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INDIANAPOLIS -- Daniel Adongo is finally starting to feel comfortable with the Colts. Thats good: The Kenyan rugby star is about to play his first football game -- ever -- when Indianapolis faces Cincinnati on Sunday in a showdown of division leaders. Adongo has figured out the lingo and nuances of the sport, learned the proper way to put on pads and a helmet, and knows his place in the Colts locker room. Theres still more work to do, but the newly minted linebacker will get to show the whole football world how far hes come in four months. He will be primarily on special teams, but playing football for the first time in the NFL in a game with playoff implications? "I am excited," Adongo said Wednesday, one day after being promoted from Indys practice squad to the active roster. "As I said before and Ill reiterate it, my excitement is being subdued by the fact I have a task, an obligation and a duty to perform whats being asked from me for the coaches and my teammates." It was late July when general manager Ryan Grigson decided to take the plunge after a yearlong quest to find an overseas player who could help his team. Grigson gambled on Adongo, a Kenyan native and world-class rugby player who was big, fast and had a penchant for hitting. Adongo, surprised initially by the invite, made the flight to Atlanta, then hopped on a connecting plane to Indy and worked out at the Colts headquarters during a rookie mini-camp. Within hours, the Colts signed Adongo to a contract and two days later, the 6-foot-5, 257-pound football novice stood out when he reported to training camp in a pair of short shorts and soccer-style shirt. Back then, of course, some wondered if Adongo could cut it in the worlds best football league. There are few doubters left. "It was a stretch," NFL sacks leader Robert Mathis said when asked about his initial thoughts of Adongo succeeding. "I think hes made everyone believe." By some accounts, Adongo has become a major headache for the Colts offensive line in practice. And now that hes up to 270 pounds, he could create problems for opponents, too, if he gets into the game as a pass-rusher at Cincinnati (8-4). The Colts (8-4) are being patient, though. Rather than pushing Adongo into preseason games, they kept their secret under wraps as he got acclimated. Adongo started the season on the practice squad. But with Adongo showing steady progress in practice and Mario Harvey, a key special teams player for Indy, going on season-ending injured reserve with a torn meniscus Tuesday, the Colts decided to give Adongo a chance. Coach Chuck Pagano said he expects the rookie to play primarily on special teams and hes confident Adongo will make a difference. "The guy is a smart guy. We know from a physical standpoint hes very, very athletic. He can run. Hes big. Hes strong. Hes a tireless worker. Hes been a great pro," Pagano said. "Even though he hasnt played, hes picked up a ton. Our veteran guys, guys like Robert (Mathis) and the rest of the guys in the defensive room, have been tremendous working with him and mentoring him and bringing him along and helping his development to this point." One thing the Colts do know is that Adongo can hit. He began his athletic career playing for the Kenya Harlequins junior rugby team. Eventually, he wound up on the countrys U-18 and U-19 rugby squads. In 2006, scouts from the University of South Africa spotted Adongo during a tournament and a year later, he was attending the school. Then it was off to the prestigious Sharks Academy, and last year he competed in the Varsity Cup for the University of Pretoria. This year, he was playing for the Southern Kings of Super 15 Rugby when the Colts got in touch. Now, just a few months later, Adongos teammates believe hes ready. "Hes taken the language, the lingo, digested it and regurgitated that to the point now where he asks questions and we have to go back and look it (the language) up," Mathis said, smiling. "The last few months, Ive seen it every day in practice, whether its a spin move, a bull rush or whatever, and thats when you knew he was getting better." All he has to do now is prove he can play on game day. "Im still just getting comfortable with my movements in pads, and that type of stuff," he said. "Im not happy where Im at right now." Notes: Pagano said right guard Jeff Linkenbach would not play Sunday because of a partially torn quad muscle. He did not name a replacement but said the