“We don’t even know him, we ain’t vanilla, man, we ain’t no simple offense,” receiver Reggie Wayne said. “So for him to can come in here and be the starter, I don’t see it. I think that’s a step back.”

Its not often players speak out about anything that happens with the team.

More…

"Just because we bring him in doesn't mean he's the starter. He's got to learn too, right? Unless they gave him a playbook months ago, he's got to learn to."

“I don’t care who you are, I mean I’m not going to let anyone just come in here and just push someone (like Painter) aside like you’re that dog now, you know what I mean?” Wayne added.

He can’t honestly be happy with Painter, right?

Its really weird.

The lack of big-name FA’s signing up with our beloved Colts is troubling and I tend to agree with most of the written concerns on S-Blue and other outlets. I also agree that division and non-division rivals alike have used this manic FA period to not only get better but in some cases dramatically change the look of certain position. Houston, obviously, has gotten better in their secondary and their pash rush, although the latter came by way of the draft. 

But, I wanted to make an argument for the other side of this whole thing and throw this out there: we might not need to get a whole lot better overall because we’re already pretty good. 

Now, hold on, before everyone goes crazy, I understand we are seriously lacking in some areas - corners, back up safeties and others - but aside from a few departures the team that will take the field against the Texans in Week 1 will more or less be the same team that played in Super Bowl 45, at least where it matters. 

If ... and its a big IF ... if we can stay healthy, we will have a pretty damn good team. There are questions marks hanging over the health and attitude of the receiving corp, I realize, but last year’s sheer number of injuries was an aberration and I hope that Collie, Clark and Gonzo are happy, healthy and productive. And I think, or hope, that Reggie will put all contract stuff aside and just play some damn football. 

And I know there’s a lot of uncertainty right now. I know the questions surrounding Manning’s health are maddening. And I know it seems like the Colts are not trying to get better through the FA market. 

But, I think its the craziness surrounding this FA period that is throwing the perspective out of whack and in the end the Colts will be competitive in the division and beyond. 

Don’t get me wrong. I’m nervous, too, and I hope they bring in another WR, or maybe make a play for Asante Samuel or someone who could really put them over the top at corner. 

But just remember, Colts faithful: All those moves made by the AFC South are an effort to catch us. Not the other way around. And who knows, maybe those moves will finally lead Houston to the promised land, or maybe Hasselbeck redefines the position in Nashville. 

But as of now, we are still the gold standard in the division and when the FA wave finally breaks and rolls back a lot of new names will be featured in different jerseys but it doesn’t automatically equate to wins. 

GO COLTS!

Hello Colts faithful!

Was just reading Shutdown Corner's new overtime reminder, but quite honestly, I'm not sure I understand the change. Even last year, when it was announced, I had a difficult time grasping it. 

Can someone help my feeble mind by explaining the new rule in the simplest of terms? For instance, I understand that teams get to answer, but is it only on field goals? I want to make sure I understand what I'm watching this weekend, especially if our beloved Blue and White have to take the extra time to send Sexy Rexy back to LaLa Land. 

Thanks everyone and GO COLTS! 

Hello Lions fans and fantasy football geeks, I'm seeking a little fantasy help/advice regarding Megatron's status for Sunday. I'm reaching out to you guys because I'm in the championship game, and C. Johnson's help could put me over the top. Any local scuttlebutt in the Detroit area about his status, or opinions on whether or not he'll play would be most appreciated. My only other option is Danny Woodhead, but I'm not sure how long or if he'll even play since the Evil Empire already has everything locked up. Chances are, Belifreak will play everyone, but I'd rather stick with Megatron as its often feast or famine with Woodhead. 

Any help or advice or wisdom that can be provided is mucho appreciated. Thanks in advance Detroit!

This was published Oct 9, 2003, and tells you pretty much any and everything you need to know about the Great Motivator, Jack Del Rio. 

By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com
Archive

When rookie coach Jack Del Rio placed a stump of oak and an ax in the Jacksonville Jaguars locker room a few weeks ago as a motivational technique, symbolic of his theme to "keep choppin' wood," it was viewed as a sophomoric technique by some veterans.

Now the move is likely to be regarded as a huge mistake.

The Jaguars on Thursday lost Pro Bowl punter Chris Hanson for an undetermined amount of time -- ESPN.com has learned that he will be sidelined 4-6 weeks and could well miss the balance of the season -- when the fourth-year veteran was accidentally gashed on his right (non-kicking foot) while wielding the ax.

Hanson, 26, was taken to a local hospital for what Del Rio before practice termed "a gash of some sort." As it turned out, the injury was severe enough to require surgery. It is not known how long the surgery lasted or what steps were taken to close the gash.

