<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>INDIANAPOLIS -- Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy rejoined his team Thursday, a week after his oldest son's death of an apparent suicide.Even though word had spread early Thursday, it was still a shock to most Colts when coach Tony Dungy appeared inside the cafeteria prior to the team's 8:15 a.m. meeting. Dungy, who had been in Tampa, Fla., since Dec. 22, when his son James Dungy, 18, died, was greeted warmly by players and staff. "It was just so great to see him," said linebacker Gary Brackett. "It was uplifting. You could feel it. Tony Dungy is our leader and now our leader is back and it feels like this team is closer than ever." Dungy spoke to the team during the day's first meeting. The 13-2 Colts have already secured a first-round bye and home field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. On Dungy's orders they have been preparing for this game like it was a preseason contest with most starters expected to see minimal playing time. With flowers from grief-stricken fans still adorning the entrance sign and a black ribbon spread across the large Colts helmet out front, the team's home was a somber place on Wednesday -- just one day after the team flew en masse to Florida. Tony Dungy's message of hope and strength at the funeral and now his return to Indianapolis has had a dramatic, spirited and transforming effect on the team. Laughter, music and enthusiasm filled a locker room that was still and silent just a day earlier. "You honor the dead by the way you chose to live your life after they're gone," said Brackett. "He needs football right now and we need him, too." Dungy is expected to be on the sideline Sunday when the Colts (13-2) host Arizona in the regular-season finale.He met briefly with players and coaches Thursday and thanked them for their support since his 18-year-old son, James, was found unresponsive in his Tampa-area apartment Dec. 22. He was pronounced dead at University Community Hospital.Dungy took the team plane from Indianapolis to Tampa, Fla., where he had coached the Buccaneers from 1996 to 2001. James Dungy's funeral was Tuesday, but his father had not said when he would return to the Colts."It was good to see him back," said Colts offensive guard/tackle Jake Scott. "I think it's probably good for him. It's kind of back to normal, having him here out there to run the scout teams, organizing practice and the walkthroughs."Dungy was scheduled to direct Thursday afternoon's practice.Assistant head coach Jim Caldwell had filled in for Dungy and coached the team during a loss Saturday at Seattle.The noticeably subdued locker room and practices of last week were replaced by laughter, horseplay and video games -- and a hope they could honor the message their missing coach, Tony Dungy, sent during his eulogy for his son."I was so impressed with what he said and the integrity he had," Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday said. "I thought he made some great comments."One day after about 200 Colts players, coaches and team officials flew to Tampa for the funeral of Dungy's son, players credited the emotional trip for bringing even closer a team that already got along well. Saturday said he was touched by Dungy's call to be bolder about being role models for boys, and receiver Troy Walters said he believes the impact of Tuesday's trip could be long-term. Others agreed."I think we came together," defensive tackle Montae Reagor said. "It allowed us to grow as a group and showed that we truly are a family."</div>http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2274279
