Colts agree to terms with QB Collins while Manning rehabs

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Colts are bringing one veteran quarterback out of retirement.

No, not Brett Favre.

The team agreed to terms Wednesday with Kerry Collins, making him the likely starter in case Peyton Manning hasn't completely recovered from offseason neck surgery when the season opens Sept. 11.

Collins said he has been given no indication that Manning won't play at Houston.

Wyche: Collins more than insurance

"Hopefully, Peyton will be back, but if he's not, maybe I can be one of the guys that can help this ballclub," Collins said in a conference call with reporters Wednesday night. "The biggest draw for me coming here was just being with a team that I have a lot of respect for and a lot of history with, and really to be with a great team and play with one of greatest quarterbacks of all time."

Collins agreed to a one-year contract and acknowledged he could be talked into staying longer than 2011.

But not everyone in the Colts' locker room was enamored with the move.

"We don't even know him, we ain't vanilla, man, we ain't no simple offense," wide receiver Reggie Wayne said. "So for him to come in here and be the starter, I don't see it. I think that's a step back."

Collins acknowledged that learning the Colts' offense in such a short time is his biggest challenge in joining the team.

"It's going to be like a foreign language," Collins said. "The concepts may be the same, but they call it something completely different. So that's going to be a challenge, and that's why I need bust my tail, get in the classroom and hopefully I can get to the point where I can get out there and operate the offense efficiently."

Colts coach Jim Caldwell wasn't available to talk with reporters about Collins, but he struck a calm tone in a statement released by the team.

"He is a veteran quarterback who has started many games and he brings dimension and depth to the quarterback position, which will be helpful," Caldwell said. "He is familiar with our division and will make a great addition to our roster."

Yet the move is another indication that Manning's streak of 227 consecutive starts, including playoff games, is in serious jeopardy.

Manning had surgery May 23 to repair a nerve in his neck, and the recovery has gone slower than expected partially, Manning said, because he couldn't work out with team trainers during the 4½-month lockout.

Colts owner Jim Irsay wrote Saturday morning on Twitter that the Colts had to be prepared to play without Manning in the opener against the AFC South rival Texans. Later that day, Manning acknowledged he didn't expect to play in the final two preseason games and that he would need the next two weeks just to get healthy.

Caldwell hasn't said when he expects Manning to return to the field after the quarterback signed a five-year, $90 million contract to stay in Indianapolis last month.

"I think he laid out pretty well where he is, and that he is working extremely hard to try and get back as quickly as he possibly can," Caldwell said Monday. "He's going to work hard at trying to get back and get ready, and he's doing everything he can to do so."

And if he's not ready? Well, there's Collins, who has played in 195 career games with the Tennessee Titans, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, Oakland Raiders and Carolina Panthers before retiring in July.

Collins has a career 55.8 completion percentage and has thrown for 40,441 yards, 206 touchdowns and 195 interceptions. As the starter, Collins has led his team to the playoffs four times, including a Super Bowl appearance with the Giants in the 2000 season.

Wayne, a five-time Pro Bowl pick and one of Manning's favorite targets, has supported backup Curtis Painter. And while he called Collins "a great guy," he said he was worried about the Colts improving.

"Who says Kerry's going to be the starter?" Wayne said. "Just because we bring him in doesn't mean he's the starter. He's got to learn too, right? Unless they gave him a playbook months ago, he's got to learn, too.

"I don't care who you are, I mean I'm not going to let anyone just come in here and just push someone (like Painter) aside like you're that dog now, you know what I mean?" Wayne added.

Painter has started both preseason games this year, completing 8 of 16 passes for 95 yards with no touchdowns and one interception. In Friday night's 16-3 loss to the Washington Redskins, Painter managed only one first down and couldn't get the offense past its 29-yard line despite playing the entire first half.

Painter hasn't played in a regular-season game since 2009. Another backup, Dan Orlovsky, has played in 13 games in six NFL seasons, and the other quarterback on the roster is undrafted rookie Mike Hartline.

Michael Conroy / Associated PressKerry Collins started slow in his previous two stops.Collins' first three starts with last two teams

For his part, Painter doesn't expect it to take Collins long to get up to speed.

"He's a veteran guy, been around a while. I'm sure the terminology across the league isn't too different," Painter said. "I expect he'll come in and pick it up quite well."

The good news is that Collins already has some familiarity with the Colts' brain trust.

Colts vice chairman Bill Polian took Collins in the first round of the 1995 draft, No. 5 overall, when he was in charge of the Panthers. And Caldwell was Penn State's passing game coordinator from 1988 to 1992, during part of Collins' college career.

Still, two huge questions remain.

How quickly can the 16-year veteran get up to speed in the offense, which has traditionally relied on calls at the line of scrimmage? And did Collins rediscover his passion for the game in the past seven weeks?

"I have decided that while my desire to compete on Sundays is still and always will be there, my willingness to commit to the preparation necessary to play another season has waned to a level that I feel is no longer adequate to meet the demands of the position," Collins said in announcing his retirement July 7.

Two weeks later, Collins said he had even considered retiring at the end of last season.

Irsay had tweeted to ask for suggestions about signing a veteran free agent and on Sunday said he was in Hattiesburg, Miss., stirring speculation that he might be trying to lure Favre out of retirement (again). Instead, it was Collins.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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Colts pay their man: Manning agrees to five-year, $90M pact

Peyton Manning has a new long-term deal in time to report to training camp, but he hasn't been cleared to practice.

Nonetheless, Colts owner Jim Irsay said Saturday that he was "thrilled" to give the only four-time MVP in league history a deal that likely will keep him in Indianapolis for the rest of his career.

Brooks: Manning puts his team first

Manning agreed to a five-year, $90 million deal that, according to Irsay, will pay his quarterback $69 million during the first three years.

Irsay described the contract as "cap friendly" on his Twitter page, and sources told NFL Network insider Michael Lombardi that the owner assured Manning that the Colts would be aggressive in free agency.

"Signing Peyton was a top priority for this organization and we are thrilled that the deal is complete," Irsay said in a statement released by the team Saturday. "We feel that it is a salary-cap friendly deal and it allows us more flexibility."

Irsay and Colts president Bill Polian are scheduled to discuss Manning's contract at a Sunday afternoon news conference.

The deal comes nearly five months after the team used the exclusive franchise tag to prevent Manning from negotiating with any other teams. Had Manning signed the one-year offer, he would have made $23.1 million this season.

By having the long-term deal done, Manning's salary-cap number will be reduced, allowing the team to sign more of its own free agents. The Colts already have re-signed two key veterans -- safety Melvin Bullitt and kicker Adam Vinatieri -- this week. They also lost linebacker Clint Session to the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency.

Other key players the Colts are trying to work out deals with include running back Joseph Addai and left tackle Charlie Johnson. They still haven't signed first-round pick Anthony Castonzo.

The Colts report to training camp Sunday at Anderson University, about 40 miles northeast of Indianapolis. Colts coach Jim Caldwell said Friday he expected Manning to be at camp if he was signed.

However, Manning will not practice because he's continuing to rehabilitate from neck surgery he had in May. It was the second time since March 2010 that he had neck surgery.

The Colts announced Saturday that it will put the quarterback on the physically unable to perform list, preventing him from practicing until he is removed from it. Because it is the preseason, he could be removed from the list at any time and return to practice.

"There is every medical indication that he is progressing steadily," team neurosurgeon Dr. Hank Feuer said in a statement. "While he looks fine, he still has some rehabilitation to go. Recovery from disc surgery is unpredictable and it is not a medical concern that he is not ready at this time."

Manning has started all 227 regular-season and playoff games in his 14-year career, and the Colts repeatedly have said they expect the quarterback to be ready to start in the season opener against the Houston Texans.

Manning has completed 64.9 percent of his passes in his career, throwing for nearly 55,000 yards and 399 touchdowns. He has led the Colts to the playoffs 12 times, reaching two Super Bowls and winning one.

But as the contract negotiations dragged, Manning became more irritated with the pace.

On Friday night, Manning told The Indianapolis Star that he had instructed agent Tom Condon to complete the deal by Sunday at the latest.

And after months of Irsay promising to make Manning the highest-paid player in league history, surpassing the annual average salary of $18 million that Tom Brady agreed to in September, the quarterback said he didn't have to own that title.

