Indianapolis
Colts

Colts Team Report

Updated: February 07, 2012 10:26 EST

When word broke on Thursday that Colts quarterback Peyton Manning had been cleared by his doctor to resume his football career, team owner Jim Irsay was quick to downplay the news via his Twitter account, writing, "Peyton has not passed our physical nor has he been cleared to play for The Indianapolis Colts. Team statement coming on Friday."

Those expecting that statement to clarify matters are apparently in for a disappointment.

On Friday afternoon, the Colts released a statement on their website saying, "Peyton Manning, Jim Irsay and the entire Colts family remain close and unified as we continue to work through all the options that relate to his future with the Colts.

"The present focus is on the Super Bowl and the great game that awaits."

It's the second time in a week that Irsay has stated that he and Manning are on the same page, despite the fact that the circumstances unfolding around them suggest that they are anything but.

The first statement of unity came after Manning gave a wide-ranging interview to the Indianapolis Star, in which he discussed issues ranging from his recovery to the firing of coach Jim Caldwell to the rumors of his retirement circulated by actor Rob Lowe (a friend of Irsay). Irsay's initial response was to tell call Manning a "politician" in an interview with reporters, saying "I don't think it's in the best interest to paint the horseshoe in a negative light," before owner and quarterback gave a joint statement saying that there are no hard feelings between the two.

Following that statement, Irsay had been determined not to discuss Manning during Super Bowl week, until news broke on Thursday that Dr. Robert Watkins -- who performed spinal fusion surgery on Manning in September -- had cleared Manning to resume his football career.

Manning is due a $28 million option bonus on March 8, and will become a free agent on March 13 if that bonus is not paid. With the Colts holding the first overall pick in April's NFL Draft, there has been wide speculation that the team will cut Manning and select Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck with the No. 1 pick. However, Irsay has stressed that he won't be addressing Manning's situation until after the Super Bowl.

Even with Irsay not rushing into a decision, there are still time concerns when it comes to Manning's recovery. While Manning has been medically cleared from a safety standpoint, it's unclear whether he's regained enough strength in his right arm -- and whether the nerves in that arm have regenerated enough -- for him to be able to continue as an elite NFL quarterback. The Indianapolis Star cited a source in raising the possibility that Manning might not pass a team physical in time for the team to opt to keep him.

Manning's agent, Tom Condon, said on Friday that his client will play again, but could not give a timetable for the quarterback's full recovery.

--Chargers defensive coordinator John Pagano on the style and energy his brother, new Colts coach Chuck Pagano, will bring to the job: "He's going to bring some unbelievable energy. The bigger thing is seeing how the players will respond to him and what he brings."

John Pagano, a former assistant in Indy under Jim Mora, sees similarities between the Colts' situation now and what he was a part of in 1998. "We had the opportunity to draft No. 1 where we took Peyton Manning," he said. "It's very similar. It's not weird, but it's surreal."

John Pagano on how his brother will approach a rebuilding project in Indy: "With him, (general manager Ryan Grigson) and Mr. Irsay, I think they're going to attack that thing full head of steam. Personnel-wise, they'll start to address that here in the next couple of weeks."

--Both members of Indianapolis' new football regime, general manager Ryan Grigson and coach Chuck Pagano, lauded the hiring of Greg Manusky as defensive coordinator, but cautioned against extrapolating any conclusions about what the addition of the veteran coach meant in terms of whether the Colts will play their longtime 4-3 front or transition to a 3-4.

Grigson and Pagano several times during separate sessions with the media this week spoke of Manusky's "flexibility" in constructing a defense. Grigson emphasized that Manusky won't attempt to "fit a square peg into a round hole."

Maybe not. But it should be pointed out that in his five previous seasons as a coordinator, at San Francisco (2007-2010) and San Diego (2011), Manusky directed a 3-4 defense, which also happens to be Pagano's principle area of expertise. In neither of the previous stops did Manusky oversee a defense that ever qualified for the playoffs or finished statistically in the top 10.

The 49ers, who ranked No. 13 under Manusky in 2010, jumped to fourth in the league under Vic Fangio in 2011. That's not to suggest Manusky, who was Pagano's second choice for the job after Pittsburgh linebackers coach Keith Butler opted to stay with the Steelers as the heir apparent to coordinator Dick LeBeau, isn't a good fit, just that his track record is what it is. Interesting, too, is that the Colts hired two coordinators, Manusky and offensive boss Bruce Arians, who were fired by their most recent teams, even though those franchises retained their head coaches.

--Colts owner Jim Irsay said the Colts will use the first pick to draft a quarterback no matter the state of Peyton Manning's health.

"With (Robert) Griffin and (Andrew) Luck and the way it's shaping up at the top of the draft, (it) could very likely go one and two like with Peyton and Ryan Leaf (1998)," Irsay said.

