Indianapolis Colts Football

Free Agent RB Ahmad Bradshaw Visits

Free Agent RB Ahmad Bradshaw visiting the Indianapolis Colts today.

COLTS FAN CASEY: 2013 DRAFT BLOG

What’s up Colts Nation!? Yes it is Draft Day and yes Colts Fan Casey is back out of hibernation to ring in the real start of the 2013 season, the NFL Draft. It’s a little hard to get more excited about this year’s draft than last year’s considering the fact we drafted Andrew Luck with the first overall pick, but there’s a lot of reasons to be excited. One of those being that we go into the 2013 Draft without a laundry list of needs since we addressed the “BIG NEEDS” via free agency. I won’t talk too much about the free agency signings other than the fact I am VERY pleased with the direction that Ryan Grigson went with his acquisitions.

Now back to the Draft and more specifically Draft Weekend. The Colts have a lot of stuff going on for their fans throughout the next few days. Details below…

Thursday April 25^th

-        Draft Party at Colts Grille presented by New Era and Bud Light

• Antoine Bethea and Donald Brown will be signing autographs from 7:00pm-9:00pm
• Four Colts cheerleaders signing autographs from 7:oopm-9:00pm
• Blue, the official Colts mascot
• Lombardi trophy
• Colts trivia to win prizes and giveaways!
• 1070 The Fan Live Remote broadcast
• New Era Draft Hat display
• Bud Light Promotional Team
• 1070 The Fan and Hank FM promotional giveaways
• First 24 fans to show their Colts NFL Extra Points Credit Card will receive an autographed Adam Vinatieri mini-helmet courtesy of Barclays

-        Live broadcast of Press Conference following each pick… WATCH HERE

-        Live broadcast of the Colts Draft Radio Show… LISTEN HERE

Friday April 26^th

-        Google+ Hangout presented by New Era and Lids with our first draft choice LIVE on Colts.com or on our Google+ Page scheduled to start at 3PM. Plus, I’ll be hosting it!

-        Live broadcast of Press Conference following each pick… WATCH HERE

Friday April 26^th

-        Live broadcast of Press Conference following each pick… WATCH HERE

Of course, don’t forget to follow the Colts on Twitter as they will be bringing you up-to-the-minute updates about draft status, selections, and more!

And don’t forget to follow me on Twitter too!

Yours in Football,

LETTER FROM COMMISSIONER GOODELL

To NFL Fans:

During the 2013 NFL Draft, young men will see their dreams realized as they are selected to become professional football players. And countless younger football players will be watching them. No matter what level they play, all football players should be taught the proper fundamentals and know that their safety is the top priority as they participate in the sport they love.

That is why the NFL is proud to partner with USA Football to announce the national launch of Heads Up Football, a comprehensive youth football initiative whose aim is to take the head out of the game.  Your support is a vital component.

Heads Up Football was created with direction from independent football and medical experts.  All coaches in a Heads Up Football league must be certified via USA Football’s nationally accredited Level 1 coaching certification course.  These leagues also appoint a Player Safety Coach, who is trained by USA Football.  Every coach, parent and player affiliated with a Heads Up Football league receives training on the following subjects:

• Heads Up Tackling, which teaches tackling in a safer and more effective way. The head is always up in order to lessen the risk of head or neck injuries;
• Concussion recognition and response in which Centers for Disease Control and Prevention protocols are learned; and
• Proper equipment fitting to ensure the correct fitting of a player’s helmet and shoulder pads.

Piloted in three leagues in 2012, Heads Up Football will expand to more than 900 youth leagues across all 50 states in 2013. Many of these leagues will receive the guidance of Heads Up Football Ambassadors, former NFL players who will collaborate with the league’s coaches, administrators, player safety coach, parents and players to help ensure that the game is played the right way.

We want to help develop a culture of safety at every level of the game, and we encourage youth coaches, players and parents to join us.

