FanHouse MarlinJackson

When the Patriots and Colts meet, it's usually a pretty big deal where the national media shoves the game down our collective throats until we can't possibly take it anymore. Not really the case for tonight's game, probably because the Patriots, while still winning, haven't been the dominant force we've grown to hate, while the Colts are one Sage Rosenfels fourth quarter meltdown away from being 2-5.

It's still a big game, of course, seeing as how the Patriots are in a fight for the top spot in the AFC East, while the Colts, already all but eliminated from AFC South contention, could put a major dent in their wild card hopes with a loss.

Earlier this week Ryan Wilson told us how the Colts would be getting a boost as Joseph Addai and Bob Sanders were likely to suit up. That's good. But a few days later we learned that cornerback Marlin Jackson ended his season when he shredded his knee in practice. That's bad. Of course, this is the NFL and the Colts aren't the only team dealing with injuries. Take the Patriots, for example.

The Colts have had their fair share of injuries this year, and Wednesday in practice they suffered another one ... of the serious, season-ending nature.

Starting cornerback Marlin Jackson suffered a season-ending injury at Wednesday's practice, tearing his anterior cruciate ligament as well as meniscus cartilage that will require at least one surgery and possibly two, a league source said.

These are times when you think it's just not in the cards. Just when Joseph Addai and Bob Sanders are set to make their respective returns, a key starter goes down.

The bad fortunes of the Colts don't stop there. Remember, they made a trade to plug a void on the defensive line ... only to have the trade fall through. The reason there was a hole on the defensive line was because they were forced to cut a problem child. Nearly the entire offense has been dinged, now that Reggie Wayne was held out of practice this week.

Colts fans have had the pleasure of one of the most successful franchises for the past decade. It would seem their run of happiness is coming to a screeching halt -- even if it's just temporary -- this year.

Training camps are underway, the NFL season is a month off, and to get you ready for 2008, FanHouse previews all 32 teams, "heat index" style. We'll rate each club in 10 categories on a scale of 1 to 10, high score wins.

Quarterbacks: Peyton Manning is returning from injury, and if he doesn't in time the Colts are in serious trouble. Jim Sorgi hasn't shown himself capable in the pre-season while working with the machine known as the Colts offense, and you can't trust Jared Lorenzen as far as you can throw him (love to see anyone try that, by the way). Of course, it's Peyton ... don't worry. He doesn't miss regular season games. Heat Index: 9

Last Sunday during the CBS pregame show, the handsomely coiffed Charley Casserly informed us that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was turning his attention away from dogfighting and spying to focus on a much more sinister crime: cheerleaders. Yep, no more warming up in front of the visiting teams' locker room because, well, grown men can't control themselves, apparently. Surprising, I know.

Count the Colts as one of the teams in favor of the rules change. During their Week 2 game in Tennessee, some of the players complained of the very distraction Casserly described.

"...it was like something from a movie," said Indianapolis Colts cornerback Marlin Jackson. "You come into the locker room and they're lined up stretching. I was like, 'What's going on here?' It's like something from 'The Longest Yard.' They're in here stretching. We're trying to get warmed up. I think that's a good rule to have."

"The Longest Yard"? Really? Is Jackson saying that the Titans' cheerleaders looked like Tracy Morgan, or is he just confusing his movies?

Whatever, SBM and Colts cornerback Kelvin Hayden said he's not affected:"You might (do a double-take) but you're more focused on the task at hand." And the married guys are even less affected: "I don't know anything about it. If I did, I probably wouldn't care to comment on it," said Colts linebacker Rob Morris, with a laugh. "I didn't even know there were cheerleaders in the NFL." At least cheerleaders that resembled Tracy Morgan, anyway.

I'm sure that none of you want to read the entire Colts' draft history, so I'll keep it to their first round picks of the last 12 years.

Ok, so let's go through the list...

2006 (30) Joseph Addai: Obviously we don't know yet

2005 (29) Marlin Jackson : He's still very young. We'll give him one more year to prove himself.

2003 (24) Dallas Clark: One of the top 5 tight ends in the league

2002 (11) Dwight Freeney: Best DE in the league? Not even picked in the top 10...

2001 (30) Reggie Wayne: Besides LT, this was the steal of the 2001 draft. If it wasn't for Marvin he would be the #1 WR on one of the best teams in the league. Actually, he did have more catches then Marvin last year. Don't believe me? Look it up...

2000 (28) Rob Morris: Can we leave this one out? I almost didn't even put him in here in hope that you guys would miss it.

1999 (4) Edgerrin James:"BOOOO!! Over Ricky Willams?! What are you guys thinking?"

1998 (1) Peyton Manning: I don't even have to comment on this one. Ryan Leaf?

1997 (19) Tarik Glenn: Still one of the best tackles in the league

1996 (19) Marvin Harrison: In the year of the all-star WR's Marvin somehow slipped down to 19th

1995 (15) Ellis Johnson: 33 sacks with the Colts from 1995-2001

1994 (2) Marshall Faulk: One of the best RB's to play the game...when he was healthy.

(Note: The Colts didn't have a 1st round pick in 2004 but drafted Bob Sanders in the 2nd round...steal!)

What team could be better? Feel free to prove me wrong but I don't think you can.

This off-season, Marlin Jackson, the Indianapolis Colts 1st round pick in 2005, had to listen to critics recommend that the Colts move him from corner back to safety.

"They told me when they drafted me that I was going to play corner," Jackson said. "I'm improving the way I wanted to, and I think I've gotten better."

To be honest, Jackson had a less then stellar rookie season. He played in 15 games, recording only 43 tackle, 1 interception, and 0 forced fumbles. According to sources, Coach Tony Dungy called out Jackson's play against the Rams in the team's first pre-season game. However, after looking at the stats in his game against the Saints, Jackson recorded 4 tackles and a forced fumble. Talk about mixed signals...

Keep in mind that it was only Marlin's rookie season last year. Let's not get down on him yet and hope that there is improvement to come.