Peyton Manning comes off the PUP List, but will he start??

Peyton Manning has been activated as part of the main roster of Colts, which isn't a surprise.  But there is still no definite word on whether he will start for the season opener against the Houston Texans on Sunday September 11th.  I think Manning is going to do whatever he can to play in that game.  With the way the Colts first game went last year, that might play a small part in this year's first game.  I think the Texans seemed so pumped for that game, almost like a Super Bowl, and I think the Colts need to come out aggressive in this first game. I don't have much hope if Manning isn't playing in this one. Even with Manning in, who knows if the rust of not much practice time, and no action in the preseason will play a role.  When he came off that knee surgery in 2008, it took about four or five games for Manning to get his legs underneath him and to earn that MVP that season.  Who knows how many games this year Manning will need?  Or will he come out guns a blazing and be able to lead the Colts to another division title?  Tony Dungy said the only way Manning doesn't play is if he's not here, and most Colt fans feel that same way.  If Manning can compete, he'll be in that game, and the Colts will be so much better for it.  It should be an interesting time until kickoff because that's probably about when we will know for sure who's under center that game.

On the Sidelines 18

On the Sidelines 18- Local Edition featuring the Indianapolis Colts and Indiana Pacers

Talking about the Indianapolis Colts third preseason game, and what will be in store for the team. Talking about some offseason fact or fiction for the Indiana Pacers. Talking MLB Standings, and where the pennant races are going.

NFL News
Colts Recap from Friday night's game against the Packers by Phillip B. Wilson

Bob Kravitz's Take on Friday Night's Colts preseason game

Peyton Manning Come Pup List Shortly

NBA News
Indiana Pacers Offseason Questions

NBA Union Meet Again Week

Minnesota Timberwolves Kevin Love Loses Pro Beach Volleyball Debut

Handy Dandy Chart for NBA Negotiations

MLB News
MLB Standings

Time to panic for the Colts?

COLTS ADDRESS NEW ARRIVAL

Don't need to press this.......yet.

Yes the Colts signed Kerry Collins yesterday, and that might be reason to worry.  But until that first game comes around, and we don't see Peyton Manning out there, then let's see the worry meter. I  think this is done as insurance, and why not?  Obviously, Curtis Painter and Dan Orlovsky weren't showing signs of brilliance as back up quarterbacks.  The running game hasn't shown much for the Colts either, and the defense looks suspect.  So maybe there are other issues with this team, other than back up quarterback.  As fans, we all know the team goes as Manning goes though, and if he's not out there, unless you have Johnny Unitas back there, the game will be an interesting one. I think with Collins, we can breath a little easier.  He's come in for teams and shown he can lead the team.  Maybe just that veteran presence will be good to have around as well.  But two games left in this preseason, and let's see what happens come Sunday September 10th against the Texans, and then we can get the paper bags to breath into if Manning isn't out there playing.

Jim Irsay is a twitter fool

What to make of all this nonsense that Mr. Irsay, owner of the Indianapolis Colts, has been putting out there through the power of twitter? Now twitter is what some people would call a "news source", but how legit could the tweets from him be about being in Hattiesburg looking for Brett Favre? This is the same guy that put up clues for a scavenger hunt for people to meet someone in a bar to win cash. He has trivia contests for money as well, but yet to hear if anyone actually wins the money. I think anymore I will read his tweet, and go ok. Not really having any reaction to it, but that's Irsay being Irsay. Maybe the Colts do have some worry since Peyton Manning won't be playing in the final preseason games, but are they going to waste time in signing Brett Favre for a few games or whatever time length? I think Manning will be fine or at least in there at that start of the season, and then we'll see what happens after that. What do you make of this Jim Irsay twitter business??

My Expert Analysis of the Colts preseason game against the Redskins

I took the opportunity to take in some Colts preseason action, and let me tell you my feelings for the preseason are once again indifference.  I'll let Mr. Jim Mora tell you how the game went.




Ok maybe it didn't totally suck, but the offense did do diddly poo. There was one first down in the first half. Our first score came halfway through the third quarter, when the couple sitting next to us said "ok we saw a score" and left. That should sum up how Colts fans feel about the preseason. The highlight of the night was Adam Vinatieri hitting that 55 yard field goal to get the Colts a score. Goes to show he's still got the leg even after hearing Pat McAfee has been making 60some yarders in practice. But we all know about practice.



So there we go I was able to get in two of the great sport rants and sum up the Colts preseason action. Is it regular season yet?

Reggie Miller in the Front Office of the Pacers??

Reggie Miller in the Front Office of the Pacers?

