The beginning of the end for the Colts
The Indianapolis Colts have been one of the best teams in the AFC for several years now, along with winning the AFC South the past five years. With five starters starting training camp on the physically unable to perform list; it looks like the Colts downward slide into oblivion is starting.
The five starters are wide receiver Marvin Harrison, who turns 36 in August, saftey Bob Sanders, 27, defensive end Dwight Freeney, 28, linebacker Tyjuan Hagler, 27 in December, and most importantly quarterback Peyton Manning.
It is only a matter of time before all the extra playoff games take a toll on a players body. Sanders is good, but is constantly hurt. Of his four seasons he has only twice played in more than fourteen games.
Harrison is simply on the downside of his career. Even the ledgendary Jerry Rice could not stop father time from catching up. How effective Harrison will be this year reamains to be seen, as he missed most of last year.
Freeney missed nine games with a Lisfranc injury. It usually takes surgery to heal, which he did do. However, according to about.com one complication of the injury is post-traumatic arthritis. It is a more accelerated version of degenerative arthritis, and may neccesitate fusion of the joint to prevent debilitating pain. Such a proceedure would end his season, again.
Hagler tore a pectoral muscle while lifting recently. According to the Tribstar.com the pectoral injury is only the latest in a variety of injuries, since Hagler arrived in 2005 as a fifth round draft pick.
However, all eyes will be on Manning. Manning had a infected Bursa Sac removed, which is known as Septic Bursitis. According to medical websites it is common to think that a infected bursa sac is just inflammed, because the symptoms are similar.
The fact that Manning had surgery to deal with it means two different things. Either the bursa sac was hard to get to, or it was a sevre infection. The reason being the most common way to treat Septic Bursitis is with draining it with a needle, and then a round of antibiotics.
The numerous injuries are troubling, and if they continue into the season, then the Colts could miss the playoffs for the first time in years.