INDIANAPOLIS – The ring he won 10 years ago is in a safe, having not seen the light of public for quite some time.
Will that ring soon have another one to keep it company?
That's the goal for Dwight Freeney, a 15-year NFL veteran, just 60 minutes away from earning a second Super Bowl title.
Freeney, 36, is in his third stop since playing for the Colts from 2002-12. After two years in San Diego and one in Arizona, Freeney is still getting after quarterbacks with the Atlanta Falcons.
In playing 15 games this season, Freeney had 3.0 sacks, playing primarily as a situational rusher.
The seven-time Pro Bowler, and the Colts' second all-time leading sacker, will play in his third Super Bowl on Sunday. Freeney will see quite a familiar foe on the opposite sideline.
The Colts have a few former players who will play in Super Bowl LI between the Patriots and Falcons.
Here's a look at the other Colts' connections in Super Bowl LI:
Atlanta Falcons
- LB-Philip Wheeler:A 2008 third-round pick of the Colts, Wheeler is back in his native Georgia as a reserve linebacker for the Falcons. Wheeler played four seasons in Indianapolis before stints in Oakland and Miami. Wheeler saw time in every single regular season game for the Falcons this season, making four starts in spot duty.
- TE-Jacob Tamme (injured reserve):Like Wheeler, Tamme was a 2008 draft pick of the Colts (fourth round). After following Peyton Manning to Denver from 2012-14, Tamme has found more offensive success in Atlanta. Tamme went on IR in November due to a shoulder injury. Tamme had 22 catches for three touchdowns in eight games this season (five starts) before going on IR.
New England Patriots
- RB-Dion Lewis:Lewis' stay in Indy was short. He was on the Colts roster for one week in early September 2014. With New England, Lewis has been a dynamic option out of the backfield.
- OLB-Trevor Bates (practice squad):Bates was a seventh-round pick of the Colts in 2016. After moving Bates up from the Indy practice squad in early October for one week, the Colts waived him following Week Five. The Patriots added Bates to their practice squad in early November.
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