On Saturday, the two sides finally came to terms on a deal that will continue to make Manning the highest-paid player in franchise with a caveat -- that the team can hopefully keep some of his teammates under contract, too.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Manning 'willing to take less' money to do deal, assist Colts

The Indianapolis Colts have made it known that they want to make Peyton Manning the NFL's highest-paid player when they complete a new contract with him. However, the quarterback is more concerned about winning than being atop the NFL's salary food chain.

"While I appreciate (Colts owner) Jim Irsay offering to make me the highest-paid player," Manning told The Indianapolis Star on Friday. "I told him I'd rather he save that money and keep whoever it is ... (running back) Joe Addai, (left tackle) Charlie Johnson, whoever that may be.

"I'm willing to take less than they've offered if they are going to take that money to keep players we need to keep and go get other players. All I want is for them to have the cap and the cash to keep the players they want to keep and to sign other players."

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady currently is the highest-paid player after agreeing to a record annual average salary of $18 million ($72 million over four years) in September.

At this point, Manning wants to end the speculation about any demands he might have and get a deal done.

"Today, tomorrow, definitely by Sunday," Manning said of when he wants to complete the contract.

Irsay has promised to make Manning the highest-paid player in league history, but even he acknowledges that's a very high price with a salary cap slated at $120.3 million. The Colts hope that by lowering Manning's salary-cap number, they will be able to sign more of their free agents.

"We've been in a lockout, and when you think about that, it's very difficult to get that (Manning's deal) done in two, three days," Colts coach Jim Caldwell said. "It's going to take a couple days, and it will be done at some point in time. When it is, we'll be ready to go."

In February, the Colts tagged Manning as their exclusive franchise player, meaning he would make about $23 million this season if he signed the one-year offer.

Contract aside, the pain in Manning's neck will keep him off the practice field early next week.

The Colts still aren't sure how long it will take to get the four-time league MVP back.

Caldwell said Friday that the Colts will be cautious with Manning, who had neck surgery in May, and will not push him too hard. Camp opens Monday at Anderson University.

"Obviously, he's not ready right now, but nobody works harder and is more dedicated than him," Caldwell said. "When he's ready, we'll turn him loose."

Caldwell didn't provide a timetable for Manning's return.

It's the second time in four years the Colts will open camp without Manning.

In 2008, Manning missed all of camp with an infected bursa sac in his left knee, which required two surgeries. He struggled during the first half of the season, but he led the Colts to nine consecutive wins to make it back into the playoffs.

Manning also had neck surgery in March 2010 but recovered and didn't miss any practices at camp.

The only other time Manning has missed even a portion of training camp was in 1998, when he was one week late before signing his first contract.

Teammates said they aren't concerned that Manning won't be throwing right away.

"I've told him to be as cautious as he needs to be because the last time I checked, we don't count preseason games," Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday said. "I can tell you this, there's not a player that works harder than he does."

The questions about Manning's health have been increasing ever since he had the surgery.

In June, Archie Manning, Peyton's father, said his son's rehab wasn't going as quickly as expected. A month later, at the family's annual passing academy, Peyton Manning barely threw and said he was being cautious with his rehab because lockout rules prevented him from working out with Colts team trainers.

Last week, Irsay acknowledged Manning might not be ready when practices begin Monday, a position he reiterated just hours after the lockout ended.

"You don't want him doing too much too soon and you don't know on recoveries," Irsay said. "A lot of times eight weeks is enough. But to get a full recovery, it's going to be a little longer in this case."

Caldwell said the coaches haven't had a chance to see where Manning is yet, and he's not sure when they will.

Manning isn't the only player the Colts have been getting medical checks on.

The NFL free agency cycle is in full effect, with teams and players agreeing to terms fast as training camps open. Get the latest on all the news right here.

Pro Bowl tight end Dallas Clark has been cleared for full participation and will wear a splint on the wrist he injured last fall, the team said. Other key players cleared to practice are wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez (knee), tight end Brody Eldridge (knee), cornerback Kelvin Hayden (neck) and cornerbacks Jerraud Powers (foot, arm) and Kevin Thomas (knee).

The team also said that wide receiver Austin Collie hasn't shown any lingering symptoms of the two concussions that forced him to finish last season on injured reserve. He is expected to be a full participant in practice next week.

"I feel good, I'm excited to get back into it," Collie said. "At this point, everything is great."

Except, of course, the status of Manning.

"Whenever he's ready, he'll come back," Caldwell said. "He gets himself ready faster than most people."

The team confirmed Friday that it had agreed to new deals with kicker Adam Vinatieri and safety Melvin Bullitt. On Thursday, the Colts also lost linebacker Clint Session to the Jacksonville Jaguars, who signed him to a five-year deal worth more than $29 million.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Hall of Fame TE Mackey, who led Colts in 1960s, dies at 69

BALTIMORE -- John Mackey, the rugged Hall of Fame tight end and former union president who later fought for stronger health benefits for retired players and struggled with dementia, has died. He was 69.

Mackey's wife, Sylvia, notified the team about her husband's death, Baltimore Ravens spokesman Chad Steele said Thursday. No official cause was given.

Mackey played for the Baltimore Colts from 1963 to 1971, and helped the team beat the Dallas Cowboys 16-13 in Super Bowl V by catching a Johnny Unitas pass for a 75-yard touchdown after it deflected off two other players.

Mackey also played for the San Diego Chargers in 1972, and finished his 10-year NFL career with 331 catches for 5,236 yards and 38 touchdowns.

La Canfora: Mackey's lasting legacy Jason La Canfora reflects on the profound life of Hall
of Famer John Mackey, who went on to champion the players' cause after helping revolutionize the game. More ...

» Photos: Mackey retrospective

Mackey's efforts after his playing days were just as important as his performance on the field. An NFL labor agreement ratified in 2006 includes the "88 Plan," named for Mackey's jersey number, 88. It provides up to $88,000 per year for nursing care or day care for ex-players with dementia or Alzheimer's disease, or $50,000 for home care.

"John Mackey is still our leader. As the president of the NFLPA, he led the fight for fairness with a brilliance and with ferocious drive," current NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith said in a statement. "His passion continues to define our organization and inspire our players. His unwavering loyalty to our mission and his exemplary courage will never be forgotten."

The health care of former players has become a prominent issue in the negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement. An NFL lockout has been ongoing since March 12.

"John Mackey was one of the great leaders in NFL history, on and off the field," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. "He was a Hall of Fame player who redefined the tight end position. He was a courageous advocate for his fellow NFL players as head of the NFL Players Association. He worked closely with our office on many issues through the years, including serving as the first president of the NFL Youth Football Fund. He never stopped fighting the good fight."

Mackey was drafted in 1963 out of Syracuse -- by the NFL's Colts in the second round and the AFL's New York Jets in the fifth round.

Mackey wound up playing for the Colts just as the passing game was taking on a major role in professional football. His size, speed and ability to catch the ball while also blocking in the running game made him the prototype for future generations of tight ends.

"John revolutionized the tight end position during his Hall of Fame career, and he laid the foundation on and off the field for modern NFL players," said Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome, a fellow Hall of Fame tight end.

Mackey caught 35 passes for 726 yards as a rookie in 1963, when he was selected to the first of five Pro Bowls. He also was voted first-team All-Pro by The Associated Press in 1966, '67 and '68.

After he retired, Mackey joined Mike Ditka as the first tight ends selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The John Mackey Award was established to honor the nation's top college football tight end, and Syracuse retired his number in 2007.

"John was the perfect role model for Syracuse football student-athletes," said Syracuse coach Doug Marrone, a former NFL player. "He was a larger-than-life man and he influenced so many people. Many consider him the greatest tight end in NFL history and he was a pioneer in the development in the NFL Players Association."

Mackey has become closely associated with the plight of many former players who helped build the NFL in the era before million-dollar contracts, safer equipment and better health care.

In later years, Mackey suffered from frontotemporal dementia that's believed to have been caused by the contact associated with playing football. Four years ago, the dementia forced Mackey into living in an assisted-living facility.

The costs associated with his care, which far outpaced Mackey's pension, led to the "88 Plan" for retired players. Now, former players are pushing for better pension plans and health benefits from the league.

