Ready the Panic Button!

            This might be the most dreadful and depressing sentence I have ever had to write: Peyton Manning may not start in the first game of the season next Sunday. It was announced late Sunday night/Monday morning that Peyton has started to feel soreness in his back. Since then every news outlet in America has reported the story and it seems like every story is a little different.

             

            This is what’s known. Manning began suffering back pain and has been deemed “questionable” to start on Sunday. He did not practice today and will not the rest of the week.  The soreness was thought to be due to the rehabilitation process but it is not. Team doctors ran tests and released this statement, “As of now, Peyton continues to deal with a complicated neurological recovery, the end date of which is unpredictable…It serves no useful purpose to speculate about hypothetical outcomes. When and if there are concrete medical facts to report we will do so.’’

             

            One of the rumors flying around is that Peyton will need another surgery sometime soon. There is also talk that the injury could be way more serious that anybody thinks and could end Peyton’s career. These are just rumors so don’t put much stock into them yet. To top that off the rumors began on Twitter. What a shocker!

           

            In answer to the rumor of Manning needing surgery, Colts president Bill Polian said this: “I don't know anything about that. I honestly don't."

           

            

            We will all learn very soon if Manning will keep his 208-straight career starts streak going or if he will have to miss the game on Sunday against the Texans. The mood around Indy is pretty somber. Everybody is preparing for the apocalyptic news that Peyton Manning will not play. Then everybody is worrying about who will start if Manning can’t. Well I have trust in Curtis Painter that he can do the job. Better so than Kerry Collins.

            

            As soon as any new information is released I will post it on this story, so check back for updates.

Quarterback news!

            There was big news for two Indiana teams and their QB situation. On Wednesday, the Indianapolis Colts finally signed a veteran quarterback out of retirement to back up Peyton Manning. The catch is his name isn’t Brett Favre. Instead, the Colts picked up Kerry Collins.

-The news of this signing was actually announced on Twitter by Colts owner, Jim Irsay. This comes less than 24 hours of me writing “Twitter should never be used as a valid source”. Thanks for proving me wrong Irsay!

            
            The 38-year old Collins has played in the NFL for 17 years for five different teams. He was actually drafted by current Colts president, Bill Polian in 1995 when Polian controlled the Carolina Panthers. Collins has a total of 206 career touchdown passes (Manning has 399) and 40,441 yards (Manning has 54,828).

            
            Some see this move as an indication that Manning will miss significant time at the beginning of the season, others see it as an insurance move. I tend to believe that this is more of an insurance move. I like to believe that Manning will be ready to go 100% once the regular season starts Sept. 11. There is a chance though that he could further injure his neck so signing a veteran like Collins is a good move.

            
            With Collins in, current back up Curtis Painter may be on his way out. I’m crossing my fingers!

           

            
            In other NFL news, the Oakland Raiders picked up former Ohio State player, Terrelle Pryor. This is just another fantastic move by the geniuses in Oakland. The Denver Broncos named Kyle Orton their starter. This means that neither Tim Tebow nor Brady Quinn (my favorite Notre Dame quarterback) will be starting. The Carolina Panthers also named their starter. That will be the 2011 No. 1 draft pick, Cam Newton. This forces former Irish QB Jimmy Clausen to the bench. It’s not a good time to be a Notre Dame quarterback.
 -How awesome would have it been to see the Colts make a move for Clausen or Quinn? I know Quinn has what it takes to be a great QB if he was given a chance.

           

            
            This brings me to the disappointing news I found out on Wednesday as well (not via Twitter). The starting quarterback for the 2011 Notre Dame Fighting Irish will be Dayne Crist. Crist and Tommy Rees had been battling since spring to determine who would be the starter. I guess Crist won the battle.

            
            I have been preaching and teaching and preaching some more that Rees is the man for the job. I have been arguing on ESPN, blogs, Facebook, and Xbox Live! When Crist leads the Irish to another 3-3 start, just remember I was right.

2011 Colts Training Camp

            Training camps for NFL teams are open, and preseason football is right around the corner. The Indianapolis Colts have been at Anderson University since Sunday and are getting ready for the regular season. The biggest news coming out of camp this past week has been punter Pat McAfee nailing field goals from 75-yards away. Yes, this is what training camp is all about!

            
            Off the field the Colts have been signing veteran players and free agents. The signing of Peyton Manning led to the signing of Joseph Addai, Ryan Diem, and Antonio Johnson. Indy also signed free agents linebacker Ernie Sims, defensive end Jamaal Anderson, and defensive tackle Tommie Harris. I was taken aback by these pickups, as the Colts very rarely big name players. Team President, Bill Polian, explained that the three new players all played in the same defensive scheme that the Colts use, the Cover 2.

            
            The Colts start pre-season games on August 13^th, against the St. Louis Rams. They play at Lucas Oil Stadium against the Washington Redskins on August 19^th and on August 26^th they play the Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers. Finally, they finish September 1 in Cincinnati for the I-74 Rivalry.