Coach Jim Caldwell’s first Colts mini-camp as head coach has some interesting changes from the way Tony Dungy did things. Besides so many new faces on the staff, he’s got a seating chart when players are in meetings.

Some of the guys were joking about it, Reggie Wayne saying he’s up front and in the middle next to the “teacher” now, so close he can run the projector, while Joseph Addai and Dwight Freeney are a few rows back and on the ends.

Dungy let the guys sit where they wanted, but Caldwell wants to know who’s there and who isn’t, and will take account of it. Pretty amusing!

Meantime, Adam Vinatieri and Joseph Addai revealing leg surgeries that will slow them down, but should not affect their status for the regular season come September. Addai had a knee scoped and is taking it slow, while Vinatieri had hip problems corrected by the same Vail, Colorado doctor that operated on Yankee Alex Rodriguez’ hip. He’ll probably miss training camp, but with rookies Pat McAfee and Tim Masthay experienced in punting and place kicking, they’ll be ready to step in.

The Colts came out of the draft sending some strong signs that things are changing in the AFC South. No longer can they just roll to division titles any longer, and their draft choices are giving some insight. Picking a running back in the first round will do a few things: push Joseph Addai after an average year, and if Donald Brown is indeed a game-breaker type, take some pressure off Peyton Manning and the passing game.

Good to see another receiver chosen, but I thought they would go with a speed receiver to help on the edges. Austin Collie is more of a possession wideout, so we’ll see how that goes. They also grabbed a pair of big, bulky defensive tackles to help stop the bleeding against the run. If you’ve noticed, officials are not calling offensive holding penalties as much anymore, which hurts speed rushers like Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney.

Mayor Greg Ballard has praise for Jerry Sanders, his counterpart in San Diego.  Ballard and Sanders made a little wager on the Colts – Chargers play-off game.  Ballard promised to send Sanders shrimp cocktail from St. Elmo’s steakhouse, if the Colts lost.  Sanders promised what looks like fish tacos from a California restaurant chain and a six pack of beer from a California microbrewery. 

Since the Colts lost, Ballard made good on his promise.  But, Sanders impressed Ballard by sending the San Diego treats.  That was certainly not required by their deal.  Ballard said he’ll remember that when he makes other play-off wagers – that way he can be equally generous when the Colts win.

If the Colts meet the Chargers again, Ballard should send a little promotional material with the next shrimp cocktail.  After reading some web site commentary, people in San Diego couldn’t understand why Indiana would send “frozen shrimp”.    They could use a lesson in the culinary history of Indianapolis.

RCA Dome….what great memories that building gave me over the years. When I was an high school student from Evansville. I would come up for Circle City Classic games….and now working for WISH-TV…Boy I have witness some great moments at the dome.

The one thing that I loved most about the Dome was the size of it. It had such an “Indiana” feel to it. Not too big and not to small….just right.

I could go down a list of some of my favorite moments at the RCA Dome…but I think ONE will do. It happened in 2006!

When the Colts made the biggest comeback in AFC Playoff history and beat New England to advance to the Superbowl! Thanks dome for all the great moments!

Just when you think you’ve seen it all, Peyton pulls off another magical performance. His umpteenth come-from-behind win gave the Colts a seventh consecutive playoff berth, and in my mind, cemented him as the NFL’s most valuable player.

Coming from a 3-4 start, a patched up offensive line and nearly no running game, Manning has willed his team to this eight-game winning streak. Some of the passes of completed in Jacksonville were among the best I’ve seen, dropping them into tiny windows that only his receivers could get. And completing 23 straight passes over two games was one off the NFL record set by Donovan McNabb.

It’s been interesting to see this team deal with adversity and rally to gain a playoff berth, unlike all those other years when they ran away from the competition. Winning in trying times on the road time and again will only prepare this team for the post-season tournament. Players told me after the game that this playoff run has been extra special because of what they’ve been through.

A win today against Detroit for Tony Dungy and the Colts will give Coach at least 10 wins or more every season here in Indy. I think if you asked any NFL coach they will tell you…that streak is VERY impressive. It’s one thing to win 12 games one season and come back 8-8 another….but 10 wins or more every year? Dungy has a lot of people to thank.

1. Mr. Irsay for bringing him to Indy to coach players like Peyton Manning, Marvin Harrison, Dallas Clark, Bob Sanders, etc…(let’s just say the TALENT was there!)
2. Bill Polian for really going out and getting the players Dungy needed to be successful.
3. Himself:  Dungy’s ability to have theses players buy into what he preaches and carry it over onto the field speaks volumes on how these players feel about him.

I must admit, I thought his streak of six straight years of 10 plus wins here in Indy was in jeopardy in mid October, but what a difference a month can make….a.k.a. NOVEMBER.

Dungy, should get his 10th win of the season later today against the pitiful Lions…but one of the biggest streaks for Coach Dungy could be just down the road. When the Colts make the playoffs.  Dungy,  will become the first coach to guide a team to the postseason 10 straight years…passing Former Cowboys Coach Tom Landry.

Dungy 10 wins again? Yep.

It has been nothing short of a bizarre season for the Colts.The latest stunner in Pittsburgh coming with huge plays from the newest starters, especially on defense. Eric Foster, Tim Jennings and Keiwan Ratliff turned this battle with the physical Steelers into a Colts victory, now a streak is possible, only one team with a winning record left on the schedule. There are some worries. It’s become obvious that both Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison are not themselves. Both continue to fall short of expectations that they already set.

Manning is under throwing deep deeps he almost always used to make, and Harrison is dropping balls and not making the efforts he normally gives. Off-season health issues have to be the cause, but no one will ever admit it.

Hats off to the defense as well, coming up with a rare goal-line stand against one of the most physical teams in the league. Don’t count these guys out of the playoff race yet..it’s going to get very interesting.

Strange Colts game. Didn’t have the same cache’ that most of their meetings with the rival Patriots carry, but it was dramatic nonetheless. Former Patriot hero Adam Vinatieri kicks his longest field goal in six years to win it, coaching genius Bill Belichick makes some bone-headed coaching moves that greatly helped the Colts (4th down call, wasted timeouts and challenges) Tim Jennings and Keiwan Ratliff start at cornerback for the injured Marlin Jackson and Kelvin Hayden and control Randy Moss, and the Colts get their second wild 18-15 win of the season. It makes the second half of the season worth watching.

It’s been a long time since a Colts game in October had critical written all over it for the horseshoes, but that’s what’s facing them in Nashville Monday. The Titans have pushed the Colts to the edge of the AFC South cliff, possibly putting them four games back before the season’s midpoint. Sure, anything can happen, but it would take quite a collapse if it got there.

Because of the urgency, don’t be surprised to see Bob Sanders and possibly Kelvin Hayden, both coming off knee surgeries give it a go. Their presence alone should help a defense that needs to stop the run.