Indianapolis Colts Football

COLTS DAILY HEADLINES: MAY 22TH EDITION

Each morning Colts.com will take a look at the top headlines surrounding the Indianapolis Colts from around the globe. What is the local and national media saying about the Colts?

Take a look below at the top five pieces from Wednesday, May 22^nd.

Indianapolis still pointing toward bid for 2018 Super Bowl

By: Mike Chappell, Indianapolis Star

The news of the day around the NFL on Tuesday came with the announcement of Super Bowl L (2016) being awarded to San Francisco and then Super Bowl LI (2017) to Houston.

What all this means for Indianapolis is the push is there for the city to try and bring Super Bowl LII (2018) back to the state capitol.

“I would be surprised if we didn’t go forward,’’ said Allison Melangton, president of the Indiana Sports Corporation and president of the 2012 Super Bowl Host Committee.

Former Colts quarterback Jim Harbaugh to drive Indy 500 pace car

By: Curt Cavin, Indianapolis Star

Jim Harbaugh has had a whirlwind past few months and he will add to that on Sunday as he drives the 2013 Indy 500 pace car.

Harbaugh will drive the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray on Sunday before Johnny Rutherford (who normally drives the pace car during IndyCar races) takes over once the checkered flag drops.

Cavin’s article highlight’s the No. 4 and it’s importance in this year’s running of the 500.

Of course, Harbaugh donned No. 4 during his time with the Colts.

Former Boiler excelling as Colts GM

By: Mike Cleff, WLFI.com

WLFI, a West Lafayette radio station, was joined by Grigson earlier in the week to touch on a variety of subjects including his days at Purdue.

Grigson, who was a co-captain during his final season with the Boilermakers, sees some correlation between his success with the Colts and his time in West Lafayette.

“In my first year on this job, I drew on from those experiences. Because I looked at times, things I’d gotten through in sports, and Purdue specifically, to where I would say, ‘you know what? I can get through this because I’ve been through worse physically and mentally before.’ So I’d definitely say my experiences at Purdue helped propel me to what I’ve done here,” Grigson told WLFI Sports Director Mike Cleff.

IS A BIG A WIDE RECEIVER NEXT IN LINE FOR THE COLTS?

The names and stories are all over the Colts locker room.

There’s Jerrell Freeman who turned three years in the Canadian Football League into setting a Colts season record in tackles last season.

Further down the wall of lockers is Justin Hickman who’s roots also extend into the CFL.

Jeremy Kelley knows those names and Ryan Grigson’s pedigree for exploring all options in completing a full roster was something that intrigued the 6-6, 225-pound wide receiver to sign with the Colts.

“Once I get here, I find out that there’s a couple of more guys that were under the radar type guys that took the road less traveled,” Kelley said.

“It’s a good feeling to see some familiar faces but also at the same time they believe in those guys. Those guys do have a shot. It’s proof and I believe that I’m one of those guys that just had to go through the ringer to get to where I’m at.”

With the frame of a slender tight end, Kelley brings something to the receiver position that hasn’t been seen in Indianapolis.

The Colts receiving corps is filled with electric, jitter-bug type targets and Kelley feels he brings a dimension that can only add to the diversity of the group.

“That’s what I kept hearing when I came out here–Indy’s never had big wideouts,” Kelley said.

“I feel like I’m big enough, fast enough to bring a change. Whether they want to use me as a red zone threat, whether they want to use me as an inside, big target across the middle, whether they want to use me to block for screens, being bigger, being stronger, I think that makes me accessible to do more things.”

Kelley, who has spent the last two seasons in the Arena Football League following a stint in the CFL, participated in the Colts rookie minicamp from May 10-12.

When the first rookie minicamp practice concluded, there was the thump of the jugs machine running near midfield as Kelley was the lone member to stay after for extra reps.

The following day, there was Kelley again the lone rookie in the Colts locker room with iPad in hand, dissecting a playbook he hopes to still be in come September.

“It’s necessary, especially a guy in my position, being a free agent coming out of Arena, Canadian leagues and what not,” Kelley said of the extra work.

“It’s just perfecting your craft. For me, it gives me that confidence on the field and now I can go out and I can trust what I’m doing and just play.”

