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ANDERSON, Ind. -- Robert Mathis makes every word count. Every play, too.When teammates hear the Indianapolis Colts oldest starter bark out instructions or crack pads, they tune in. When they see Mathis hang out in Anderson Universitys dorms or hear him explain how privileged he feels to return each summer, they listen attentively. When they see Mathis take an occasional day off at training camp or run around with his kids after a practice, they realize he is no ordinary 35-year-old linebacker.He is as determined and passionate as he was the day he arrived at his first training camp in 2003.You have to work for everything you get, Mathis said. Anything worth having is worth being worked for.Mathis short, powerful messages have always resonated in the Colts locker room.Indy opened the 2012 season with a new coach, a new general manager, a rookie quarterback, and was ranked last in the NFLs projected power ratings. Mathis responded to the doubters on Twitter: I will not let you forget.Later that season, when things looked bleak and coach Chuck Pagano left the team to battle leukemia, Mathis rallied his teammates with another line: There are no pity parties in football.To Mathis, words and actions mean something.The 6-foot-2, 235-pound defensive end/outside linebacker from Alabama A&M is still motivated by the notion so many scouts wrote him off as too small, too slow and too untested against elite competition when he was coming out of college.Indy saw Mathis a different way. Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy was convinced Mathis could be the perfect complement to Dwight Freeney, so GM Bill Polian traded a future fourth-round pick to Houston for the third pick in Round 5 to snag Mathis.Fourteen years, one position change and 118 sacks later, the Atlanta native remains one of the most feared pass rushers in football when hes healthy.A year ago, he wasnt. It took the NFLs 2013 sacks champ almost half a season to regain his form after missing all of 2014 because of a suspension (performance enhancer) and a torn left Achilles tendon that required 10 surgeries and 12 months to fix. He wound up finishing 2015 with 24 tackles, seven sacks and a lot of momentum heading into this season.Robert is one of our best football players. Were going to have him on the football field as often as he can handle, new defensive coordinator Ted Monachino said. We arent keeping Robert back and we arent reining him in in any way.Mathis has never played the game that way, and hes certainly not going to start now.Yet the spry, six-time Pro Bowler also understands business. His contract expires after this season, and throughout his career in Indy, Mathis has watched longtime friends such as Freeney, Marvin Harrison, Peyton Manning, Jeff Saturday and Reggie Wayne all let go once the Colts deemed it financially or philosophically unfeasible to keep the aging stars.Mathis knows he could be next, though hes not giving any illusion of a decline.Rob is one of the hardest workers Ive been around, Pro Bowl cornerback Vontae Davis said. He is going on his 14th year and it shows you his humbleness and how much he loves and respects the game.Now the Colts need Mathis than ever.He accounted for 20 percent of their 35 sacks last season, and after Indy used three of its eight draft picks on defensive players -- safety T.J. Green, inside linebacker Antonio Morrison and outside linebacker Trevor Bates -- the Colts are asking Mathis to put even more pressure on opposing quarterbacks as the coaches look for ways to help.And theres more at stake, too. He wants to add another Super Bowl ring, could crack the top 10 on the NFLs career sacks chart, and with one or two more really good seasons could even put himself in Hall of Fame consideration.A lot of media said I couldnt do it. I take a lot of pride in (proving them wrong), Mathis said with a laugh. I just appreciate the opportunity to be out there. It was a long road.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Custom Baseball Jerseys China . Ouellette, from Montreal, already has three Olympic gold medals since joining the team in 1999. Custom Atlanta Braves Jerseys . "I wrote 36 on my sheet at the beginning of the game," the Cincinnati coach said, referring the yard line the ball would need to be snapped from. http://www.customjerseysbaseball.com/custom-san-francisco-giants-jerseys-764x.html . 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Tranquillo Barnetta might shake off a minor knee injury in time for the Philadelphia Unions match at the New York Red Bulls on Saturday.With the playoffs and the end of Barnettas MLS tenure drawing near, theres no time like the present.The 31-year-old Swiss International announced Tuesday that he will return to his homeland after the season. A day later, Union coach Jim Curtain told the Philadelphia Inquirer he hoped Barnetta will play a role in the game against New York after missing last weeks 1-1 draw at Toronto.That could only be good news for Philadelphia (11-11-9, 42 points), which has won once in eight trips to Red Bull Arena. In addition to his five goals and four assists, the midfielders presence is a major reason the Union are on the cusp of their first plaoffs since 2011.Hes the best player that ever wore a Philadelphia Union jersey, in my opinion, Curtin told mlssoccer.com. Hess a guy that gave everything for the team, gave everything for the fans, and did it the right way.dddddddddddd ... And we want it to last now as long as possible.Fourth-place Philadelphia could secure a playoff spot with a win or draw, depending on other results this weekend. It wont be easy against the second-place Red Bulls, who are unbeaten in their last 13 matches and have already clinched a playoff spot.Bradley Wright-Phillips again leads the league with 20 goals so far. Summer signee Daniel Royer opened his account last weekend with the only goal in a 1-0 home win over Montreal.Hes adjusted to the way we play almost immediately, Red Bulls coach Jesse Marsch said of Royer, according to mlssoccer.com. Its fun to watch him. I think hes made our team better. ' ' '