We can play a part in making the game safer. As an NFL fan, here is what you can do to make a difference.  If you are the parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, friend or neighbor of a youth football player, tell them about Heads Up Football and encourage their coaches or guardians to visit www.USAFootball.com to sign their league up as a Heads Up Football league. If you are a youth football coach or commissioner, we invite you to join the Heads Up Football movement by clicking here.

We are committed to football that fans love and the safety the players deserve at all levels of the game.  Your support is critical.

Thanks for your help, and we hope you enjoy the NFL Draft.

Roger Goodell
Commissioner, National Football League

DAILY CLIPS: APRIL 7TH

COLTS NEWS (LOCAL AND NATIONAL)
Peyton Manning to give $500,000 to Pat Summitt Foundation to help fight Alzheimer’s disease
Indianapolis Colts’ worst draft picks: No. 9, cornerback Kevin Thomas

AFC SOUTH BLOG
Twitter mailbag: Biggest impact free agents

NFL NEWS
Former Jaguar Aaron Ross apologizes for ‘vacation’ comment
Researchers consulted with law firms
NFL contract rules could help Matt Barkley, other QBs, get drafted in first round
Joe Flacco to portray Johnny Unitas in upcoming movie
Divisional needs: AFC South preview

AFC TEAM NEWS
Another Rob Gronkowski setback
Is Rivers part of the Chargers’ solution?

DAILY CLIPS: APRIL 4TH

COLTS NEWS (LOCAL AND NATIONAL)
Help us decipher this tweet from Jim Irsay
DHB follows his heart to Indy
Pat McAfee signs franchise tender
Reassessing the Colts’ needs
Colts draft ranked middle of pack in five-year starters from 1993 to 2006
Colts all-time best, worst draft picks to be ranked in 20-day blog series

COLTS.COM
2013 Positional Series: Specialists
Baskets of Hope
Colts Mailbag

AFC SOUTH BLOG
The division’s $5 million dollar men
Applause for Bradley’s opening themes
Maybe this FB will be a good thing for the Texans

NFL NEWS
NFL to mandate cameras in home locker rooms
NFLPA tells agents to report any hint of collusion
Cards’ Washington gets 4-game suspension
J.J. Watt says injured elbow never fully healed last season
Titans turn attention to NFL Draft
Top draft prospects visit Jaguars

AFC TEAM NEWS
Nate Solder out to improve
Dan Rooney settles into new role with Steelers

NFC TEAM NEWS
Giants sign defensive lineman Mike Patterson
Redskins re-sign quarterback Rex Grossman and bring aboard Pat White

TUESDAY’S TOP 10 PHOTOS

Hey Colts fans, it’s Matt Bowen  your Colts Team Photographer.
I will be posting my “Tuesday’s Top 10″ photo gallery to colts.com!  The photos galleries will always have a theme, ranging from game action to creative images around the Colts Complex!

Today’s photo gallery is all about GAME FACES!  Being on the sideline close to the players in the heat of battle allows me the opportunity to capture the true emotion of the game!  The majority of the time they have no idea that I’m even around, let alone taking their picture.  This affords me the ability to photograph them in true candid moments.  Most of the images in this gallery lasted for a split second and I just happened to be focused on them hoping for a reaction.  When the emotion of the game spills out in a reaction, I have to be there to capture it.  As a sports photographer I strive to capture the peak moments of a game.  These moments range from finger tip catches and amazing sacks to high fives and screams of jubilation! Whatever the moment, my only job is to be there to capture that moment and not get run over in the process!

If you have a great theme idea for a “Tuesday’s Top 10″ photo gallery, please let me know!