COLTS DAILY HEADLINES: MAY 17TH EDITION

Each morning Colts.com will take a look at the top headlines surrounding the Indianapolis Colts from around the globe. What is the local and national media saying about the Colts?

Take a look below at the top five pieces from Friday, May 17^th:

Colts’ Jim Irsay No. 2 in poll ranking NFL’s ‘best’ owners

By: Mike Chappell, Indianapolis Star

The CBS Sports story that ranks Irsay as the league’s 2^nd best owner broke earlier in the week but Chappell offered his own thoughts via his blog.

Chappell is one of the longest tenured beat writers on any NFL team so he has great perspective when these debates arise.

Along with commenting on the Irsay ranking, Chappell points out another CBS poll that left off the Colts personnel department among the league’s top ten front offices.

RIGHT ON, JOSH

Josh Katzowitz is a writer for CBS Sports whom I do not know.  I see his byline regularly, and he is worth a read.

Today, he is a particularly good read for Colts fans.

Josh rated the 10 best NFL owners he would pick if one could be in charge of his team.  Starting from 10-to-three, it read:  Pat Bowlen (Denver), Shad Khan (Jacksonville), Bob McNair (Houston), John Mara (New York Giants), Arthur Blank (Atlanta), Packers fans, Rooney family (Pittsburgh) and Steve Bisciotti (Baltimore).

Jim Irsay was ranked number two.

Thanks, Josh, great choice, and here is what he wrote:

2. Jim Irsay: Compared to his father, Bob, who was much maligned by many of the people who knew him, the 53-year-old Jim is an absolute godsend for Colts fans. Even without the shadow of his father, though, Jim Irsay is one of the most fun owners around. He plays around on Twitter, and he gives away free stuff to his followers. Plus, he hires the right kind of personnel — general manager Ryan Grigson so far, coach Tony Dungy and Jim Caldwell (for a time, anyway) — and the organization’s decision to draft Peyton Manning rather than Ryan Leaf in 1998 was obviously a huge difference-maker. But Irsay is an empathetic sort, and the sendoff given to Manning by Irsay and the Colts was representative of the NFL that we’d like to see more often. Not to mention how the team handled Chuck Pagano’s cancer scare last season. Irsay is fun, and his team has been successful since he took over in 1997. What’s not to love?

Josh hit a number of highlights of Jim’s tenure that started in 1997 with the passing of his father (whom I worked under also from 1985-97 and was much, much more pleasant than anyone knew).

Jim’s first year was a little rough on the field with the end of a regime coming, and it marked the start of a new era.

Leading from the front, Jim installed Bill Polian, oversaw the drafting of Peyton Manning and directed while a blueprint put in place led to a wildly successful extended run.

Jim always has known the value of people and leadership, and he has attracted many successful individuals through the years and let them perform (two currently are Ryan Grigson and Chuck Pagano).

On his watch, Indianapolis has become one of the elite franchises on and off the field.

The team won division titles in 1999, 2003-07, 08-10, played in three AFC Championship games (winning two) and two Super Bowls (winning one).

The franchise’s 115 regular-season wins from 2000-09 is the winningest decade ever.  That’s E-V-E-R, but then the NFL only has been around about 90 years.

The team won an NFL-record 23 straight regular-season games from 2008-09.

From November 16, 2003 to December 13, 2009, the Colts were 81-19 in regular-season play, tying the all-time mark for the most wins over 100 games.

Colts fans responded accordingly.  As partners, the Colts and their fans have sold out 87 straight games and 121 of the last 122.  Full-voiced participants have made this one of the NFL’s toughest stops.

Jeff Saturday recalled recently the team’s 35-34 comeback win over New England in 2009 when the team rallied from a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit to win in the final seconds that he remembered lining up for the winning extra point and saw the network camera shaking because of the rocking nature of the fans.  (That win was number 18 in a row.  New England owned the two longest streaks at 21 and 18 games, so the victory there over a huge foe carried an additional footnote.)

Jim has energized those fans with his product and with a sustained run of excellence.  In addition to touring the Lombardi Trophy throughout Indiana (50 stops, 3,130 miles), he even created a challenge that let five fans eventually win authentic Super Bowl rings.

