Highlights
The Baltimore Colts were an NFL franchise from 1953-1983, winning three NFL titles and a Super Bowl. Quarterback John Unitas, the face of the franchise, took the field for injured starter George Shaw in 1956. He led the Colts to a .500 record the rest of that season and would go on to become a Hall of Famer and one of the city's most beloved athletes of all-time. In 1958, the Colts defeated the Giants at Yankee Stadium in what became known as "The Greatest Game Ever Played." The game boosted the NFL's popularity, due largely to the fact that it was broadcast to a national television audience. Running back Alan Ameche scored from 1 yard out to give the Colts a 23-17 win in the first overtime...
The Baltimore Colts were an NFL franchise from 1953-1983, winning three NFL titles and a Super Bowl. Quarterback John Unitas, the face of the franchise, took the field for injured starter George Shaw in 1956. He led the Colts to a .500 record the rest of that season and would go on to become a Hall of Famer and one of the city's most beloved athletes of all-time. In 1958, the Colts defeated the Giants at Yankee Stadium in what became known as "The Greatest Game Ever Played." The game boosted the NFL's popularity, due largely to the fact that it was broadcast to a national television audience. Running back Alan Ameche scored from 1 yard out to give the Colts a 23-17 win in the first overtime game ever and their first championship. The Colts found themselves in a familiar spot in 1959, facing the Giants again in the NFL championship game, which was played at Memorial Stadium this time. New York took a 9-7 lead, but Unitas led the Colts to 24 fourth-quarter points and a 31-16 victory for their second straight title. Weeb Ewbank coached the Colts from 1954-1962. The franchise's first owner was Carroll Rosenbloom. After the Colts finished 7-7 in 1962, Ewbank was fired and Don Shula was brought in. Shula helped the Colts to a 12-2 record in 1964, and Unitas was named the league's Most Valuable Player. But the Colts lost to the Cleveland Browns in the NFL championship game. The Colts played in Super Bowl III in 1968 behind quarterback Earl Morall, who won the MVP filling in for an injured Unitas. However, they were defeated by quarterback Joe Namath, former Colts coach Ewbank and the Jets in what some consider the biggest upset in NFL history. The Colts were shifted to the AFC in 1970 as part of the NFL-AFL merger. They advanced to the Super Bowl for the second time in three years and won this time, defeating the Dallas Cowboys for the championship. In 1972, the Colts had their first losing record since 1955, and Unitas was traded after the season. The Colts won three straight AFC East titles from 1975-1977 under Ted Marchibroda. The franchise selected future Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway with the first pick in the 1983 draft, but he refused to join the team. The Colts played their final game in Baltimore on Dec. 18, 1983. Owner Robert Irsay, who took over the team in 1972, began to think about moving the Colts to another city in the offseason because of poor attendance and an aging Memorial Stadium. The Maryland legislature tried to use eminent domain laws to keep the team in Baltimore, so Irsay used now infamous Mayflower vans to take the team to Indianapolis in the middle of the night. Colts fans woke up the next morning without a football team. The Indianapolis team kept the Colts' records, uniforms and logo, which angers Baltimore fans to this day. Baltimore was without a professional football team until 1996 when the Ravens arrived. The original Baltimore Colts played in Baltimore from 1947-1950 as part of the All-America Football Conference. The following players have had their numbers retired: Unitas, Buddy Young, Lenny Moore, Art Donovan, Jim Parker, Raymond Berry and Gino Marchetti.
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I Was Wrong
IndySportsNationHow was your week? I had a nice week eating crow! One week ago I wrote a column analyzing the Semi-State pairings and predicting the winners. It is the same column I've written each Thursday of the high school football season. Throughout the regular...Tags: Dining and Drinking, Joe Montana, Apples, San Francisco 49ers, Television Industry
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Rookie Webb's star is rising
As Lardarius Webb prepares for what might be his first career NFL start before a prime-time audience, the Ravens rookie cornerback feels as if he doesn't have to prove anything.