--Owner Jim Irsay on decision between QBs Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III for No. 1 pick: "It's most likely one of those quarterbacks that you really feel is the best player in the draft. And where we're at moving forward you can't pass that up. I don't think anyone would expect that."

--Jim Irsay invited fans via Twitter to predict Indy's next head coach for a chance to win Super Bowl tickets. Fans had one guess only and had to follow Irsay via Twitter to participate. The team is expected to announce a new coach by the end of the week.

--Former Colts coach Tony Dungy said he does not want to coach the Colts again or coach any team for that matter. "I had a great job when I was here," Dungy said recently. "But when I left, I left to do some other things. I don't see coming back in my future."

Dungy said he talked to team owner Jim Irsay about potential coaching candidates for the Colts. But Dungy did not want to divulge those names. He also talked with his friend and former assistant Jim Caldwell after the Colts fired him.

"It's going to be tough to get a coach better than (former Dungy assistant) Jim Caldwell (who was fired Tuesday)," Dungy said. "Going to the playoffs and the Super Bowl is not that easy. I wish them the best in the search."

--According to Irsay, Grigson signed a four-year deal with a team option for a fifth year. Financial terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Grigson said that he is going to take some time before diving into some of the Colts' most pressing issues, such as the fate of coach Jim Caldwell and any decisions regarding quarterback Peyton Manning.

The same goes for his immediate staff as well as the team's player personnel and scouting departments.

"I've been on teams before where guys were ran out just for the sake of running them out. I like to salvage things," Grigson said. "If there is ability, why get rid of it if it's going to help us get to where we want to go and see us through the vision of being great?"

Getting back to Indiana to work with his home-state team was a chance that he couldn't turn down.

"It's a tremendous opportunity and a once-in-a-lifetime blessing," Grigson said. "I was born in this state, raised in this state, went to college in this state and met my wife in this state.

"That says a lot about how near and dear Indiana is to me on all levels. That's comforting knowing that I'm going to be embarking on this opportunity and challenge with that as a backdrop."

Grigson has worked his way up the personnel ladder since breaking into the NFL as an area scout with the Rams in 1999. He was with St. Louis until 2003, when he left to become the director of college scouting with the Eagles.

--Colts director of player personnel Tom Telesco was one of eight finalists for the team's general manager position.

Team owner Jim Irsay said that Telesco is expected to remain in Indianapolis unless he gets an offer to be a GM for another team.

--The Colts have not renewed the contract of special teams coach Ray Rychelski, who had been with the team since 2009.

--While the Colts have the first pick in the 2012 draft, Indianapolis will not have the first pick in all seven rounds.

The NFL confirmed that since both the Colts and St. Louis both finished with identical 2-14 records, the two teams will take turns with the first pick in each round.

The Rams will go first in Round 2, and the Colts will be first in Round 3, and so on.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Fans understand that this isn't an ankle, this isn't a shoulder, this isn't something along those lines. Often times, the NFL is criticized for putting people out there and putting them at risk. I'm not going to do that. That's not the owner, that's not the integrity, that's not what I come from. This isn't about money. This isn't about any of those things. This is about health, about long-term life and all those sorts of things. And so that's a big weight on me. It's my responsibility. Any time you put a player on the field, (it) falls to that situation." -- Colts owner Jim Irsay on the tough decision concerning the team and QB Peyton Manning.

Can Colts DEs Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis make the switch from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defensive alignment under coach Chuck Pagano?

"To be able to have (Freeney and Mathis) coming off the edge, I think he would most welcome that," Pagano's brother, John, said. John Pagano is the Chargers' defensive coordinator.

Chuck Pagano doesn't believe it will be an issue.

"If Wade Phillips can go into Houston and stand up Mario Williams, with the two great pass rushers we have here, I don't see the problem," he said.

The shuffling of the Colts coaching staff continues.

After the Colts parted ways with head coach Jim Caldwell, the team dismissed offensive line coach Pete Metzelaars, receivers coach Frank Reich, assistant secondary coach Rod Perry, defensive assistant Bill Teerlinck, defensive line coach John Teerlinck, quarterback coach Ron Turner and strength/conditioning coach Jon Torine.

Secondary coach Alan Williams was named as the Vikings' new defensive coordinator. Defensive coordinator/LB coach Mike Murphy, meanwhile, announced his retirement.

The only coaches still remaining on the Colts' staff from the team's 2011 2-14 team are offensive coordinator Clyde Christensen, offensive assistant Jim Bob Cooter, assistant strength and conditioning coach Richard Howell, assistant offensive line coach Ron Prince, tight ends coach Ricky Thomas and running backs coach David Walker.

UNIT-BY-UNIT ANALYSIS

QUARTERBACK: Starter -- Peyton Manning. Backups -- Dan Orlovsky, Curtis Painter. Injured reserve -- Kerry Collins.

Until a final determination on how Manning's rehab is going from Sept. 8 neck fusion surgery, no decision will be made on his status with the team. He is a due a $28 million bonus on March 8, so something must be decided by then unless some agreement can be worked out. Orlovsky finished the year as the starter after Collins and Painter struggled. Collins is expected to retire again.