"John Mackey has inspired me and will continue to inspire our players," Smith posted on Twitter. "He will be missed but never forgotten."

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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Mason: Colts' Manning is NFL's best player, 'hands down'

There's no question in Baltimore Ravens wideout Derrick Mason's mind who the top player in the NFL is.

Mason recently said on WJZ-FM's "The Norris and Davis Show" that Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning is "hands down" No. 1 in the league.

The countdown concludes with a two-hour special revealing the top 10 on NFL Network on Sunday, July 3 at 8 p.m. ET. Stay tuned for a reaction show right after.

Mason's answer came in response to a question about NFL Network's "The Top 100 Players of 2011," which culminates at 8 p.m. ET Sunday with Nos. 10 through 1 on the list being revealed.

"I think if I'm ranking right now who's a top player ... I think it's Peyton Manning," Mason said, according to SportsRadioInterviews.com. "Hands down, it is Peyton Manning.

"When you look at the rankings and you look at the importance of a player is this: not the type of season that he had, one seasons or two seasons that he had, it's what player do I kick off a team and it changes that team dramatically? I only know one player, and it's Peyton Manning.

"You take Tom Brady off New England, they showed that they can go 11-5. Now you take Peyton Manning off the Colts, I don't know where that team goes offensively."

Manning wasn't the only game-changer Mason brought up in the discussion.

"Another guy I look at and say it changes the scope of what they do is a guy like Ed Reed," Mason said of his Ravens teammate. "You take Ed Reed off of our defense -- not to say I don't think the defense would be good; we're good, because we have good players -- but if you take him off the back end, it changes us somewhat, and it showed last year.

"Once you insert him (Reed), we're back to quarterbacks are scared to throw the ball deep down the field, so when you looking at ranking guys, you rank them like that. You don't want to just rank them because they had a good season or a 1,000-yard season. You rank them as, if I took this player off this team or away from this side of the ball, what does it do for that team? Do they get better? Do they get worse? The only person I know, two people really, is Peyton Manning and Ed Reed."

Mason also addressed which Ravens player -- Reed or linebacker Ray Lewis -- would rank higher on the "Top 100" list.

"If you look at our team, they (NFL Network) would rank Ray Lewis ahead of Ed Reed just because of the body of work he has put together over the last 15 years," Mason said. "Ed does make a strong case to be ranked a little higher, but if I'm looking at it, I'm looking at the body of work, and I believe they (NFL Network) will rank Ray Lewis ahead of Ed Reed.

"Now if it goes the other way, I wouldn't be surprised. I wouldn't fight it either way, but I just think if you are looking at guys around the league, that respect factor, not to say they don't need to have that respect factor for Ed, but I think the longevity and the body of work over the course of 15 years that Ray has put together. I think they will rank him higher.”

Mason also revealed that he voted for about 20 players on the list, not all 100 because "I don't even know all 100 guys to sit down and rank them."

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Colts' Irsay: 'This is the time to get something done'

ROSEMONT, Ill. -- The NFL wrapped up a labor-intensive meeting Tuesday in less than five hours, with the league's negotiating team moving full steam ahead as time draws short for a new collective bargaining agreement before the traditional open of training camps.

Members of the NFL's labor committee, as well as Commissioner Roger Goodell, will hold a fourth set of clandestine face-to-face meetings with NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith and players Wednesday and Thursday in suburban Boston.

The parties are looking to build off existing momentum. According to sources in the room, the owners spent Tuesday's meetings discussing ideas and concepts, rather than specifics, as they hammer out a complex deal with many moving parts. Although no votes were taken nor proposals approved, they avoided potential hiccups that the summit might have produced.

"It was a good day in the sense of we had a full discussion on the issues," Goodell said. "Ownership is united and determined to reach an agreement and have a full 2011 season. ... The membership has a strong view of the priorities and what we need to do and a determination to get there."

NFL general counsel Jeff Pash echoed those words, saying: "I think we have a consensus within the ownership on the priorities. I think we have a consensus within the ownership on the fundamental economic principles we're looking for. And I think that's been true for some time."

Atop the agenda was updating clubs on the status of the clandestine player/owner talks that took place May 31-June 2 in suburban Chicago, June 7-9 on Long Island, N.Y., and June 14-15 on Maryland's Eastern Shore.

Owners had the opportunity to voice concerns and debate issues, and so the the speed at which things moved along was considered a good sign.

"It's good that things seem to be moving," said Patriots owner Robert Kraft, a labor committee member and one of three owners who have attended all of the "secret" meetings. "But there's a lot of hard work left to be done."

This was designated as a "two-per-club" meeting and, as such, the high number of football people in attendance -- general managers such as John Schneider of the Seahawks, Scott Pioli of the Chiefs and Bruce Allen of the Redskins -- was notable. According to sources, there is logic behind that.

First, because such a small number of clubs have been involved in the "secret" meetings the last few weeks, it was important for football people to stay updated on the process to preserve competitive balance -- preventing teams entrenched in the talks to anticipate things before clubs that are more detached. And, second, the plan for how the league year would begin following a labor resolution is on the table, and football people need to be involved in that.

This isn't a sign that a deal is imminent, but it does reflect the critical juncture at which the players and owners have arrived and the importance of timing as the window shrinks to have the league up and running in time to save the preseason.

"This is the season to get something done, this is the time to get something done," said Colts owner Jim Irsay. "The energy has to continue from both sides, because it's always fragile and difficult. ... I think both sides really want to get something done at this point. In talking to people from both sides, I get that feeling."

Later, Irsay tweeted: "I'm just so f--ing excited...but I don't know why!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

One owner said that the talks remain "fragile" but that he was confident a deal could be reached within a couple of weeks.

Also making an appearance was former Vikings star Carl Eller, a plaintiff representing retired players in the consolidated Brady & Eller v. the NFL antitrust case. Eller spoke with the owners in the morning hours to make sure the interests of retirees continued to be served as the talks between the league and players moved forward.

Follow Albert Breer on Twitter @AlbertBreer

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Colts' Freeney waits patiently for end of NFL's lockout

INDIANAPOLIS -- Dwight Freeney felt as if he were back at training camp Wednesday.

He posed for pictures, spoke to children and waved to the fans. Hey, it was certainly hot enough to feel like August, and the Colts' Pro Bowl defensive end is optimistic he'll be doing all this again in less than two months at Anderson University.

Contrary to the conventional wisdom, Freeney believes the NFL's players and owners will reach a new collective bargaining agreement in time for training camps to start as scheduled in late July or early August.

"I think so," he said. "I mean, why not? We have the best game in the world."

Freeney said he is one of many Colts participating in player-organized workouts at an undisclosed location in the Indy area.

"We're doing a little bit," he said with a smile. "It's hard to get everything organized, but we've got some small organized groups getting things done."

He didn't elaborate.

Players have been busy doing other things, too.

Punter Pat McAfee spent part of this week filling in as a radio talk-show host and attending draft workouts staged by the NBA's Indiana Pacers.

Freeney is putting on a two-day camp for children ages 7 to 14 at North Central High School on the city's north side.

On Thursday, defensive end Robert Mathis and Pacers center Roy Hibbert will organize a celebrity softball game to raise money for the Indiana Wish Fund, and players from the Colts, including Freeney, and Pacers are expected to attend.

But it's not just players working in this uncertain world. Team officials also are trying to finalize training-camp plans.

The Colts last year moved training camp back to Anderson University, a Division III school about 45 miles northeast of the city, after spending 11 years in Terre Haute, Ind., near the Illinois border.

Team owner Jim Irsay has said the team will return to Anderson -- if camp starts on time. Anderson officials say the school will be ready for whatever happens, and Colts general manager Chris Polian told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the Colts have not established a deadline for making their decision.

"At this juncture, we have a little bit of a calendar to work with," Polian said. "Hopefully, we'll go back to business as usual on the regular calendar. But until we know the rules and the landscape, it's hard to say we're leaning one way or the other. The biggest thing is to be flexible and prepared for all situations."

Polian, whose father was the architect of the Colts' dynamic run over the last decade, is closely monitoring the progress of the talks.

Freeney is not.

"My thought is 'Let me know when we get it done,'" Freeney said. "We have to come to an agreement, and it does no good to stress myself out by praying or thinking about it. So just let me know when it's done."

