Poor Bill Belichick. His coaching career has come to this: He has two defenders, Al Groh and me. Groh and Belichick have been on several NFL staffs together, so that figures. As for me, that’s a hard one PAUL
WOODY
to believe, isn’t it? I’m no great fan of Belichick and the way he runs his team. He treats the smallest piece of information as if it were a state secret. He pushes the rules to the limit and beyond.

INDIANAPOLIS - The Colts have no problems with close games - as long as they keep winning them. Peyton Manning turned in a strong performance, Joseph Addai produced a second straight winning score and the Colts won 20-17 when Houston’s Kris Brown missed a 42-yard field goal attempt on the final play. “I think that’s the mark of a great football team,“ center Jeff Saturday said, referring to the close calls. “We’ve won eight games so far, and we’re ahead in our division, which is really our main focus and goal.“

INDIANAPOLIS - The injury bug is still haunting the Indianapolis Colts. Cornerback Marlin Jackson and safety Bob Sanders were lost for the season yesterday as the team placed them on injured reserve. Jackson, who missed the second half of the 2008 season after injuring his right knee during practice, suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury to his left knee during a non-contact drill Wednesday. He had been rehabbing the knee after he was hurt against Seattle on Oct. 4.

INDIANAPOLIS—Indianapolis’ 16th straight regular-season victory will fit neatly into the Colts’ record book. This week’s game tapes will show the Colts how imperfect they really are. With Peyton Manning out of sync and the offense struggling to score touchdowns, the Colts turned to a former quarterback—Joseph Addai—for a 22-yard TD pass that gave Indy an 18-14 victory and its own version of a perfect regular season.

INDIANAPOLIS - Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri will be out four to eight weeks after having arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, and the team waived starting defensive tackle Ed Johnson yesterday to make room for a new kicker. Indianapolis signed veteran Matt Stover to replace the reliable Vinatieri, who had a piece of cartilage removed during the surgery.

INDIANAPOLIS—Middle linebacker Gary Brackett and cornerback Kelvin Hayden did not travel with the Indianapolis Colts to Arizona where they will play the Cardinals tonight. Brackett injured his left knee late in last Sunday’s victory at Miami. Hayden hurt his hamstring. Both were held out of practice this week. Freddy Keiaho likely will replace Brackett, the defensive captain, in the starting lineup. It’s uncertain who will replace Hayden for the Colts in the secondary.

INDIANAPOLIS—Peyton Manning must like something in the Florida air. It’s where he puts on his most amazing prime-time magic shows. The three-time MVP showed off his newest trick in Miami on Monday night, rallying the Colts to a 27-23 victory in a game where the Colts offense held the ball less than 15 minutes. Improbable, yes.

GREEN BAY, Wis. - The Cincinnati Bengals nearly blew a 10-point in the final minute as the Green Bay Packers ran out of time at the 10-yard line and fell 31-24 yesterday. Trailing by 10, the Packers (1-1) kicked a late field goal and recovered an onside kick. Aaron Rodgers marched them to the 10, but Green Bay was called for a false start to end the game.

INDIANAPOLIS—Peyton Manning threw for one touchdown, Joseph Addai ran for another and the Indianapolis Colts’ defense stopped the Jacksonville Jaguars twice in the fourth quarter to secure a 14-12 season-opening victory. Though Manning (28 of 38, 301 yards) tied John Unitas’ franchise record for career wins with 118, it was hardly a thing of beauty.

Seventeen coaches have won more NFL games than Tony Dungy. Many coaches have a better playoff record and have won more Super Bowls. No NFL coach has been more important than Dungy.

INDIANAPOLIS—Tony Dungy has retired after seven years as coach of the Indianapolis Colts, saying this was right moment. “These seven years have been better than I could ever have imagined,“ Dungy said at a news conference this afternoon. “I just have to thank everyone.“ He will be replaced by associate coach Jim Caldwell. Dungy, 53, has spent the past five years debating whether to leave football to spend more time with his family. He said he and his wife discussed the decision.