League action this Thursday night, st | Forum
miaowang123
Oct 12 '17
INDIANAPOLIS -- Daniel Adongo is finally starting to feel comfortable with the Colts. Sam Mills Jersey . Thats good: The Kenyan rugby star is about to play his first football game -- ever -- when Indianapolis faces Cincinnati on Sunday in a showdown of division leaders. Adongo has figured out the lingo and nuances of the sport, learned the proper way to put on pads and a helmet, and knows his place in the Colts locker room. Theres still more work to do, but the newly minted linebacker will get to show the whole football world how far hes come in four months. He will be primarily on special teams, but playing football for the first time in the NFL in a game with playoff implications? "I am excited," Adongo said Wednesday, one day after being promoted from Indys practice squad to the active roster. "As I said before and Ill reiterate it, my excitement is being subdued by the fact I have a task, an obligation and a duty to perform whats being asked from me for the coaches and my teammates." It was late July when general manager Ryan Grigson decided to take the plunge after a yearlong quest to find an overseas player who could help his team. Grigson gambled on Adongo, a Kenyan native and world-class rugby player who was big, fast and had a penchant for hitting. Adongo, surprised initially by the invite, made the flight to Atlanta, then hopped on a connecting plane to Indy and worked out at the Colts headquarters during a rookie mini-camp. Within hours, the Colts signed Adongo to a contract and two days later, the 6-foot-5, 257-pound football novice stood out when he reported to training camp in a pair of short shorts and soccer-style shirt. Back then, of course, some wondered if Adongo could cut it in the worlds best football league. There are few doubters left. "It was a stretch," NFL sacks leader Robert Mathis said when asked about his initial thoughts of Adongo succeeding. "I think hes made everyone believe." By some accounts, Adongo has become a major headache for the Colts offensive line in practice. And now that hes up to 270 pounds, he could create problems for opponents, too, if he gets into the game as a pass-rusher at Cincinnati (8-4). The Colts (8-4) are being patient, though. Rather than pushing Adongo into preseason games, they kept their secret under wraps as he got acclimated. Adongo started the season on the practice squad. But with Adongo showing steady progress in practice and Mario Harvey, a key special teams player for Indy, going on season-ending injured reserve with a torn meniscus Tuesday, the Colts decided to give Adongo a chance. Coach Chuck Pagano said he expects the rookie to play primarily on special teams and hes confident Adongo will make a difference. "The guy is a smart guy. We know from a physical standpoint hes very, very athletic. He can run. Hes big. Hes strong. Hes a tireless worker. Hes been a great pro," Pagano said. "Even though he hasnt played, hes picked up a ton. Our veteran guys, guys like Robert (Mathis) and the rest of the guys in the defensive room, have been tremendous working with him and mentoring him and bringing him along and helping his development to this point." One thing the Colts do know is that Adongo can hit. He began his athletic career playing for the Kenya Harlequins junior rugby team. Eventually, he wound up on the countrys U-18 and U-19 rugby squads. In 2006, scouts from the University of South Africa spotted Adongo during a tournament and a year later, he was attending the school. Then it was off to the prestigious Sharks Academy, and last year he competed in the Varsity Cup for the University of Pretoria. This year, he was playing for the Southern Kings of Super 15 Rugby when the Colts got in touch. Now, just a few months later, Adongos teammates believe hes ready. "Hes taken the language, the lingo, digested it and regurgitated that to the point now where he asks questions and we have to go back and look it (the language) up," Mathis said, smiling. "The last few months, Ive seen it every day in practice, whether its a spin move, a bull rush or whatever, and thats when you knew he was getting better." All he has to do now is prove he can play on game day. "Im still just getting comfortable with my movements in pads, and that type of stuff," he said. "Im not happy where Im at right now." Notes: Pagano said right guard Jeff Linkenbach would not play Sunday because of a partially torn quad muscle. He did not name a replacement but said the Colts would take a look at former starter Mike McGlynn, backup Joe Reitz and left guard Hugh Thornton. ... Starting cornerback Greg Toler, who has missed five straight games with a groin injury, did return to the practice field Wednesday. He is considered day-to-day. P.J. Williams Jersey . Nwaneri, who was born in Dallas and attended Naaman Forest High School in nearby Garland, Texas, tweeted, "Its official! Im coming home, Im coming home. Morten Andersen Jersey . Last July, F1 teams held in-season testing sessions at Silverstone to assess new tires provided by Pirelli after several blowouts on the same circuit at the British Grand Prix in June prompted a furious response from drivers and even a boycott threat the following week.Michael van Gerwen refused to engage Phil Taylor in a verbal battle after their latest Premier League showdown, says Wayne Mardle. Van Gerwen and Taylor played out a dramatic 6-6 draw on night seven and the pair then shared a lively post-match interview at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow.With Mighty Mike standing a few inches away, Taylor warned his rival: Look into my eyes, Im going to get him. Sky Sports expert Wayne Mardle had joined the pair on stage and believes Van Gerwen was purposefully blocking out this defiant prediction from The Power. Normally in years gone by, the player that is playing Phil hangs on every word he says, because hes been the master. But Michael feels hes better than him. Wayne Mardle Michael, you could clearly see, could not give a hoot what Phil Taylor was saying or doing, said Mardle. He was just disappointed.Hes got a respect for Phil on the board, but once the game was done he just wanted to be out of there. He didnt want to listen to Phil. Michael van Gerwen missed three winning darts as Phil Taylor came from 5-1 behind to draw six all with the Dutchman in the Premier League Normally in years gone by, the player that is playing Phil hangs on every word he says, because hes been the master, but Michael feels hes better than him. Price Boost Smith, Anderson & Lewis alll to win now 13/2 from 11/2 Phil was the one over the moon and actually said a draw was a good result. New Orleans Saints Jerseys. Michael didnt feel that way, not at 5-1 up. He would have been absolutely livid and devastated.Taylor overcame an early deficit to claim a draw and Mardle feels the 55-year-old would have gained confidence from this battling result.But the Sky Sports expert insists the story of the match was more about Van Gerwen giving away a point rather than Taylor deservedly earning one. Michael van Gerwen hit the first 170 of the 2016 Premier League to move within a leg of beating Phil Taylor Walking away with the upper hand, it would have been Phil Taylor, because Michael had darts to win and didnt, said Mardle.Michael was the favourite to win and didnt. Being 5-1 up, that would have hurt Michael. But Michael still played well and showed that he has to miss for Phil to get anything out of that game.In my opinion we learned little. Michael should have won and didnt. The only thing that you could say was something to hang onto - was that Phil believes hes still got the game to beat Michael van Gerwen, which is obviously a positive for the world of darts.SKY BET PRICE BOOST: MVG to win, hit the highest checkout & score most 180s now 1/1 (was 8/11)!Watch all of the Premier League action this Thursday night, starting at 7pm on Sky Sports 1. Or watch for £6.99 without a contract, on NOW TV. Also See: Mardles PL predictions Sky Live: PL night eight Fixtures/Results Prem Table Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys ' ' '
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