Gesundheit » "Look where were at, weve turned it on at the best time

INDIANAPOLIS -- Daniel Adongo is finally starting to feel comfortable with the Colts. 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. Cheap Cincinnati Bengals Jerseys . As each game passes (each has played close with the exception of last night) it becomes clearer just how evenly matched these two teams are and how one mistake, or one bad inning, is likely to sway the result. Cheap Bengals Jerseys Authentic . TSN 1290s Jordan Cieciwa, Big Marv and Toby are here to give their predictions on who will leave with the belt and who will take some of the other key bouts on the card. Johny Hendricks vs. http://www.cheapbengalsjerseyselite.com/ . Completely. Two days after releasing Peyton Manning, the longtime face of the franchise, the Colts announced they were cutting four fan favourites: running back Joseph Addai, linebacker Gary Brackett, safety Melvin Bullitt and tight end Dallas Clark. Wholesale Bengals Jerseys . The defeat leaves the 41-year-old Nestor to concentrate on the mixed-doubles event after winning 12 straight matches and winning Australian titles in Brisbane and Sydney with two different partners. "This was a little bit of a let down, but all credit to them," said Nestor. Cheap Bengals Jerseys . Lauzon rushed for 42 yards on 15 carries for the Vert et Or (2-3) while quarterback Jeremi Roch completed 19-of-32 passes for 251 yards and one interception. Alexandre Aube scored the other touchdown for Sherbrooke. SAN FRANCISCO -- After an extended slump they would rather forget, the San Francisco Giants are gaining ground and back in the thick of the playoff chase as September begins. Pablo Sandoval hit a two-run homer among his three RBIs, powering the San Francisco Giants past the Milwaukee Brewers 15-5 on Sunday to match a season high with their sixth straight win. "With our struggles here at home it was really important, just getting that confidence, the swagger, whatever, back," manager Bruce Bochy said. "I really thought we would turn it around." Madison Bumgarner (16-9) followed his one-hit gem Tuesday against Colorado with seven strikeouts in six innings to win his third straight start. The left-hander finished August at 4-1 with a 1.57 ERA, helping San Francisco stay close at 2 1/2 games behind the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers. Hunter Pence extended his NL-leading hitting streak to 13 games with a third-inning RBI double for the first of his four hits. He doubled again in the fifth and added a seventh-inning triple. The Brewers lost their season-high fifth straight road game and dropped into a tie for the NL Central lead with St. Louis. Its the first time since July 20 that they dont have sole possession of the division lead. Milwaukee has held at least a share of the lead every day since April 5. Martin Maldonado homered off Giants reliever George Kontos in the seventh, but the Brewers were swept at AT&T Park for the first time since Aug. 24-26, 2007. Milwaukee was outscored 31-8 in the series. Ryan Braun homered in the eighth. Kyle Lohse (12-8) allowed seven runs and nine hits in 5 2-3 innings for his fourth defeat in five decisions. Backup catcher Andrew Susac was given a start and went 3 for 4 with three RBIs, including a two-run double and an RBI double. Joe Panik had a two-run triple as San Francisco earned its fifth series sweep this year. The Giants have a season-best six-game winning streak at AT&T Park. The Brewers briefly took a lead in the first when Braun grounded into a run-scoring double play. Bumgarner was unscathed otherwise, allowing five hits with one walk. San Franciscos starting pitchers combined for a 1.07 ERA with 57 strikeouts and seven walks on the 6-1 homestand. "Look where were at, weve turned it on at the best time of the year," Bumgarner said. "Were getting hot and everyybodys doing their part.dddddddddddd" Sandoval tripled to start the second. He walked in a seven-run seventh, his first shot at the cycle. Fans chanted "Double!" but he flied out later in the inning. Tim Lincecum pitched the eighth and ninth for San Francisco in his first relief outing since he was pulled out of the rotation last Monday. EXTRA BASES The Giants 10 extra-base hits were their most at their 15-year-old ballpark. They twice had nine. Sundays total included six doubles, and it was their first game with 10 extra-base hits at home since Sept. 22, 1998, against the Pirates at Candlestick Park. TRAINERS ROOM Brewers: Leadoff man and CF Carlos Gomez left in the third with left wrist soreness. X-rays were negative but hes doubtful for Mondays game against the Cubs. "Right now its a little sore, but its been sore the past couple of days and its been worse in the past," said Gomez, who felt it on a follow-through while hitting. ... The Brewers will welcome Jonathan Broxton on Monday in Chicago after acquiring the right-handed reliever Sunday from the Reds to serve as an experienced setup man for the stretch run. Giants: C Buster Posey got the afternoon off, a day after he took a foul tip off the right forearm and also a couple of others Saturday night. "Buster needs a day," Bochy said. "Hes just got general soreness." ... The Giants transferred C Hector Sanchez (concussion) and INF Ehire Adrianza (hamstring) to the 60-day disabled list. UP NEXT Brewers: RHP Jimmy Nelson (2-5, 4.10 ERA) pitches the series opener against the Cubs. He is looking to snap an 0-3 stretch over his last four starts. Giants: San Francisco will resume its suspended May 22 game with the Rockies at Coors Field, using a new pitcher and lineup because rosters changed for both clubs since that day. The teams will have expanded rosters available, and Bochy wouldnt say who will pitch first. The game, suspended by weather, is tied 2-all with two outs and a runner on first in the bottom of the sixth. "That first game is going to get intriguing," Bochy said. SEPTEMBER CALLUPS After the game, the Giants recalled OF Juan Perez and LHP Mike Kickham from Triple-A Fresno and RHP Hunter Strickland from Double-A Richmond. INF Chris Dominguez and C Guillermo Quiroz had their contracts purchased from Fresno. 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