INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Playing without a true quarterback in 2011 Colts’ wide receiver Reggie Wayne only mustered 75 receptions for 960 yards, his lowest output since 2003.  It broke a span of five straight seasons in which Wayne has tallied at least 1,145 yards receiving. The most impressive number he’s produced though may be the fact he’s started in all 16 games for Indy in each of the last nine seasons.

SCHEDULE
Indianapolis ranks dead in the middle on strength of schedule, but for a young team there are no easy opponents. Opening at Chicago isn’t a great scenario, but home matchups against Minnesota and Jacksonville followed by a bye week is a nice way for Luck and company to ease into things. Going against the Texans twice, the AFC East, and NFC North wasn’t the best of draws though.

STUD
The Colts lack a true fantasy stud, but Donald Brown has the best chance of anybody to come close to that this season. The multi-talented running back is capable of hitting the holes and breaking long plays and is a threat catching the ball out of the backfield. After showing doses of brilliance in 2011, he’s going to get most of the looks with Joseph Addai out of the mix and is providing great RB2 value in the middle rounds of drafts.

DUD
Had I written this preview a month ago I would have had Austin Collie under my sleeper category for sure as he was really developing nicely in the Colts’ new offense, but then the preseason concussion came. It is his fourth one. Though he’s insisting that he’s going to make back onto the football field soon, I’m not holding my breath. Avoid him altogether.

SLEEPER
Though I can’t endorse rookie Coby Fleener as reliable TE1 option right out of the gate, I am a bit enamored by his upside. He possesses great skill sets to be successful in this league and you can’t replace the time he’s had and the chemistry he has developed playing with Andrew Luck, his former teammate at Stanford.

NEW ADDITION
After an amazing decade plus run the Colts had with Peyton Manning, they now have the good fortune to replace him Andrew Luck as their starting quarterback. He may be the best QB to come out of college since Manning. Luck is ready to produce right now and he is going to fare better than most on banking on out of the gate. Look for plenty of garbage time points and near QB1 numbers in 2012.

POSITION BATTLE
Though I expect Brown to see the bulk of the workload it’s going to be interesting to see how Vick Ballard, Mewelde Moore and Delone Carter work into the mix. Expect Ballard to be used in short-yardage and perhaps goalline situations where Moore will be utilized more as a change-of-pace, third-down type of runner.

BENCH BUILDER
Donnie Avery isn’t a great talent, but Collie’s concussions flaring up and the team so thin at the position he could sneak into a WR2 role to start the season. He isn’t worth drafting in most leagues, but in deeper formats where a fifth or sixth receiver and beyond are placed on your roster he has some upside.

Fantasy Football, NFL 2012 nfl preview, indianapolis colts, reggie wayne, donald brown, austin collie, coby fleener, andrew luck, donnie avery

The 2012 NFL Draft is in the books and now it's time to hand out some report cards...

FOXSports.com
Good Grades: Steelers (A+), Bengals (A), Patriots (A), Rams (A), Colts (A-), Redskins (A-)
Bad Grades: Saints (D), Raiders (D)

SportingNews.com
Good Grades: Bengals (A+), Cowboys (A+), Patriots (A), Packers (A), Steelers (A-), Ravens (A-)
Bad Grades: Seahawks (D), Raiders (D), Saints (C-), Jaguars (C-)

CBSSports.com
Good Grades: Bengals (A+), Colts (A), Steelers (A)
Bad Grades: Saints (F), Raiders (D), Browns (C-), 49ers (C-)

Rotoworld.com
Good Grades: Colts (A+), Bengals (A), Steelers (A), Bucs (A), Packers (A-), Redskins (A-)
Bad Grades: Jaguars (D), Raiders (D), Saints (D)

SI.com
Good Grades: Bengals (A+), Vikings (A), Chargers (A), Panthers (A-), Colts (A-), Eagles (A-), Steelers (A-)
Bad Grades: Broncos (D), 49ers (D), Saints (D+), Jets (D+)

FFToolbox.com
Good Grades: Bengals (A), Rams (A), Eagles (A), Dolphins (A)
Bad Grades: Seahawks (F), Saints (F), 49ers (F), Raiders (F)

Tampa Tribune
Good Grades: Bengals (A), Vikings (A-), Colts (A-)
Bad Grades: Jets (F), Raiders (F), Broncos (D), Saints (D), Falcons (D), Seahawks (D)

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In an announcement that came as little surprise, Colts’ quarterback Peyton Manning said good bye to the fans he loved on Tuesday in an emotional press conference as the team released the 14-year veteran one day before he was due a $28 million roster bonus.

In what a classy and sincere move by Manning and team owner Jim Irsay addressed the media to inform everyone of their decision.

Just two years removed from their last playoff appearance, the Colts hit rock bottom when Manning was sidelined for the entire 2011 season due a neck injury that required three surgeries.