The wound, agent Drew Rosenhaus told ESPN.com, was self-inflicted.

"Chris said that everyone else had been taking a swing with the ax, chopping the wood, and he finally decided to do it, too," Rosenhaus said. "Unfortunately, the ax either went through the wood, or bounced off it, and went into Chris' foot. Chris told me it is a pretty significant injury."

While it is likely that the injury will be fully healed before the end of the season, the Jaguars might be reluctant to carry two punters, using Royals but keeping Hanson on the roster as well. Team officials hinted Wednesday evening to Rosenhaus that they might place Hansen on injured reserve. That would end his season.

"They basically said," acknowledged Rosenhaus, "that there is a chance Chris might not punt again this year."

Jacksonville quickly signed veteran punter Mark Royals, released by the Miami Dolphins two weeks ago. Royals will punt on Sunday against his former teammates.

The accident apparently occurred during a team meeting that the kickers were not mandated to attend. Hanson departed the team's training complex on crutches.

Not surprisingly, the ax was removed from the locker room Thursday afternoon, and the tree stump will soon be gone as well.

It is somewhat surprising that franchise officials, and the league, would permit the tree stump and the ax, given the potential for the kind of incident that transpired Thursday. The stump had garnered plenty of media attention.

Said Del Rio: "I'll find another slogan. The message was understood. The thing was on its way out soon, but not soon enough. It was symbolic more than anything else."

Hello Bills Fans! 

Early in the season a bunch of you guys were kind enough to offer some Spiller fantasy advice, so here I am, once again looking for some vaunted Spiller wisdom. 

Here's my dilemma: Do I start CJ or Danny Woodhead? More specifically, will Spiller now return punts and line up on the outside on occasion now that Parrish is done? 

Its not a great position to be in, as I don't think Woodhead will do much against the Steelers, and I know CJ hasn't exploded like most of you hoped he would coming out of that fantastic preseason. 

If anyone can offer some advice, yet again, it would be most appreciated. Thanks for your time and knowledge! 

Greetings and salutations Colts faithful!. As fans, I understand and appreciate that we are all still reeling from the recent slate of injuries, but as a Fantasy Owner, my team is facing some serious issues. The full on loss of Clark and the partial loss of Collie have turned my fantasy team upsidedown. The threat of Addai facing a few weeks of downtime has now turned my bench into the walking dead as well, as my other two RB's are on Byes. What I need to know is this: will Hart be the featured back on Monday, or do we expect Glass Joe ... I mean Donald Brown ... to get the starting nod? Is he still banged up to? Or will Joe be able to lift his arms above his head?

Its hard to gauge anything, fantasy-wise, as far as the Colts are concerned, because of their super secret handshake when it comes to the injury report. I love them for it, but I hate them for testing my fantasy fate! Damn you Polian!

Thanks Colts fan, for any help you may provide, especially to those who listen to local radio on a regular basis. I'm lookin at you Mad Dog!

PS: I feel bad for writing that about Brown. I like the kid. He's injury prone, yes, but I like him nonetheless. Thanks again everyone!

Hey everyone! Need some fantasy help! Is Collie playing today? I'm getting conflicting info. Aside from the fact that I want the Colts to win (duh!), I need to know if I should start or sit Austin. Is his status some Colts trickery? Or is he likely to sit? Thanks everyone! And Go Colts! (Anyone listening to the Mad Dog pre game show? Could be some good info there. Again, any info is appreciated)

Hello Falcons fans, need some quick fantasy help. Wondering if Snelling is now the featured back, and if I should start him on Sunday. Any info, help, wisdom, etc., is greatly appreciated. I'll gladly return the favor for anyone and everyone looking for Colts related fantasy news, if needed. Thanks again in advance, any help is appreciated. Oh, and I'm hoping you guys destroy NO. I've had enough of the Saints love, for obvious reasons. 

Sorry everyone. I hate to say it. But I will: the sky is falling.

I'm not a numbers guy, (that's not why I like baseball), I understand the game at its most rudimentary level. I just feel that the pitching is not solid, too spotty. Admittedly, I'm working now, just watching the boxscore and not the game, but its hard to feel good about things right now, or Shields, or the game yesterday. Hell, they may come back and win the game, win it all. But, I'm just depressed about the first. And it worries me.