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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Colts QB Manning should be ready for season, dad Archie says

Archie Manning expects his son, Peyton, to continue being a pain in the neck for NFL defenses next season.

He, like every other football fan, isn't exactly sure when that will be.

The patriarch of football's first family said Monday that his son's recovery from neck surgery isn't going as quickly as the Indianapolis Colts quarterback had hoped, though he should be ready in time for the start of the 2011 season.

"It's just been 10 days," the father said. "He's not where he wants to be. It's just something that came up and had to be done, so hopefully it'll work out."

Manning spoke to reporters during Jim Kelly's charity golf tournament in Batavia, N.Y., about 40 miles east of Buffalo. This year's event, the 25th anniversary of Kelly's first tournament, is expected to raise more than $400,000 for the Hall of Fame quarterback's Kelly For Kids Foundation, which distributes money to numerous children-supported charities across western New York.

Those attending the event included Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger; former Bills stars Bruce Smith, Thurman Thomas and Andre Reed; and Colts vice chairman Bill Polian, the architect of Buffalo's four Super Bowl teams.

Between the neck surgery and the ongoing lockout, there were lots of issues to discuss.

At the top of the list was the surgery that Peyton Manning had last month to remove part of a bulging disk. It was the second time in 15 months that the Colts' franchise player had neck surgery.

Carucci: Peyton's silence is golden Peyton Manning hasn't publicly discussed the antitrust lawsuit that bears his name, but a league source told Vic Carucci why. It could hurt the QB
in contract talks. More...

Two weeks ago, Colts owner Jim Irsay said he expected the recovery to take 6 to 8 weeks. Archie Manning didn't provide an updated timetable for his son's return.

There are, of course, other complications in play.

Manning's contract expired after last season. In February, the Colts put the exclusive franchise tag on Manning -- a move that prevents him from negotiating with other teams. If he signs the one-year deal, he would make $23 million next season.

But until the labor situation is settled, the Colts can't even negotiate.

Without providing precise details, Irsay has said he already has offered Manning a deal that will make him the highest-paid player in NFL history. New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady currently holds that distinction after signing a four-year contract that pays him $72 million for a record average annual salary of $18 million.

There's also the ongoing lockout.

Peyton Manning was one of the players on a class-action antitrust lawsuit intended to end the work stoppage. Archie Manning said both of his sons, Peyton and New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning, have been working out with teammates, so they'll be ready for the start of the season -- whenever it happens.

"They're not frustrated. A quarterback's duty now is to try to organize his team and have some workouts, so they've both been doing that throughout the offseason on and off," Archie Manning said. "Unfortunately, Peyton just had a little surgery, so he's down right now. They're like all the other players. They love what they do. They want to get back at it and have a season."

The father can't wait for a resolution, either.

"There's really nothing to create urgency thus far. The closer we get probably to July, hopefully both sides kind of say, 'We need to get this done so there can be some practice time,' " he said. "I just sincerely hope they don't miss any games. I really don't want to miss games. The NFL has done such a great job through the years, it's a great product, a great game, and I understand both sides and what they're trying to do. But I'm just like all the other fans, I hope it can get done."

Until then, the Colts apparently will receive updates on their best-known player any way they can, including talking to Manning's father.

"Well, we had a conversation about general things like the twins and how Peyton's doing," Polian said, referring to the two children whom Peyton and his wife welcomed in March. "It was good to see him."

But the Colts would rather see a resolution to the lockout and get their quarterback back on the field quickly, too.

"If things go right, he'll be there for the season," Archie Manning said.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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Polian: Colts could select Manning's successor in this draft

Peyton Manning has made 11 Pro Bowls, won the NFL's Most Valuable Player award a league-record four times and claimed one Super Bowl championship. He was the MVP in that game, too.

Manning also ranks third in NFL history in passing yards (54,828) and touchdowns (399). But he's 35 years old, meaning the Indianapolis Colts now must think about the previously unthinkable: life without their surefire Hall of Fame quarterback.

Colts vice chairman Bill Polian told The Indianapolis Star in a story in Saturday's editions that the team would consider taking a quarterback in this month's draft "in the right situation" because Manning is entering the twilight of his career.

Why are the Colts looking at young QBs? Steve Wyche explains why it's not premature to find and groom Peyton Manning's successor in Indianapolis. More...

"Quarterback's an issue, probably not a front-burner issue, but an issue nonetheless because while Peyton's not at the end of his career, it's approaching faster than it has in the past," Polian said.

Manning's future became a hot topic after Colts owner Jim Irsay last month expressed frustration over the quarterback not signing the team's league-high contract offer. The Colts also have worked out two quarterbacks, TCU's Andy Dalton and Nevada's Colin Kaepernick, while preparing for the draft.

The Colts own the 22nd overall pick, but Polian wouldn't fully commit to using it on a quarterback. That might be why the team looked at Dalton and Kaepernick, whom many consider to be second-round prospects at best.

"I don't know that you're going to find his eventual replacement drafting 22nd," said Polian, whose Colts have six total picks in the draft. "And whether or not you would use that choice on a quarterback in an unsettled labor situation, where you don't know what kind of contract that's going to be signed, is another issue. That said, I don't think you can dismiss it."

The Colts haven't used a first-round pick on a quarterback since taking Manning No. 1 overall in 1998. Their current backup, Curtis Painter, was a sixth-round selection in 2009, but if the Colts want to groom Manning's eventual successor, they might need to spend a higher draft pick to do it.

When to pull the trigger is the big question.

"You don't know," Polian said, "but you know it's sometime soon. You begin to think about it."

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Colts win AFC South; Vinatieri's winning FG sets up matchup against Jets

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indianapolis Colts are back in the playoffs.

And they look like they're ready to defend their AFC championship, too.

Peyton Manning threw two touchdown passes, the defense limited Chris Johnson to 39 yards rushing and the always-clutch Adam Vinatieri booted a 43-yard field goal as time expired Sunday to give the Colts a 23-20 victory over the Tennessee Titans. They earned their seventh -- and most improbable -- AFC South title in eight seasons.

"We know what they were up against and how difficult it was and to overcome all that and win the division," owner Jim Irsay said, "it is extra special."

For the Colts (10-6), there were plenty of reasons to celebrate.

They tied Dallas' NFL record of nine consecutive playoff appearances, set from 1975-83.

Manning broke Gene Upshaw's long-standing record for most consecutive starts to open a career (208) and then set a new mark for completions in a season (450), established just a few hours earlier by Drew Brees. The four-time league MVP also threw his 398th and 399th career TD passes, falling one short of joining Brett Favre and Dan Marino as the only members of the 400 club.

Reggie Wayne caught nine passes for 68 yards and one TD, moving past Hall of Famer Raymond Berry into second in franchise history with his 69th career touchdown receiving.

Indy became only the third team since 2000 to lose a Super Bowl and return to the playoffs the following year.

Plus, the Colts did all that despite having 17 players on injured reserve.

The reward: a Saturday night showdown with the New York Jets in a rematch of last year's AFC title game. They also have a chance to host a second straight championship game as the surprise No. 3 seed, thanks to Kansas City's 31-10 loss to Oakland.

"I'll wait until Tuesday to get into that (the Jets)," Manning said. "We just kind of found out what time we're playing and who we're playing and get going on them starting this week."

Yes, the Colts were fortunate.

After losing to Dallas on Dec. 5, they were 6-6 and in serious jeopardy of missing the postseason for the first time since 2001. So coach Jim Caldwell told his players they needed four straight wins to make it back.

They did it, barely, and got a little help along the way.

Moments after Dominic Rhodes lost a fumble and Tennessee ran it back to the Colts 37, Houston's 34-17 victory over Jacksonville went final -- assuring the Colts of the division crown. But they still needed to win to avoid a possible second-round matchup at New England.

Two plays later, Kerry Collins fumbled the snap and Robert Mathis recovered at the Colts 38. Manning needed only five plays to get the Colts into Vinatieri's range, then waited patiently next to the official as the clock ticked down. He called timeout with three seconds left.

Vinatieri, the best clutch kicker in league history, wasted no time in adding another line to his legacy, raising his arms after the 43-yarder went through.

