Category: Colts

Former Colts TE Ben Utecht describes his experience playing with Peyton Manning

Former Indianapolis Colts tight end Ben Utecht describes his experience playing with Peyton Manning w/ @EdEastonJr

This week, Touchdown Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. spoke to former Indianapolis Colts tight end Ben Utecht.

In his interview with Easton Jr., Utecht discussed his collaboration with his alma mater, the University of Minnesota, on developing the Shower Sockᵀᴹ and his experience playing with pro football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning.

“We assembled a team of student engineers (University of Minnesota) to start the prototyping process,” Utecht said of the development of the Shower Sockᵀᴹ. “We also built out some teaching opportunities, where I had a chance to come in and provide some teaching and coaching around organizational culture. This is my passion outside this business, as I work with companies and help them build championship cultures using the Tony Dungy model.

“They wanted to bring that into their ecosystem. So, I had a chance to pour into the students and faculty as well. In return, they partnered with me to help me build this prototype to launch in the marketplace. So I hope that partnership will remain as we begin a hard launch and build a larger product line over time.”

Utecht played four seasons for the Colts after going undrafted in 2004 out of Minnesota. He credits the culture during his tenure with the franchise, especially with Manning as quarterback, pushing him to be a better player.

“Peyton Manning’s skill level actually removed or balanced the pressure,” Utecht explained. “When you have somebody like Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, or Drew Brees, you have an example of a true professional who stewards every moment. The day is different than the rest, elevating every player’s performance on the field, naturally and subconsciously. It just everybody’s confidence goes up. Everybody’s attention to detail goes up. Everybody’s energy, you know, and what they’re giving on every play increases, and you don’t even really realize it’s happening.”

Utecht started in the Colts Super Bowl XLI victory over the Chicago Bears. He finished with one catch for eight yards.

“So when you have a quarterback, that is a master of the football chess game. You trust that he will put you in the best position to win every time,” said Utecht. “So when the ball is coming to you, it’s because of what he’s seen, and you’re the person that’s open. If he places the ball on your back hip, it’s because he’s telling you that the corner is coming from the outside, so you need to adjust and come back inside, or else you’ll get hit. I mean, that’s how specific Peyton was on his ability to put the ball in the right place to give you the best chance to win. And that actually removes pressure because, because of the ability, the amount of trust you have in that player has increased dramatically.”

For more information on the Shower Sock, log on to ShowerSock.com & follow on X, Instagram and Facebook

Aaron Rodgers, Jets fall to 3-8 after losing to Colts

The Colts got a late touchdown to edge the Jets

After the win over the Houston Texans, Jets fans were told everything was ahead of them.

More like the train bearing down on Gang Green.

The Indianapolis Colts got a four-yard touchdown run by Anthony Richardson in the final minute on Sunday at MetLife Stadium to pick up a 28-27 win.

The loss dropped Aaron Rodgers and the lowly Jets to 3-8. All New York needs to have a season with a better than .500 record is to win out over its next six games.

The Jets’ last drive pretty much sums up the Rodgers experience:

Rodgers was sacked by Kwity Paye and fumbled on the first play, but the Jets recovered. After Breece Hall had an 11-yard catch and a delay-of-game penalty was called on the Colts’ E.J. Speed, Rodgers was sacked again by Paye — sealing the win for the Colts (5-6), who snapped a three-game skid.

Super Bowl champion Ben Utecht reveals lessons learned from Tony Dungy

Super Bowl champion Ben Utecht reveals lessons learned from Tony Dungy w/ @EdEastonJr

This week, Touchdown Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. spoke to Super Bowl XLI champion Ben Utecht.

In his interview with Easton Jr., Utecht discussed his work as a mentor at the University of Minnesota, his development of the Shower Sockᵀᴹ, and the lessons he learned from former Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy.

“When you enter, especially now in college, with what NIL has done and how it’s changed the financial support system for college athletes, now more than ever, your business,” said Utecht. “Your body is your business. The physical wellness of your body is monumental to your sustainability as an athlete in college and a profession, and it’s our job to do whatever we can to care for those athletes and to put them in the best position to be healthy.”

In 2019, Utecht created a Shower Sock prototype alongside University of Minnesota engineering students, leading Medical School clinicians, and the Bakken Medical Device Center industry experts.

“We know, according to multiple platforms, that 20 to 25% of the world’s population at any given time is suffering from bacterial or fungal infection. The National Institute of Health says that 15% of the world’s population suffers from athletes’ foot,” Utecht explained. “The American Academy of Pediatrics says 10 to 15% of college athletes miss performance time due to bacterial or fungal infections. These infections cannot only impact performance because of pain but also can remove you from the game itself, which has a huge impact on the team, the university, or the professional sports organization you’re playing for. So the ultimate goal for sports is to do whatever we can to care for the physical wellness of our players.”

The Colts starter played under Dungy for several years, including the Super XLI season. During this time, he learned about leadership culture and continues to use the teachings in his life after football.

