INDIANAPOLIS — The National Football League soap opera of “Please Spot the Football Quickly” continues to churn on.

Just days after saying that problems with game officials and the slow spotting of the ball after an offensive play were “a work in progress” and “mechanical” problems that could be worked out, Indianapolis Colts team president Bill Polian took a different tack in a conversation with Sports Illustrated’s Peter King.

In discussing the two “false start/snap infringement” penalties assessed against the Colts in last week’s preseason game at Green Bay, Polian — a member of the NFL’s competition committee — clearly wasn’t pleased by the calls.

“I am dead-set against the penalty,’’ he told King. “It is insane. If I knew it would be this way, I’d have voted against it, and not only that, I’d have crusaded against it.”

Polian had another interesting question: What to do about older, and often times slower, game officials?

“I worry about the umpires’ conditioning,’’ he said.

Quarterback Peyton Manning was also interviewed by King. He took issue with the idea that the umpire’s positioning on the field was being moved due to safety concerns.

The way that the policy is currently being implemented, though, the umpire moves back to the defensive side of the ball for the final two minutes of each half.

“It’s like you saying to your kids, ‘Don’t touch that!’ ‘’ Manning said. “Then you say, ‘Well, you can touch it a couple of times.’ ‘’

Before the start of Monday’s practice, the Colts’ signal caller followed up those comments.

“To me, it seems like (the league) didn’t factor those things in. People run two minute offenses outside of two minutes and have been doing it for quite some time,” Manning said. “The penalty (the Colts received against the Packers), I don’t understand it. I don’t understand it at all.

“(On a quick snap to try to catch) 12 players on the field, do you just sit there and watch him go off the field? And do you turn back (to the referee) and say, ‘Hey, are you ready?’ If that’s what we have to do, we have to do. They said (the new policy) was a work in progress and that the preseason was a time to experiment and see what it is, and to try and show (the league) some of the potential pitfalls and negatives. I hope they take those things into account.”

Addai fine — Running back Joseph Addai appreciates the concern for his health after last week’s collision with Green Bay safety Robert Francois.

Francois had picked up a fumble by Manning, who lost the ball as he stepped up into the pocket to throw, and took off for the end zone. Addai met him at the Colts’ two-yard line with a hard tackle but was slow to get up afterwards, the victim of an apparent concussion.

The early prognosis, though, proved to be wrong. He was able to return for Saturday’s abbreviated practice and should be available to play in Thursday night’s preseason game with the Cincinnati Bengals at Lucas Oil Stadium.

“I’m good, I’m good. I thought maybe you all (reporters) wanted to talk about that hit I made on the guy (at Green Bay),” Addai joked Monday, saying that he had the wind knocked out after he brought down Francois.  

“Actually, I was fine once I regrouped on the sidelines. If it had been a real game, a regular game, I would have went back in. I knew that I was okay. The starters came out (of the game) about that time, but I was fine.”

Asked later if he had received any comments from his teammates concerning his tackling skills, the fifth-year veteran just shook his head.

“If I hadn’t gone down (with the apparent injury) everybody would have said hooray (for his tackle). But since I had a little ding, (wide receiver Reggie Wayne) said that I shouldn’t have done it,” he said.

“But I would honestly probably do the same thing the next time, to try and save a touchdown and do whatever to win the game. (Some of the Colts defensive players) kind of want me on their side of the ball now.”

Job on the line — Javarris James, an undrafted rookie running back, understands his situation very well.

A cousin of former Colts Pro Bowl running back Edgerrin James, the younger James knows that time is running short for him to show what he can do to the Indianapolis coaching staff — particularly head coach Jim Caldwell, offensive coordinator Clyde Christensen and running backs coach Gene Huey.

Thursday night’s meeting with the Bengals could be his final opportunity to play in a Colts uniform. NFL teams are required to trim the preseason roster to the regular season maximum of 53 players by Saturday afternoon.

“(The Cincinnati game) is big for a young guy like me. It’s the last preseason game and that’s when they make a lot of final (roster) decisions. This is basically my season right here,” the former University of Miami runner said Monday.

James followed in his older cousin’s footsteps in college as well as his choice of NFL teams. A four-year letterwinner for the Hurricanes, he rushed for 2,162 yards and 18 touchdowns during his collegiate career. Despite those productive numbers, he was not selected in last April’s draft.

He is battling first-year running back Devin Moore to be the Colts’ fourth running back. He’s also in contention with Moore, along with rookie wide receiver Brandon James and rookie cornerback Ray Fisher, as a potential kickoff and punt returner.

Through the first three preseason games, Javarris James is the team’s second-leading rusher with 53 yards in 15 carries. He has yet to return a kickoff or punt in a preseason game, but that could happen against Cincinnati.

“I feel like I can play a lot of special teams. I can also play the fullback position (on offense), I’ve got good receiving skills and I can block,” he said. “I feel like I have a good feel for this offense. So I just hope for best.

It’s a learning process. Each week (of training camp), I’ve been getting better. I’ve been limiting my mistakes in practice and in the games.

“But this is a big game for me (Thursday night). I understand that I’m going to be able to play a lot (against the Bengals), so I just want to try and showcase my talents. Not just for the Colts, but for the other 31 (NFL) teams.”

Former Colts update — Linebacker Rocky Boiman, who played for Indianapolis from 2006-07, has been signed by the Detroit Lions.

Boiman had a tryout with the Lions earlier this summer but was not signed at that time. A former Tennessee Titans draft pick, he is well acquainted with Detroit head coach Jim Schwartz. Schwartz had been the Titans’ defensive coordinator before becoming the Lions’ head coach last year.

Other former Colts currently with NFL teams include running back Chad Simpson (Buffalo), linebacker Freddy Keiaho (Jacksonville), linebacker Tyjuan Hagler (Seattle), defensive end Raheem Brock (Tennessee), linebacker David Thornton (Tennessee), offensive guard Jake Scott (Tennessee), linebacker Mike Peterson (Atlanta), tight end Ben Hartsock (NY Jets), safety Brannon Condren (NY Jets), safety Matt Giordano (Atlanta), quarterback Jim Sorgi (NY Giants), and offensive guard Ryan Lilja (Kansas City).

Keiaho was recently placed on the injured list by the Jaguars with a concussion. Running back Dominic Rhodes, meanwhile, recently signed a contract with the UFL’s Florida Tuskers.

Roster move — Rookie cornerback Kevin Thomas has been placed on the team’s reserved/injured list.

Thomas, the Colts’ third-round draft pick in April, suffered a serious knee during a May rookie mini-camp. He had been on Indianapolis’ training camp roster until Monday.

Injury list — Among those sitting out Monday’s practice were offensive guard/tackle Tony Ugoh (toe/foot), center Jeff Saturday (knee), offensive tackle Charlie Johnson (foot), defensive tackle Antonio Johnson (groin), cornerback Jacob Lacey (concussion), and cornerback Jerraud Powers (foot).

Caldwell remains cautious about when any of the team’s walking wounded will be able to return to the practice field.