OWINGS MILLS — Hundreds of miles away from Bart Scott’s big bottle of hot sauce, Indianapolis Colts rookie running back Joseph Addai was unaware that he had been targeted by the Baltimore Ravens’ outspoken linebacker.
Scott, who happily wielded a large bottle of Tabasco sauce given to him Tuesday as the winner of the annual “Good Guy†award for his colorful cooperation and candor with local reporters, issued an intimidating prediction for Addai.
“I think it’s going to be a painful day for Joseph Addai,†said Scott while staring intensely from the podium in the Ravens’ team meeting room.
Addai is known as one of the Colts’ quietest players, but he made a lot of noise with 122 rushing yards during Indianapolis’ 23-8 wild-card victory over the Kansas City Chiefs last weekend at the RCA Dome.
Days before an AFC divisional playoff game against the Colts on Saturday at M&T Bank Stadium, the NFL’s top-ranked defense seemed to be trying to get inside Addai’s head.
“Who?†middle linebacker Ray Lewis said when asked what he thought about Addai. “Uh, I don’t know. Kansas City is Kansas City. We’re Baltimore. The impression outside of just getting a lot of balls that nobody is covering you on?
“I think any running back could have a good day doing that when you’re not getting hit. But one thing about it, no matter how many times Joseph Addai touches the football, he’s going to be hit, bottom line.â€
Lewis was far from done. He even referenced the Colts’ soft image, just as Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Joey Porter did last year during the postseason.
“You can be pretty all you want to,†Lewis said. “It’s going to be a physical ball game no matter how you want to look at it. What this defense creates right now is matchup problems for people. We can’t be blocked.â€
Scott was given the Tabasco as a nod to how he described his tackle of New Orleans Saints rookie runner Reggie Bush when he said he put some “hot sauce†on Bush’s sore ankle.
Plus, Scott vowed to uncap the bottle all over Colts quarterback Peyton Manning.
“I’m pouring this on Peyton this week,†Scott quipped.
Scott said he has already selected a bull’s eye for uncorking the sauce on Manning: right across his chest on the No. 18.
TRAINING ROOM: Besides offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden (toe), the other players listed as questionable includes offensive guard Keydrick Vincent (groin), safety Gerome Sapp (back) and tight end Quinn Sypniewski (wrist). Vincent missed the final regular-season game, but expects to be back in the lineup at right guard.
“We’re as healthy as we have been for a while,†Ravens coach Brian Billick said.
The Colts listed nine players as questionable, including: Addai (chest), linebacker Gary Brackett (ankle), offensive guard Ryan Diem (shoulder), offensive tackle Dan Federkiel (hip), cornerback Nick Harper (ankle), offensive guard Ryan Lilja (knee), defensive end Robert Mathis (hip), wide receiver Ricky Proehl (hamstring) and safety Bob Sanders (knee).
LOOKING AHEAD?: Outside linebacker Adalius Thomas, who’s expected to be one of the top free agent commodities after the season, said his focus is on the field, not his bank account.
“If you play, you get paid,†Thomas said. ‘That’s not the time for that. Like I said, our goal is Miami. Nothing changes because you’re in the playoffs.â€
SPECIAL REQUEST: Defensive coordinator Rex Ryan’s game plan includes instructions for the fans to attempt to disrupt the Colts’ ability to read the Ravens’ defensive calls.
“Obviously, they’re pretty good about picking up your signals, some people call it something else, so we have to have our system in place,†Ryan said. “If the crowd can just hold on for about five seconds when they get to the line, just kind of hang in there for five seconds, that way we can communicate with ourselves on defense and then pick the tone up the rest of the time, though.
“It would be much appreciated. We know our fans are going to be jacked-up, and that’s going to be our 12th man out there.â€
QUICK HITS: Running back Jamal Lewis played at the University of Tennessee with Manning, one of the NFL’s biggest stars. However, Lewis still has the bragging rights over his former college teammate because he owns a Super Bowl ring and Manning has yet to reach the big game. “He always says he wants a Super Bowl,†Lewis said. “With all of his accolades and everything, it’s the same thing: ‘You have the Super Bowl ring.’ I think he’s due one of these days. I just hate that we have to meet at this time.†… Scott’s remembrance of March, 1984 when the Colts left Baltimore for Indianapolis: “I was probably 4 years old, watching Sesame Street. I was just coming into my own. I probably was in preschool, messing with somebody, playing house in kindergarten or something.†… Quarterback Steve McNair was voted team Most Valuable Player by reporters who cover the Ravens.
Aaron Wilson covers the Baltimore Ravens for the Carroll County Times in Westminster, Maryland