Jim interacts almost daily via Twitter and is just a nose shy of a quarter-million followers.  His charitable nature is on frequent display, and one of the most tangible fruits of his labor was Indianapolis hosting Super Bowl XLVI.

I could go on.  Suffice to say, Josh, thanks for the recognition.  In mentioning Jim with his brethren that also includes Robert Kraft, you made a wise choice.

Lunch is on me the next time you’re in town.

COLTS DAILY HEADLINES: MAY 15TH EDITION

Each morning Colts.com will take a look at the top headlines surrounding the Indianapolis Colts from around the globe. What is the local and national media saying about the Colts?

Take a look below at the top five pieces from Wednesday, May 15^th:

Colts have $$$ business under control; a look at their salary-cap situation

By: Mike Chappell, Indianapolis Star

A ton of number crunching went into Chappell’s latest piece as he broke down the Colts 90-man roster and their salary cap implications.

He used the rookie wage scale to come up with a four-year, $7.813 million dollar contract for Bjoern Werner, who is the lone draft pick that has not been signed yet.

Chappell’s numbers churn out that the Colts are about $8.32 million under the salary cap limit of $126.5 million.

National Football Foundation dinner will honor Boudia, Colts general manager

By: Lafayette Journal & Courier

Colts general manager Ryan Grigson will be an honorary member at the annual National Football Foundation Joe Tiller of Northwest Indiana honors dinner at the Purdue Memorial Union Ballroom on Monday, June 10.

The dinner will include Purdue football coach Darrell Hazell and former coach Joe Tiller.

Grigson, who hails from Highland, Ind., will receive the chapter’s Drew Brees Mental Toughness Award.

Top 10 owners you’d want running your favorite team

By: Josh Katzowitz, CBS Sports

It’s the time of year where top 10 lists are flowing from different NFL media members.

The latest one comes in a unique way with the top 10 NFL owners that fans would want running their favorite team.

Colts owner Jim Irsay comes in at second on the list and Katzowitz offered his synopsis on the Twitter loving owner:

“Compared to his father, Bob, who was much maligned by many of the people who knew him, the 53-year-old Jim is an absolute godsend for Colts fans. Even without the shadow of his father, though, Jim Irsay is one of the most fun owners around. He plays around on Twitter, and he gives away free stuff to his followers. Plus, he hires the right kind of personnel — general manager Ryan Grigson so far, coach Tony Dungy and Jim Caldwell (for a time, anyway) — and the organization’s decision to draft Peyton Manning rather than Ryan Leaf in 1998 was obviously a huge difference-maker. But Irsay is an empathetic sort, and the sendoff given to Manning by Irsay and the Colts was representative of the NFL that we’d like to see more often. Not to mention how the team handled Chuck Pagano’s cancer scare last season. Irsay is fun, and his team has been successful since he took over in 1997. What’s not to love?”

GOOD LUCK, A.Q.

In my 29^th years here, I have come across hundreds of players, some staying a long while and others departing after a short stay.

A.Q. Shipley left the team today when we traded him to Baltimore.

I will be the first to admit I didn’t notice him too much early on last year or go by his locker to speak with him until early in the regular season.

When I did go by, it was after a game where he came in and played well in the clutch.  It was something he did a few times last year, and I started going by his locker a little more frequently.

A.Q. always had time for a visitor.  He always had a moment for a conversation, and he put effort and insight into his answers.

A.Q. is not the only guy in our locker room like that, and certainly there have been a few like him here through the years – regular guys playing a prominent sport.

A.Q. came here as a free agent who was signed by Ryan Grigson.  Ryan noted a time or two the grittiness on the line last year.  It was a tough year for injuries on the unit, and A.Q. was one of many who stood up.

He came to Indianapolis after being drafted in 2009 by Pittsburgh and spending time on the practice squad there and in Philadelphia.

To get a conditional draft pick for a player who joined your team as a free agent is a nice stroke for a personnel guy like Ryan.

A personnel-savvy organization like Baltimore obviously sees something in him, too.

A good trade is one that is a win-win for both sides.  I think this one could be.

A.Q.’s locker was not cleaned out when I went back to see him for maybe the final time late this morning.  I missed him later on when he left the building.

