NEWS » -- theres just no other way t

INDIANAPOLIS -- Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay mapped out his expectations for the 2016 season Tuesday.He believes the offense will have to hold its own until the defense gets healthy. He expects franchise quarterback Andrew Luck to take fewer hits. And, of course, he thinks Indy should still be playing after Jan. 1.We all sit here wondering what will be the development of this team -- who will the Colts be? Irsay said, explaining a long-term vision just before four Colts players and four pro golfers teed off for a 3-hole golf tournament at the team complex. Im optimistic. I believe we can get to the top of Mount Everest and we can plant that Colts flag.Its a bold mission for a team that stumbled to 8-8 in 2015, missing the playoffs after starting the year as a trendy Super Bowl pick.And Irsay is betting big hes right.In January, he re-signed coach Chuck Pagano and extended general manager Ryan Grigsons contract. Both deals run through 2019.On draft weekend, Irsay stood by Grigsons side and supported the notion of using four of eight draft picks on offensive linemen, including first-round selection Ryan Kelly.In June, Irsay again ponied up, re-signing Luck to a $140 million deal that makes him the highest-paid player in league history.What the Colts must do now is prove they were wise investments.We tried to have a tougher camp so we could have a tougher team, Irsay said. This is the Indianapolis Colts and my expectation is that we will be playing in January in the playoffs.Irsay looked right at home on the golf course designed by his neighbors, Pete and Alice Dye, as he stared across the complexs signature island hole. It was a design Dye borrowed from the TPC course at Sawgrass.Both Dyes hung around to watch Kelly, tight end Dwayne Allen, punter Pat McAfee and kicker Adam Vinatieri team up with three players competing in this weekends BMW Championship at nearby Crooked Stick Golf Course.Irsay donated $50,000 to Autism Speaks and $25,000 to The First Tee of Indiana, then kicked in another $25,000 to each group when Vinatieris blind 220-yard shot stayed on the island hole green. Holmes and Vinatieri won in a playoff. Irsay also agreed to donate another $30,000 in Marc Leishmans name.But with Sundays season opener against Detroit nearing, it didnt take long for the conversation to turn to football.We have to go out and reprove ourselves, Irsay said. People are wondering who are they, who are these Colts? Are they a 7-9 team that needs more help or are they a team with a good mix of veterans and young guys who can go out and win the division?Once again, Irsay made it clear that the top priority is taking care of Luck.With the influx of rookie lineman and the hiring of former Miami Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin, Irsay is convinced the offensive line will be improved this season though he was concerned after Luck was sacked three times and hit three more times by Philadelphia in a preseason dress rehearsal.The real test comes Sunday.Youve got to take care of business, you just have to, Irsay said. We have to go out and win this football game this weekend -- theres just no other way to put it.---Online:AP NFL website: http://www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Larry Bird Jersey . The Islanders dealt Thomas Vanek to the Montreal Canadiens after less than a year on Long Island. Meanwhile, the Oilers dealt long-time sniper Ales hemsky to the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday for a fifth-round pick in 2014 and a third-rounder in 2015. Discount Celtics Jerseys . The team says the Spain international has a muscle pull in his right leg. Barcelona hosts third-division side Cartagena in the return leg of their round-of-32 tie after winning their first meeting 4-1. http://www.cheapcelticsjerseyschina.com/ . PETERSBURG, Fla. Celtics Jerseys From China . Nine days before the opening ceremony, organizing committee chief Dmitry Chernyshenko said Wednesday that Sochi is "fully ready" and will deliver safe, friendly and well-run games that defy the grim reports that have overshadowed preparations. Cheap Celtics Jerseys . Wilson hit Schenn from behind during Tuesday nights game in Philadelphia, earning a five-minute major for charging and a game misconduct. He has a phone hearing with the department of player safety, which limits any potential suspension to five or fewer games. TAMPA, Fla. -- Two weeks after looking like an offensively challenged team staring at a potentially long season, the Los Angeles Rams are off to their best start in 10 years.Theyve even got some touchdowns to show for the progress theyve made since being shut out in their first game after relocating back to the West Coast after a 21-year stay in St. Louis.All I know is we got Arizona at Arizona next week, coach Jeff Fisher said after Sundays 37-32 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. None of them are easy, but well take it.Case Keenum threw for the franchises first TD as the L.A. Rams since 1994 , and Robert Quinn tackled Jameis Winston from behind 5 yards short of the end zone on the games final play to seal the teams second straight win.In between, Todd Gurley scored on a pair of 1-yard runs, Ethan Westbrooks returned a fumble caused by Quinn 77 yards for a TD, Tavon Austin made a nice nifty move to turn a deep throw into a 43-yard scoring play, and the Rams (2-1) even weathered a 69-minute delay caused by a thunderstorm passing over Raymond James Stadium.I think we are in a good spot, Keenum said. I think we are getting better each week, which is what you want to do.Tampa Bay (1-2), meanwhile, has lost two straight since Winstons sparkling performance in a season-opening win over Atlanta.Winston threw for 405 yards and three touchdowns, but looked tentative on the games last play. He never took off full speed and was wrestled down after a 10-yard gain.The Bucs have yielded 101 points through three games, and the defense gave up two more plays of 40-plus yards against the Rams.The lesson our team has to learn -- every week is a battle. Our culture is not where it needs to be. ... I put that squarely on my shoulders, Bucs coach Dirk Koetter said.Theres something about our culture that let games like this get away, Koetter added. Weve got to get over that hump.Some things to know about the Rams and Bucs moving forward:RESiLiENT BUNCH: The Rams were far from perfect against the Buccaneers. Keenum threw a first-quarter interceptiion that was returned by linebacker Kwon Alexander for a touchdown, and Kenny Britts second-quarter fumble led to another Tampa Bay TD.dddddddddddd. Los Angeles wasnt fazed, though, and forced a couple of turnovers -- ex-Buc Mark Barrons second quarter interception and Quinns fourth quarter, sack/strip that caused the fumble Westbrooks scooped up -- to score themselves.Turnovers hurt us early, but we go get two big plays on defense ... and that kind of balanced things out, Fisher said.WIDE LEFT: Bucs rookie kicker Roberto Aguayo had a tough day and may be a hot topic of conversation as the team prepares to face defending Super Bowl champion Denver next Sunday. The second-round draft pick out of Florida State struggled early in the preseason, hooked an extra-point to the left after Tampa Bays first touchdown and later missed a 41-yard field goal attempt wide left, drawing boos from the announced crowd of 55,009. The team has drawn some criticism for the decision to use such a high draft pick to select a kicker. If he makes the two kicks he missed Sunday, the argument could be made that the Bucs could have employed different strategy and/or might not have needed a touchdown at the end to win.Times like this are going to happen, Aguayo said, adding his confidence isnt shaken. Im excited for next week, to move on.BACK ON TRACK?: Los Angeles RB Todd Gurley rushed for 1,106 yards and 10 TDs as a rookie a year ago, however he averaged just 2.7 yards per attempts while running for 98 yards on 36 carries in the Rams first two games. He was more effective Sunday, even though he only averaged 3.1 yards on his way to 85 yards on 28 carries.Hes not there yet, but not because of Todd Gurley personally, Fisher said, adding the team has to do a better job converting third downs and doing other things to create more opportunities for the second-year pro.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '