Posts tagged BobSanders at FanHouse

We have our one billionth update on the injured Indianapolis trio of stars -- Bob Sanders, Dwight Freeney, and Peyton Manning:

Sanders told reporters on Monday that he felt good and was ready to start practicing on Tuesday. Coach Tony Dungy says he expects both Sanders and Freeney to return to action by Wednesday at the latest.

Of course, we were told they "should" be ready by the time the team broke camp on August 15th as well. A few days is not a big deal, and you have to believe the guys were pushed back a bit just because there was a pre-season game Saturday night and there was no reason to push things. They are planning, however, on seeing the field Sunday night in Indy:

"If they don't have any setbacks in practice I think they both will play and have a limited pitch count,'' Dungy said.

Also of note in this piece is that Peyton Manning could be back practicing next week. If that's truly the case, there's no way he'll miss the start of the season ... as opposed to a little something that came out earlier today.

We'll let you know again next week when Manning's going to "wait another week."

Training camps are underway, the NFL season is a month off, and to get you ready for 2008, FanHouse previews all 32 teams, "heat index" style. We'll rate each club in 10 categories on a scale of 1 to 10, high score wins.

Quarterbacks: Peyton Manning is returning from injury, and if he doesn't in time the Colts are in serious trouble. Jim Sorgi hasn't shown himself capable in the pre-season while working with the machine known as the Colts offense, and you can't trust Jared Lorenzen as far as you can throw him (love to see anyone try that, by the way). Of course, it's Peyton ... don't worry. He doesn't miss regular season games. Heat Index: 9

According to the Indy Star, the Colts expect to have Bob Sanders and Dwight Freeney both back on the field "within the next week." The defense did give up some points to the Panthers in the most recent pre-season outing, but it was hardly at fault in light of the bad situations turnover machine Jim Sorgi put them in. Still, giving them the anchor to the defensive line and the defensive player of the year will definitely provide a shot in the arm for the unit. It's certainly a bonus that they'll get a few games under their belt before getting to sink their teeth into the Bears paltry offense in week one.

Even better news for the Colts? Both players are really itching to get back on the field. It's nice to see, in an era when you have holdouts and guys milking injuries to avoid training camp. Ask Freeney if he wants back on the field?

"Yeah, I'm ready to hit something," the veteran defensive end said.

And Sanders?

As Ryan Wilson pointed out a few weeks ago, the Colts haven't really had to enter the season with major injury issues in the Peyton Manning era. According to team President Bill Polian, things aren't about to change in 2008.

While obviously trying to be as short as possible with Indy Star reporter Mike Chappell, Polian did seem to be pretty upbeat about the trio of star players currently on the shelf:

"No setbacks that I know of,''

Ok. What about Peyton, specifically?

Polian said an infectious disease doctor "has signed off" on any infection. "That's been eliminated. Now you're on to the rehab process,'' he said.

Dwight Freeney?

Polian said Freeney worked out with the team's physical therapist Saturday and was scheduled to do so again Sunday.

How about 2007 Defensive Player of the Year Bob Sanders?

"Bob's fine,'' Polian said. "He's right on schedule, maybe a little ahead of schedule.''

So I guess we can take a few things from this story. First of all, don't interview Polian if you need quotes to fill a significant portion of copy. Seriously, Chappell's been the Colts beat reporter for Polian's entire tenure. That small handful of words is all he can give? It's not like they are trying to hide something leading up to a Super Bowl.

Secondly, there's really no reason to lie at this point for the Colts ... so we can safely assume that all three players will be just fine by the time the season opens in brand new Lucas Oil Stadium on September 7th against the Bears.

If the Indianapolis Colts hope to regain their Super Bowl form in 2008, they might have to do it without some key players.

GM Bill Polian told the press yesterday that wide receiver Marvin Harrison, defensive end Dwight Freeney, linebacker Rob Morris, defensive tackle Booger McFarland and super safety Bob Sanders could be unavailable for training camp in July because of the injuries they suffered last season. Harrison, Morris and McFarland all suffered knee injuries last season, while Freeney suffered a Lisfranc injury and Sanders had arthroscopic surgery on his shoulder after the season ended.

If that's the case, perhaps the Colts would do best to prepare for the season as if these players weren't going to be there, because some of them might not be. They certainly won't be 100% -- especially Freeney, whose torn ACL could rob him of much of his pass-rushing speed for a season.

Polian said is usually very good about finding replacements for players that leave as free agents, but he'll have a hell of a time finding players to fill one whole side of the front seven, plus All-Pros at receiver and safety. The Colts can't afford to slip up now -- not when they're in the toughest division in the AFC.

