Friday, August 16, 2002
Colts shorthanded for Bengals game
Top two running backs won't play
The Associated Press
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — Maybe Mr. Irrelevant won't live up to his nickname against the Bengals Saturday night. Jim Finn, the last pick of the 1999 NFL draft, could take center stage this weekend against visiting Cincinnati as the Indianapolis Colts seek someone who can start in their injury-plagued backfield.
“Tom Moore said he's taken Jim off his two-year probation after he had that fumble a couple of years ago against the Jets,” quarterback Peyton Manning joked this week. “So Jim's excited he might get some more carries now.”
Moore, the Colts' offensive coordinator, may have no other choice.
What was considered one of the team's deepest positions — with two 1,000-yard rushers — appears dangerously thin for the Colts' second preseason game.
Coach Tony Dungy knows this much: Two-time rushing champ Edgerrin James won't play and Dominic Rhodes, who ran for 1,104 yards last season after replacing James, likely won't play either. James is recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament sustained last season.
Rhodes, who already had been playing with an injured left shoulder, hurt his right knee in the final 30 minutes of practice Thursday night while running a sideline pass route. He limped off the field.
Dungy said an MRI of Rhodes' knee would be performed by Friday morning.
“We don't know the extent” of the injury, Dungy said. “It's too soon to say on that.”
The coach was unsure who might fill in at running back for Rhodes on Saturday. Both James and Rhodes have practiced this week in pads.
Finn and Gay can thank a rash of injuries for their opportunity.
Last week, Shyrone Stith started against Seattle and ran eight times for 29 yards but twisted his left knee. He practiced Monday and Tuesday with a large knee brace before sitting out Wednesday and Thursday.
The Colts said Thursday that sixth-round draft pick Brian Allen would be out for the year because of a sprained ligament in his left knee that he suffered in practice last week. Allen has missed more than a week of practice, and underwent surgery Thursday.
Earlier this week, the Colts waived rookie free agent Walter James after he injured a shoulder against Seattle.
And if Stith and Rhodes cannot play, Indianapolis would be left with only three running backs — Finn, Gay and Wes Ours.
“We're working on an empty backfield set, and our second option is all the big tight ends and Wes Ours,” Dungy joked on Wednesday. “We'll get you our big, big, big attack.”
Ours, a fullback by trade, is listed at 6-foot, 288 pounds but appears much heavier. Gay was claimed off waivers from Cleveland this offseason.
Finn is a fullback in an offense that rarely uses one and is the only one of the three to have logged a carry for the Colts. That carry, his only NFL run, led to a goal-line fumble in the Colts' 23-15 victory over the New York Jets on Nov. 12, 2000.
Last week, though, Finn was the Colts top runner, carrying eight times for 35 yards and a touchdown. He also caught two passes for nine yards and managed to turn heads.
“Jim ran well the other night,” Manning said. “He's one of those guys who's real unselfish. He's one of those guys we ask to do a lot.”
Gay might be the most natural tailback of the three at 6-1 and 227 pounds. He had 51 carries for 172 yards with the Browns last season as a rookie, and is eager to get a chance with the Colts.
“I have to keep my head in the game, stay focused and calm down,” he said. “I have to breathe and keep my composure and as our (running backs) coach Gene Huey likes to say, I have to play with poise.”
How much action Gay gets may be dictated by what the Colts decide about Finn.
He's played fullback, tailback, tight end and on special teams since signing with the Colts as a free agent in 2000. After last week's performance, Finn said more told him to expect more carries this week — making him a more significant contributor and shedding his nickname.
“He's been primarily a blocker during the regular season, and he's always caught the ball well,” Manning said. “But as he showed the other night, he can run the ball when he's called upon.”
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Colts shorthanded for Bengals game 
