Preseason Hard to Gauge

After eight seasons, theres one thing Peyton Manning knows absolutely certainly about preseason. Thats that theres very little you can absolutely know.

Manning, the Colts quarterback, said Tuesday the reality is that its very hard to gauge exactly where a team is during the preseason. A veteran player or a coach can get a feeling about how things are going to be when the regular season comes around, but its really that, Manning said: A feeling. A guess. The real judging can begin in two weeks, Manning said.

You try to have an idea, Manning said Tuesday afternoon as the Colts (0-2 in the preseason) began preparing to play the New Orleans Saints (1-1) in Jackson, Miss., Saturday at 7 p.m.

Technorati Tag(s): Colts, Peyton Manning

Jahmile Addae Hospitalized

Colts safety Jahmile Addae became ill during practice and was taken to a hospital, where he was expected to undergo tests.

Addae, gave the Colts a scare when he became lightheaded. By the afternoon, coach Tony Dungy said Addae was feeling better and his vital signs had returned to normal.

"We're not sure what it was," Dungy said. "We don't think it was a blow to the head, and it doesn't appear of the cardiac nature, either."

Heat was not believed to be a factor, Dungy said. The morning temperature was 76 degrees and the humidity level was 52 percent -- far lower than the triple-digit heat index during the first three days of camp at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.

Technorati Tag(s): Colts, Jahmile Addae, Fottball Betting

Vinatieri Missed Practice

Kicker Adam Vinatieri, the Indianapolis Colts' biggest offseason acquisition, missed practice with a sprained ankle.

Coach Tony Dungy said Vinatieri hurt his ankle while running, the same day the Colts cut Shane Andrus, the only other kicker on the roster.

"He did it in conditioning, and he's day-to-day," Dungy said.

Indianapolis signed Vinatieri, considered the NFL's best clutch kicker, to a five-year contract in March to replace Mike Vanderjagt. Vinatieri had two Super Bowl-winning field goals with New England.

Technorati Tag(s): Indianapolis Colts, Adam Vinatieri

Colts Coming Together

Two weeks into training camp, defensive end Dwight Freeney returned to workouts after missing four practices with a sore shoulder, and safety Bob Sanders made his first appearance a day earlier.

The Colts still had no word, however, on the seriousness of an ankle injury wide receiver Brandon Stokley or whether defensive tackle Corey Simon will need surgery on his ailing left knee.

Freeney, a three-time Pro Bowler who had 11 sacks last season, was optimistic after practice Aug. 14.

Technorati Tag(s): Dwight Freeney, Brandon Stokley, Bob Sanders

Freeney Out Aug. 10

Dwight Freeney will be one of six Indianapolis defensive starters sitting out the Aug. 10 preseason opener at St. Louis.

Freeney missed his second successive morning practice, and afterward coach Tony Dungy announced the Colts' three-time Pro Bowl defensive end would be kept out of the Rams' game for precautionary reasons.

Dungy said Freeney's shoulder, which forced him to sit out the morning session Aug. 8 and skip the final team scrimmage in the afternoon, was too sore.

"It's a precautionary thing," Dungy said. "He's not feeling well, he's not 100 percent."

Dungy hasn't said which shoulder Freeney hurt or whether it was the same shoulder that required minor surgery last year. Freeney declined interview requests Aug. 8 and was not available today.

By sitting out, Freeney would have three days to rest before the Colts return to practice Aug. 12. The Colts are scheduled to take Aug. 11 off.

Freeney certainly won't be lonely, though. The Colts issued a list of 14 players who are not expected to play against the Rams, and Freeney's name wasn't even on it.

Technorati Tag(s): Dwight Freeney, Colts

Freeney Sore Shoulder

Three-time Pro Bowl selection Dwight Freeney joined the Indianapolis Colts ' rapidly expanding injury list, missing the morning practice after complaining of a sore shoulder.

Colts coach Tony Dungy said Freeney, the 2004 NFL sacks leader, was held out for precautionary reasons and was expected to have an MRI. Dungy downplayed the severity of the injury, calling it a strain that occurred over time rather than something that could be pinpointed to a single play or hit.

"It's something that's been bothering him, and it's our sense that he will be fine," Dungy said. "We just want to get it checked out. If it was a regular-season game, I'm sure he'd be out here practicing and playing."

Dungy was uncertain which shoulder Freeney hurt or whether it was the one that required minor surgery last year.

The mounting injuries, however, have forced Dungy and the Colts to make changes.