He may never read this, but it doesn’t matter.  Colts fans will see it, and I wanted them to know A.Q. is a cool guy.  He’s a grinder, and I wish him well.

I just felt like writing it.  That is what a blog is for.

KERWYNN WILLIAMS PROVIDES AN ELECTRIC OPTION AS A KICK RETURNER

The kick returner position last year for the Indianapolis Colts was a revolving door.

Over the course of 16 games, eight different players returned kickoffs with 10 returns being the highest for any of the Colts returnees (Cassius Vaughn).

The unit finally struck gold in the final week of the regular season when Deji Karim, three weeks removed from valet parking cars, took a kickoff back 101 yards against the Houston Texans.

Returns like that are something head coach Chuck Pagano wants to see at a more frequent rate in 2013 and the Colts took a step in that direction late in April’s NFL Draft.

Kerwynn Williams accounted for 3,392 kickoff returns yards in his first three seasons at Utah State and that electricity will undoubtedly be tried on special teams over the next few months.

“(Williams) had I think (135) returns and the next closest guy that we evaluated was at like 90, and he averaged over 25 yards per kickoff return,” Pagano said following the selection of Williams in the seventh round.

“We saw last game of the year what a kickoff return can do for you in the Houston game. It turned that whole thing around and blew that thing open when Deji returned that and this kid (Williams) can do that all day.”

In his first year as a starting running back at Utah State, Williams, who played behind a pair of future NFL running backs, did it all.

He rushed for 1,512 yards and also caught 45 passes for 697 yards and a total of 20 touchdowns.

Kickoff return duties had to be given up in 2012, in order to carry the load offensively, but Williams knows what will get him onto the Colts roster this fall.

“I can contribute on special teams so I think that’s a big thing that I want to look to establish myself on and I’m definitely excited to have the opportunity to come up there,” Williams said.

“I’m just looking to get up there and help the team in any way I can, whether it be returning kicks or covering kicks. I’m just trying to do my part to help make the team better.”

During the draft process, the Colts sent members of their personnel department and assistant special teams coach Brant Boyer out west to scout the elusive Williams.

It was a surprise to many in the Colts war room that Williams, Indianapolis’ No. 1 kick returner, was available come pick No. 230.

This weekend all the coaches will get a first hand look at what exactly goes into one of college football’s most dynamic playmakers.

“He brings a wrinkle to this team that could really help us and that’s as a returner. He’s exciting to watch as a runner and as a returner,” Colts General Manager Ryan Grigson said.

“We’re happy to get him because he fills a tremendous need and he’s also got some real value on third down.”

DAILY CLIPS: APRIL 28TH

COLTS NEWS (LOCAL AND NATIONAL)
2013 NFL Draft: Indianapolis Colts brass delighted with bevy of draftees
Colts trade way into 5th round, grab Tenn.-Martin DT Montori Hughes
Colts pick Utah State RB Kerwynn Williams in 7th round
Colts add USC center Khaled Holmes with 4th round pick
Peyton Manning says October game vs. Colts not on his mind yet
Justice Cunningham is 2013 NFL Draft’s ‘Mr. Irrelevant’
Instincts key Colts safety Boyett
Hughes brings troubled past to Colts
Colts continue O-line revamping

COLTS.COM
Five more become Colts
Trojan Horse
Instant Reaction: TE-Justice Cunningham with the No. 254 pick
Instant Reaction: RB-Kerwynn Williams with the No. 230 pick
Instant Reaction: S-John Boyett with the No. 192 pick
Instant Reaction: DT-Montori Hughes with the No. 139 pick
C/OG Khaled Holmes with the No. 121 pick
Grigson finds trench player in a former wrestler, Thornton
Harnish looks back on eventful final day of 2012 NFL Draft
Thornton’s toughness continually praised by draft analysts

AFC SOUTH BLOG
The work left to do in the AFC South
AFC South draft analysis
Wooten’s best quality for Titans: speed
The Texans’ four sixth-rounders
Jaguars now have options at safety
Titans may need run downs from Edwards
Denard Robinson: Offensive weapon?
Texans grow LB depth with Williams
Titans continue to add to O-line
Ace Sanders could give Jaguars a jolt
On the Jaguars’ restraint at quarterback

