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ANDERSON, Ind. (Aug. 3, 1998) -- Peyton Manning is ready for some real hitting. After a good performance in last week's practice against the St. Louis Rams, Manning is ready to get his NFL playing career started. He'll get his chance Saturday as the Colts take on the Seattle Seahawks in a preseason game at the Kingdome, but ask Manning and the idea of 250+ linebackers running full speed at you is just all part of being a highly touted, highly paid rookie quarterback in the NFL. "It's gotta happen sometime," Manning said. "I really don't grade myself. If I make a mistake, I just learn from it. Getting out there is the only way I'm going to learn." Mora pleased with practices No one was happier with the way the Colts worked Monday in practice than head coach Jim Mora. After five hard practices against the Rams in Champaign, Ill. last week, the Colts came out and had productive practices in Anderson. "We had two good practices today," Mora said. "After the practices against the Rams, the team came out here today and started to work hard." What pressure? As much focus as there has been on Peyton Manning to come in and run the Colts offense, there is just as much focus on who's going to keep him from getting sacked. But as far as offensive guard Tony Mandarich is concerned, the offensive line knows its job. "There's no pressure for us," Mandarich said. "We're going to have to start playing games. It's all new. It's so different than last year, it is going to be one of those time-will-tell things." Speaking of Mandarich... With all of the hype Manning's entrance into the NFL has generated, Mandarich is one person who knows what it means to come into the NFL with big expectations. In 1989, when Mandarich was drafted second overall by the Green Bay Packers out of Michigan State, he was supposed to be someone who would produce immediately. But in 1993 he was not in the league. In 1996, he made his comeback by signing with the Colts and has been on the roster ever since. However, Mandarich doesn't see Manning's entrance as a parallel to his own. "Manning is growing up now, unlike me when I came into the league in '89," Mandarich said. "He's going to be an asset to this team offensively and defensively." The walking wounded The Colts have been hit hard by injuries in the area of linebacker. In addition to Quentin Coryatt still being out with a shoulder injury, the Colts also have to practice without linebackers Sammie Burroughs, who has a shoulder injury, Whit Marshall, who has hamstring pulls in both legs and Warren Rouse, who is suffering from an ankle sprain. All are questionable for Saturday's game. Also injured is tight end Marcus Pollard with a separated shoulder. It is unlikely he will play against Seattle. |