Indianapolis Colts President Bill Polian: Roster size will dictate how many players can rest

Indianapolis Colts DT Dan Muir

Darron Cummings/AP Photo

Postseason approach won't change from past seasons, Indianapolis Colts President Bill Polian says

As Indianapolis Colts President Bill Polian sees it, it's still too early to finalize plans for the final weeks of the regular season when and if the Colts secure their playoff positioning.

But if and when they do, there won't be much change from the past.

Polian, in his 12th season as the Colts' president, said on his weekly radio show that the Colts will follow the same formula should they clinch the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage with regular-season games remaining as they have when facing such scenarios in previous seasons.

The Colts in past seasons have held some starters out of late-season games without playoff implications, but Polian said NFL roster sizes limit how many players can actually be rested.

“We would deal with it if and when the time presents itself,” Polian said on his weekly radio show on Hank FM 97.1 in Indianapolis. “I will tell you this: you have a 53-man roster. You can only dress 45 plus a third quarterback for any ball game. That limits the number of people who can actually sit out.

“If you presume that most of the guys who are sitting out are injured, which is always the case at this time of year and is the case with us specifically, then there isn't a lot of flexibility left. This idea that somehow you're going to play this game if and when the opportunity presents itself as though it was the last preseason game is far from reality. You don't have that kind of flexibility.”

The Colts four times in the last five seasons have secured their playoff seeding with regular-season games remaining, and each time, they have held – or pulled – significant players out of games in which they normally would have played. The Colts have played in six such games since 2004 – one in 2004, three in 2005, one in 2007 and one last season. The only game in which Colts quarterback Peyton Manning played into the second half was a Game 14 loss to San Diego in 2005, the Colts' first loss that season.

“What we do in that situation is as follows: The first thing we do is rule out anybody who would be medically benefited by sitting,” Polian said. “So, if a player is injured or even if he's slightly injured and would benefit from the rest, he'll get the rest. Then, we'll take a look at what we've got on the roster and we'll figure it from there. That's the procedure, but we won't even begin to think that – and by the way that's what we've always done – but we won't even think about that until such time that that's appropriate.”

Polin on Monday also discussed:

*A late-first half incident against the Titans Sunday involving Titans DT Tony Brown and Colts OG Kyle DeVan: “Touching an official is cause for ejection and truthfully, I did not see that occur. I got a chance to see it on television on the replay. It looked to me as though he [Brown] threw a punch. That's discipline that the league will deal with. We don't even worry about it. In the normal course of events, the observers – the league officials – since they assessed the 15-yard penalty the officiating office and the disciplinary office will look at it and they'll deal with it, so we don't have to do anything about it. They'll make whatever decision they think is appropriate. But I did not see him touch an official. Normally, if you lay hands on an official, you're gone in a heartbeat.

*On DeVan not retaliating against Brown: “Why compound it? We did the right thing. [Hall of Fame Head Coach] Marv Levy used to have a great statement, 'Don't be dumb and don't be dirty.' To get involved would have been both, so stay away from it.”

Highlighting Colts President Bill Polian's radio show:

Part One: WR Anthony Gonzalez may still contribute this season. Here.

Part Two: Roster size will dictate late-season approach. Here.

Part Three: S Bob Sanders' rehabilitation going smoothly. Here.

Part Four: Postseason approach won't change. Here.

MORE COLTS COVERAGE

CALDWELL: "I'M NOT SURE YOU EVER BENEFIT FROM A LOSS." HERE.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 27, TENNESSEE TITANS 17. HERE.

COLTS WORK OUT J.P. LOSMAN. HERE

COFFEE WITH THE COLTS: NEXT-DAY LOOK AT COLTS-TEXANS. HERE

MAGNIFICENT SEVEN: WHY THE COLTS MUST REST IF THEY CLINCH HOMEFIELD. HERE

FREENEY: No trophies for 16-0. Here.