INDIANAPOLIS – Cedric Peerman made the kind of play a fourth-string running back needs to get his coach's attention in the final pre-season game.

Cedric Peerman had a 93-yard touchdown run in the third quarter and the Cincinnati Bengals beat the Indianapolis Colts 30-28 on Thursday night in the preseason finale for both teams. Peerman finished with 100 yards rushing, and Jordan Palmer completed 10 of 14 passes for 115 yards and two touchdowns for the Bengals (3-2).

The final week of the 2010 preseason is upon us, though this will be to football what John Beck is to Rex…

Back in March, the New York Giants signed former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Jim Sorgi to be the primary backup to starter Eli Manning. That plan was thrown off Tuesday, however, when Sorgi went on injured reserve with a bad shoulder.That leaves unproven second-year man Rhett Bomar as Manning's No. 2. Back in Indianapolis, without Sorgi, Eli's older Peyton is now backed up by Curtis Painter, who like Bomar, was a 2009 late-round pick. Neither Bomar nor Painter has inspired confidence with their preseason performances, but fans of both the Giants…

The NFL had moved the umpire for safety’s sake to behind the deepest running back on the offensive side of the ball, instead of his old position which was in the middle of the defense.

All was going well in this new transition until last weeks Green Bay Packers and Indianapolis Colts game where the Colts were flagged for an illegal snap because they had not waited until the umpire was in position.

Usually quite Peyton Manning sounded off about the rule, commenting that the Colts comeback against the New England Patriots would not have happened if this rule was in place last season due to the extra time it takes for the umpire to get into position.

With the new rule the umpire does move to his old position in the middle of the defense during the last two-minutes of each half.

However, after complaints from Manning and Colts’ general manager Bill Polian the league met on the new rule.

In tonight’s preseason finalies the umpires will move to their old positions for the last five minutes of each half.

Theoretically this should allow for enough times for hurry up offenses to work at the end of the halfs, but given the Colts run the hurry up for most of the game it will probably be of little help to them.

I’m all for safety, especially to those on the field without pads (after all there is a new rule to blow a play dead when the ball carriers helmet comes off), but according to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio that a source had said that the officials hadn’t asked to be moved.

So there you have it, the league is still tinkering with this rule, hopefully they’ll get it right before the Super Bowl.

Read more Indianapolis Colts news on BleacherReport.com

Heading into training camp, the Indianapolis Colts had one major goal—improve an anemic running game.

To that end, the Colts attempted to get bigger and more physical at the point of attack. Indianapolis released veteran offensive guard Ryan Lilja, a smaller but very effective performer, while adding offensive tackle Adam Terry (Baltimore) and offensive guard Andy Alleman (Kansas City).

Those plans took a big hit when Alleman suffered a back injury and was subsequently released. Two key starters, center Jeff Saturday (knee) and left offensive tackle Charlie Johnson (foot), were also hurt early and have missed valuable practice time.

Rookie Jacques McClendon, an offensive guard drafted in the fourth round, missed about a week of work with a sore knee.

Indianapolis Colts Po Bowl center Jeff Saturday is hopeful of returning in time for the team's first…

Indianapolis Colts Po Bowl center Jeff Saturday is hopeful of returning in time for the team's first…

INDIANAPOLIS – Don't let the record fool you — preseason scores matter to Indianapolis Colts coach Jim Caldwell.

Don't let the record fool you — preseason scores matter to Colts coach Jim Caldwell. Caldwell said he was embarassed by the 59-24 loss at Green Bay last Thursday, saying the team should have too much pride to perform so poorly. The franchise allowed its highest preseason point total since surrendering 70 to the Los Angeles Rams in 1950, when the Colts were still in Baltimore.