Photo: Retired Colts center Jeff Saturday slims down

Jeff Saturday played in the NFL for 14 seasons, so he had to put on and maintain his bulk for the middle of the offensive line. According to NFL.com, he weighed 295 pounds while with Green Bay, his final year in the league.

The longtime Colts center has since retired and dropped more than 50 pounds. In the photo snapped by my friend Matt Kryger of the Indianapolis Star before the Colts first preseason game of the year, he’s looking in shape and better than ever.

When his good friend Peyton Manning lost two centers to injury during training camp in Denver, there were questions whether Saturday would come out of retirement to play again and help No. 18 out. Due to all of the weight that he dropped, there wasn’t any chance of that happening.

Ryan Lilja, however, did take Peyton — er, the Broncos — up on that offer.

Since retiring, Saturday has joined ESPN as an analyst and Colts owner Jim Irsay has also given him a job — with the team’s community relations and marketing departments.

Saturday not only is a great representative for the Colts but Indianapolis as well. He’s lived here since 1999 when he joined the Horseshoes.