“Tony Dungy was the first to win a Super Bowl, built on servant leadership. He believed that if you build better men, you get better football players,” said Utecht. “The first team meeting we had, he entered the room, quoted his head coach from the Pittsburgh Steelers, and said, ‘Man, if you’re sitting in this room and your entire identity is wrapped up in a sport, you’ve completely missed the purpose of your life.’ Whoa, that’s a different way to start a team meeting in the NFL.”

The Colts finished with a 12–4 regular-season record and earned their first Super Bowl appearance since 1970. Utecht had his best season as a pro, finishing with 37 catches for 377 yards.

“Tony taught me that culture does not have to be subjective; it can be objective. It can be the strategy that guides every decision an organization makes, and it’s all built on the practice of a shared belief system that drives organizational values,” said Utecht. “Do your behaviors reflect what you value based on what you believe? That was a radical experience for me, and I decided to build a career around that. My degree was in public speaking, and the question was, what’s my story? And I said, Gosh, this is my story. I have to tell the world what I experienced on that Super Bowl championship team, so it’s been really exciting.”

For more information on the Shower Sock, log on to ShowerSock.com & follow on X, Instagram and Facebook

Colts mascot Blue gets rough with fourth graders in halftime game

The Colts mascot takes playing fourth graders too seriously

The Indianapolis Colts mascot might find a home on the team’s defense … if there a game against players a third of his size.

Colts mascot Blue was part of a halftime game between mascots and fourth graders Sunday night.

Blue likes to roughhouse and was at it again with the kids, throwing one to the turf and pushing him around.

The children decided to attack back and wound up ripping Blue’s jersey off the mascot.

Blue doesn’t seem to have a clue when it comes to playing gentle.

Blue did make a touchdown catch any that would have made any Colts receiver proud.

Joe Flacco to start at QB for Colts against Vikings

Joe Flacco is in and Anthony Richardson is out at QB for the Colts

The only excuse Anthony Richardson will have for being tired Sunday when the Indianapolis Colts play the Minnesota Vikings is because it is a night game.

The 2023 first-round pick will not be the quarterback for the Colts, That role goes to veteran Joe Flacco.

Richardson made unfortunate NFL news in Week 8 when he pulled himself from a loss to the Houston Texans because he was tired before a key play.

That obviously didn’t sit well with coach Shane Steichen and Richardson now will be the backup to Flacco.

Will Anthony Richardson start in Week 9? Update on Colts quarterback

Will Anthony Richardson continue to start for the Colts at QB

Anthony Richardson update

The Indianapolis Colts are 4-4 heading into a Week 9 game with the Minnesota Vikings. Colts head coach Shane Steichen wasn’t ready to commit to Anthony Richardson as the starting QB against the Purple

“We’re evaluating everything,” Steichen said on Monday.

Why might Anthony Richardson be out?

The Colts lost to the Houston Texans in Week Eight. Richardson didn’t do himself any favors by pulling himself from the game because he was “tired.” Yes, on a key play in the third quarter, the starting quarterback asked out and was on the sidelines, taking a knee.

“Tired, I ain’t going to lie,” Richardson said after the game. “That was a lot of running right there, and I didn’t think I was going to go that next play. I needed a break right there.”

Teammate DeForest Buckner defended Richardson.

“Obviously, if he checked himself out of the game for a play, it means something was really wrong, he was feeling something, you know what I’m saying,” defensive tackle DeForest Buckner said. “We know he’s a big-time competitor. He wants to compete, he wants to be out there. When a guy like him checks himself out of the game, it has to be something serious. He had to be feeling something.”

Indianapolis Colts quarterback depth chart

Richardson sits atop the quarterback depth chart … for now. Behind the first-round pick is veteran Joe Flacco and former Texas QB Sam Ehlinger. Keep an eye on this because it is subject to change before the game with the Minnesota Vikings on “Sunday Night Football.”

Colts’ great T.Y. Hilton dumps WWE Superstar Seth Rollins on field

WWE Superstar Seth Rollins had some fun at the Colts-Bears game

Seth Rollins of WWE thought he pulled the ultimate heel move during the Chicago Bears’ game on Sunday with the Indianapolis Colts.

He tore off his Anthony Richardson jersey to reveal a Caleb Williams jersey underneath it.

Former great Colts wideout T.Y. Hilton was having none of it and dropped Rollins onto the field.

Former Colt Daniel Muir arrested in child endangerment case

Former Colts lineman Daniel Muir has been arrested

Former Indianapolis Colts defensive lineman Daniel Muir and his wife have been arrested after their teen son was found safe. Bryson Muir had been the subject of a missing persons investigation.

Daniel Muir faces preliminary charges of domestic battery (Class A misdemeanor) and obstruction of justice (Level 6 felony) while his mother, Kristen Muir, faces a preliminary charge of obstruction of justice (Level 6 felony), ISP said.

Arrest warrants had been issued for both parents. Police took them to the Cass County Jail.

This morning at approximately 6:00 a.m., members of the Indiana State Police SWAT team executed search and arrest warrants, both issued by the Cass County Circuit Court, on Daniel and Kristin Muir’s residence, located at 1740 W. US Highway 24, Logansport, IN.

