The Indianapolis Colts are well represented at the Hall of Fame this weekend with two former members being inducted and the team facing off against the Packers for the first preseason game of the new season.
Nearly all of the mid-2000 Colts are headed to Canton, Ohio this weekend. They’ll be on hand to celebrate their former coach Tony Dungy and teammate Marvin Harrison. The Colts also get the distinct pleasure of kicking off the 2016 season by squaring off against the Green Bay Packers Sunday night in the year’s first preseason game.
Only Robert Mathis and Adam Vinatieri were teammates with Harrison and coached by Dungy, but they’ll hardly be the only ones on hand for this event.
Peyton Manning will of course be there to honor his favorite target and his favorite pro coach. Jeff Saturday, Ryan Diem, Dallas Clark, Gary Brackett, Dwight Freeney, Reggie Wayne, Edgerrin James will also be making the trip (and a few of them have a chance to be inducted into the Hall in the near future).
There was certainly no way that Manning would be missing this event. He spoke with 1070 earlier in the week about the joyous trip.
"“To have two people that have been a huge part of my football life going in…I’m not sure it gets much better than that,” Manning said.“I’ve really had a chance this week to reflect even more about all of their accomplishments and their impact on me. It’s been a lot of fun just to reflect on how awesome those guys were. It’s very special. I’m pumped about it.”"
While the schedule kicked off earlier in the week, the main events are yet to come this weekend.
Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Where: Pro Football Hall of Fame, Canton, Ohio
When: Saturday Aug. 6 7:00PM EST
TV: ESPN
Harrison is scheduled to speak first, and it will probably be the shortest speech of the night. Dungy will go second to last, just before Brett Favre.
Hall of Fame Game
Where: Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton, Ohio
When: Sunday Aug. 7 8:00PM EST
TV: ESPN
The Colts technically host the Packers for the first of five preseason games this season. Don’t expect many starters on either team to play this Sunday. The Packers have said Aaron Rodgers is unlikely to play and with some starters out on the Colts offensive line, Andrew Luck might be sitting as well.
We’ll have more on this game throughout the weekend.