Hey Bills fans. Need some quick fantasy help. Don't have easy access to local Buffalo media off hand, and I'm wondering what Spiller's role will be on Sunday, how effective he is expected to be against Green Bay, what local talking heads are saying, etc. I drank the pre-season Spiller Kool-Aid, and he virtually destroyed me week one (so did Beanie Wells, but that's another story). It would be great, appreciated, and very helpful if some die hards would pass on their thoughts and any other info about Spiller's projected workload and impact. Again, any help is appreciated. Thanks! 

Hello Cardinals fans. Need some quick fantasy help. Don't have easy access to local media off hand, need to know if Wells will play Sunday, what his projected role will be, etc. Any help is appreciated... A nasty message just told me this post must be at least 75 words long, so I am still typing, but I have nothing else to say. I am literally just trying to fill the word count. So...

I understand why the museum was built in Charlotte. I really do. But they made a mistake, and should have looked at Florida. 

Building the Hall of Fame in Charlotte speaks to the sport’s identity crisis, I think. On one hand they desperately want to please the original (and rabid) fanbase, but on the other they want to grow into America’s premier sports entertainment, and possibly even take the sport international, if not cater to an international audience

Here’s my pitch: building the museum in Charlotte only speaks to the former, and virtually cuts their hopes of growing the sport off at the knees. I have no doubt that Charlotte is a thriving metropolitan area with its own great sense of culture and history, but the culture and history that’s stored between the walls of that museum will never reach a large audience simply because Charlotte doesn’t seem to be a year round tourist destination. 

NASCAR, like other sports (but maybe even more so) simply thrives on that sense of history, and gives people a place to develop their love and fascination for the sport. 

If the museum had been built, in say, the Orlando area, the sheer force of tourist traffic would increase the number of visitors by default. Also, and most obviously, NASCAR’s biggest race is just about an hour from downtown Orlando.

Admittedly, if the museum were in Florida I could actually visit the damn thing most anytime, which makes this more of a pointless, selfish plea, than anything else. 

But I consider myself slightly more than a casual fan - I see a race each year, play fantasy, named my cat Little Smoke, pay attention to each race in some fashion - so, really, I don’t even need to go to the museum to stoke the flames of my Tony love. 

The museum, to me, is for people on the opposite ends of that spectrum, rabid loyalists and true newbies, and putting it in Charlotte only helps half of that equation. 

NASCAR needs to find a balance. They need the stock car crazies to lead the way for the newbies, not isolate the two groups, and what better place for those two groups to interact than at a track, and of course, at the museum.

 
NASCAR is probably the most accessible of all of America’s big time sports. The museum? Not so much. 

Thoughts?

(Also, Happy 4th to everyone. Hope everyone has a safe and fun holiday.)

Is that even possible?

I don't want to entirely hate on Davis. I know he's young, and with youth comes inconsistency, but overall he seems to be the weakest link. While I understand Big Game and Garza have been more or less inconsistent and awful their last four starts, give or take, I just think Davis has cooled completely. 

I'm feeling pretty desperate, actually. And the move could scream desperation. But right now things are still within reach, and I'm worried that getting five or six out could be too much to overcome. 

Thoughts?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100524/ts_nm/us_court_nfl

For those of you who didn't know, a vast majority of all NFL apparel, our beloved Colts included, is manufactured on the east side of Indianapolis. 

Onfield Apparel Group, located near Post Rd and 30th St, employs roughly 900 people in the off season, and up to roughly 1300 when the season nears and production ramps up. 

The current agreement between Reebok (actually Adidas, who now owns Reebok) and the NFL expires in a year, but that agreement will not be renewed now that the Supreme Court has made their decision. While that facility also manufactures some NBA and college apparel, 90 percent of what they do is the NFL. I won't, and can't, speculate on what happens next with the individual teams and the individual agreements they strike with apparel makers, but one thing I do know is that roughly 1,000 people will more than likely find themselves out of work in the coming days, in an economy still trying to find its way back from the brink of total disaster. 

I bring this up only to illustrate another side of the game we all love so much, and how it moves beyond the field.

Good luck to all of those folks, whatever happens. 

Can we get a Hall of Fame breakdown? I'm curious to know what it all means, exactly, and if its something to be truly celebrated or not. What does the Hall of Fame mean to the sport? What is the history of the project? Should I care about it as a fan? Is there anyone left out of the inaugural class that was completely shafted? What does it cost to get in? Why did it take so long to have a NASCAR Hall of Fame? Does it mean the sport is officially co-opted into the mainstream? What kind of features will the museum boast? How much did NASCAR drop on the whole thing?

These are just a few questions I have, and I think would make an interesting read, though I don't believe its a complete list by any means. Again, I'm not certain what it all means, and it seems to have been a relatively low key project thus far.

Anyone out there have any answers? Or would like to write this for me?