NFL NEWS
Eagles take Matt Barkley at No. 98
Source: LB Shaun Phillips to Denver
LeGarrette Blount dealt to Pats
QB Ryan Nassib goes to Giants
The 2013 draft’s winners, losers
Five best, worst matches of the draft
2013 NFL Draft: Breaking down winning and worrisome picks
Stephen Ross: Dolphins better without Tony Sparano
2013 NFL Draft: Winners and losers; rookie GMs do well
NFL Draft: Fraternal brothers of rehab helping Lattimore
Big weekend for the Packers and other thoughts on Day 3 of draft

AFC TEAM NEWS
Bill Belichick’s plan speaks to depth
NY Jets GM John Idzik, who helped build talented Seattle Seahawks, right to draft QB Geno Smith

NFC TEAM NEWS
NY Giants grab Syracuse QB Ryan Nassib after trading up in the fourth round of the NFL draft
Jon Bostic and Khaseem Greene thrilled to be joining the Bears’ legacy of linebackers

INSTANT REACTION: DT-MONTORI-HUGHES WITH THE NO. 139 PICK

After the Colts traded their fifth round pick in 2013 to trade up and select T.Y. Hilton, it looked like Indianapolis would have a break during the fifth round this year.

But Ryan Grigson and company got back in the fifth round in 2013 when they traded up to the No. 139 spot to choose defensive tackle Montori Hughes out of Tennessee-Martin.

How does this pick impact the Colts?

The trench picks continue to pour in for the Colts as Indianapolis traded a fourth round pick in 2014 to move into the fifth round and select Hughes.

At 6’4″, 329 pounds, Hughes will line up at the nose tackle position for the Colts and scouts said “the nose guard possesses enough functional strength needed to stop the lead blocker and ball carrier at the line of scrimmage…he has good quickness and short area balance, along with adequate change of direction agility to work his way down the line.”

Hughes has past experience in a 3-4 defense and he said that the Colts told him he will be lining up in the middle at the next level.

Stopping the run is something head coach Chuck Pagano has stressed this offseason and Hughes is another wide-body that can occupy blockers in the middle of a three-man front.

2012 starter Antonio Johnson is gone but the Colts have plenty of options at the starting nose tackle spot.

Veteran free agent addition Aubrayo Franklin joined the Colts in the offseason. Indianapolis returns Martin Tevaseu, who started two games at nose tackle last year.

The Colts are also hoping to have the services of Brandon McKinney and Josh Chapman, both players who missed the entire 2012 season due to knee injuries. McKinney has experience in Pagano’s scheme from their time together in Baltimore, and Chapman should be full-go after the 2012 fifth round pick sat out last year following January 2012 knee surgery.

Franklin is the veteran, Tevaseu is the returnee, McKinney/Chapman are returning to form and now Hughes comprises a group of five nose tackles that provide competition at a position that is so vital in a stout rush defense.

RYAN GRIGSON ENJOYS PACERS VICTORY WITH FAMILY

What does Ryan Grigson do the night before embarking on a three-day NFL Draft?

Well, of course he takes his family to Game 2 of the Pacers/Hawks series.

Grigson headed down to Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Wednesday evening with his family to watch the Pacers 113-98 victory over the Hawks.

Pacers.com caught up with Grigson and here are a few of the Colts general manager’s comments from Wednesday evening.

On coming to Wednesday night’s game with his family:

“It’s exciting. It’s electric and we can’t wait to see this thing get started and see the Pacers get after it,” Grigson said. “It’s the first time I’ve been to a playoff game here and it’s going to be fun. I’ve got my boys. They are staying up late on a school night so we’re excited.”

On the culture that Grigson has created with the Colts:

“It’s Indiana in general,” Grigson said. “People here, they get up early, they work and then they come and they have fun and watch another team bust their butt. It’s kind of a way of life here in the Midwest–work hard, play hard, enjoy your family. It’s kind of simple but it’s a good recipe for a happy life.”

On watching a fellow professional team in Indianapolis have the success that the Pacers have had:

“We are all intertwined in this city of Indianapolis,” Grigson said. “We want to do great things for the people here and the fans. You can never go wrong when you have everyone on the same page, pulling towards a common goal and everyone sets the bar high and works hard every day. You can’t do that without great ownership and leadership at the top.”