The operation led to the discovery of Daniel, Kristin, and Bryson Muir at the home. Bryson was the subject of a Silver Alert which was issued on June 28, 2024. Daniel and Kristen Muir were taken into custody without incident and remanded to the Cass County Jail. Bryson Muir, who appeared safe and well, was released to the care and custody of the Cass County Department of Child Services.

Arrested and Charges:

*Daniel T. Muir, 40, Logansport, IN

(1) Count of Obstruction of Justice, Level 6 Felony

(1) Count of Domestic Battery, Class A Misdemeanor

Arrested and Charges:

*Kristin Muir, 38, Logansport, IN

(1) Count of Obstruction of Justice, Level 6 Felony

Indianapolis Colts’ best sleeper pick: Anthony Gould, WR, Oregon State

Oregon State’s Anthony Gould could be a surprise speed receiver for the Colts in his rookie campaign.

The Colts were pretty set at receiver from a B-level to D-level perspective before the 2024 draft, and they upped the ante with Texas’ Adonai Mitchell in the second round. But don’t overlook the selection of Oregon State receiver Anthony Gould with the 142nd overall pick in the fifth round. At 5′ 8⅜” and 174 pounds, Gould tested very well at the scouting combine, and that all shows up on tape. Gould will be a slot guy at the next level, and he’ll amplify his place in the position with some nasty foot fakes at the line, and impressive vertical speed. And while he has some juice as a return man, General Manager Chris Ballard sees him as more than just that.

“Obviously, he’s got the return ability, but he can do some things at wideout as well. To add that speed – he’s a 4.33 guy, another speed guy. We know Anthony [Richardson] can throw it so it’s good to get both of those guys.”

Last season, Gould caught 44 passes on 70 targets for 711 yards and two touchdowns. Were he a bit bigger, and had he played in the SEC, we might be talking about a third-round pick here.

The Xs and Os with Greg Cosell: Our favorite draft picks (mostly) outside the first round

In this week’s “Xs and Os,” Greg Cosell and Doug Farrar get into their favorite draft picks (mostly) outside of the first round.

Now that the 2024 NFL draft is in the books, which players who were not selected in the first round have the best chances to make real impacts on their new NFL teams? In this episode of “The Xs and Os with Greg Cosell,” Greg and Doug Farrar get into their favorite guys mostly outside of the first round.

Ricky Pearsall, WR, San Francisco 49ers — We’re cheating a bit here, as Pearsall was selected with the 31st overall pick, but if the 49ers keep both Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk on the roster, Pearsall can impact the passing game in ways that his new teammates will find complementary, and in ways that bring new colors to Kyle Shanahan’s playbook. Also, watch out for fourth-round receiver Jacob Cowing from Arizona as a smaller speed element.

Renardo Green, CB, San Francisco 49ers — On the defensive side, and with the 64th overall pick in the second round, the 49ers got a cornerback who showed all the athleticism and coverage skills you want at the position, and brings an absolute dawg mentality. You need look no further than Green’s tape against LSU’s Malik Nabers.

Marshawn Kneeland, DL, Dallas Cowboys — The Cowboys’ scouting staff is one of the NFL’s best, and with the 56th overall pick in the second round, Dallas picked up the Western Michigan and Senior Bowl star, who brings Khalil Mack to mind with his power-based rush, and Za’Darius Smith to mind with his effective gap versatility.

Malik Washington, WR, Miami Dolphins — Stop us if you’ve heard this one before, but the Dolphins got a receiver who’s really fast in some really interesting ways. Washington, the Virginia receiver who Miami stole with the 184th overall pick in the sixth round, brings an exciting, physical style that puts defenses in severe conflict when those defenses also have to deal with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.

Cole Bishop, S, Buffalo Bills — The Bills’ former secondary got old overnight, and a re-do is now necessary. Bishop, the Utah star, is a prefect safety with which to rebuild because he can do just about everything at a high level.

Adonai Mitchell, WR, Indianapolis Colts — Mitchell showed at Texas that he has first-round talent, and if he can put it together with the nuances of the position, he’ll give the Colts the alpha receiver that seems to be the only thing this offense was missing. Not bad for the 52nd overall pick in the second round.

Jalen McMillan, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers — McMillan may have been the lost member of the Washington receiver group from a production standpoint due to injury in 2023 (which is how the Bucs were able to get him with the 92nd overall pick in the third round), but the tape shows a valuable deep receiver who can expertly dice zone coverage downfield.

Trey Benson, RB, Arizona Cardinals — At Florida State, Benson showed the ability to run with power like a bigger man, and to evade tackles with the agility of a smaller back. The Cardinals selected Benson with the 66th overall pick in the third round, and they’ll likely avail themselves of Benson’s special skill set sooner than later.

Bub Means, WR, New Orleans Saints — At Pitt, Means displayed the ability to be a fantastic deep receiver despite a trio of quarterbacks who really struggled to do anything. Odds are, the Saints got a receiver with the 170th pick in the fifth round who can be even better in the NFL — all he needs is functional quarterback play to turn it loose.

You can watch this week’s edition of “The Xs and Os” right here:

You can also listen and subscribe to the “Xs and Os” podcast on Spotify…

…and on Apple Podcasts.