RUNNING BACKS: Starter -- RB Joseph Addai. Backups -- RB Donald Brown, RB Delone Carter, RB Darren Evans, FB Jerome Felton, FB Ryan Mahaffey. Injured reserve -- FB Chris Gronkowski.

Addai remains as the Colts' No. 1 running back despite some injury issues in 2011. Brown finally started to display some of the skills that impressed the team's scouting and coaching staff when he was Indianapolis' first-round pick in 2009. Carter was a surprise for his overall skills, and he should be a big contributor next season. The Colts made use of fullbacks to a greater degree this season with Felton, Mahaffey and Gronkowski.

TIGHT ENDS: Starter -- Dallas Clark. Backups -- Brody Eldridge, Jacob Tamme, Anthony Hill.

Clark battled injuries again in 2011 but is expected to be back as the starter next season. He missed playing time with a broken fibula and a pinched nerve in his neck. Eldridge also played hurt this year. Tamme and Hill did a nice job in fill-in roles. Tamme is a free agent.

WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters -- Reggie Wayne, Pierre Garcon. Backups -- Austin Collie, Anthony Gonzalez. Injured reserve -- Blair White.

With the quarterback situation in so much upheaval in 2011, the numbers produced by the Colts' veteran receiving corps were down from previous years. Wayne and Garcon played well when given an opportunity, as did Collie. Gonzalez rode the bench for most of the year due to injuries and the team's decision not to play him extensively.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters -- LT Anthony Castonzo, LG Mike Pollak, C Jeff Saturday, RG Ryan Diem, RT Jeff Linkenbach. Backups -- G Joe Reitz, G Jamey Richard, T Quinn Ojinnaka. Injured reserve -- G Ben Ijalana, G Seth Olsen, G Jaimie Thomas.

The Colts got good performances from Castonzo, the team's top draft pick in 2011, and Saturday this year. The rest of the offensive line play was inconsistent at best. Injuries and up-and-down play caused a revolving door at guard and right offensive tackle. Pollak, Reitz and Linkenbach may be good backups, but their roles as starters could be under review.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters -- DLE Robert Mathis, DLT Fili Moala, DRT Antonio Johnson, DRE Dwight Freeney. Backups -- DT Ricardo Mathews, DE Tyler Brayton, DE Jamaal Anderson, DE Mario Addison, DE Jerry Hughes. Injured reserve -- DT Eric Foster, DT Drake Nevis.

Mathis had an outstanding season, as did Freeney -- both of whom earned trips to the Pro Bowl this season. The Colts also got nice performances off the bench by Brayton, Anderson and Addison. Hughes continues to be a major mystery. Mathews played relatively well when given the chance. Losing Foster and Nevis to season-ending injuries hurt.

LINEBACKERS: Starters -- SLB Philip Wheeler, MLB Pat Angerer, WLB Kavell Conner. Backups -- SLB Zac Diles, SLB Kevin Bentley, MLB A.J. Edds, WLB Ernie Sims, WLB Scott Lutrus. Injured reserve -- MLB Gary Brackett.

Angerer stepped in at middle linebacker and played very well. He was among the league's tackle leaders for most of the 2011 season. Conner and Wheeler had inconsistent seasons, both struggling in pass coverage. Sims, a free agent pickup during training camp, was a big plus, and he might push for a starting job in 2012 if he's still around. Brackett hopes to be back but has missed most of the last two seasons with shoulder injuries.

DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters -- LCB Jacob Lacey, SS David Caldwell, FS Antoine Bethea, RCB Chris Rucker. Backups -- CB Kevin Thomas, CB Brandon King, CB Mike Holmes, SS Joe Lefeged, FS Jermale Hines. Injured reserve -- S Stevie Brown, S Melvin Bullitt, CB Terrence Johnson, CB Jerraud Powers.

Bethea and Powers tried to hold down the fort in the Colts' secondary, but Powers was lost for the year after suffering a dislocated elbow midseason. Bullitt, thought to be the heir apparent to Bob Sanders at strong safety, missed his second straight season with a shoulder injury. Indianapolis was forced to play young cornerbacks -- Rucker, Thomas, Johnson -- who just weren't ready for full-time use. Lacey didn't play well early in the year but rebounded late in the season.

SPECIAL TEAMS: K Adam Vinatieri, P/KOS/H Pat McAfee, KR Joe Lefeged, PR Pierre Garcon, LS Justin Snow.

With Vinatieri and McAfee, the Colts' special teams are in good hands (or feet). Vinatieri had an outstanding season handling field goals and extra points. McAfee rebounded from an off sophomore season to be one of the best punters and kickoff specialists in the league. There are still major issues in the Colts' continued efforts to find reliable punt and kickoff returners. Lefeged, an undrafted rookie, and Garcon handled those duties in 2011.