"It's not about me, man. I'm just out there trying to fill in a void. I just...Tags: Cincinnati Bengals, Fabian Washington, Hines Ward, Ben Roethlisberger, Chris Carr
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Ravens tackle Gaither continues education
The first time Ravens left tackle Jared Gaither faced Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker James Harrison, Gaither was a nervous rookie playing for the first time in prime time. It did not go well for Gaither that night at Heinz Field. When the dirt...Tags: Matt Birk, Oakland Raiders, James Harrison, Michael Oher, Ray Lewis
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Gaither recalls first matchup with Steelers' Harrison
Baltimore Sun reporterThe first time Ravens left tackle Jared Gaither faced Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker James Harrison, Gaither was a nervous rookie playing for the first time in prime time. It did not go well for Gaither that night at Heinz Field. When the dirt...Tags: Matt Birk, Oakland Raiders, James Harrison, Michael Oher, Ray Lewis
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Catching up with Joe Washington
He wore silver football shoes, the right color for a mercurial runner. Was there ever a seam so small that Joe Washington couldn't sneak through it? For three years, he rallied Colts fans, feinting and dashing and dancing for yardage, a ray of hope on a...Tags: Dining and Drinking, New England Patriots, San Diego Chargers, Defense, Wine, Beer, and Spirits
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Ravens mediocre record puts playoff in perspective
Coach John Harbaugh was right when he declared the season wasn't over and the Ravens still had a shot at the playoffs. It might be a tough road for the Ravens (5-5), especially having to play Pittsburgh (6-4) twice in the remaining six weeks, a team that...Tags: James Harrison, Ray Lewis, Michael Oher, Fabian Washington, Ozzie Newsome
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What they're saying about the Ravens
Baltimore Sun staffHere's a look at recent media coverage of the Ravens. • CBSSports.com's Clark Judge breaks down the playoff contenders, but doesn't like the Ravens' chances of making it to the postseason. The prognosis: Grim. The Ravens have been moved to the...Tags: New England Patriots, Peyton Manning, NFL Preseason, Mass Media, Joe Flacco
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McNabb, Justice defy their detractors
OF THE MORNING CALL-- Funny how just two days after quarterback Donovan McNabb disproved all kinds of ill-conceived theories about his inability to perform in the clutch that Eagles teammate Winston Justice was rewarded for overcoming a similarly inaccurate stigma....Tags: Donovan McNabb, Ben Roethlisberger, Contracts, National Football Conference, Dallas Cowboys
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Dorsey earns another shot at Crenshaw
From Staff ReportsDespite losing two fumbles that led to touchdowns, Los Angeles Dorsey defeated host Woodland Hills Taft, 24-20, Wednesday night in a City Section Division I playoff quarterfinal by making key defensive stops. As a result, the 12th-seeded Dons advanced...Tags: Bullfighting, University of Southern California
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Colts can clinch AFC South title at Houston
AP Sports WriterThe Indianapolis Colts spent the entire offseason talking about the importance of winning back the AFC South title. Now with the unbeaten Colts on the verge of achieving their first major goal, they'd rather the discussion be about anything else. They...Tags: Major League Baseball, Joe Paterno, NFL, Indianapolis Colts, Peyton Manning
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Texans want to rev up offense
AP Sports WriterThe Houston Texans were averaging almost 28 points when they went on a three-game winning streak earlier this season. Since then the offense has slowed down and managed just 17 points in each of the last two close losses. The Texans know they'll need to...Tags: NFL, Chris Brown, Peyton Manning, Houston Texans, Kris Brown
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Colts list nearly half team on injury report
Three-time MVP Peyton Manning was a limited participant at Colts practice Wednesday because of a backside injury. Manning has not missed a start in his 12-year career, a streak that is at 201 including playoff games. He was listed as a limited...Tags: Peyton Manning
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