The most obvious former Colt to have a shot at the Hall of Fame also finds himself on a list of position players that have often been held back and overlooked, when it comes to enshrinement. Wide receiver Marvin Harrison will be officially available for Hall of Fame consideration next year. During his 12-year career, Harrison was an eight-time Pro Bowler. Harrison was named as Receiver of the Year in 2002, and was also named to the 200s All-Decade team. Harrison holds almost every receiving record in the history of the Indianapolis Colts, but may find himself held back for a few years, due to his position. Receiver Lynn Swan, a four-time Super Bowl Champion, waited on the list for 14 years, before getting inducted.

Speaking of the “Triplets” from the Indianapolis Colts team of the early 200s, running back Edgerrin James could also find himself in the NFL Hall of Fame one day, beside Harrison and Peyton Manning. James was the only player in NFL history to lead the league in rushing during his first two seasons. James is also a member of the All-Decade team for the 200os. James leads the Colts in all-time rushing yards and rushing touchdowns, and is currently 11th on the list for All-time leading rushers in the NFL.

One of the least-talked about, but most deserving Indianapolis Colts to be considered for the Hall of Fame is former offensive tackle, Tarik Glenn. Glenn played only nine years in the NFL, but was a catalyst for the successes of Harrison, James, and Manning. Had it not been for Glenn, Manning would have spent much more time on his back, rather than becoming one of the least-sacked quarterbacks in the league. Glenn, a three-time Pro Bowl player, was truly the unsung hero of the Indianapolis Colts, for the better part of a decade.

This honor is only selected for about five players a year. As the times draws near for several of the Indianapolis Colts of the late 90s and early 2000s to be considered for induction into the Hall of Fame, it should definitely be appreciated that this team was one of the best in the league for a long time. Sooner than later, we may (and should) see a few more horseshoes in the Hall of Fame.

Richard Dent shakes hands with Marshall Faulk before the 2011 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. (Jerry Lai-US PRESSWIRE, US PRESSWIRE)

Deion Sanders and Shannon Sharpe may have grabbed all the headlines from the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony on August 6, but Colts fans know who the real star of the show was.  For us, no one on that stage shined brighter during his career than Marshall Faulk, Indy’s first do-it-all running back who was the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1994.

Faulk was the Colts’ biggest draw in the years between Eric Dickerson and Peyton Manning, and he shared the spotlight with Manning for one promising season, even though the team finished 3-13 in 1998.  Faulk was shipped to the St. Louis Rams in 1999, and I felt at the time that the Colts had made a definite mistake.  Although rookie Edgerrin James outgained Faulk on the ground that season, Faulk teamed with Kurt Warner to win the Super Bowl.   The Colts eventually got their ring after the 2006 season, but it was Joseph Addai, not James who manned the backfield that season.   Although we’ll never know if Faulk would have developed into the devastating talent that he eventually became if he had continued working with Manning, I still rank him above Edge in the Colts firmament.

Also going into the Hall on Saturday was Richard Dent, who terrorized opposing quarterbacks as a defensive end for the Colts.  OK, OK Dent  did almost all of his terrorizing while with the Chicago Bears, but he did spend 1996 with the Colts near the end of his career.  In a preview of things to come, Dent teamed with Faulk that year to give the Colts a future Hall of Famer on both sides of the ball.

Congratulations to two former Colts for making it all the way to Canton.   There should be a few more Blue and White jerseys joining you in the near future … hopefully not too near, though.

Tarvaris Jackson has obviously improved since Brett Favre joined the Minnesota Vikings. Jackson may get a chance to start for the Vikes again, according to the Associated Press. Favre may be unavailable for the team’s next game. Jackson wants to make the most of this new opportunity.

“I’ve been working hard throughout this whole process, and I’ll continue to work hard,” said Jackson, suddenly the subject of interviews again with Brett Favre’s status uncertain for Sunday’s game at New England. “Now it’s about continuing to go out there and make plays.”

Jackson believes he has improved a lot since Brett joined, being somewhat mentored by the 41-year-old future Hall-of-Famer.

