Editing Dallas Clark (section)

===Indianapolis Colts===
[[File:Dallas clark.jpg|thumb|left|Clark in an interview in [[Super Bowl XLIV]] media day.]]
Clark was chosen in the first round of the [[2003 NFL draft]] by the [[Indianapolis Colts]] with the 24th overall pick.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2003 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2003/draft.htm |access-date=March 28, 2023 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> When drafted, the Colts called Clark a "perfect fit" for their system, eventually replacing [[Marcus Pollard]] and [[Ken Dilger]] at the position.<ref name="USASept">{{cite news|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/football/2007-09-27-2825060845_x.htm|title=Dallas Clark getting more chances to make impact on Colts offense|last=Marot|first=Michael|date=September 27, 2007|work=USA Today|publisher=Associated Press|access-date=June 1, 2013}}</ref> He started 10 games as a rookie and had 340 receiving yards before suffering a broken leg against the [[New England Patriots]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dallas Clark 2003 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/ClarDa00/gamelog/2003/ |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> He started 15 games in 2004 and had 423 yards receiving with five touchdown receptions.

Clark started 15 games in 2005 and caught 37 passes for 488 yards and four touchdowns. He started in 11 games in the 2006 season before suffering a knee injury in the November 26 home game against the [[Philadelphia Eagles]]. He returned for the playoffs and played very well leading up to the Colts' first [[Super Bowl]] berth since moving to Indianapolis. In the Colts' three playoff games, he caught a total of 17 passes for 281 yards as a member of the 2006 [[Super Bowl]] Champion Indianapolis Colts. In the 29–17 victory over the [[Chicago Bears]], he caught four passes for 36 yards and rushed the ball once for a one-yard gain. In 15 starts in 2007 season, Clark had 58 receptions for 616 yards, shattering [[John Mackey (American football)|John Mackey]] Colts record for receptions for a tight end (55) and touchdowns (11).<ref name="USASept"/>

On February 19, 2008, the Colts placed the [[franchise tag]] on Clark. The next day, the Colts signed him to a six-year contract extension, with his salary averaging $4.5 million per year ($41 million in total), making him the highest paid tight end in the NFL.

On December 28, 2008, Clark broke the Colts' franchise record, held by Hall of Famer [[John Mackey (American football)|John Mackey]], for yards in a season by a tight end (848). On September 21, 2009, Clark had career high 183 receiving yards and a touchdown in just seven receptions at the [[Monday Night Football]] match up against [[Miami Dolphins]], this is also the fourth highest receiving yards ever for a [[Tight end]] in [[NFL]] history. On November 8, 2009, against the [[Houston Texans]] Clark caught 14 balls; a career-high for him.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2009092100/2009/REG2/colts@dolphins|title = Indianapolis Colts at Miami Dolphins 2009 REG 2 – Game Center| website=[[NFL.com]] }}</ref> He was named AFC Offensive Player-of-the-Week because of his performance against Houston.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.colts.com/team/roster/dallas-clark/be149574-dcab-47b2-b1ce-3a6233709226/ |title=Dallas Clark player profile |access-date=October 13, 2013 |archive-date=January 4, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150104112402/http://www.colts.com/team/roster/Dallas-Clark/be149574-dcab-47b2-b1ce-3a6233709226 |url-status=dead }}</ref> On January 3, 2010, against the [[Buffalo Bills]], Clark caught his 100th reception of the season, the second tight end to do so in NFL history. He ended the 2009 season with 100 catches for 1,106 yards and 10 touchdowns.

On October 17, 2010, Clark sustained a wrist injury playing the [[Washington Redskins]] and was put on injured reserve on Friday, October 22, 2010, after season-ending wrist surgery. He completed the season with 37 catches for 347 yards and three touchdowns.<ref name="injuryrehab">{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=6220944|title=Dallas Clark 'happy' with progress|last=Kuharsky|first=Paul|date=March 16, 2011|work=[[ESPN]]|publisher=ESPN.com|access-date=May 29, 2013}}</ref> He was ranked 78th by his fellow players on the [[NFL Top 100 Players of 2011]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2011 NFL Top 100 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/awards/2011-nfl-top-100.htm |access-date=2024-03-18 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

Clark's surgically repaired wrist would again hinder his production in the 2011 regular season, limiting him to 34 receptions for 357 yards and two touchdowns in only 11 games. This was also the first season Clark played without quarterback [[Peyton Manning]], who missed the entire season rehabbing from offseason neck surgery. Clark was released on March 7, 2012.