COLTS Rule!!!

[Cory]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

That sounds about right.
The only thing standing between the Colts and the Super Bowl is Pittsburgh (the Bengals aren't ready yet bu they will be killer in a year or two). No way I trust Denver with the Snake at QB.

Denver is toast if they don't get homefield, they've proven nothing other than having the innate ability to get repeatedly blown out in Indy.

[(InsrtNameHere)]

OMG! MORE LARGE FONT!!!

[santosh]

^ummm... ok.
I think this is a large blow to the Colts. I mean working that hard and getting knocked out so early. Big Ben did save the day I suppose. For some reason, I can't really see as many people watching the playoffs as usual. All throughout the season the Colts were hyped up like crazy. now that they aren't in it, I don't see as many people watching. maybe I am wrong.

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by santosh

^ummm... ok.
I think this is a large blow to the Colts. I mean working that hard and getting knocked out so early. Big Ben did save the day I suppose. For some reason, I can't really see as many people watching the playoffs as usual. All throughout the season the Colts were hyped up like crazy. now that they aren't in it, I don't see as many people watching. maybe I am wrong.

They'll still watch.

[Adam Richards]

Originally Posted by Wayne Doenges

Colts Win!!!

N.E. Pats didn't

Congratulations. Perhaps the Colts will win 3 Superbowls in 4 Years someday too.

[Koko Ed]

Suddenly football doesn't seem so important anymore....

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- The Indianapolis Colts wanted to emulate Tony Dungy's businesslike approach Thursday. But their thoughts were with their missing coach.

Hours after learning Dungy's 18-year-old son, James, was found dead in his Florida apartment, the Colts' players walked somberly into their locker room and each reflected on the shocking news in their own way. Some sat in stunned silence. A few talked with team chaplains. Others spoke in hushed tones and the normal locker room card games and video games were abandoned.

"It breaks your heart to see something like that happen to such a great person," receiver Brandon Stokley said. "We're just going to pray for him and ask everybody else to pray for him."

Colts players were informed of the death Thursday morning when owner Jim Irsay and team president Bill Polian spoke at a team meeting. Players were told Dungy had flown to Florida and would be out indefinitely. It's unlikely Dungy will coach the Colts on Saturday at Seattle. The death was an apparent suicide, according to Hillsborough County Sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter.

Irsay also addressed the team after Thursday's practice.

Assistant head coach Jim Caldwell, who also coaches quarterbacks, will take over in Dungy's absence. But as the scheduled practices and meetings continued Thursday, the players' thoughts were with their cherished leader or his family.




"Players were surprised and upset emotionally about it," two-time MVP Peyton Manning said. "Everybody said a team prayer for coach Dungy and his family. It's laying on the hearts of all the players here today."

It wasn't just the Colts whose thoughts were with Dungy.

Thoughts and condolences came from former players, old coaching buddies, even Tampa mayor Pam Iorio, who asked for a moment of silence before a park dedication. Dungy's first head coaching job was with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and he still has a home there.

A few fans left flowers and mementoes in a tribute outside the RCA Dome, prompting the Colts to issue a request that flowers be sent to Northside New Era Baptist Church in Indianapolis.

Polian's voice even cracked and his hands trembled as he answered questions during a 15-minute news conference at the team's practice facility.

"We have the greatest role model there is in Tony Dungy," Polian said. "And as Jim said to the team this morning, we'll emulate our leader."

From Dungy's standpoint, that means getting back to football and moving forward.

"He's an amazing individual with great strength and integrity, even in the toughest times," Caldwell said after Thursday's practice. "He told us to carry on as usual."




Stokley, whose infant son was seriously ill with bacterial meningitis in January 2004, said football can help provide a respite. Linebacker Gary Brackett, who had three relatives -- his mother, father and a brother -- die in an 16-month span beginning in late 2003, agreed.

And, perhaps, they suggested, that's the environment the Colts need right now.

"Any time you're on the field, it's a place you can run around free and not think of all the outside influences," Brackett said. "It helps."

Dungy was in the midst of his best season as a coach. He won his 100th career game in October, wrapped up home-field advantage for the first time in 10 seasons as a head coach and helped lead the Colts to a 13-0 mark, becoming the fourth team in league history to achieve that feat before they lost 26-17 Sunday to San Diego.

One day earlier, the locker room was abuzz with the news that the Colts had put seven players on the AFC's Pro Bowl team -- the most by the franchise since 1971.

On Thursday, the death hit hard, especially for players who have children.

"It's an extremely sad day and an extremely sad time," center Jeff Saturday said. "We want to handle ourselves in the way Coach wants us to."

The message Dungy left for his players was to persevere.

He wants the Colts to regain their momentum before the playoffs start, and he believes in Caldwell's ability to guide the Colts. Caldwell was a former head coach at Wake Forest.

The Colts intend to follow the plan -- as difficult as that may now seem.

"It has to go on, and coach Dungy has done a great job," linebacker David Thornton said. "Coach Dungy wants us to practice hard, stay focused and get a win. This will be a true test for a championship team, it will show you our character and how we react to adversity. And we're all thinking of coach Dungy."

It was the third death in Dungy's immediate family in three years. His mother, Cleomae, died in January 2002. His father, Wilbur, died in June 2004.



It's particularly difficult losing someone during the Holiday season (I lost my grandma years ago before CHristmas. A guy back into her after she left the post office in West Medford. Christmas was gloomy that year and hasn't been the smae since Nana has been gone).



May God bless the Dungy's in their time of loss.

[Koko Ed]

Well lets see how much of a champion lies within the hearts of the Colts down 14-3 and physically dominated in the first half of the game.

[Koko Ed]

OK.
After that fumble can anyone think the Colts aren't a team of destiny?
Man that's unbelivable.

[Travis Hoffman]

Of all the teams the Colts had to gag on, they had to do it against the STEELERS?!?!?!?! And I can't stand Denver either. Gah, go NFC.

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

OK.
After that fumble can anyone think the Colts aren't a team of destiny?
Man that's unbelivable.

Uhhhhhh, strike that.

[Lil' Lavery]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

Uhhhhhh, strike that.

I think that best sums it up

Seeing as the colts and redskins have been knocked out, I'm happy.
Go whoever!

[gizmoman1089]

yeah the colts rule....except the fact that they just got owned

[Koko Ed]

Heh.

[Tuba4]

I've got a feelin', Pittsburgh's goin' to da Super Bowl. Oh wait a minute!! They are going to the Super Bowl and the Colts and Broncos are NOT!!!! I heard a discussion on ESPN radio today about the Steelers fans traveling to support their team. The commentators (Mike and Mike in the Morning) were saying how the Steelers have one of the largest national fan followings of all the NFL teams. I do know that when the Steelers played the Bills, Browns or Bengals away in past years, Steeler fans often out numbered the home team fans!!

PS - The Steelers are certainly capable of doing to the Seahawks what they did to the Bungles (a Myron Cope-ism for you true Steeler fans ), Colts and Broncos.

Beware the Hair!! - Troy Polamalu rocks!

[Travis Hoffman]

Originally Posted by Tuba4

I do know that when the Steelers played the Bills, Browns or Bengals away in past years, Steeler fans often out numbered the home team fans!!

Maybe at the end of the game.

Leftover bandwagoners from the 70's, clinging to the hope that Bill Cowher can actually win something meaningful.

I truly hope Seattle plays as well as they did in destroying the Panthers.