The Toronto Argonauts of the CFL have granted kicker Mike Vanderjagt's request for a release. "I enjoy my life out of the spotlight," Vanderjagt said. "I thoroughly appreciate all the Argonauts have done for me over the course of my career both before my time in the NFL and after. I have nothing but the utmost respect for the organization." He added that the release doesn't necessarily mean that he is retired. "Having been born and raised in southern Ontario, I appreciate the feeling the fans there gave me of always being home," Vanderjagt added. "Instead of retiring, I have asked for my release to leave my options open in case my feelings change."

Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney is expecting the team to look different defensively under new coordinator Larry Coyer. "He definitely has new stuff, some very interesting things that help out a lot and are a lot different from last year," Freeney said. "We also have a lot that is the same, and I think, sometimes, change is a good thing. "I think you'll probably see more movement and maybe some different coverages and fronts. Mostly doing some things just to tweak it up a bit, keep the offenses on their toes."

Peyton Manning is beginning to show his frustration with all the changes to the Colts' coaching staff this offseason. Tony Dungy retired after the team's playoff loss to the Chargers, and assistants Tom Moore and Howard Mudd hung up their clipboards as well. Jim Caldwell almost immediately replaced Dungy as head coach, but Indianapolis is still in need of some assistants. "Somebody says one thing, then somebody else says another thing," Manning said Tuesday. "I'm not sure everybody's on the same page in this building. I'm just trying to focus on playing quarterback well." Frustrated, Manning simply wants some answers. "I can't tell you what's going on," he said. "I will say I don't think it's been the most properly communicated scenario around here. But we have learned to deal with change and have to be prepared to adjust."

Tom Moore and Howard Mudd will return to the Colts as consultants. Colts owner Jim Irsay said at the NFL's spring owner meetings Wednesday that he planned to bring Moore and Mudd back in consultant roles. "We don't have any signed agreements, but I do believe all parties feel Tom and Howard would play significant roles for us moving forward and they would be consultants," Irsay said in a telephone interview with the Indianapolis Star. "They not only would be a major part of what we're trying to do in '09, but they'd continue to mentor and tutor some of the other coaches."

Colts president Bill Polian told a radio station on Friday that assistant head coach Clyde Christensen will become the team's offensive coordinator. "The main cogs in terms of operating the program are in place, have been in place and we're prepared to do this," Polian told 1070 The Fan. "It does not come as a shock to us. It's just a transition that we would rather not have made, but we knew full well that it was likely we were going to have to."

Tony Dungy, who stepped down as the coach of the Colts four months ago, admitted that his friends believe he'll return to the sidelines. "Everybody who knows me ... says I'll be back. I would be surprised, but never say never," Dungy told the Indianapolis Star. He added that he doesn't regret his decision to step down. "I have not. I haven't missed it. What I've missed is being around every day, talking to everybody. But, "Was it the right time?" I think it was."

The Social Security Administration recently listed the top 1,000 baby names from 2008, and a number of familiar names popped up on the list. Brady ranked 94th for boys, perhaps after Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. Both Manning brothers made the cut as well, with Eli coming in at No. 100 and Peyton at No. 130.

The Colts have re-signed defensive tackle Ed Johnson after they waived him last season following a drug-related arrest. "We are giving Ed Johnson another opportunity to play for the Indianapolis Colts," Colts coach Jim Caldwell said in a statement Tuesday. "We dismissed Ed last year because he knowingly violated a team rule in the area of personal conduct. We consider every violation of a team rule or NFL policy on an individual case-by-case basis, and we evaluate a possible return to the team on that same basis." He originally signed with the Colts as a free agent in 2007 and started 16 games. "I would like to thank the Colts, especially [owner] Jim Irsay, for this second privilege to join the team," Johnson said in a statement. "I apologize to everyone for the situation I created last year."

Colts offensive line coach Howard Mudd has told the team that he will retire immediately because of the pension-plan changes. "It's a dilemma we're trying to work through," said team president and general manager Bill Polian. "I don't think Howard has turned in his [retirement] papers yet but it's a difficult situation and a very personal choice for Howard." Mudd has been with Indianapolis for 12 seasons. He believes that at age 67 he has to take his entire lump-sum pension payment now for the safety of his family. If he doesn't exercise that right at 65 under the revised plan, he will be allowed only to accept annuity payments upon retirement that will be reduced to 50 percent value for his immediate survivors if he dies, according to NFL sources.

The Lions are considered the front-runner to land free agent linebacker Larry Foote, who was released by the Steelers on Monday. Several teams have interest, including the Colts, but Foote has made it known that he'd like to play for Detroit, his hometown team.