I saw someone tweeting about this, so I had to delve deeper and find if there was any truth to it, and look up this article I found.  Looks like Herb Simon does have his eye on Reggie to take over for Larry Bird after this season.  Of course there may not even be a full season, so I think if Miller did take the position, it would be a huge role to fill.  I just don't fully see him in this type of role.  I know he's always been such a big leader of the Pacers, but I think he loves the announcing job, and I enjoy him in that position.  I wasn't sure if that would fit him either, but he has grown into it.  Maybe that's how it could be with this front office job, and I am sure Miller would tackle the challenge because it would be quite the challenge.  It might get fans back supporting the Pacers even more since Reggie is so beloved, but would it tarnish his reputation and legacy if he couldn't fulfill the job?  What if the Pacers weren't able to make the strides that we fans want the team to make?  Would that be pinned on Miller??  And there could be the positive side where the Pacers get up to make some noise in the playoffs, and Reggie is a hero. So two interesting ways to look at it.  Definitely going to keep my ears and eyes on this story as more comes out.

Eli Manning in the Same Class as Tom Brady?

Eli Manning in the same class as Tom Brady?

I came across this article, and got to thinking why wouldn't Eli say he is in the same class as Brady.  I think Peyton Manning is up there, Drew Brees belongs in there, and Aaron Rodgers. I think the NFL is all about the quarterback, and wouldn't you want your star qb, like Eli, to say yea I'm in that same class. It's not saying he's better than Brady or any top qb, but right up there with him.  He didn't have the greatest season last year, but Eli did lead a good charge back when the Giants won the Super Bowl against the Patriots. That can't be taken away or put against him.  And if you look at the top quarterbacks, you do have this elite group, and then all the other guys. I think there guys, like Michael Vick and Matt Ryan who can put themselves up there as well.  But truly you have the cream of the crop and those teams tend to be the ones at the top of the NFL.  What are your thoughts on this?

Colts first preseason game

I stated in my podcast that I am indifferent to preseason, and even after losing the first preseason game, I am indifferent.  We all know the Colts go as Peyton Manning goes.  If he goes down, I don't care who the backup is, this team is not going forward.  Unless some other top elite quarterback is on the Colts, and comes in, the Colts would be done.  That's why you always knock on wood if Manning tells a hard hit. Heck I even hate writing these words because I'll probably be the one to jinx it.  I could be like Larry David when he tripped Shaquille O'Neal just because he was stretching out.

Once the season starts, this team will be fine as long as they stay healthy.  That will be a concern.  The depth of this team is not very deep.  The defensive back core is thin, and if one of the starters go down, then us fans can panic a bit.  That defense might be a little of panic spot anyways if they can't get the stops when they need to.  Offensively, the team is fine.  Plenty of wide receivers to throw the ball too.  Dallas Clark will be back and be a good safety net for Peyton Manning to throw to.  Having Joseph Addai back in the running back position will be good. I thought he was starting to run well last year until he got injured.  The offensive line needs to make sure they open up some holes so that he has room to run, which is the strength of his game.

So don't panic for the preseason, we all know the Colts will be fine when the regular season starts. and things should look good for this team.

On the Sidelines 17

On the Sidelines 17- NFL Preseason is under way

NFL News
Colts Camp Report
Preseason Power Rankings
New Rules in Play
17 Biggest Drama Queens in the NFL
NBA News
Artest heading across the sea
NBA Overseas Tracker
MLB News
Uggla Extends Hit Streak, and Zambrano Contemplates Retiring
MLB Standings

NFL Rivalries- Show me you want to beat that team

It's almost time for football to be back in action, and what better way to kick off the season, then talk about some rivalries in the NFL.  

Around here, the Colts and Patriots are the talk of the town.  Fans will circle this one on their calendars, and I think even football fans circle this one.  You have Peyton Manning and Tom Brady squaring off, two of the best quarterbacks going.  This one really was intense in the beginning of the 2000's.  It seemed the Pats had the Colts number and then the Colts turned it around.  There was that great encounter in the 2006-2007 AFC Championship game, where the Colts were down most of the game, only to come back from 18 points down, and make it to the Super Bowl.  Ended up winning the Super Bowl that year, but people will always remember that game as the one that really meant something.  And that's what I think this rivalry needs again, meaning.  I know as a fan, I want to beat the Patriots.  But I don't feel like there's that animosity to it as much as I would like. I think you need a little fuel to the fire, and a little hate.  There's the word respect thrown all around this rivalry, and that's fine.  But add a little something special to it, and it gets back to where it was.

