Tom James
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Indianapolis Colts head coach Jim Caldwell was known for conducting relatively short, but highly productive, practices during the 2009 regular season.
He isn't changing a thing just because the Colts will be taking on the New Orleans Saints in Super Bowl XLIV on Sunday.
The Colts had a quick one-hour and 44-minute workout on Wednesday and followed that up with a practice Thursday.
"We've played 22 games this year. I want them to be nice and hungry come Sunday," Caldwell said. "Our Wednesday practices have been pretty sharp this year. And [this week's] was right in line with that. It went well out there. The guys got acclimated well and got some good work in."
Injury report -- Sitting out Thursday's practice were offensive guard Ryan Lilja (back), defensive end Dwight Freeney (ankle) and rookie cornerback Jerraud Powers (foot).
Freeney is continuing to hold out hope that he will be able to play, albeit at a reduced level, against the Saints this week.
“Yep, I am still day to day. Like I said, every time I wake up in the morning I reassess the situation. I’m just feeling it out. It’s starting to feel a little better and it is starting to look more like an ankle now," he said Thursday.
“It is definitely a little sore. I think that is the nature of the injury, but it is making progress.”
Freeney added that he may try to test his right ankle during Friday's practice.
"I will probably go out and see what I can do tomorrow and then Saturday a lot more," he said. When asked if it would help if he were to swap sides with left defensive end Robert Mathis, Freeney didn't think that would do much good.
“Actually, it really doesn’t matter because the way I play I do move both ways, cutting and moving both ways. I don’t think the other side would help any more, I would still have to make a move," he explained.
Caldwell said Thursday that he is continuing to take a wait-and-see attitude concerning the availability of Freeney and Powers.
"In relationship to Dwight it’s day to day. It just kind of depends on how he feels and what the doctors think. In terms of how much he’s going to do, we kind of just go with the flow and allow him to adjust as he goes. We anticipate it’s going to be the latter part of the week before he does anything," the Colts coach said.
"Jerraud Powers I would put in the same category. He’s coming along, he’s moving a lot better, he looks pretty good so we’ll see. He’s day to day as well.”
The Saints' practice report remained the same as it was on Wednesday.
Running back Lynell Hamilton (ankle), did not practice. Cornerback Randall Gay (foot), cornerback Malcolm Jenkins (hamstring), defensive end Bobby McCray (back/ankle), safety Pierson Prioleau (quad), wide receiver/kick returner Courtney Roby (knee), safety Darren Sharper (knee), tight end Jeremy Shockey (knee), defensive end Will Smith (groin), offensive tackle Zach Strief (shoulder), and middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma (knee) all saw limited work.
Free performance -- The Who's Roger Daltry and Pete Townshend performed an impromptu mini-concert Thursday at the Super Bowl Media Center.
The Who will be the halftime entertainment for Super Bowl XLI. Carrie Underwood, who will perform the national anthem Sunday night, and Queen Latifah also conducted a press conference Thursday. Latifah, Steve Winwood and Chris Daughtry will sing "America the Beautiful" during the pre-game show.
Tom James writes for The Tribune Star in Terre Haute, Ind.