"They're never the same and you never take them lightly," said Vinatieri, who was 3 for 3 and matched a season-long with a 48-yarder in the first quarter. "We just have to have the opportunity at the end to help our team win that game. It was a good win, an important win for us. We'll take it."

For Tennessee (6-9), it was a fitting end to a season gone awry.

The Titans were 5-2 in late October, then lost eight of nine and now face uncertainty after a public spat between Vince Young and coach Jeff Fisher put the futures of both in doubt.

Fisher told the television broadcast crew he expected a quick decision to be made about his job status and later said he hoped to return next season.

"I'm under contract for another year, so we'll see," Fisher said. "We're going to come back and have wrap-up physicals tomorrow and we'll start our evaluation process."

The Colts won this one the same way they had the previous three -- by running effectively and stopping the run.

"They've been playing better the last couple of weeks," Collins said. "They definitely have improved since the last time we played them. You can't just come in here and say we're going to pound the ball at them for 150 yards. It just doesn't happen like that."

Meanwhile, Indy topped 100 yards rushing for the third straight game and Manning played like his usual self. He finished 27 of 41 for 264 yards and probably would have thrown for a record-breaking 64th 300-yard game had it not been for a handful of drops.

Late in the first half, Manning hooked up with Wayne on a bubble screen, and the receiver sprinted around the right side and into the end zone for a 7-yard score to make it 13-6.

Collins punched back in the second half, throwing a 21-yard TD pass to Kenny Britt to tie the score.

Manning answered with a perfect 30-yard over-the-shoulder pass to Pierre Garcon to make it 20-13, then Collins tied it again on Johnson's 15-yard reception that made it 20-20 with 4:18 left in the third quarter.

Neither team scored again until Vinatieri's field goal ended it.

"I think it shows the resolve of this team and our fight," Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney said. "It doesn't matter if we're 6-6 and we have to win our last four, we have to do it. If we have to win the last seven, we'll try to do it. That's just kind of what we are and we've been that for a while."

Notes: Collins was 28 of 39 for 300 yards with two TDs and passed John Unitas for 11th on the career passing list. Collins has 40,441 yards. Unitas had 40,239. ... Fisher coached his 273rd career game, including playoffs, moving past Joe Gibbs for seventh on the career list for most games coached with one team. ... Manning finished the season with a career-high 4,700 yards passing.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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Colts RB Addai expects to play after eight-game injury absence

INDIANAPOLIS -- Colts running back Joseph Addai expects to return Sunday against the Oakland Raiders after missing the past eight games because of a nerve injury in his left shoulder, the first positive news on the injury front for the team in quite a while.

"I feel like it's a great chance. I feel like I'm heading in the right direction," Addai said Thursday, one day after fully participating in practice. "I felt good. I didn't set myself back. Really, I'm just happy to put on a uniform and just get back into it."

Linebacker Clint Session also is likely to play after missing the past seven games with a broken arm and a dislocated elbow. The players' returns coincide with the Colts losing wide receiver Austin Collie for the season. He sustained a concussion last Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Addai has 5,280 yards from scrimmage and 46 touchdowns in five seasons. He rushed for 128 yards and one touchdown against the Washington Redskins on Oct. 17 before hurting the shoulder.

"He understands all the nuances," Colts coach Jim Caldwell said. "He is very, very smart. He's a guy that can make you miss, but also has power and catches the ball out of the backfield. He's also a very good pass protector."

The Colts average 95 rushing yards per game with Addai and 78 without him. They also have a higher average per carry and generally control the clock better when Addai plays.

"He brings so many intangibles," Caldwell said. "He certainly does make a difference."

Caldwell didn't say whether or not Addai would start against the Raiders or how carries would be distributed if he's available. Donald Brown is coming off a career-best 129-yard performance, and the ground game has been effective the past two weeks.

"A lot of it just depends on where he is when we finish the week," Caldwell said. "We'll get a real good sense of that. After we make that assessment, we'll make a determination on how Joe will play for us."

Addai said it has been difficult to watch the team struggle. The Colts were 4-2 with him, but they lost four of their next six without him, before bouncing back to defeat the Tennessee Titans and Jaguars and brighten their playoff possibilities.

"The biggest thing is that you've always got to go back and understand that football does have injuries," Addai said. "Not being able to be out there with your teammates, that's frustrating, but you've always got to take a positive from a negative. The only thing I could do is keep on trying to get better."

Addai was especially happy to see the Colts churn out 155 yards on the ground in their 34-24 win over the Jaguars.

"It's always good when you see us able to run when we're called upon to do that," he said. "Hopefully, it will carry on to the Oakland game. Each game is a confidence builder. We were able to get some runs, get some passes and be an all-around team, just doing things that we couldn't always do in the past."

Addai said the timing of his return is ideal because wins over Oakland and Tennessee would give the Colts the AFC South title and a home playoff game.

"We're sitting in a good situation," he said. "We're in control of our own destiny. It's always good to have people that's been out come back in. I think it will help as far as trying to get up to that next level, and that's getting into the playoffs."

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Colts' Mathis fined for helmet-to-helmet hit on Jags' Garrard

Indianapolis Colts Pro Bowl defensive end Robert Mathis was fined an undisclosed amount by the NFL for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback David Garrard in last Sunday's game.

Mathis tweeted about the fine Wednesday night.

"I didn't even think about it until (Wednesday) when my agent called me," Mathis said, according to The Indianapolis Star. "I was just trying to swat the ball away. He pumped it and I was trying to get the ball out."

Mathis said the fine won't change his playing style.

"If you change the way you've been taught to play football, you won't have a job," he said. "If you continue to play the way you've been taught to play, you're going to get fined. It's a double-edged sword."

Garrard was 24-of-38 passing for 294 yards and two touchdowns with one interception in the Jaguars' 34-24 loss. He become Jacksonville's single-season leader in touchdown passes with 22.

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Colts may continue playoff run without concussed WR Collie

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indianapolis Colts may have to make their final playoff push without one of their top play-makers, receiver Austin Collie.

Less than 24 hours after Collie left his third game in seven weeks with a head injury, coach Jim Caldwell said he didn't know when -- or if -- Collie would return this season.

"We lean totally upon those who are in charge," Caldwell said, referring to the doctors. "Here's the thing. There's not a coach that makes any decision based on anybody who has a concussion. Once he's cleared and ready to go, that's the case."

The second-year receiver was injured late in the first half Sunday when Jacksonville linebacker Daryl Smith appeared to hit Collie in the head with his forearm as Collie went low to make a catch.

Unfortunately for Collie, it's been a recurring theme.

Since the second half of a Nov. 7 game at Philadelphia, Collie has played in only three quarters, leaving games twice with diagnosed concussions and a third time with what the team described as "concussion-like symptoms." Caldwell couldn't say definitively whether the third instance was considered a full-blown concussion.

But losing Collie could be another blow to the Colts' postseason hopes.

Despite missing five games and more than a half in three others, he leads all Indy receivers with eight TD catches, is second in receptions (58) and third in yards (649). And when four-time league MVP Peyton Manning was mired in the worst slump of his pro career, Collie wasn't wearing pads.

When he returned Sunday against the Jags, for what amounted to a playoff-elimination game, Manning threw 10 passes to Collie in the first half. He caught eight for 87 yards and two TDs, and, perhaps not surprisingly, his presence helped open things up for Indy's suddenly rejuvenated ground game.

And although Caldwell has not ruled out Collie for this week's game at Oakland, few expect him to play.

"Things are moving in the right direction from what I saw after the game," Caldwell said. "The medical professionals are as good as they come, they take all the necessary precautions. They are very, very conservative."

Clearly, Collie's health has become a serious concern for the Colts (8-6).

Caldwell said it was his top priority, and teammates understand why doctors are likely to be even more cautious given Collie's recent history and the league's new guidelines dealing with concussions.

"I talked to him (Collie) and he said it wasn't as bad as the last one, so that's the good news," Pro Bowl receiver Reggie Wayne said Sunday. "But they're all bad."

Meaning, Indy will probably have to finish its playoff push without Collie.

If the Colts win at Oakland and beat Tennessee at home, they will win their seventh AFC South title in eight years and earn a ninth straight playoff berth.

At least the Colts are playing more like the defending AFC champs.

