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May 26, 2009

Manning bothered by departures of Moore, Mudd

By Tom James

TERRE HAUTE — From a physical standpoint, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning feels good as he prepares for the team’s upcoming organized team workouts, but the three-time NFL MVP is not happy about the departures of long-time offensive assistant coaches Tom Moore and Howard Mudd.

Moore, the former offensive coordinator, and Mudd, the long-standing offensive line coach, unexpectedly retired earlier this month, although they are both expected back as consultants at some point during the 2009 season.

“I can’t tell you what’s going on,” Manning said. “I will say I don’t think it’s been the most properly communicated scenario around here. But we have learned to deal with change and be prepared to adjust. It’s still somewhat of an open book the last I’ve heard about it.

“If they come back as consultants — status quo — it’s really hard for me to answer. I really don’t know what the word consultant means and I don’t know if anybody does. I know Tom Moore always told me that he talked to other teams that had consultants — he thought that was kind of a scary word. He thought all a consultant ever did was come in and second-guessed every play call you made.”

Former quarterbacks coach Jim Caldwell is still around, but he’s now the Colts head coach (taking over for the retired Tony Dungy). Caldwell’s replacement is ex-Buffalo Bills quarterback Frank Reich, who isn’t a complete stranger since he served as Indianapolis’ assistant quarterback coach for the past two seasons.

Assistant head coach Clyde Christensen, who has tutored the Colts’ wide receivers for the past seven seasons, takes over for Moore as offensive coordinator. And Pete Metzelaars moves up from assistant offensive line coach to replace Mudd.

And then there’s the question as to who will eventually step up and fill the large gap left by the departure of Pro Bowl wide receiver Marvin Harrison. Harrison, the franchise’s all-time leading pass catcher, was released in February.

Manning admitted Tuesday that with all the offseason moves, both on and off the field, the Colts’ workouts have a much different feel than in past years. Instead of picking up where he left off the previous season, as he has done pretty much every year since coming into the league as the franchise’s first-round draft choice in 1998, there’s been a definite adjustment period associated with this spring’s organized team activities.

“I think we’re still in the middle of [coaching staff changes], seeing how they’re going to play out. I think everybody’s getting to know coach Caldwell. I feel like I know him as a quarterback’s coach, but I’m getting to know him as a head coach,” he said.

“Every team meeting, I’m sitting on the front row, upright with my pen and paper out. Everybody wants to make a good impression on the new coach. He told us in the first meeting [that] he’s 54 years old, [former] coach Dungy has a big influence on him, he’s going to do some things the way coach Dungy did them, but a lot of things he’s going to do his own way.”

While the Colts’ rookies and backup players have been on the practice field since last week, the veteran portion of the voluntary workouts begin Tuesday.

Nearly a year after undergoing multiple surgeries to remove an infected bursa sac from his left knee, Manning appears to be back to his usual offseason routine of running and lifting weights. Other than a surgical scar on the knee, there have been few reminders of what he experienced last summer.

While the Colts’ signal caller likes and has a lot of respect for both Christensen and Metzelaars, the way the whole retirement situation has been presented — and what the future holds for Moore and Mudd with the franchise — has proven to be a bit unsettling for Manning.

While no one expects wholesale changes in Indianapolis’ offensive system, play calling styles usually differ from one coordinator to another. Manning and Moore had developed a strong bond and a comfort level over the past 11 seasons. The same goes for the quarterback’s relationship with Mudd.

How Moore and Mudd will be used once the season begins remains a question mark. But the Colts quarterback is not quite ready to move on just yet.

“However that plays out, I’m not ready to give you my closing remarks on Tom and Howard. Tom and I did have a meeting three weeks ago and it was somewhat of an emotional meeting. It was 7 a.m. We were saying good-bye not knowing if it was official or not. We took some time to share some personal thoughts. It’s hard to do it in an hour meeting after 11 years of being together. A lot of meetings and a lot of private conversations,” he said.

“I always thought some of the neatest times with Tom were at a timeout when coach Dungy would be out there, Coach Moore, maybe [backup quarterback Jim] Sorgi would. All of a sudden they would break away and it’s that last little thing that Tom tells me. It’s that one little moment there. And Howard and I are the same way. We’ll see how that plays out.”

Team owner Jim Irsay has said that he wants to bring Moore and Mudd back for the start of training camp. There have been other reports that neither will be eligible to return until mid-November. The specifics of when they’ll be back and what their responsibilities will be has yet to be determined.

“I really don’t know anymore than what you know. Somebody says one thing, then somebody else says another thing,” Manning continued. “I’m not sure everybody’s on the same page in this building. I’m just trying to focus on playing quarterback well.”

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