championship.

“I remember then, just as now, they have a really good defense and we had a tough time getting it into the end zone that game,” Vinatieri said. “Fortunately, we made more field goals and had more attempts than they did. It turned out pretty good that day.”

Vinatieri was a perfect five-of-five on field goal attempts, accounting for all of the Colts points in Indianapolis 15-6 AFC Divisional victory.

In the opening frame, Vinatieri connected on field goals from 23 and 42 yards on the Colts first two possessions.

After Baltimore kicker Matt Stover hit a second quarter field goal, Vinatieri added a 51-yarder to end a 13-play drive and give the Colts a 9-3 halftime lead.

The second half began with Vinatieri converting a 48-yard field goal, pushing the Colts lead back to two possessions.

Stover would hit on a 51-yard field goal of his own early in the fourth quarter and Indianapolis would need one more clutch field goal from their potential Hall of Fame kicker to seal the victory.

That would come with 23 seconds remaining in the game as Vinatieri finished off a 13-play, 7:16 drive with a 35-yard field goal giving Indianapolis the 15-6 win.

These were not the Super Bowl winning kicks that Vinatieri is known for but without them, the Colts would have no been holding up the Lombardi Trophy three weeks later.

“In playoff games, you always have a lot of good teams playing. Games become a little tighter. Each individual play maybe means a little bit more and so every opportunity that you get, you have to make the best of it,” Vinatieri said.

On Wednesday, the 17-year veteran addressed his teammates on what playoff football is all about and what the Colts can expect in traveling to Baltimore this weekend.

Back on Jan. 13, 2007, only seven players currently on the Colts roster were even playing in the NFL. Vinatieri is trying to conjure up those same moments this weekend in delivering hopefully another historic playoff run.

“I think a lot of people outside of this building were surprised at where we’re at right now. I don’t think anybody in this room had any anticipations other than where we’re at right now,” Vinatieri said.

“There’s been some ups and downs and some crazy things that have happened this year. Chuck (Pagano) battling through the cancer thing and B.A. (Bruce Arians) stepping in. It’s been an interesting year but it’s been ever rewarding for us all. I think the book is not done being written yet.”

DIVING INTO THE COLTS ABILITY TO BOUNCE BACK

The Colts ability to show their resiliency in not having back-to-back losses on the season is a major reason why they control their own destiny in making the playoffs. A fifth win following a loss is the goal this weekend and here is a closer look at the four previous times the Colts have achieved that feat this season:

Bouncing Back the First Time: Win over the Minnesota Vikings, 23-20.

The Setting: Week 2, September 16, at Lucas Oil Stadium.

The Result: In its home opener, the Colts held Vikings running back to a season-low of 60 rushing yards and a long rush of just six yards. The Colts jumped out a 20-6 third quarter lead but the Vikings came back and tied the score with 31 seconds remaining. Quarterback Andrew Luck orchestrated a final drive down to the Indianapolis 35-yard line before kicker Adam Vinatieri connected on a 53-yard field goal with eight seconds remaining. The 53-yard game-winning field goal was Vinatieri’s 24^th of his 17-year career and the longest he has to give his team the victory.

Bouncing Back the Second Time: Win over the Green Bay Packers, 30-27.

The Setting: Week 5, October 7, at Lucas Oil Stadium.

The Result: A Week 3 home defeat to the Jaguars was followed by a bye week and the unfathomable news of head coach Chuck Pagano being diagnosed with leukemia. In playing for their sicken coach, the Colts turned in the highlight of the 2012 regular season with another final-minute comeback victory. Down 21-3 at halftime, the Colts sparked a spirited second-half charge led by the orange-clad gloves of wide receiver Reggie Wayne. With less than a minute remaining, Luck found Wayne for a four-yard, game-winning touchdown as the Pro Bowl wideout racked up 13 catches for 212 yards on the afternoon.

Bouncing Back the Third Time: Win over the Cleveland Browns, 17-13.

The Setting: Week 7, October 21, at Lucas Oil Stadium.

The Result: Following a 40-27 road loss to the New York Jets, the Colts returned home and began a four-game winning streak. Luck ran for two first-half touchdowns and the Colts held on to a 17-13 third quarter lead thanks to a strong defensive performance and an offense that had a 11-minute difference in time of possession. Indianapolis came into the game with a 2-3 record but the victory over the Browns would lead to seven wins over the next eight weeks for the Colts.

