Indianapolis Colts two-time Pro Bowl safety Bob Sanders is headed to injured reserve. He tore his Herculean left bicep against the San Francisco 49ers last weekend, just one game after he made his season debut from an offseason knee injury. That means his 2009 season (just three tackles and one interception) is over and the Colts will be without one of the best free safeties in the National Football League to bolster their defensive secondary.
To further exacerbate matters, the Colts also places starting cornerback Marlin Jackson on IR. And CB Kelvin Hayden will be sidelined for the next three to …read more

Marvin Harrison is not considering retirement. After being released by the Indianapolis Colts — his employer of 13 years — a few months ago, Marvin has kind of disappeared. And don’t look for him to reappear until just before training camp begins. But look for him to reappear. At 37-years-old (he’ll be 38 in August), Marvin wants no part of mini camps and OTAs. But according to his agent, Tom Condon, the future Hall of Fame receiver feels his bum knee is healed and thinks he can still play. If he really is healthy, plenty of teams will be interested …read more

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Marvin Harrison can’t find common ground with the Indianapolis Colts, so he wants to be released by the team. The two sides were “trying” to restructure a deal, but there is no agreement — except to disagree. Colts president Bill Polian acknowledged yesterday that it’s a tricky situation, but I disagree. And Mr. Polian is probably just being respectful to one of the game’s all-time great receivers. I don’t think it’s tricky at all. As important as Marvin has been to the Colts over his 13 years there, his numbers have been declining (only 20 …read more

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Uncommon: Finding Your Path to Significance
by Tony Dungy with Nathan Whitaker, 260 pages, $24.99
Tyndale House Publishers | CoachDungy.com
Just a couple weeks after announcing his retirement from the coaching ranks of the National Football League, former Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy has a new book — Uncommon: Finding Your Path to Significance — in stores today. I received my review copy last week and went cover-to-cover right away. I can enthusiastically say it’s the most uplifting, down-to-earth life lesson book I’ve ever read. And I’ve read my fair share.
You probably remember coach Dungy’s first book, …read more

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There’s a rather disturbing story about Marvin Harrison in the new ESPN Magazine (01.26.09). I’ve always admired Marvin for his stellar play and the way he performed his job. Who hasn’t? He and Peyton Manning hold the record for most receptions between a quarterback and receiver with 956. All the while, Marvin has seemed like a good guy — quiet and unassuming. He’s a lunch pail kind of player. He comes to work, does his job (well, I might add) and goes home. In this era of overpaid, high maintenance, loud mouth, prima donna receivers, …read more

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My sources tell me that because of coach Tony Dungy’s retirement announcement a couple days ago, his publisher is moving the release date of his new book, Uncommon, up from February 17 to January 27. My review copy is on its way so I’ll have a post on that with my thoughts before it hits stores.

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Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy announced his retirement from the National Football League today. I was saddened — but not shocked — to hear the news earlier this afternoon that the Colts had scheduled a 5 p.m. presser. I anticipated what was coming. I didn’t feel it would do coach Dungy justice to pull quotes from a transcript, so here’s the whole thing.
Coach Dungy has always been one of my favorite NFL coaches and he’s been an inspiration to me in my own life. I greatly respect who he is as a person and …read more

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Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning was named the National Football League’s Most Valuable Player today. It was a landslide win as Peyton received 32 votes, well ahead of Miami Dolphins quarterback Chad Pennington and Atlanta Falcons running back Michael Turner, who received four votes each. It was Peyton’s third time to win the NFL’s highest individual honor. Only N.Y. Jets quarterback Brett Favre has won as many league MVP honors. As usual, Peyton had the right words to graciously capture the moment:
“I know it’s an individual award, but … truly, in my opinion, a team …read more

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The opponents for all 2009 regular-season games have been determined and a complete list of each team’s home and away matchups was issued yesterday by the NFL. The scheduling formula implemented in 2002 with realignment guarantees that all teams play each other on a regular, rotating basis. Under the formula, every team within a division plays 16 games as follows:

Home and away against its three division opponents (6 games)
The four teams from another division within its conference on a rotating three-year cycle (4 games)
The four teams from a division in the other conference on a …read more

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NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced today the schedule of sites, dates and times for the National Football League Wild Card games of January 3-4 plus the Divisional Playoffs of January 10-11 (all times Eastern). First thing’s first, though. Let’s look at the Wild Card schedule:
SATURDAY JANUARY 3
4:30 PM – Atlanta (11-5) at Arizona (9-7) NBC
8:00 PM – Indianapolis (12-4) at San Diego (8-8) NBC
SUNDAY JANUARY 4
1:00 PM – Baltimore (11-5) at Miami (11-5) CBS
4:30 PM – Philadelphia (9-6-1) at Minnesota (10-6) FOX
In the Divisional Playoffs, the division champion with the best record in each conference …read more