The team lost its first 13 games and finished the year 2-14, earning them the top pick in the NFL. With salary cap restrictions and the team going into serious rebuild mode the organization was left with the decision to keep the aging quarterback entering his twilight or take the Next potential Petyon Manning in the highly-touted Andrew Luck.

The decision made was the right one for both parties.  The Colts will get their next franchise quarterback to hand the keys to the offense for the next 10 or 12 years and Manning will get one last shot at a second Super Bowl ring.

Now the future Hall of Famer hits the open market. There should be a long line of suitors with as many as 2/3 of the league likely to at least make an exploratory call.

Here are the teams that make the most sense to me based off need, ability to add him to roster and playoff expectations: 49ers , Texans , Dolphins, Jets , Cardinals, Seahawks Redskins.

Fantasy Football, NFL indianapolis colts, peyton manning, jim irsay

The NFL on Monday announced the order in which the 20 non-playoff teams will pick in the first round of next year’s draft — first through 20th, according to the reverse order of their standing.

1. Indianapolis Colts

2. St. Louis Rams

3. Minnesota Vikings

4. Cleveland Browns

5. Tampa Bay Bucs

6. Washington Redskins

7. Jacksonville Jaguars

8. Carolina Panthers

9. Miami Dolphins

10. Buffalo Bills

11. Kansas City Chiefs

12. Seattle Seahawks

13. Arizona Cardinals

14. Dallas Cowboys

15. Philadelphia Eagles

16. New York Jets

17. Oakland Raiders

18. San Diego Chargers

19. Chicago Bears

20. Tennessee Titans

The playoff teams will draft according to these criteria, the league said:

•The winner of the Super Bowl will select last, and the Super Bowl loser next-to-last, regardless of regular-season record.
•The AFC and NFC championship game participants not advancing to the Super Bowl will select 29th and 30th, according to the reverse order of their standing.
•The divisional playoff participants not advancing to the championship games will select 25th through 28th, according to the reverse order of their standing.
•The wild-card participants not advancing to the Divisional Playoffs will select 21st through 24th, according to the reverse order of their standing.

PROJECTED TOP 20 PICKS (SportingNews.com)

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Entering 2009 there was plenty of fantasy buzz swirling around Colts’ rookie running back Donald Brown. The team invested a first-round pick on him and with questions surrounding Joseph Addai many owners invested heavily in Brown, spending an early mid-round pick on him.

Addai spoiled the fun turning in a very respectable season, amassing 1,164 total yards and 13 total touchdowns. In addition, a shoulder injury cost Brown five games and limited him for even more.

This year look for owners to go hard after Addai as he should command a second-to-fourth round pick in most leagues, and rightfully so.

However, Brown could provide great value in later rounds. Expect him to play a much larger part and with Addai in a contract year, the second-year runner is more likely the long-term option.

Touches will be the key to success, but if something happens to where Addai struggles or gets hurt look for Brown to emerge.

Even with a healthy Addai, Brown could produce good enough numbers to be a trusty flex play in larger leagues.

He’ll likely be around in the mid-rounds come draft night and will deliver more upside than most taken at that point of the draft. His value goes up even higher in keeper formats.

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JONES SET TO BE RELEASED
In a move that comes as no surprise, the New York Jets will release veteran running back Thomas Jones on Friday. Jones was due a $2 million roster bonus and with Shonn Greene waiting in the wings the soon-to-be 32-year old became expendable...MORE

MCNABB ON THE MOVE?
Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb has the topic of plenty of off-season trade rumors. The latest has the veteran signal caller landing in St. Louis. According St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist Bryan Burwell, the Rams have had "intense internal conversations" about a possible trade for McNabb…MORE

BOLDIN OFFICIALLY ON MARKET
Arizona Cardinals’ general manager Rod Graves has confirmed that the team is listening to all offers for disgruntled wide receiver Anquan Boldin. Though nothing appears imminent, the former Pro Bowl wideout could be shopped around heavily between now and April’s draft…MORE

MANNING EYEING RECORD DEAL
Colts’ quarterback Peyton Manning is nearing the final year of his deal and Yahoo.com speculates that as the team works towards a new deal this off-season that the future Hall of Famer could command $25 to $30 million per season…MORE

RYAN-THOMAS REUNION?
If the New England Patriots decide to cut outside linebacker Adalius Thomas, then he probably won't have to wait long to find employment. A call to his previous defensive coordinator should be all it takes. He spent seven years with the Baltimore Ravens and played under Rex Ryan, now the New York Jets' head coach…MORE

PLENTY OF INTEREST IN DANSBY
There are reportedly over a dozen teams that could be interested in pursuing Cardinals’ pending free-agent linebacker Karlos Dansby. The Giants, Redskins, Bears and Dolphins are among the teams showing interest, according to the Palm Beach Post…MORE

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Some final thoughts from the Saints' Super Bowl XLIV win over the Colts...

*BALLS OF SOLID STEAL - I like aggressive coaches. It can back fire when it doesn't work out. Just ask Bill Belichick about his gutsy 4th down call against the Colts earlier this season. But even after failing to convert on the goalline play at the end of the first half, Sean Payton opted to start out with the second half with an onside kick. The Saints recovered and went on to score a touchdown.