After limiting Tennessee's Chris Johnson to 111 yards rushing and one TD, Indy held the league's hottest running back, Maurice Jones-Drew, to just 46 yards and no scores. This week, they'll have to contend with Darren McFadden and Michael Bush, who helped Oakland run for 264 yards in Sunday's victory over Denver. Then comes the rematch with Johnson.

The other promising sign is that Indy has added balance to its offense.

The Colts ran 32 times, compared with 35 passes, against the Titans, and ran 24 times while throwing 39 times against Jacksonville.

Clearly, it's made a difference in Manning's play. He's thrown four TD passes and no interceptions the past two weeks -- a stark contrast to the 11 picks he threw in the previous three games.

"Your play-action, it (balance) probably gives it a little more pop," Manning said. "Collie's second touchdown was on play-action, so we've got to keep that going."

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Colts' Sanders on IR; Wayne, Tamme questionable vs. Titans

As expected, the Indianapolis Colts placed safety Bob Sanders on season-ending injured reserve Wednesday.

Colts owner Jim Irsay announced earlier in the day on his Twitter account that Sanders would be shelved for the season "soon."

"Bob Sanders to go on I.R. soon ... we need the roster spot with so many injuries," Irsay tweeted.

Sanders, the 2007 NFL Defensive Player of the Year and a two-time All-Pro, hasn't played since Week 1, when he sustained a torn biceps in his right arm. Sanders has played in just three games over the past two seasons and only 48 during his seven seasons. He has played in more than six games just twice.

Sanders is the 15th Colts player to go on IR this season. Cornerback Jerraud Powers joined the list Tuesday after having surgery to repair a broken right forearm.

The Colts signed defensive back David Pender off the practice squad to fill Sanders' roster spot.

The team also announced it will be without five other starters and that a number of other key contributors are questionable for Thursday night's matchup with the Tennessee Titans.

Running backs Mike Hart and Joseph Addai, linebacker Clint Session, cornerback Kelvin Hayden and wide receiver Austin Collie all have been ruled out. Wide receiver Reggie Wayne, tight end Jacob Tamme, running back Donald Brown and linebacker Gary Brackett are questionable.

The Titans listed defensive linemen Tony Brown and Dave Ball as questionable.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Chargers continue to pick up steam with easy victory over host Colts

INDIANAPOLIS -- Peyton Manning blamed himself for the Colts' mistakes. The Chargers took credit for forcing him into them.

Either way, it was the same lousy result for Indianapolis' suddenly struggling quarterback.

San Diego intercepted him four times, returning two for scores, and handed Indianapolis its worst home loss of the Manning era, 36-14, on Sunday.

"The defense was awesome," Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers said. "Getting two defensive touchdowns was obviously huge, and they played well all night."

Sunday's game fit right into this rivalry's recent trend.

San Diego (6-5) has beaten Manning's Colts five times in six games, including twice in the playoffs. Three years ago, the Chargers picked off Manning six times -- the most in his career. For the first time in Manning's 13 NFL seasons, he has thrown a combined seven interceptions in back-to-back weeks.

Colts fans were so incredulous at the poor play that they headed for the exits with about 10 minutes left.

But the Chargers had plenty of work still to do. The team that ruined Indy's quest for perfection in 2005 and dethroned the defending Super Bowl champs in the 2007 playoffs ended the NFL's longest run of consecutive 12-win seasons at seven. Plus, San Diego climbed over the .500 mark for the first time all season and kept pace in the AFC West race, one game behind Kansas City.

Imagine that.

"At 2-5, a lot of teams would have thrown in the towel," Rivers said. "We've got a group of resilient guys, tough guys that really play together and really believe in one another. We weren't going to let this thing get away from us. Now, we're right here in the hunt."

While the Chargers are primed to make a playoff run, Indy's struggles have raised red flags.

Yes, the Colts (6-5) are still tied with Jacksonville for the AFC South lead, but they've lost three of four and the rash of injuries has taken a major toll on the offense. Manning played again without receiver Austin Collie, without running back Joseph Addai and without starting tight ends Dallas Clark and Brody Eldridge, and it showed.

Coach Jim Caldwell blamed the miscues -- five turnovers in all -- on a combination of factors, including poor pass protection and a nonexistent running game. Indy netted only 24 yards rushing against the Chargers' No. 1 ranked defense.

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And Manning wasn't himself, either. He finished 31 of 48 for 285 with two TDs and the third four-interception game of his career. The last came in San Diego in November 2007.

"San Diego did a good job," Manning said. "Offensively, we didn't do a real good job. I didn't do a real good job. Everybody needs to play better, I need to play better, our execution needs to improve."

Manning is ready to move to the head of the line after this debacle.

After throwing a 5-yard TD pass to Jacob Tamme on the Colts' opening drive and watching San Diego counter with a 28-yard field goal, Manning tried to connect with Reggie Wayne by fitting a pass between three defenders.

Not good.

Kevin Burnett made a leaping catch and sprinted 29 yards to give the Chargers a 10-7 lead.

"Poor decision," Manning said. "That's something I have to avoid. So poor throw, poor decision."

Stephen Cooper picked off Manning again early in the second quarter, setting up a 33-yard field goal that made it 13-7, and Manning got the Colts back into it when he connected with Blair White on a 6-yard TD pass to make it 16-14 with 22 seconds left in the half.

After that, nothing went right for the Colts.

Kaeding opened the second half with a 30-yard field goal, and Eric Weddle picked off Manning and returned it 41 yards for a TD to make it 26-14. Fans booed, thinking Weddle shoved Wayne to the ground before the ball arrived. Wayne and Manning complained to the officials.

"It was a bad call, plain and simple," Caldwell said. "I don't know how to dance around it any other way."

But the Chargers refused to let Manning make one of his patented comebacks.

Mike Tolbert scored on a 3-yard run with 11:26 to go, sealing the victory, and Kaeding added his fifth field goal of the night to close it out. Tolbert carried 26 times for 103 yards with one TD.

Rivers was 19 of 23 for 185 yards with no touchdowns and, unlike Manning, no interceptions.

"I think all of our guys understand now that you've got to protect the ball," coach Norv Turner said. "You've got to be sound in the kicking game and we can't give up big plays on defense."

They gave up nothing Sunday night.

Notes: San Diego WR Vincent Jackson's season debut was a short one. He strained a calf muscle on the Chargers' opening series and did not return. Turner said he did not expect Jackson to miss a lot of time. ... Tolbert also left during the first half with what appeared to be a left hand injury. ... The banged-up Colts took a couple of more hits Sunday. Wayne was shaken up with 2:45 left, and starting cornerback Kelvin Hayden also was hurt in the closing minutes. Both players left walked off the field without help. ... It was Indy's most lopsided home loss since a 31-3 rout by Seattle on Sept. 14, 1997. Indy had won 19 of its last 20 home games, the only loss coming after the Colts pulled their starters against the New York Jets last December.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Woodhead keeps contributing as Pats withstand Colts comeback attempt

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- A little guy who came out of nowhere overshadowed the NFL's biggest stars.

Sure, Tom Brady outdueled Peyton Manning in their annual meeting, a 31-28 New England victory over Indianapolis on Sunday. Yet it was Danny Woodhead, a 5-foot-8 running back from Division II Chadron State, who got most of the attention -- if you could find him. The Colts couldn't.

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Woodhead, picked up when the Jets cut him in September, scored on a weaving 36-yard burst, showing power, speed and agility. Seconds after his brilliant third-quarter run, Woodhead made a sensational tackle on the ensuing kick return, drawing as many cheers as he did while scooting into the end zone.

"I do everything to make the play, whether I'm a runner, a receiver or on a kickoff," said Woodhead, who kiddingly asked if he could have a step-stool the next time he was required to speak at a podium. "Maybe (I carry) a little chip, but I'm not too worried what everybody thinks about my size, weight or height. My worry is about doing my job, whatever that might be."

His job is being versatile, something his teammates appreciate.

"He can kind of hide behind the guys, but on the special teams that just shows you what type of football player he is," said Deion Branch, who caught seven passes for 70 yards. "He scores a touchdown, comes back in and makes a play on special teams and we needed it at the time."

New England also needed Brady's pinpoint passing. He was brilliant for the second straight week, coming off a 350-yard, three-touchdown performance against Pittsburgh. Brady had only six incompletions in 25 passes and threw for two TDs as the Patriots built a 17-point lead and held on.