“Oh, yeah,” Jackson said Monday after Minnesota revealed Favre has two fractures in his left ankle that could keep him on the sideline for the first time since 1992. “I feel like I’ve improved a lot in the last year-and-a-half watching Brett. I feel like I’ve come a long way, probably the farthest I’ve come from year to year, even though I didn’t play a whole lot.”

Jackson said he can read coverages better and hit receivers better on passing patterns. He also knows how to release the ball quicker.

“I’m not Brett, and I understand that and a lot of the stuff that he sees I probably won’t see,” Jackson said. “But I’m a different player. I can move around a little bit more. Good things will come my way. I know I’m not going to go out there and operate the same way he’s going to operate, but I feel like I’ve learned a lot from him. I’m not going to try to be him. I learned a lot from him that will help me play and be better.”

Jackson is showing heart and confidence, but his hopes can’t go all that high. Favre may still want to continue his 315-game-playing streak, along with his iron will.

“Brett, he’s a warrior, so I’d be real surprised if he don’t play,” Jackson said, “but I’m going to be ready to play if my number is called.”

Jackson started out in two games in the 2006 season. Entering 2007, he was named starter. Jackson performed a okay at best, but never could even crack the 250-yard passing mark. He only threw for nine touchdowns. In 2008, Jackson struggled and was benched in the favor of Gus Frerotte. He would later come back, as he went on fire. But he then struggled again in a playoff game versus the Philadelphia Eagles. Then Favre came in.

Now Jackson has another chance to prove himself. Jackson will become a free agent next year, and many teams could be targeting him as their next starting quarterback. However, Jackson doesn’t want to prove himself for next year and worry about next year. He is only worried about right now for the Vikes.

“I’m not looking forward to next year right now. Just try to do our best right now. Just try to win a Super Bowl this year,” said Jackson, whose career record in 20 starts including one postseason game is 10-10.

We never know, Jackson could blossom now. He has been doing excellent in practice, according to reports.

“Hopefully it translates to the field, but this is the best I ever felt,” Jackson said.

Many players in the locker room have Jackson’s back.

“We’ve got nothing but utmost confidence in him,” defensive tackle Kevin Williams said.

Dante Hall’s Jersey in the Hall of Fame

After Dante Hall had four interceptions against Jay Cutler and the Chicago Bears, Hall tied an NFL record. Hall will be having his jersey that he played with heading to Canton, Ohio, home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Hall is the 19th player in NFL history to have four interceptions. The last player to do such a performance was Deltha O’Neal in 2001.

Hall is very humbled and honored about this latest news.

This was Hall’s first time he had more than two interceptions, and he felt so good about it.

“I never had anybody crazy enough to keep throwing it at me that many times,” Hall said. “To come out of that game with four was an amazing feeling.”

Tony Romo Won’t Need Surgery, Out Six-to-Eight Weeks

A scan on Tony Romo revealed that the Dallas Cowboys’ quarterback won’t need surgery, however, he will be out for the next possible six-to-eight weeks.

Romo may not be available for the whole entire season anymore. It is possible to see Jon Kitna leading the Cowboys to contention, which would lay off rest for Romo to prepare for next season.

“He’s going to be sad for awhile,” Wade Phillips said. “But then you’ve got to pick it up and go.”

Romo suffered the injury against the New York Giants last night, getting hit hard by Giants’ linebacker Michael Boley. He left the game in the second quarter.

“When he hit the ground, I heard he let out a little scream,” Boley said. “So I knew something was up. But I didn’t think he was going to lay down. I thought it was just a normal hit.”

Romo laid on the ground for a while after the hit.

“I tried lifting my shoulder and it hurt like heck, but I was like, ‘OK, it will just keep getting better,’” said Romo, who suffered the same injury to his right shoulder when he was a teenager. “The adrenaline of the game will allow me to [play], it’s my left shoulder, I don’t need to use it too much. I will figure out a way what I can handle when I’m out there, but that was before I knew it was broken.”