4. Fan-filled day. We don't spend much time on Indy Football Report promoting off-field events, but Phillip B. Wilson of the Indianapolis Star was right this week when he mentioned in his blog that it was a good thing the Colts are doing holding an open practice Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium. The practice is free and gives a significant number of fans who might not have been able to make the drive in recent training camps to Terre Haute or unable to afford a ticket a chance to see the team up close. There won't be much contact in the drills – that's the NFL rule and teams don't hit often whatever the time of year these days – but the Colts typically try to run drills during such open-to-the-public workouts that at least give the fans a chance to watch the skill players run and make a few plays.
3. Condolences. Sad news this week when former Colts CB Marlin Jackson sustained a season-ending Achilles injury during a practice with the Philadelphia Eagles, with whom he signed as a free agent this off-season. Jackson, the Colts' first-round selection in the 2005 NFL Draft, sustained knee injuries in mid-season practices each of the last two seasons and with significant injuries ending each of his last three seasons, may be reaching that point where you wonder how much longer he can play. Hope that's not the case. Jackson was always a class act who worked hard and really cared about being good. He'll always be remembered by Colts fans for his game-ending interception in the AFC Championship Game following the 2006 season. That play clinched the Colts' first Indianapolis Super Bowl appearance, but he was on the way to being a very solid NFL corner before injuries cut short his Colts career .Here's hoping a class guy the best.
2. Timely move. There's a reason why they say the NFL's a business, and the Colts' decision earlier this off-season to release Jackson is a perfect example. As much as the team liked him, and as solid as he was in the locker room in addition to having a good work ethic, the team clearly believed it was time to move on. It would have been easy for them to re-sign Jackson. He was a popular player and easy for coaches and management to root for, but you have to make tough decisions and letting Jackson go after the two season-ending injuries in retrospect was the only move possible. You can't make decisions in the NFL because of what you want to do, and this business-first decision seems pretty solid now.
1.A final OTA thought on RB Joseph Addai. There has been some blogosphere buzz about RB Joseph Addai this off-season. Then, what else is new? Some have wondered whether the Colts might move second-year RB Donald Brown –the team's 2009 first-round draft selection -- into the lineup in look toward the future, the theory being Indianapolis isn't likely to re-sign Addai after the season. Maybe, but not likely. Addai clearly showed he was the better, more-veteran running back last season and the offense functioned at a high level – in part because of his balanced running, receiving and pass-blocking skills. Brown's time to start may be coming, but it would be surprising if it's soon.
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