Colts Kick Off The Pre-season Saturday Night On 103GBF!

103GBF is your home for Indianapolis Colts Football. The Colts begin preseason play vs The Rams Saturday night with the pre game starting at 6pm. Colts fans like myself are glad to have a healthy Dallas Clark back in action. Clark is a ninth-year pro who has made his mark on the field as one of the game’s finest players.

Asked on the camp’s opening day how he thought Clark was about returning, Head Coach Jim Caldwell was ready with an appropriate response.

“Dallas (Clark) is an unusual guy. He loves football,” said Caldwell, an Iowa Hawkeye just like Clark. “I’m not certain that you will find anyone, any more infatuated with the game then he is. He exudes it. He walks out on the field, he has a great time, he loves practice and does a tremendous job, it’s infectious.”

After playing 10 games in his 2003 rookie season, Clark appeared in no fewer than 12 outings in any season through 2009. The 2010 season was much, much different.

Clark was helping the Colts close out an October victory at Washington when he suffered a wrist injury. The injury was serious and delicate enough that he would miss the rest of the season. The year was over for him in one play. To that point, he had 34 receptions for 347 yards and three scores – numbers that continued to show his vital role in the offense.

After surgery and weeks of rehabilitation, Clark is back plying his trade. His attitude is just the same as always, and his exuberance is that of someone who is doing what he loves while having no trouble doing it.

“It feels great. I have not felt it, which I’m trying not to jinx myself or think about it too much,” said Clark. “I’m just seriously trying to take it day-by-day and just kind of cross whatever bridge that comes – however it feels, whatever attention it needs, more therapy, more post-workout treatments and things like that. It feels great, so I’m really excited.”

His return to the field is a welcomed sight for Colts fans. His practice gear has one addition, a splint for his wrist. The splint should be visible for a while, per the team doctor.

“He wants me to wear that all year. At first I was pretty not excited about it, but I’ve gone out to practice here and been able to catch and block and pass pro(tect) and do everything I need to do,” said Clark. “A ball I dropped, I took my eye off it. It wasn’t the brace or anything like that, so that’s exciting. It’s not inhibiting (me) from doing what I need to do. It looks stupid but other than that it does its job. It gives me just a little bit more protection. I’ll probably wear it all year. We’ll see what happens, we’ll take it week-by-week.

“They say it’s a year recovery, so it’s October, (and) we have a few months before that. They’re probably just taking it day-by-day going off what I feel. I seriously have not felt it. It hasn’t given me any reason to idle back on practice. It’s just great. It’s exciting and they’re really excited about it as well. So far, so good.”

So far, so good is great news to Clark’s fans. He wants to reward those fans and his teammates by playing in the preseason opener on Saturday in St. Louis. When asked if he is looking forward to play, Clark was, well…..Clark.

"Gosh, yeah, yeah. I don’t know, I actually might be nervous, it’s been so long,” he kidded. “I will be excited to get out there. I know it’s only preseason, so you have to keep the excitement at a minimum. It’s hard to get excited for a couple of series, but I will enjoy the heck out of those.”

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