The win kept the Patriots (8-2) tied with the Jets atop the AFC East; they meet in two weeks.

Brady not only beat four-time MVP Manning, the only other quarterback of the last decade in his class, but tied another QB icon for an NFL mark. Brady has won 25 straight regular-season home starts, equaling Brett Favre's record when he was with Green Bay.

Perfectionist that he is, Brady felt the Patriots let it get too close before James Sanders' interception at the New England 6 with 31 seconds remaining clinched the win.

"Any time you play these guys, you've got to play to the end," Brady said. "Certainly in the fourth quarter we had some opportunities to go up three touchdowns on them, a couple of other third downs which we could've converted."

When they didn't, four-time MVP Manning pounced.

"We were in an uptempo mode the last seven minutes," Manning said. "We almost scored three touchdowns. But you're playing against the clock."

Manning blamed himself for the throw that didn't come close to reaching Pierre Garcon before Sanders grabbed it.

"I feel sick about it," he said. "About not extending the game, not executing to give (placekicker Adam) Vinatieri a chance for a field goal. It was a bad throw."

Indy (6-4 and atop the AFC South) had beaten the Patriots in five of the last six matchups. The Colts, who won their first 14 games a year ago en route to the AFC title, are so banged-up -- they were without five key players Sunday -- that considering them a Super Bowl contender right now might be a reach, even with Manning's magic.

Manning finished 38 of 52 for 396 yards, four TDs and three interceptions.

He got the Colts within 31-28 with 4:46 left on an 18-yard pass to Blair White, who earlier in the fourth period caught a 5-yard TD toss. And Manning brought them within range of a stunning win before Sanders' pick.

"I haven't beaten those guys in a while," Sanders said, "and it seems like we always get ahead, get a nice lead and they always come back at the end."

Manning's inaccuracies early on were costly. He misfired high several times, including a throw to White that sailed directly to safety Brandon Meriweather. A 39-yard runback set up the Patriots at the Indy 32 and, four players later, Brady hooked up with Wes Welker over the middle for a 22-yard score.

Unable to apply any pressure on Brady, the Colts' defense then was torn apart on a 15-play, 82-yard drive capped by rookie Aaron Hernandez's 8-yard TD catch.

Then Manning found his touch, despite consecutive brutal drops by Reggie Wayne and Austin Collie. Indy converted three third downs, including some nimbleness by Manning to avoid the pass rush and float a completion to Donald Brown for 25 yards. The TD came to third-string tight end Gijon Robinson -- hardly surprising considering all of the Colts' injuries -- from the 1. Robinson's second catch of the season got him his first career touchdown.

But the Colts' defense again was no match for the precise Brady, who guided a 65-yard drive to BenJarvus Green-Ellis' 5-yard scoring run. New England scored on all three possessions in the first half.

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Not that Manning flinched. He took Indianapolis 85 yards, 77 on passes to Wayne, including a perfect spiral over cornerback Kyle Arrington for an 11-yard touchdown with 4 seconds left in the half, and Indy trailed only 21-14 at the half.

Woodhead's TD and Shayne Graham's 25-yard field goal were just enough in the second half.

Notes: Green-Ellis rushed for 96 yards and Woodhead had 69 in support of Brady. ... The win lifted Bill Belichick into a tie for 11th place in coaching victories with 171, moving ahead of Hall of Famer Paul Brown and equaling Joe Gibbs. ... Manning's 38 completions were his second most in a game, behind only the season-opening loss to Houston when he completed 40 passes.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Colts' Collie improving, but status unclear vs. Bengals

The Colts expect receiver Austin Collie to be just fine, eventually.

Their playoff hopes may hinge on it.

One day after Collie lay motionless on the field for nearly 10 minutes, coach Jim Caldwell said Monday that the second-year receiver returned to Indianapolis on the team flight and was recovering from a concussion.

"Obviously the doctors felt good enough about his situation to allow him to travel back with us on the airplane," Caldwell said. "I think that's a pretty good indication that things were trending in the right direction. He came back, he was home sleeping, our medical staff had an opportunity to talk with him this morning and his symptoms are subsiding. He's trending in the right direction, which is great."

Fortunately, Collie appears to have escaped a more serious injury after Sunday's frightening scene in Philadelphia.

The contact on Collie was initiated by Eagles safety Quintin Mikell, who delivered a legal hit with his shoulder to the chest area of Collie. That contact propelled Collie toward Eagles safety Kurt Coleman, causing Coleman to make helmet-to-helmet contact with Collie,who crumpled to the turf with his two arms frozen in the air.

Collie was strapped to a backboard and taken off the field on a stretcher.

NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora reports that Because the helmet-to-helmet contact was a result of Collie being driven toward Coleman by Mikell's legal hit, the NFL will not impose a fine on Coleman.

"You definitely want to pray in that situation so that it's not bad as it looks," defensive captain Gary Brackett said. "And for that moment, it really puts things in perspective."

At halftime, the Colts said Collie was awake and alert.

And after the game, Collie could be seen walking around the locker room though he did not take reporters' questions.

Teammates were relieved with what they saw and heard.

"Austin is one of my best friends on this team and it's tough to watch. It's tough," tight end Jacob Tamme said. "We just tried to focus on football, but it's definitely tough. It was good to get to talk to him (on the plane), and he's going to be good -- we hope."

But the latest injury is yet another blow for the defending AFC champs.

Twelve players have already gone on injured reserve, and that list doesn't even include oft-injured safety Bob Sanders, who tore the biceps muscle in his right arm in the season opener and hasn't played since. Colts President Bill Polian said last week he hoped Sanders would return next month.

And the injury rash just seems to be getting worse.

At one point Sunday, all three of Indy's opening-day linebackers were on the sideline -- Gary Brackett, Philip Wheeler and Clint Session.

The usually high-powered offense hasn't been immune, either.

Manning has already lost All-Pro tight end Dallas Clark (wrist) for the season and has played the last two games without Joseph Addai (left shoulder). The four-man receiving corps that was expected to the deepest and most talented of the Manning era, has played together once all season, and even Polian said Saturday that while the team mantra is next man up, he's not even sure who the next man is.

Yet somehow, the Colts are 5-3 and are tied for the AFC South lead.

"I don't think we've really changed anything about this offense," Tamme said. "That's really the neat thing about this team, we understand what we're supposed to do and just go out there and go to work."

How long can the Colts keep winning this way? Who knows?

The Colts gave their players an unscheduled day off Monday, presumably to let them get an extra day to heal.

They need it.

Addai, third-string running back Mike Hart (ankle) and Session didn't even make the trip to Philly. Brackett and Wheeler both left the game briefly in the second half, and, now Collie, who just returned from thumb surgery, will be back on the injury report.

New NFL rules on concussions will require Collie to take a baseline neurological test and have his answers compared with the ones he gave before the season. He also has to be cleared by team doctors and an independent neurological specialist before he can get back in pads.

"They can make a determination of where he is," Caldwell said. "He'll be released to play whenever he is cleared."

But at least, he appears to be OK and the Colts hope he'll be back soon.

"I think it was great even to be able to relay the news that, 'Hey, he is fine. He's alert,' even prior to the game being finished," Caldwell said. "That certainly lifted a lot of spirits, in that regard.

"He is a guy that can come back and do his job," Caldwell added. "We fully anticipate that he will have the same fervor and fire in terms of his preparation in terms of trying to overcome this setback."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Vick returns from monthlong layoff to get best of Manning, Colts

PHILADELPHIA -- Michael Vick shared a long embrace with offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg after coming back from a month off to lead the Philadelphia Eagles to a big win.

When Peyton Manning is on the other side, it's no ordinary game.

Vick threw for 218 yards and one touchdown, and ran for 74 yards and a score in the Eagles' 26-24 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.

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"This game was more emotional because we knew how tough it was going to be to win this game," Vick said. "It took two weeks of hard work, guys working extra hard, watching film and doing whatever it takes. To win this game was very gratifying."

The Eagles (5-3) are 12-0 after a bye since Andy Reid became coach in 1999. They hadn't beaten Manning in three previous tries.

While Philadelphia rested last week, the Colts (5-3) had to make a quick turnaround after beating Houston on Monday night. It certainly seemed the Eagles were the fresher team, especially early.

