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INDIANAPOLIS –When asked Wednesday if he remembers his first spring work as a rookie in 2003, Robert Mathis recalled it was probably the toughest one he ever had.
Starting his 12th season, the Colts' career sack leader (111.0) and NFL's 2013 sack champion (19.5) has one message.
"That was last year, now is this year. Onto the new (challenge)," said Mathis. "Let's get ready to rumble."
COLTS SEASONAL SACK LEADERS
Sacks
Name
Year
19.5
Robert Mathis
2013
16.0
Dwight Freeney
2004
13.5
Dwight Freeney
2009
13.0
Dwight Freeney
2002
12.0
Chad Bratzke
1999
11.5
Johnie Cooks
1984
11.5
Robert Mathis
2005
11.5
Robert Mathis
2008
Since 2003, Mathis has matured from new kid to the team's second-longest tenured veteran. He rumbled past Dwight Freeney (107.5) last year to set the franchise sack record.
Mathis came back to prepare for this year and found a suit of armor at his locker courtesy of second-year teammates Bjoern Werner and Daniel Adongo.
Phase one of the voluntary offseason program.
"It's a gift from my little brothers. (It's) kind of the (King) Leonidas leadership type deal," said Mathis. "It's a good present, it means a lot to me.
"It caught me off guard. I've never seen one in real life, a real one. That's the real deal. I was humbled by it. I have to grow into it a little. The helmet's kind of big. I guess I have a big head."
Mathis spoke last year of his only goal being to play in New Jersey in Super Bowl XLVIII. He has recalibrated his message to point toward Arizona for Super Bowl XLIX.
"Win the Super Bowl," Mathis said succinctly when asked his motivation. "It's (the message), 'Go to the finish.' That's February. There's only one team goal, one mission, and that's to get to Arizona."
Such talk by Mathis is from the heart, a message from a man who does not waste words or take a soapbox.
Mentored through the years and seeing teammates like Antoine Bethea ("Extremely tough to lose. He's a guy that clocks in every day, never misses a game (or) practice. You can't replace him, but somebody has to step up.") depart, Mathis passes instruction along to his two gift-givers.
"They're humble guys. They're empty vessels. They just came wanting to learn the game," said Mathis of Werner and Adongo. "It's a big brother, little brother type deal.
"They know the game. They can play a lot faster now. Last year was just trying to learn, find their way. They know what they're doing."
If a player ever came from steeper odds than Mathis, it could be Adongo, who came to America last August and reported directly to Colts training camp to audition for a sport he never had played.
Compared to Mathis' background from Alabama A&M, Adongo's was much tougher, and Mathis wears the mentor armor well.
"I enjoy it a lot. He reminds me of myself a lot my first year, just eager to learn, ready and willing to work and just wanting to get after it," said Mathis. "He looks like a buck, a big buck. He's definitely ready. He mentally has it.
"We know what he can do. He has maximum work ethic, and he's going to be a big surprise in the league, I feel."
Mathis has five career double-digit sack seasons. He has sacked 55 different players and has taken down quarterbacks from every franchise.
NFL CAREER SACK LEADERS
No.
Name
Years
* *
No.
Name
Years
200.0
Bruce Smith
1985-2003
132.5
Leslie O'Neal
1986-1999
198.0
Reggie White
1985-2000
128.5
Jaren Allen
2004-2013
160.0
Kevin Greene
1985-1999
128.0
Rickey Jackson
1981-1995
150.5
Chris Doleman
1985-1999
126.5
Derrick Thomas
1989-1999
141.5
Michael Strahan
1993-2007
122.0
Simeon Rice
1996-2007
139.5
Jason Taylor
1997-2011
121.5
Clyde Simmons
1986-2000
137.5
John Randle
1990-2003
119.0
Julius Peppers
2002-2013
137.5
Richard Dent
1983-1997
117.0
DeMarcus Ware
2005-2013
133.5
John Abraham
2000-2013
113.0
Sean Jones
1984-1996
132.5
Lawrence Taylor
1981-1993
111.0
Robert Mathis
2003-2013
His rookie season was the first of a five-year run of division crowns that also yielded a world title. Mathis returned to the Super Bowl stage in 2009, but is only one of seven current Colts who date back to 2011 (a league-low number compared to 31 teams).
Coming off back-to-back 11-win seasons and reaching the divisional round last year, Mathis senses the team is taking the next step, but he keeps an eye on the clock.
"We need to speed it up a little bit. I'm kind of running out of time around here," said Mathis. "I feel that we have the pieces in place, we just have to apply it.
"I feel good about the guys that we have here and about where we're going."