Bouncing Back the Fourth Time: Win over the Buffalo Bills, 20-13.

The Setting: Week 12, November 21, at Lucas Oil Stadium.

The Result: A month after following up a road loss to an AFC East team, the Colts were up to their old tricks again. Similar to the win over the Vikings, the Colts took at 20-6 third quarter lead but this time held on without any final-minute theatrics. Rookie wide receiver T.Y. Hilton became the first Colts rookie to return a punt for a touchdown and record a receiving touchdown in the same game. Hilton’s 75-yard punt return for a touchdown was the first for a Colts player since T.J. Rushing’s 90-yarder in December of 2007.

Here are some player’s thoughts on why the Colts have been so resilient:

-Running Back Vick Ballard:

“Twenty-four hour rule. Win, lose or draw, you know that the last game is over with. You’ve got to look forward to the next week and we are going to come in Wednesday, get ready for Kansas City so we can hopefully give ourselves a chance to make the playoffs.”

-Safety Antoine Bethea:

“Regardless of whatever game we play, it’s a 24-hour rule. Win or loss, we’ve got to put it in the past and get ready for our next opponent. We’ve been doing a good job of that. Like I said, correcting the mistakes that we made in the previous game and just going out there and playing hard.”

-Outside Linebacker Dwight Freeney:

“We just realize it’s one week and whatever happened that one week, doesn’t matter for the next, whether we win or lose. You just learn from the mistakes in a win and in a loss and just move on to that next week and that is the most important game.”

-Quarterback Andrew Luck:

“I think guys want to come back and play, bounce back and atone for their mistakes. I think it’s sort of the DNA of the team and hopefully we can do that again this week. We realize it’s going to be tough against a team that is much better than their record indicates in a tough environment.”

-Defensive End Cory Redding:

“Never allow one loss to turn into two, period. You have to dig deep a little bit more to learn what you messed up on, work on it and challenge yourself to be better. If you made those mistakes a week before, don’t make them again. Don’t let one loss turn into two. We’ve come too far to reach this point to let it all go away, let it all be in vain. I won’t stand idly by and let that happen and I know my teammates won’t either. We’re going to come back this week and fight, watch tape, lift weights, run, eat right, do all we have to do to get in this game in Arrowhead and find a victory.”

-Interim head coach and offensive coordinator Bruce Arians:

“I think the biggest thing is the veteran leadership. Those guys bounce back, they know how to get the young guys off the 24-hour rule and come right back in and start working. We had really good meetings today, watched the tape, and this one will be out of our mouth by tonight and we’ll get started on Kansas City.”

INSIDE THE COLTS FIRST TWO SCORING DRIVES OF THE SECOND HALF

Cassius Vaughn’s interception return for a touchdown gave the Colts their first lead on Sunday afternoon but it was one offensive drive that got the comeback started, and another that gave Indianapolis the lead for good in earning its seventh victory in the last eight games.

Carter’s one-yard touchdown run

The scene: Down 20-7, the Colts take over following halftime at the 20-yard and a Rob Bironas touchback.

The anatomy of the drive: Fourteen plays, for 80 yards in 6:24. After converting just one-of-five third-downs in the first half, the Colts had three of them on the opening drive of the third quarter.

Key play: Reggie Wayne converted two third-downs on the drive but the third-and-11 at the Titans 38-yard line was truly spectacular. Wayne lined up to the right of Andrew Luck as a slot receiver. As Luck escaped pressure and rolled to his right he threw the ball up for Wayne and the 12-year veteran broke free from double coverage and hauled in his 28^th third-down reception on the season.

The score: On a third-and-goal from the one-yard line, running back Delone Carter punched it in with offensive lineman Tony Hills in the game as a tackle eligible. The Colts had their three tight ends lined up on the left side of the line of scrimmage and Carter ran behind them for his second one-yard touchdown of the season against the Titans.

Vinatieri’s 53-yard field goal

The scene: Down 23-21, the Colts take over following a Bironas 25-yard field-goal and a touchback, placing the ball at the Indianapolis 20-yard line.

The anatomy of the drive: 10 plays, for 45 yards in 4:05. The drive included the Colts overcoming a second-and-15 and a second-and-10 as Indianapolis converted three first downs in regaining the lead.

