COLTS RAISING SOME TICKET PRICES

At a time when the Colts are facing unprecedented salary cap problems and the pinch of a bad economy, the franchise will be raising prices for some tickets in 2009, according to the Indianapolis Star. The move comes at a time when many teams are holding the line for the coming season. Per the Star, sections 624 to 629 in the home stadium’s south upper deck will increase to $34 from $24, and seven other sections will move from $64 to $74. (It’s unknown whether the price for these special seats will be affected.) The report comes a day after the Star published an item in which team president Bill Polian bemoaned the financial problems the team is facing. The situation threatens the team’s ability to re-sign key free agents like cornerback Kelvin Hayden and center Jeff Saturday, and it forced the franchise to lay off 25 front-office employees earlier this year. “We’ve never had a cap problem in 11 years, and this year, we will,” Polian said. “It depends a lot on what happens, and we just don’t know that yet.” Well, so much for Peyton Manning’s hope that the team pursue defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth. Then again, Manning could generally help the cause by voluntarily reducing his $14 million salary. And we’re not talking about a restructuring that results in a lower cap number but no fewer dollars in Manning’s pocket. We’re suggesting that Manning “PeyBack” some of those millions he’s due to pocket at a time when millions of Americans are struggling. It’ll be an impressive symbolic gesture, and it will help the team remain competitive in 2009.