People left the Indianapolis Colts for dead.

When Peyton Manning ventured west to join the Denver Broncos, the Colts team he left behind appeared too fractured, too raw to do any damage in the AFC South.

But here the Colts are at 4-3, alive and kicking and sporting an identical record to Manning's prime-time-darling Broncos. Dare we suggest a playoff matchup between these two?

When Colts pass rusher Dwight Freeney visited the "Dave Dameshek Football Program" on Tuesday, he wasn't afraid to show his teeth.

"Peyton obviously is the staple of Indianapolis and this organization for years," Freeney told Dameshek and his co-host, Adam Rank. "I went after him in practice year in and year out and never got a chance to hit him. So yeah, I would love to hit him."

Dameshek (sitting four feet to my left, banging out his iconic "Shame Report") emphasized Freeney's mirth level on the subject of Manning's destruction. Still, the defensive behemoth remains intrigued by the prospect of facing Denver for all the marbles: "If you think about it, that'll be strange, but I'll be excited."

It's a long shot, but can't a man dream?

You can check the Freeney interview out at Dameshek's blog or on iTunes.