INDIANAPOLIS — Peyton Manning's goals remain the same. It's the Colts' short-term focus that has changed.
Instead of using the preseason to fine-tune their high-scoring offense, they are still waiting for Manning to get healthy enough to make a difference — and perhaps make Indianapolis' Super Bowl hopes come true.
"You understand why it's being hyped up, but it's so far away it doesn't even it feel like it's this year yet," kicker Adam Vinatieri, who already owns four Super Bowl rings, said.
The muted reaction inside Indy's locker room is understandable given the team's recent run of success. It has won seven of the last eight AFC South titles, tied the NFL record with nine straight playoff appearances, but uses Super Bowl victories as the measuring stick.
This year, with Indianapolis hosting its first Super Bowl, the city's expectations have changed. Fans are no longer discussing the 4 and a half-month lockout that put the big game in jeopardy and would rather debate whether the Colts can become the first team to play the Super Bowl in its home stadium.
"They would love it," defensive captain Gary Brackett said.
Getting there was never going to be easy, and Manning's slow recovery from offseason neck surgery has been a bigger obstacle than anyone anticipated.
For only the second time in his 14-year career, Manning did not take a snap in training camp and he's expected to miss all four preseason games. The last time that happened, Indy started 3-4 and had to win its last nine just to make the playoffs.
If the neck injury does end Manning's streak of 227 consecutive games, including playoffs, most figure the Colts have no chance at reaching the Super Bowl. But the Colts have a penchant for redefining conventional wisdom.
Indy finished last season with 18 players on injured reserve, including star tight end Dallas Clark, and still won the AFC South. It won more regular-season games (115) between 2000 and 2009 than any team in any decade in league history. After reeling off 23 straight wins between 2008 and 2009, the Colts pulled their starters in the third quarter of Week 15, throwing away a shot at a perfect season.
Players think they can do it again.
"It's not like we're going to not play games and close up shop," Clark
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