TUESDAY’S TOP 10 PHOTOS – GAME FACES

DAILY CLIPS: Colts News and More From Around the Web

COLTS NEWS (LOCAL AND NATIONAL)
Colts trade worth another word
Checking in with Colts Nation regarding salary-cap space, more needs, Jeff Linkenbach and more
Q&A: ‘Mad Dog’ enjoying greener pastures with Indianapolis Colts

COLTS.COM
2013 Positional Series: Defensive Line

AFC SOUTH BLOG
Eight in the Box: WR status check

NFL NEWS
Bell: Tony Romo’s mega contract comes down to trust
It’s time to make a decision about bringing NFL back to L.A.
Troy Polamalu talks rule change
Terrence Newman reports that Terrene Newman will play for Cincy

AFC TEAM NEWS
Honey Badger to visit Gillette
Marcus McNeil hints at career comeback

NFC TEAM NEWS
NY Giants want to take a closer look at dual-threat QB Pat White as ex-West Virginia star looks to resurrect NFL career
Bears bolster offensive line with Slauson

TUESDAY’S TOP 10 PHOTOS

Hey Colts fans, it’s Matt Bowen  your Colts Team Photographer.
Starting today and every Tuesday, I will be posting my “Tuesday’s Top 10″ photo gallery to colts.com!  The photos galleries will always have a theme, ranging from game action to creative images around the Colts Complex!

Today’s photo gallery is all about the player’s travel attire!  When we travel, I try to capture candid images of the players on the road.  I always end up with great shots of them on the airport tarmac before they board the plane.  Some of them are glad to see me and others, not so much.  Either way, it’s always an adventure interacting with them (and sometimes dodging them) before we depart Indianapolis!

If you have a great theme idea for a “Tuesday’s Top 10″ photo gallery, please let me know!

TUESDAY’S TOP 10 PHOTOS – PLAYER’S TRAVEL ATTIRE

THE LAST WORD – MARCH 22nd EDITION

On this week’s edition of the Last Word, Jeffrey Gorman, Jimmy “Mad Dog” Matis and Matt Taylor lead off with NCAA brackets and the rest of the top storylines in sports.  NFL free-agency is still in high gear, and the fellas weigh-in on the all the recent moves on NFL Quick Hits.  Stopping by to explain some of the basketball upsets so far will be ESPN and CBS college basketball analyst Bill Raftery.  The boys also give their predictions for the weekend and unveil a new segment, “What Would Dog Do” as listeners submit their quandaries  seeking Dog’s infinite and versatile wisdom.  Don’t miss this week’s version of the Last Word starting at 5:30pm on FM 107.5, 1070 The Fan, and http://www.1070thefan.com.

WHAT’S AMERICA TO DO?

This is the first weekend without NFL football since mid-August.  Withdrawl is likely felt by many, and television options this weekend will not involve the nation’s top sport.

Based on average viewership, Super Bowl XLVII between Baltimore and San Francisco last weekend was the third-most watched Super Bowl ever, behind Super Bowl XLVI (NY Giants vs. New England) and Super Bowl XLV (Green Bay vs. Pittsburgh).

The total audience of 164.1 million people made Super Bowl XLVII the most-viewed TV program in history (U.S. only).

Viewers were treated to one of the most exciting finishes in Super Bowl history, with Baltimore stopping the 49ers on three plays at the five-yard line for a 34-31 victory.

It was a year of excitement.  Ten of 16 games in week 17 had playoff implications.  A record number of points (11,651) were scored in the regular season.  Games had an average of 45.5 points scored, the highest mark in 47 seasons (46.1, 1965).

A record-tying 13 teams had at least 10 wins, and 51.2% of the games (131-of-256) were decided by eight points or less.  The Colts were 9-1 in games decided by seven points or less, the most number of such closely-contested games by any team in 2012.

The 2012 playoffs averaged 51.9 points per game, up nine percent from last year (47.5) and up 14 percent from the 2012 regular-season average.

The 2012 playoffs averaged 798 total yards per game, up five percent from last year (760) and up 15 percent from the 2012 regular-season average (694).

Five-of-11 playoff games this year were decided by eight points or less, and three were decided by three points or less, an increase from 2011.

For all 17 weeks during the regular season, an NFL game was the most watched program and in 15 of those weeks, the number one and two programs both were games.

An average of 17.1 million viewers per regular-season telecast made 2012 the third-most watched year ever, behind 2011 and 2010.

Viewers will be scrambling.  The playoffs riveted the nation.  This weekend will be the first without football.

Rescue is on the way – the NFL Combine is two weeks away.