SPORTS WEEKEND : AROUND THE AFC : EAST : Colts Seem Frisky

The Colts went 3-1 in the exhibition season. What next? The Lombardi Trophy?

“I don’t really know,” quarterback Peyton Manning said. “You look at the [Dallas] Cowboys, they never seem to do well in the preseason [1-8 the last two years] and it never affects them in the regular season.”

The Colts appear to be on the rise, however. Manning was second among AFC passers in exhibition games, wide receiver Marvin Harrison had four touchdown catches and rookie running back Edgerrin James averaged 6.3 yards a carry.

*

Jimmy Johnson continues to collect rejects at Miami, the latest San Francisco’s Jim Druckenmiller, who looks more like a linebacker than a quarterback.

Johnson’s argument for stockpiling shaky talent: He gets it cheap.

Druckenmiller went to San Francisco to replace Steve Young, now he’s in line to replace Dan Marino. Question is, though, can he beat out backup Damon Huard?

And this from the always quotable Marino when asked at the team’s Chamber of Commerce kickoff luncheon if Bob Griese had called, asking for mercy for his son, Brian, who will start for the Broncos. Said Marino, “Uh, no.”