"They got off to a great start against us," Colts coach Jim Caldwell said. "You got to give them credit. They hung in there and really did a nice job."

The depleted Colts lost wide receiver Austin Collie to a concussion after a hard -- and illegal -- hit by Kurt Coleman forced him to leave on a stretcher in the second quarter.

Collie lay on the ground for several minutes as the crowd fell silent. Soon afterward, the announcement came he had movement and was alert.

"I think he'll recover quickly," Caldwell said.

Philadelphia's DeSean Jackson had 109 yards receiving and one touchdown in his first game back after a vicious hit gave him a concussion on Oct. 17.

Playing his first game since injured rib cartilage forced him out on Oct. 3, Vick picked up where he left off when he was NFC offensive player of the month in September. He completed 17 of 29 passes, and scrambled for some key first downs.

"We knew we had to keep Peyton off the field," Vick said.

Manning threw for 294 yards, one TD and two interceptions. The four-time NFL MVP wasn't his usual self, misfiring on several passes.

"They have good players, good cover guys," Manning said. "Everything was contested. We had a tough time finding a rhythm in the second half."

Indy played without cornerback Jerraud Powers, running backs Joseph Addai and Mike Hart, tight ends Dallas Clark and Brody Eldridge and wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez.

The Eagles went ahead 19-17 when David Akers kicked his fourth straight field goal midway through the third quarter.

On their next possession, a holding penalty on Winston Justice negated a 56-yard TD pass from Vick to Brent Celek. While Celek ran down the sideline, Indy's Robert Mathis stood at the spot where he was held and kept waving everyone back.

But Vick kept the drive going with a 22-yard pass to Jeremy Maclin on second-and-26, and a 32-yard run on the next play. A few plays later, Vick sneaked in from the 1 to give Philadelphia a 26-17 lead.

The Colts cut it to 26-24 on Javarris James' 1-yard TD run with 1:50 left. The Eagles appeared to have thwarted Indy's drive when Manning got sacked and fumbled on fourth-and-18, but a penalty on Trent Cole for slapping Manning in the helmet as he reached for the ball gave the Colts a first down.

With three timeouts left, the Colts didn't try an onside kick. Jackson ran for 11 and 6 yards on consecutive end-arounds, but the Eagles punted it away.

Manning got the ball at Indy's 26 with no timeouts left and 40 seconds remaining. But Asante Samuel made his second interception to ice it.

LeSean McCoy ran for 95 yards for the Eagles, who hadn't beaten the Colts since Bubby Brister led them to a win in 1993.

The Eagles scored on their first four possessions, but settled for three field goals after failing to convert inside the 10 three times.

That allowed the Colts to take a 17-16 halftime lead. Down 13-0, Manning led Indianapolis on a long drive, capping it off with a 3-yard TD toss to Jacob Tamme.

Vick made two big plays on third down during the following drive that resulted in Akers' 31-yarder. Vick ran 24 yards on third-and-9, and hit Jason Avant for a 34-yard gain to the Colts 6 on third-and-7.

Vick had said he would play more cautiously, but he didn't shy away from hits on many of his scrambles.

"It's going to be tough to hold him back," Reid said. "He did run out of bounds once. I was fired up about that."

Collie got hurt on the Colts' next drive. Unnecessary roughness was called on Quintin Mikell on the play but should've been on Coleman because he delivered the hit to Collie's helmet.

Manning threw a 33-yard pass to Blair White on the next play and a facemask call on Mikell put the ball at the 6. James ran in from the 6 to cut it to 16-14.

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After Philadelphia went three-and-out the Colts went ahead on Adam Vinatieri's 37-yard field goal before the half.

The Eagles scored a touchdown on their opening possession for the fourth time in eight games. McCoy broke loose for a 62-yard run on the first play from scrimmage. Vick tossed a 9-yard touchdown pass to Jackson.

The Eagles quickly got the ball back when Manning badly overthrew his target and Samuel made an easy interception. Samuel returned it 33 yards to the Colts 9, but Philadelphia settled for a 22-yarder to make it 10-0.

Notes: Since 2000, the Eagles are 36-9 when scoring a TD on their opening drive. ... Eagles RG Max Jean-Gilles left with a concussion in the first half. Rookie FS Nate Allen has a neck strain. ... The Colts averaged 42 points per game in Manning's three wins against Philadelphia.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Colts WR Collie suffers concussion on helmet-to-helmet hit

PHILADELPHIA -- Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Austin Collie suffered a concussion on a second-quarter hit to his head Sunday by Philadelphia Eagles safety Kurt Coleman.

Collie was "awake and alert in the (locker) room," coach Jim Caldwell said after the Eagles' 26-24 victory. "I think he'll recover quickly. He'll do OK."

"I won't go into all the details about it, but he took a pretty good hit," Caldwell said. "He was out, unconscious for a period of time."

It was a scary scene that had the Linc silent while Collie lay on the ground for several minutes Sunday. Trainers worked on him, then Collie was placed on a stretcher as players from both sidelines stood and watched.

"Coach Caldwell told us early it was a concussion and you don't like to hear that," Peyton Manning said. "It's better than what everybody fears at that point."

The second-year receiver dropped a pass over the middle after he was hit by safeties Quintin Mikell and Coleman. Although Mikell was penalized for hitting a defenseless receiver, replays showed Coleman made contact with Collie's helmet.

Since the NFL cracked down on hits to the head and neck area on Oct. 19 after a spate of them the previous weekend, there were few such fouls. The league has threatened suspensions for illegal hits to defenseless players, saying they have no place in the game.

Collie was turning with the ball when he was hit and dropped it, making him a defenseless player. He fell to the ground and never appeared to move as he was worked on as Colts and Eagles players took of their helmets and looked on, several appearing to pray.

"I think the official made the proper call," Caldwell said.

The Colts have been plagued by injuries to their offense and already were without tight end Dallas Clark, his backup, Brody Eldridge, and second-string wideout Anthony Gonzalez, who was placed on injured reserve Saturday. Early in the third period, rookie Blair White was shaken up, too.

Collie had one catch for minus-1 yard Sunday. He entered the game with 44 receptions for 502 yards and six touchdowns.

In their last home game, Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson sustained a concussion on Oct. 17 on an illegal hit by Falcons cornerback Dunta Robinson, who also was concussed. Jackson returned to the lineup Sunday.

He was concerned about Collie, and at the same time wondered about the penalty -- Jackson thought the hits on Collie were clean.

"I just hope they don't take this ruling and try to change football," he said.

Robinson was fined $50,000 for the hit. For flagrant fouls that same day, Pittsburgh linebacker James Harrison ($75,000) and New England safety Brandon Meriweather ($50,000) also drew hefty fines. The league announced it would then dole out suspensions along with fines for illegal hits.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Colts WR Gonzalez out for season with left knee injury

The Indianapolis Colts announced Saturday that they have placed wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez on season-ending injured reserve with a left knee injury.

Gonzalez is the 12th Colts player to go on IR this season.

The receiver was Indianapolis's first-round draft pick in 2007, but he has been slowed by a series of injuries the past two seasons. Last year, Gonzalez wound up on injured reserve after spraining ligaments in his right knee in the first quarter of the season opener.

This season, Gonzalez sprained his right ankle in the season opener and didn't return until Monday night's victory over the Houston Texans. That's when he hurt his left knee after apparently being tackled out of bounds.

NFL.com senior writer Steve Wyche reported Friday that the league will not fine Texans safety Bernard Pollard for the hit on Gonzalez. No penalty was called on the play.

To fill Gonzalez's roster spot, the Colts promoted running back Andre Brown from the practice squad. The team needed depth at running back with starter Joseph Addai (neck/shoulder) and backup Mike Hart (ankle) injured, leaving 2009 first-round pick Donald Brown as the probable starter in Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Colts announced later Saturday that Addai, Hart, tight end Brody Eldridge (rib), linebacker Clint Session (elbow) and defensive back Justin Tryon (foot) didn't travel with the team to Philadelphia.

Brown, a fourth-round pick last year, was waived by the New York Giants on Sept. 4, then joined the Denver Broncos off waivers. He played in three games and had just two carries for minus-1 yard, then was released Oct. 16. The Colts claimed him off waivers two days later.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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