Colts would take a look at former starter Mike McGlynn, backup Joe Reitz and left guard Hugh Thornton. ... Starting cornerback Greg Toler, who has missed five straight games with a groin injury, did return to the practice field Wednesday. He is considered day-to-day. Wholesale Baltimore Ravens Jerseys . PETERSBURG, Fla. Cheap Baltimore Ravens Gear . Coach Jorge Sampaoli resisted naming any major surprises in the list published Tuesday at the site of Chiles football association. Chile is pinning its hopes on the recovery of Vidal. http://www.cheapravens.com/ . -- The Vancouver Whitecaps remained unbeaten with a scoreless draw at the New England Revolution on Saturday. Cheap Baltimore Ravens Jerseys Online . The NFL says Wednesday that the game between the Atlanta Falcons and Detroit Lions at Wembley on Oct. 26 will start at 1:30 p. Custom Ravens Jerseys . Toronto announced the deal with the restricted free agent on Saturday. The terms were not disclosed.TAMPA, Fla. -- The Toronto Maple Leafs faded out of post-season contention again. Ondrej Palat had two goals, Anders Lindback came off the bench to make 25 saves, and the Tampa Bay Lightning ended Torontos playoff hopes by beating the Maple Leafs 3-0 on Tuesday night. "Not in shock," Maple Leafs coach Randy Carlyle said. "I guess the words to describe it would be extremely disappointed, shallow, embarrassed. All those things. I think we have more than what we were able to accomplish, and thats the most troubling issue here. "We just didnt find a way to compete to a level that was necessary." James Reimer stopped 31 shots for the Maple Leafs, who have lost 10 of 12. Toronto has missed the playoffs eight of the last nine seasons. "Obviously, this one hurts," Reimer said. "The bottom line, we werent good enough. I think that as a guy and as a team, you look in the mirror and you just have to accept that we werent good enough. A wise man once said that the playoffs dont let you in unless youre good enough. You dont sneak in there if you dont deserve it." The loss to Tampa Bay and Columbus overtime win over Phoenix sealed the Maple Leafs fate. "I actually didnt say anything (to the team) after because I was real disappointed, obviously, knowing that Columbus had won in overtime," Carlyle said. "They knew that after the game as well as I did, so it was a moot point going in and saying anything at this point. Well meet tomorrow and well talk tomorrow." Tampa Bay goalie Ben Bishop left with 14:17 left in the first due to an undisclosed upper-body injury. He was hurt while lunging to his left and landing on his side while attempting to glove the puck. Lindback replaced Bishop, who is 37-14-7 this season for the playoff-bound Lightnning.dddddddddddd Lightning coach Jon Cooper offered no specifics about Bishops injury. He did say Bishop will not play Thursday night against Philadelphia -- which was a scheduled game off -- and that plans to call up another goalie were already in the works before the injury. "Lets just wait and see what happens here," Cooper said. "No sense in speculating. Hes either going to be ready to go or hes not. Im really confident in what we have, especially after watching the performance tonight." Victor Hedman had an empty-net goal late in the third for the Lightning, who trail Montreal by two points for second place in the Atlantic Division. Bishop turned aside three shots before departing. Palat put the Lightning up 1-0 when he beat Reimer from the top of the left circle 9:19 into the second. Tampa Bay went up 2-0 during a power play when Palat, positioned near the post, scored after Steven Stamkos sent the puck off the boards behind the net with 4:15 left in the second. Lindback made a nifty glove save on Jake Gardiners shot late in the second. "Tonight wasnt a surprise for us that he came in and was huge," Hedman said. "He made those key saves when we needed him." NOTES: Lightning D Sami Salo left after two shifts in the second period with an undisclosed injury. ... Toronto C Dave Bolland (ankle) was scratched. The Maple Leafs were already without G Jonathan Bernier (knee) and RW Joffrey Lupul, who had what the team called successful arthroscopic knee surgery Tuesday. ... Stamkos is the Lightning nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. ... Palat has three goals and six points during a four-game point streak. ... The Maple Leafs recalled RW Carter Ashton and G Drew MacIntyre from Toronto of the AHL. 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