Key play: With the Colts facing a second-and-16 from their own 28-yard line, Luck went right back to wide receiver Donnie Avery. On the previous play, Avery couldn’t corral a high pass and took a hit from Titans cornerback Ryan Mouton. Avery got up slowly from the hit but on the next play he went high in the air again to gather an 18-yard reception and keep Indianapolis away from a third-and-15.

The score: Vinatieri’s 53-yard field goal matched his season long and the 39-year old showed he still has plenty of distance left. The kicking game was terrific all afternoon and Vinatieri connected on both of his field goal attempts and is now seven-of-12 on the year from 40+ yards.

COLTS PLAYERS TAKE TO BARBERSHOP CHAIR TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR COACH PAGANO

In support of head coach Chuck Pagano, over 25 Colts players and several staff members took to the barber chair on Tuesday evening to shave their heads.

A trio of local barbers visited the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center on Tuesday to help the players show off their new look.

“It’s all for a good cause,” running back Donald Brown said. “It’s to show support for our coach and let him know that we are behind him and we are pulling for him. We are always thinking about him.”

The idea was spear headed by veterans Cory Redding, Reggie Wayne and Adam Vinatieri.

While Redding and Wayne hardly had much to cut off, safety Antoine Bethea, offensive tackle Anthony Castonzo (pictured), quarterback Andrew Luck and punter Pat McAfee were among the many players who got rid of their ‘locks.’

As the players wrapped up practice on Tuesday and headed back into the facility, they noticed the barbershop chairs just outside the locker room and little coaxing was needed for why they were getting in the chair.

“Even the guys with longer hair we’re excited because it’s for Coach,” Brown said.

THURSDAY’S MEETING CLOSES OUT SEASON SERIES WITH JAGUARS

Beginning the second half of their regular schedule, the Colts will conclude their first season series of the year on Thursday night.

The Jaguars knocked off the Colts 22-17 on Sept. 22, which still stands as the lone home loss for Indianapolis on the season.

In a short week, both teams have the benefit of facing a familiar opponent but it’s the Colts with the sour taste after a final-minute loss in the Week 3.

“It was one of those games that like you said, got away from us,” defensive end Cory Redding said. “At the end of the day they made plays and we still at that point were making little mistakes, beating ourselves and have definitely come a long way since that game and learned a lot from that game. Hopefully we’ll carry those lesions from that game down to Jacksonville and have a different outcome.”

Colts inside linebacker Pat Angerer didn’t play in the team’s first meeting against the Jaguars but was on the field for a pair of losses last season.

“They kicked our butt twice last year and beat us once this year,” Angerer said. “Obviously, it would be really nice to get them.”

Preparation time is limited for the Colts this week as the team will board a plane Wednesday afternoon to head down to Jacksonville.

Quarterback Andrew Luck will get his first look at an NFL defense for the second time in his rookie season and assessed the unit his offense will be facing on Thursday night.

“A very tough, hard nosed team, very disciplined defensively,” Luck said. “I thought they did a good job of creating turnovers. I know we turned the ball over at a couple inopportune times. We know it’s going to be a tough test down at their place, a tough division game.”

In the team’s first meeting, Luck led the offense on a five-play, 48-yard drive in the final two minutes that set up a 37-yard field goal by Adam Vinatieri, giving the Colts a 17-16 lead.

But with only 56 seconds remaining, the Jaguars needed just one play to cover 80 yards thanks to wide receiver Cecil Short outrunning the Colts defense for the game winning score.

“We let that one slip away. That last play was tough to swallow,” safety Antoine Bethea said. “That’s in the rearview mirror. We have the game on Thursday. Hopefully, we can bounce back.”

For interim head coach/offensive coordinator Bruce Arians and the coaching staff, a normal Wednesday schedule fell on Monday for the Colts this week. Tuesday’s practice will be a combination of what a normal Thursday and Friday would be like.

The Jaguars stand at 1-7 on the season but Arians agreed with the assessment that they were a ‘wounded animal’ and made sure his team would hear that message.

“This team, they’ve been in some great games over the years, especially there. It’s a division game, on the road, and it’s the next one up,” Arians said on Monday. “It’s a short week and our guys need to know, and they will know in about 20 minutes, how important it’s going to be.”