"We have to end social injustice and racial inequalities."
Chris Ballard spoke with passion and purpose Thursday, continuing a week in which the
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have put football on the backburner to discuss the pain the nation is feeling.
I apologize in advance for the lack of
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tweets today. Christmas came early for my family. Say hello to Lilliona Bremer. Today is her adoption day.
No Fun League strikes again with a taunting penalty against fourth-string RB Benny LeMay, who had the audacity to be excited about his 14-yard run.
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Quenton Nelson against a corner on the edge is a titanic mismatch. Atlanta rookie Isaiah Oliver wanted none of it and fell to the ground on the big Marlon Mack run late.
A business decision?
"Yeah," Nelson said. "Probably a smart one."
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Okereke says Matt Ryan spoke in front of the team early last week about "how to be a true team player."
Another example of the leadership the new QB brings to the building.
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WR Alec Pierce left the field before the first rookie camp practice ended today. Frank Reich said the concern level is low. Believes it might be related to dehydration.
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fans have taken a lot of hits recently. I’ll just say from my vantage point in small-town Indiana, I’ve seen more team gear worn this week than the rest of the preseason combined.
Fans seem to be rallying around one another. They deserve credit for that.
Another strong series for AR. TDs to Alec Pierce and Michael Pittman Jr.
He’s 14-for-17 with 3 passing TDs and a rushing TD.
Pitt has 5 catches and a TD
Pierce 3 and a TD
Mitchell 3.
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Kwity Paye on his hamstring: "I'm at the stage where it's just like eff it. If I'm banged up, I'm banged up. I just want to go ball with my bros."
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First big pass play for Anthony Richardson of
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camp is a bomb to Alec Pierce in 7-on-7.
Scrambled to his left and aired the ball out roughly 55 yards for the TD.
Jonathan Taylor on SiriusXM NFL Radio: “I’m assuming that (Carson Wentz) is going to be back because I love him in the locker room, I love him on the field.”
Notes QB extended many plays and made others with his legs, adding a dimension
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have lacked.
JT: "I'm here right now, and my No. 1 thing is to take care of my teammates. ... What this city needs is a championship, and that's what I'm here to do."
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Jonathan Taylor says Darius Leonard's work ethic and the way he goes about his business is rubbing off on the entire defense. Has an impact on takeaway numbers this season.
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Play of the day so far: Sam Ehlinger scrambles to his left to evade pressure, throws back across his body and finds Mike Strachan on a deep post. Probably 50-yard gain.
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No surprise, after winning the rushing title, making his first Pro Bowl and likely being named an All-Pro soon, Jonathan Taylor says he wishes he could have done more to help his team this season.
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Frank Reich believes the 7-9
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are close to where they need to be.
Evidence? They beat three of the four AFC semifinalists, going 3-2 in five total meetings.
In the two losses they were tied or had the lead in the fourth quarter.
Food for offseason thought.
This obviously is the worst loss of Reich's four seasons, and it's got to be one of the worst in franchise history.
Wentz deserves his fair share of blame, but not just him. None of the seven Pro Bowlers made a difference today. Coaches have a lot to answer for, too.
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One trade that makes sense to me that absolutely has no basis in fact: Marlon Mack to the Eagles for Ryan Kerrigan.
Mack goes to a scheme he knows for the second half of the year,
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get a veteran edge rusher with Indiana ties to help the kids grow.
Anthony Richardson finishes his first 7-on-7 drill with a red-zone TD to a sliding Vyncint Smith.
He was 2-for-2 with a TD to Ethan Fernea and a rushing TD in 11-on-11 drills.
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T.Y. Hilton told the coaches in the offseason he was willing to sacrifice touches of it means the
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will win. Extremely rare act for any player, especially one in the final year of his contract. Part of the reason Hilton is viewed as a leader.
If nothing else, this week’s “Hard Knocks” showed the heart of this franchise. You can criticize whatever you want on the field. It’s all fair game. But this team cares about people in a way that’s rare. I saw that first hand with our adoption. Nation sees it now.
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Lots of speculations as
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QB Watch 2022 continues. Truth is the player Indy drafts this year or next is far more important than the player they sign or trade for this week or next.
Matt Ryan plans to get the WRs together this summer in small groups. Feels the more intimate groups helps get more quantity and quality to the work.
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Blackmon said Kenny Moore pulled him aside in the locker room at halftime and reminded him he needs to be a play maker. No time for a rookie learning curve. Helped Blackmon relax and play.
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Reggie Wayne and Shane Steichen "were beating the drum for awhile now" on Adonai Mitchell.
Ballard is not happy with the anonymous jabs taken at the Texas WR. "Put your name on it" is the cleanest version of his comments.
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Looking for someone to root for during the
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bye week? Losses by the Steelers (at Minnesota) on Thursday and the Bills (at Tampa Bay) on Sunday should move Indy into the seventh seed in the AFC.
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announce WR Ashton Dulin, RB Nyheim Hines, LB Bobby Okereke, WR Michael Pittman Jr., CB Xavier Rhodes and QB Carson Wentz have been named as Pro Bowl alternates.
His name was Indiana Bones, but we all called him Indy. He was the best boy, and cancer stole him from us today. There’s a little less joy in the world.
Leonard on 2021: "I fell out of love with the game."
Lots of off-field issues including injuries and family illness piled up, and he wasn't himself. Wasn't the smiling, energetic guy he's always been.
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Darius Leonard wants to "leave a mark" in his first meeting against Aaron Rodgers. Packers QB recently told Fred Warner he's the best LB in the NFL, a comment that didn't miss the Maniac's radar.
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Michael Pittman Jr. says it's every player's dream to stay with the same team their entire career and "hopefully, I can do it again in three years."
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Rodney McLeod said he was "very impressed" with the
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defense in particular and the team in general over the past few years. Believes the team is just a few pieces away from winning a championship. That played big role in his decision to sign here.
It's no surprise, but Sam Ehlinger seems completely mentally prepared if he has to play Sunday. The rookie clearly has done his homework on the Raiders' defense and he has a detailed plan for getting extra time with WRs.
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Laiatu Latu said he was “ecstatic” when he saw his No. 97 jersey and his name above a locker today. Chose the number to fit the legacy of Dwight Freeney (93) and Robert Mathis (98) as current DL leader DeForest Buckner (99).
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Darius Leonard's message to his team this week: "You only get one opportunity." Adds it's hard to make the playoffs, and this team can't let the opportunity slip away.
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Matt Eberflus says Kwity Paye has quickly picked up the
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defense. Already showing the ability to take details from the meeting room to the practice field. Bodes well for the future.
Shaq Leonard says Sam Ehlinger beats him into the weight room every day and is still working out after the LB leaves.
Shocked by the QB change, notes it’s not on Matt Ryan. At the same time, ready to roll with whoever’s under center.
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