Tony Dungy wanted Saturday night's preseason game to be a tuneup for the defending Super Bowl champions. Peyton Manning was thinking more about cleaning up. The Super Bowl MVP threw three first-half touchdowns and was nearly perfect as the Colts routed the Lions 37-10 for Indy's second win in 13 preseason games. "Detroit was pretty active in their blitzes, and when they're doing that, it's going to give you some chances to throw the ball," Manning said. "Our execution in the passing game was pretty good."

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, whose leadership ability was once questioned by a teammate, joined the fray between his younger brother Eli and the former Giants running back Tiki Barber, now a commentator for NBC. During a television broadcast Sunday night, Barber criticized Eli?s leadership skills. Eli fired back at Barber on Tuesday, and Peyton took a shot yesterday at former players who join the news media after their playing careers end and then criticize current players. ?Ex-players truly become ex-players right away, the No. 1 job is to criticize players,? said Peyton Manning, who had his ability to lead publicly questioned several years ago by the former Colts place-kicker Mike Vanderjagt. ?I?m pretty defensive of all quarterbacks. Eli is my brother. I?m very loyal to my family. I?d rather you criticize me. I don?t think anybody knows what it?s like to be a quarterback except a current quarterback. Sometimes former quarterbacks forget what?s it?s like. You cannot play quarterback at any level ? you?re in a leadership position. To do it for three years in high school, three years as a starter in college, taking your team to the playoffs ? you are a leader and you?re a good leader."

Bad Rex was back at his worst Monday night. Not that the Bears needed any reminders of what happens when Grossman goes awry -- even in the preseason. After struggling for most of Grossman's 26 plays, the Bears' backups bailed him out and eventually overcame the miscues to beat the Colts 27-24. "I haven't lost any (confidence)," Grossman said. "I hope the Chicago fans and everyone else hasn't lost any. I'm a pretty optimistic guy. Just because I throw an interception in the preseason doesn't take away from a good camp."

Finally winning "the big one'' will change Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, according to ESPN broadcast analyst Ron Jaworski. "I'm convinced the weight of the world is off his shoulders,'' said Jaworski, who visited camp Saturday in preparation for Monday night's telecast of the Bears-Colts preseason game. "Now he can take a deep breath and exhale. I think he can play looser now.'' Despite being a two-time NFL MVP and being voted to seven Pro Bowls, Manning often was criticized for not taking the Colts to the Super Bowl. He finally accomplished that in February, and was named MVP in the Colts' 29-17 victory over the Bears.

The preseason prognosis for injured Indianapolis Colts safety Bob Sanders is the same as it was last year: Don't count on seeing him play until the third exhibition game. Coach Tony Dungy said Friday he expects Sanders to start practice next week, but the hard-hitting 2005 Pro Bowler probably won't be ready to play in a game until the Colts host Detroit on Aug. 25. If that's the case, it would be the second consecutive preseason that Sanders has missed the first two games to rehabilitate from offseason shoulder surgery. "I think he'll probably get some practice time as the week goes on, but I don't know if he'll play," Dungy said. "We're kind of targeting the (third game) as far as getting him in game action."

The Indianapolis Colts will be without Anthony "Booger'' McFarland for the entire 2007 season. The veteran defensive tackle was placed on the NFL's injured-reserve list prior to Thursday night's preseason game with the Dallas Cowboys. McFarland, 29, tore the patella tendon in one of his knees during a training camp practice last Friday in Terre Haute. He underwent surgery Tuesday. President Bill Polian said the team's surgeons informed him "it was a difficult operation and involved a long recovery, and there's no chance of him coming back'' this season.

Wade Phillips' first game coaching the Cowboys opened with a pass to Terrell Owens and ended with a victory over the Super Bowl champs. Sure, it was only preseason, but that didn't stop Phillips from enjoying his team's 23-10 victory over the Colts on Thursday night.

The Indianapolis Colts might have to mount their Super Bowl defense without defensive tackle Anthony McFarland. According to multiple sources, McFarland informed teammates and close friends he suffered a serious knee injury in a training camp practice Friday at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute. It's believed he tore a patella tendon, which would likely end his season. Neither McFarland nor his agent, Karl Bernard, could be reached for comment. The Colts also had no comment when contacted Sunday afternoon. Saturday, coach Tony Dungy said McFarland was one of several players who underwent a magnetic resonance imaging test in Indianapolis.

The Indianapolis Colts released former Pro Bowl defensive tackle Corey Simon on Saturday. Colts owner Jim Irsay said Wednesday that he expected to release the tackle within the next few days.

Colts owner Jim Irsay said Wednesday night that he expected to release former Pro Bowl tackle Corey Simon within the next few days, ending months of speculation concerning Simon's future with the Super Bowl champions. Simon did not pass his physical over the weekend. He was expected to report to camp on time Sunday but was never seen at Rose Hulman Institute of Technology.