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  • Colts President Bill Polian signs an autograph for Chelsea Law during a fundraising luncheon for the Children's Bureau at Anderson University's Reardon Auditorium Friday afternoon. Abbey Doyle / The Herald Bulletin

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August 13, 2010

Polian shares secrets at AU

By Rick Teverbaugh The Herald Bulletin

ANDERSON, Ind. — The Indianapolis Colts soon will have a new member for the Ring of Honor at Lucas Oil Stadium.

There are six honorees now: Jim Harbaugh, Chris Hinton, Bill Brooks, Robert Irsay, Ted Marchibroda and the 12th Man, a tribute to the fans.

Colts president Bill Polian spoke Friday afternoon during a fundraising luncheon for the Family Resource Center and provided a news item. He was asked about the possibility of renaming Lucas Oil Stadium for former team head coach Tony Dungy.

“I may be scooping our (public relations) people here, but on Nov. 1 Tony will be put into our Ring of Honor,” Polian said.

That news drew a resounding cheer from the nearly 100 invited guests at the luncheon.

The team outlook that Polian provided to the crowd, many of whom were decked out in Colts shirts and jerseys, had a noticeably positive slant.

“We have a good chance to be a better team than last year,” said Polian, comparing this year’s unit to the team that was runner-up in last season’s Super Bowl. “(Adam) Vinatieri, (Anthony) Gonzalez and (Bob) Sanders are healthy this year. They are difference makers. Gonzo (Gonzalez) is our best big-play receiver. We haven’t had one the past two years. Every time he touches the ball, a big play happens.

“Adam is maybe the greatest clutch kicker ever. Bob is Bob. He is a special player. He plays hard all the time and as a result he gets injured a lot.”

Defensively he figures the team will be able to put more pressure on opposing quarterbacks because of the health of both ends, Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney. “When we’ve had those two together without an injury we won a Super Bowl. When we are without one, we aren’t successful.”

He figures the Colts have found help in that regard as well from No. 1 draft pick Jerry Hughes and free agent signee John Chick. “We wanted to get a third pass rusher,” said Polian. “Jerry Hughes is going to be a good player. John Chick will make the team. We may have found four now.”

There were a couple of downsides.

“I think the offensive line is a work in progress,” said Polian. “We’ll get that sorted out. That’s what the four pre-season games are for. I believe we have a good group of young players who are ready to step up and work.”

He believes there are 11 teams in the American Football Conference who have a chance to make the playoffs. “We won’t go 16-0 I can guarantee you that,” said Polian. Most fans would probably settle for 15-1.

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