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Colts players shave heads to honor Chuck Pagano

Chuck Pagano isn't able to work with his Indianapolis Colts players on a daily basis, but the coach's influence is still felt by the team.

The evidence is right on top of their heads.

The Indianapolis Star reported Tuesday that more than two dozen players along with other team personnel shaved their heads in support of Pagano. The coach -- who was diagnosed with leukemia in September -- started a second round of chemotherapy this week.

"It's all for Chuck," punter Pat McAfee said. "We all don't look good. I'm not built to have a bald head. I've got a huge sniffer.

"But we all love our coach so much that we want to show unity and let people know we're all in this together. It's a really cool thing."

Doctors said on Monday Pagano's cancer is in remission. He is currently in the second of three rounds of chemotherapy treatment. Pagano delivered an emotional speech to his players following the Colts' 23-20 win over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.

"We haven't been around each other very long," McAfee said. "Our team was forced after all the changes to really build camaraderie and Chuck was that steadying piece. He motivated everybody. He was the guy that was pushing everything. We have grown to have a very close relationship with him in a short period of time.

"We're a family and the coach is almost like a father figure. When something happens, you want to rally behind him."

There's something special happening in Indy this season.

UPDATE:Andrew Luck and Vontae Davis also buzzed their hair, according to Mike Chappell of the Indianapolis Star.

Follow Dan Hanzus on Twitter @danhanzus.

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