So going from there, I bring up the Patriots and Jets as an up and coming rivalry because Rex Ryan, coach of the Jets, makes no bones about it, he wants to beat the Patriots.  Maybe the Patriots are just that one team every team wants to beat.  There's not much love lost here between the two teams, and I think the Jets helped their cause last year when they knocked out the Patriots of the playoffs. I will be watching these games when they come around, if only to see the Patriots get knocked around.

Perhaps the long standing rivalry in the NFL is the Packers and Bears.  I've heard how much the fans of these teams get up for this game.  But how much do the actual teams get up for this one?  Do the players think about the history of their teams?  Or are they just going out to win a game?  It's one those division rivalries that are good depending on how good the teams are in my book.


A lot like most division rivalries, the cliched saying is throw out the records.  But look at the Colts in the AFC South, they usually beat up on the teams, and win the division by three or more games.  If the Colts have a rival in the divison, I'd look at the Jaguars.  They pull out close games against the Colts with a field goal to win.  But then some games, the Colts just dominate them, so it's hard to feel there's a real rivalry there.  Titans seem to be another one of those that you don't quite know what to expect, but the Colts have their number.  Texans are always that "sexy" pick to win the division, but haven't finished better than .500 in their existence. 


So division rivalries may be good to watch, but for me there's gotta be something on the line, and some hatred between the teams. I think the NFL, like the NBA, is too much of a love and respect fest. Give me something to feel for the teams, and make me believe you really want to beat that team. There's nothing wrong with that. Just shows you really want to play the game, and win.  

On the Sidelines 16

On the Sidelines 16- Click here to listen

Quick hits around the NFL.  A Pacers Blog to visit.  Stormy Days ahead for the NBA.  Baseball is swinging for the fences.   

NFL News

NFC East Blog            AFC East Blog 

NFC North Blog         AFC North Blog     
NFC South Blog         AFC South Blog
NFC West Blog          AFC West Blog

NFL Hall of Fame 2011 Page

NBA News
Pacers Blog Site
Billy Hunter Expects Entire NBA Season Canceled

MLB News
MLB Standings

The Mount Rushmore for the Indiana Pacers

This is a tough one because do I include the ABA days since that was an Indiana Pacers team, and they did get some championships in that era. I would say that I would have to include that era of Pacers.  So first off I start with Reggie Miller.  He did so much for the state of Indiana really.  I still remember those playoffs, and especially going against the Knicks.  Indiana had this aura of being "hicks" and you would see signs of "Hicks vs Knicks."  Reggie essentially took on New York, which is all played out in that great ESPN series "Reggie vs NY Knicks." Check it out to relive all those great moments.  He's my first pick for the Mount Rushmore.  I would throw up Bobby "Slick" Leonard.  He coached those ABA teams to their championships, and he's on the announcing team for the Pacers now.  I love hearing him call a game with Mark Boyle. It can be quite entertaining.  I am not a huge historian of those ABA days, but I would probably pick George McGinnis as one of the members of this Rushmore.  I've heard him mentioned as one of the key members on that team.  Finally, it's hard picking another player, but I'd go with Rik Smits.  He was the center for the Pacer teams that I can fully remember and supported, so that seems like the best choice.  Let me know your thoughts on this Mount Rushmore.  

The Mount Rushmore For the Indianapolis Colts

                       




I was hearing on sports radio one day a discussion about the rushmore for the New England Patriots, and of course I didn't care who would be on there...but it got me thinking, what players or coaches would be on the Colts Mount Rushmore.  Peyton is an obvious choice, would that be all you need?  Would you include Johnny Unitas of the Baltimore Colts?  Or just keep it to the Indianapolis Colts?  I think just keeping it the Indianapolis Colts, I would have up there Peyton Manning, Tom Moore, Marvin Harrison even with his decline and weird issues in the last season he was here, there's no denying the tandem that he and Manning were, and probably Tony Dungy.  Dungy got us to the Super Bowl win, and really just seemed to bring such a positive attitude to this team that I would put him up there.  Tom Moore was the offensive coordinator all those great years Manning has had, and there's no reason for him not to be up there.  Is there someone I should take or who would you put up there?  Update: Got to thinking more about this, and I would possibly throw up Jeff Saturday as long as he continues his career with the Colts. I think the relationship that him and Manning have is pretty special.  Also, if Dwight Freeney stays with the Colts and has the kind of career I think he will, he would be a choice to throw up there.  That's about the only defensive player I could truly think about as a possible choice.  Is there a defensive player you can think of to throw up there?  Maybe Gary Brackett?  He seems to be such a leader of the defense and a great player for them.