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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Ravens need to revive offense
The Pittsburgh Steelers might have to start third-string quarterback Dennis Dixon against the Ravens on Sunday night if Ben Roethlisberger (concussionlike symptoms) and Charlie Batch (wrist) are both sidelined.
The Ravens' offense is hurting these days,...Tags: Matt Birk, Willis McGahee, Cleveland Browns, Ben Roethlisberger, Mark Clayton
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Ravens' Washington out for season
Cornerback Fabian Washington will miss the rest of the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, the second major injury of the season suffered by the Ravens.
Washington, who will join linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo (torn left...Tags: Miami Dolphins, Indianapolis Colts, Brendon Ayanbadejo, Fabian Washington, Chris Carr
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Once-in-a-lifetime appearance for Towson U. band
Baltimore Sun reporterKristen Ulloa, along with the rest of the Towson University marching band, is used to playing in front of a few hundred people, maybe even a few thousand at TU football and basketball games. But when they march in the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade Thursday,...Tags: Petroleum Industry, Colleges and Universities, Bruce Springsteen, Holidays, Thanksgiving
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Colts 10-0 Again... Yawn!
IndySportsNationSo here we go again. The Colts are 10-0 and fans are thinking undefeated season and Super Bowl. As someone who's covered this team for the past 11 seasons I can tell you that I'm not ready to hang a banner just yet. And to the team's credit, neither are...Tags: Ben Roethlisberger, Tom Brady, New England Patriots, Television Industry, Multi-Sport Events
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Surging Tennessee takes another step toward saving season, beats Texans 20-17
AP Sports WriterHOUSTON (AP) — Rob Bironas kept the Titans' unlikely turnaround going with another winning kick against the Houston Texans. Bironas booted a 53-yard field goal with 47 seconds left and the Titans won their fourth straight after starting the...Tags: Houston Texans, NFL, Kris Brown, Kerry Collins, Chris Johnson
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Patriots preparing to face second unbeaten team in 3 weeks, the 10-0 New Orleans Saints
AP Sports WriterFOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The last NFL team to go unbeaten in the regular season gets its second chance in three weeks to stop an opponent from chasing that same goal. The New England Patriots hope to do better this time. The club that went 16-0 in...Tags: Miami Dolphins, Indianapolis Colts, Marvin Harrison, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints
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Chicago still close to Leslie Frazier's heart
Minnesota Vikings assistant head coach/defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier loves Chicago and aspires to one day become an NFL head coach. "Chicago will always be a fond place in my heart," Frazier said Monday morning before heading into coaching...Tags: Antoine Winfield, Adrian Peterson, Colleges and Universities, Brett Favre, Multi-Sport Events
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Punt? Please, don't
No one goes to a football game hoping for 60 minutes of three-and-outs followed by punts. Few youngsters dream of making the National Football League to do nothing but punt. Punters don't date supermodels. As a rule, their job qualifies as one of...Tags: NFL, New England Patriots, Boston Bruins
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Packers, Redskins lose several players for season; top QBs also hurt
AP Football WriterThe playoff chase has gotten much more difficult for the Packers after they lost two key defensive players to season-ending injuries. Cornerback Al Harris and linebacker Aaron Kampman will have knee surgery after suffering major injuries Sunday. Both...Tags: Ben Roethlisberger, Calvin Johnson, Kurt Warner, Washington Redskins, Broken Leg
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Broncos bomb; Raiders, Chiefs surprise
KDVR Denver SportsDENVER, Colo. - This in one of those Mondays when it hurts just to climb out of bed. Nonetheless, here are my thoughts on the Denver Broncos and the rest of the NFL, starting with other happenings in the league. First and foremost: How the heck do the...Tags: Miami Dolphins, Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, Washington Redskins
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Colts hope close games create tougher playoff team
AP Sports WriterOn paper, everything looks perfect for Indianapolis. The Colts are 10-0 again, in charge of the AFC South again, and could lock up another playoff spot in the next two weeks. Yet with four straight victories by four points or fewer, coach Jim Caldwell...Tags: Peyton Manning, NFL, Super Bowl, Kris Brown, Brett Favre
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Who replaces Jason Ferguson? What about switching to 4-3?
SunSentinel.comAsk Mike! SunSentinel Dolphins Writer Mike Berardino answers YOUR questions about the team! You can read his latest comments below. To submit your question, e-mail here. Please include your name, city and state with each question. -------------------...Tags: Sailing, Colleges and Universities, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Pat White, Fred Taylor
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