Quick Kicks

Irsay it ain’t so

Indianapolis Colts general manager Jim Irsay lobbied Sunday for a better stadium lease, and he said the team doesn’t want to move.

“We’re not looking for the sweetheart deal of 1996,” Irsay said prior to the Colts’ game against Miami. “Survival is what I’m looking for.”

The Colts rank last in the NFL in gross revenue, Irsay said, and they need an increase to remain competitive.

“We need to look at the way the dollars are split from the lease itself,” he said. “I don’t want to be in a position where I have to pay $3 or $4 million under the (salary) cap just to make ends meet. You lose your advantage on the field, and we have a good thing going in Indianapolis.”

The Colts signed a lease with the city when they moved to Indianapolis from Baltimore in 1984. The agreement to use the 60,272-seat RCA Dome expires in 2014.

Irsay, the team’s senior executive, is the son of owner Robert Irsay. He said the Colts could increase their revenue with club seats or loge boxes.

When asked if he would guarantee that the team will not move, Irsay said, “It’s something that’s not even being discussed. That is not part of this negotiation.”

In September, Irsay denied reports that the Colts were considering a move to Cleveland.

Speaking of streaks

Philadelphia quarterback Ty Detmer lost his first game in five starts… . Atlanta has lost nine straight road games … . Atlanta kicker Morten Andersen has made 12 straight field goals and has scored in an NFL-record 200 straight games… . Arizona’s victory over Washington, on Kevin Butler’s 32-yard field goal with 33 seconds left in overtime kept alive a seven-year streak since the NFL’s last tie on Nov. 19, 1989.

Special teams standouts

David Dunn got Cincinnati’s first kickoff return for a touchdown in seven years, going 90 yards on the last play of the first half… . Gabe Northern blocked a punt and returned the ball 18 yards for a touchdown in Buffalo’s victory over Philadelphia.

Marino the magnificent

After completing just one of his first five passes, Miami’s Dan Marino hit on 16 of his next 17, including 13 in a row. The consecutive completion string equaled the second-longest in franchise history and fell two short of Marino’s own team record. “We were changing some calls at the line of scrimmage and throwing some quick passes,” Marino said. “We’ve gotten away from that the past few weeks, but it’s something I’ve always done well.” … Marino has a better career touchdown to interception ratio (plus 32) against the Colts than against any other opponent.

Around the league

Eddie Kennison got St. Louis started on a victory over Atlanta with a 78-yard punt return for a touchdown. Kennison has 342 punt return yards, second-best for a Rams rookie and behind only V.T. Smith’s 427 in 1949. Sunday he passed Henry Ellard, who had 296 return yards in 1983… . Jamal Anderson became the third Falcons runner to gain 1,000 yards in the last four years along with Erric Pegram and Craig Heyward.