*COOL BREEZE - Saints' quarterback Drew Brees was amazing. After a rocky start, Brees would finish the game by tying a Super Bowl record with 33 receptions. He handled the pressure well, made few mistakes and was simply amazing once he found his groove.

*MANNING IS JUST A MAN - There's no arguing Peyton Manning's greatness, but people need to realize that he is not Superman. It doesn't take Kryptonite to shut him down. The Saints certainly didn't shut him down, but they did contain him and they were able to come up with the big turnover, a trait that defined their unit.

*THE FREENEY FACTOR - Thank god I don't have to hear anymore about Dwight Freeney's ankle. He did play and was productive in the first half, but as the game wore on he wore down. By the fourth quarter he was inffective, aiding the Saints' comeback.

*KICKING IN THE CLUTCH - It was refreshing to see Garrett Hartley actually deliver in the clutch. After watching Shayne Graham, Nate Kaeding and Neil Rackers all choke with the game on the line it is nice to see their are kickers out there that can still deliver when it counts most.

*OVER OVER QUICKLY - The over/under on the game was 57 points. I admit I expected it to hit myself. However after the game was 10-6 at the half it was pretty obvious the game wasn't going to turn into the best shootout in Super Bowl history as many speculated it would become.

*GAME'S PLACE IN HISTORY - The Super Bowl was a good game overall, but the early-game sputtering failed to deliver on the hype. It will probably rank somewhere in the middle as far as best super bowls ever. It had nothing on the Steelers over Cards or the Giants-Patriots' match-ups.

*MY TOP 5 COMMERCIALS - #1 Dorito's - "Keep Your Hands Off My Mama"; #2 Snicker's - "Betty White; #3 Boost Mobile - "'85 Bears"; #4 Volkswagen "Punch Buggy w/Stevie Wonder"; #5 HomeAway.com "With the Griswalds,

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PEYTON MANNING – Duh! It’s no secret that the Colts have the best quarterback on the planet. Manning’s ability to coach on the field and exploit opponents with his quick decision making abilities and cannon arm is unprecedented. Betting against him on a big stage isn’t very bright.

DEPTH AT RECEIVER – Not only do the Colts’ posses the game’s top receiving tight end in Dallas Clark, but youngsters Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie have proved to be capable complements at receiver to Pro Bowl wideout Reggie Wayne.

CLOSING OUT GAMES – All year long even when their backs were to the wall, Indianapolis found a way to win ball games. They don’t always dominate opponents, but no team in football finds more ways to win than the Colts.

SHORT YARDAGE SUCCESS – Despite not having a dominant running game, Indy is clutch in short-yardage situations on both sides of the ball. Joseph Addai is good at hitting holes and Manning has the ability to audible and find an open receiver quickly. On defense, the Colts have the muscle up front to clog up holes.

BEEN THERE DONE THAT – Many of the players on this year’s edition of the Colts were part of the Super Bowl champions just a few years ago. That experience, coupled with their professional attitude and approach, will pay dividends against an inexperienced Saints’ team.

NFL super bowl, indianapolis colts, peyton mannng, dallas clark, reggie wayne, joseph addai

from the Indianapolis Star...

The principal at Maurepas (La.) High School had told students that the dress code would be lifted Friday for a black-and-gold day, the colors of the Saints. Brandon Frost figured it was only fair for him to wear a Colts jersey.

"I wasn't trying to anger them," Brandon said. "I just wanted to express myself."

But he hadn't made it through first period before the principal pulled him out of class and told him he wasn't allowed to wear a Colts jersey on Saints Day.

Brandon explained that he thought that wasn't fair, he said, and told the principal that his father had said to just come home if the school hassled him.

COMPLETE ARTICLE

Just For Fun, NFL indianapolis colts, new orleans saints, colts jersey, brandon frost, maurepas high school

The first major storyline of the Super Bowl has developed as the Colts' top defensive lineman, Dwight Freeney, is listed questionable for Sunday's big game due to ankle injury.

Freeney did not practice last week and arrived in South Florida on Friday to maximize his treatment.

The veteran was named to his fifth Pro Bowl, but was not at the stadium Sunday night.

SI.com's Peter King surveyed some players at the Pro Bowl to determine the impact Freeney's absence would have on the game:

"This is huge for the Saints if he can't play,'' Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis said. "Freeney's one of the biggest difference-makers in the league.''

Maurice Jones-Drew, the Jacksonville running back, had the most insightful explanation about what the loss of Freeney would mean. Jones-Drew has often had to stay in to chip-block either Freeney or his bookend impact defensive end, Robert Mathis. "The difference with both Mathis and Freeney playing,'' Jones-Drew said, "is that the Saints will almost always have to keep an extra guy in to block. That means one less guy in the passing game for Drew Brees. You know how much they like to send multiple receivers out."

NFL super bowl, indianapolis colts, dwight freeney