Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning is a pretty good actor in his commercials. He's just as adept acting on the field.
Manning is a master of changing the play at the line of scrimmage, but the audibles he calls are sometimes dummy calls, designed to confuse defenses.
"He does so many things under center, trying to make you hold everything that you're doing,"
Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier said. "Sometimes he's changing plays at the line of scrimmage, saying 'Jose' and 'ice cream,' or whatever. It's just a lot of different things. Some of it is real and some of it is not real. You just have to be patient, and when the time comes, play football."
Vikings nose tackle Pat Williams played against Manning often when he was with the Buffalo Bills, and he said it's almost comical listening to him at the line of scrimmage. But it's also a trick that's a bit annoying.
"He be audibling too damn much,"
Williams said. "The offensive line ain't that smart to know all them audibles. It's all just crazy, and I basically know all them ain't football terms. They don't have that many audibles in that playbook, because everybody can't remember all that."
Williams said it's up to the Vikings' defensive line to put more pressure on the quarterback Sunday. The Vikings didn't get a sack against Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers, and now they're faced with a pocket passer who is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.
Last week, Manning played a subpar game by his standards, completing 30 of 49 passes for 257 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions in a 29-13 home loss to Chicago. Manning did not appear in any exhibition games because of a knee injury.
"He was kind of rusty last week, kind of slower,"
Williams said. "I don't think he's 100 percent. We watched the film and he's not moving like he did last year. I think that knee's sore. He's probably going to be better this week than he was last week, though."
The banged-up offensive line had problems protecting Manning, who was sacked twice and hurried four times. The Colts could get a boost if starting Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday returns from a knee injury. Saturday is listed as questionable, but he participated in practice all week.
Williams said it doesn't matter if Saturday plays because he won't be 100 percent. Backup Jamey Richard, a rookie seventh-round draft pick, had a rough game against the Bears.
"I watched film of the other center, and he was getting killed,"
Williams said.
Stadium envy: A team of Vikings officials, including co-owner Lenny Wilf, toured the Colts' new stadium.
Vikings vice presidents Lester Bagley, Steve LaCroix, Kevin Warren and Steve Poppen joined Wilf as they met with development, stadium authority and Colts leaders to discuss Lucas Oil Stadium, which features a retractable roof. The Vikings leaders also chatted with Colts owner Jim Irsay.
"It's very impressive, and it's not over the top,"
Bagley said.
Bagley noted the Vikings and Colts have much in common, highlighting the fact both are in the Midwest and in similar-sized markets. For several years, the two teams were ranked among the league's least valuable teams, according to Forbes' annual valuation of the 32 NFL teams. In 2004, the Colts were ranked 29th and the Vikings 30th.
In this year's ranking, published on Wednesday, the Vikings are ranked last in the NFL, while the Colts are No. 8, with a value of $1.1 billion.
"There's a lot we learned and a lot Minnesota can learn from Indiana,"
Bagley said.
Leaders from the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission were there for a separate set of meetings, Bagley said.
Injury updates: Left tackle Artis Hicks (elbow) and kick returner Maurice Hicks (foot) are questionable for Sunday's game. Coach Brad Childress said their status will be game-time decisions. Both were limited in practice Friday. Artis Hicks did not appear to be wearing the brace on his arm.
Childress said safety Madieu Williams is progressing after suffering a nerve injury in his neck during training camp. Williams watched practice from the sideline Friday, without the neck brace he has worn. He originally was expected to miss six weeks, which means he might come back sometime after the third game.
