Colts
Colts lock up Gonzalez for five years
Rookie receiver could make $10.3 million
INDIANAPOLIS — During last spring's mini-camp workouts, Indianapolis Colts rookie wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez made it known that he wanted to have his contract situation cleared up in time to report on the first day of training camp.
That shouldn't be a problem as Gonzalez, the Colts' first-round draft pick in April, signed a five-year, $7.5 million deal with the team Thursday. He is guaranteed $5.4 million and could end up earning as much as $10.3 million if incentive benchmarks are met.
“It was real important for Anthony to be in camp on time and it can be easy for some teams to take advantage of that. The Colts didn't,” agent Mike McCartney told Associated Press. “He was absolute about being in training camp. It was extremely important to him.”
Indianapolis offensive coordinator Tom Moore figures to use the speedy and sure-handed Gonzalez in a variety of ways. He is, however, expected to contend for a starting role as a slot receiver. That job had been filled by former Colts receiver Brandon Stokley, who was released last February and subsequently signed with Denver. Stokley missed most of the 2006 season with a variety of injuries.
The Colts now have three members of their 2007 draft class under contract, along with fellow Ohio State wide receiver Roy Hall and ex-Texas Tech defensive end Keyunta Dawson. Hall will be paid at the rookie minimum in addition to receiving a $143,000 signing bonus. Dawson's contract terms have not been disclosed.
With three days remaining until veteran and rookie players are due to be on campus at Rose-Hulman for the start of training camp, six draft picks remain to be signed — offensive tackle Tony Ugoh (second round), cornerback Daymeion Hughes (third round), defensive tackle Quinn Pitcock (third round), safety Brandon Condren (fourth round), outside linebacker Clint Session (fourth round), and cornerback Michael Coe (fifth round). All players must be checked in by 2 p.m. Sunday.
• Position move for Scott? — As Colts offensive line coach Howard Mudd looks to tweak the team's offensive tackle spot in the wake of Tarik Glenn's retirement, one possible move could include starting offensive guard Jake Scott attempting to fill the vacancy.
Scott was an offensive tackle in college, but made a smooth transition to offensive guard as a rookie with Indianapolis in 2004. He started two games at right offensive tackle during the 2005 season. .
Second-year offensive tackle Daniel Federkeil, a former college defensive end, could also be in the mix. Federkeil, who has been considered as somewhat of a project, spent most of the 2006 season on the Colts’ practice squad.
• Simon working out — Defensive tackle Corey Simon, who missed the 2006 season after suffering a knee injury during training camp and then developing a mysterious illness, has been working out with nationally-recognized conditioning expert Tom Shaw this summer.
Shaw, a former strength and conditioning coach for the New England Patriots, runs annual pre-training camp workouts for NFL players at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
The question remains, however, as to whether Simon will continue to remain with the Colts, or even report, when training camp begins. Indianapolis officials and Simon filed grievances against one other with the NFLPA this past spring concerning his salary from last season.
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