Yesterday I noted that Colts safety Bob Sanders made a rare dumb mistake when he drew a 15-yard penalty for taunting Chargers kicker Nate Kaeding. I also noted that Sanders and Kaeding were teammates at Iowa and were probably friends.

Kaeding confirmed that after the game:

Kaeding took no offense to Sanders' actions. In fact, he started the byplay after hitting an extra point after San Diego's first score. Sanders is one of the Colts' outside rushers against placement kicks.

"I grabbed him, smiling," Kaeding said. "We were all smiling."

The smiling ended when an official flagged Sanders after the miss.

"It was just a case of a referee not knowing what the real deal was," Kaeding said. "I couldn't go up to the ref and be like, 'We're just buddies' after he already threw the flag."

It was a mistake on Sanders' part, but a forgivable one. There was no ill intent, and, ultimately, it wasn't taunting so much as good-natured ribbing. Too bad for the Colts that the ref didn't know that.

The Indianapolis Colts may have just suffered the one injury they could not afford to suffer.

Safety Bob Sanders, who was named the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year last week, suffered a shoulder injury midway through the third quarter of the Colts-Chargers playoff game after taking the full brunt of an oncoming Michael Turner. Sanders rolled off the tackle and stayed on the turf for a while before walking off with trainers holding his shoulder.

Let's just say this now -- if Bob Sanders can't play next week because of this injury, there's no way the Colts beat the Patriots. I'm sure Sanders will do whatever it takes to get in that game, of course, but all the cortisone shots in the world won't help you if you're not 100% against that offense.

They may get away with it today, though. Reggie Wayne just scored a touchdown to give the Colts a 17-14 lead. Now let's see if they can stop the Chargers without Sanders in the lineup.

UPDATE: Sanders returned to the game in the 4th quarter. Maybe the Colts still have a shot here.

I've always thought that Indianapolis Colts safety Bob Sanders, in addition to being a tough player who gets the most out of his physical attributes, is one of the NFL's smartest players. Part of the reason Sanders can deliver so many of those punishing hits is that he's so good at reading offenses and knowing where the ball carrier will be.

But Sanders committed a very stupid penalty late in the first half of today's playoff game against the San Diego Chargers. After Chargers kicker Nate Kaeding missed a 48-yard field goal, Sanders went up to him, patted him on the head and shoulders, and said something in his ear. As a result, Sanders was flagged for taunting, and instead of getting the ball at the 38-yard line with 1:45 to go in the first half, the Colts got the ball at the 24-yard line.

Sanders and Kaeding were teammates at Iowa, and they might be friends -- they're celebrating together in this picture -- but Sanders needs to know that the referee isn't going to stop to contemplate whether it was a friendly gesture or not.

Colts safety Bob Sanders has been named the Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year, which is no surprise.

But what is surprising is that there wasn't even a close second. Of the 50 media voters, 31 chose Sanders, whose return from an injury that cost him most of the 2006 season dramatically turned around the Colts' defense. Two defensive linemen, Seattle's Patrick Kerney and Tennessee's Albert Haynesworth, tied for second, but they got just four votes apiece.

The other players who received votes were: defensive back Antonio Cromartie of San Diego with three; linebackers Mike Vrabel of New England and DeMarcus Ware of Dallas, each with two; and cornerback Ronde Barber of Tampa Bay, linebacker James Harrison of Pittsburgh, rookie linebacker Patrick Willis of San Francisco, and end Mario Williams of Houston, each with one vote.

Outside of Indianapolis, Colts president Bill Polian isn't the most popular guy in the league. But there's no disputing his ability to put together a roster (or jack up unsuspecting Jets employees). Last month, the team re-signed arguably the league's best safety, Bob Sanders, to a long-term deal. Now all that's left to do is keep tight end Dallas Clark, one of Peyton Manning's countless weapons. And one way or the other, Polian plans on doing just that:

The importance of finalizing Sanders' deal can't be overstated. It effectively ensured that another front-line player who will be an unrestricted free agent at season's end -- tight end Dallas Clark -- will remain with the team in 2008. That's because if a long-term deal can't be reached, the Colts will resort to Plan B: the franchise tag. For Clark, that would be a one-year contract worth more than $4.5 million.

"One way or the other; either by a contract or via the franchise tag,'' Polian said. "Our preference would be via contract.''

According to the Indianapolis Star's Mike Chappell, Polian reports that negotiations haven't been going well with Clark's agent, but "those things can change." Yep, and you can franchise Clark for '08 and hopefully work it out over the next 12 months.

Either way, it looks like Clark will be around for at least another season; unrestricted free agent offensive linemen Ryan Lilja and Jake Scott are another issue, however. And as important as the Colts' skill positions are to what they do, the offensive line responsible for protecting the franchise is even more important.