Anderson —
Compassion. That is the general feeling from members of the Indianapolis Colts organization when it comes to two players — one current, one former — who are experiencing potentially life-altering situations.
Defensive tackle John Gill, an early-season pickup by the Colts in 2009, was arrested by Indianapolis police early Sunday morning on charges of public intoxication. Gill, who played collegiately at Northwestern, was found in a ditch on the northwest side of Indianapolis. He was unable to stand after repeated attempts.
After being arrested, Gill was taken to jail and was subsequently released several hours later. The charges were later dropped, which appears to be a common consequence of such arrests according to an Indianapolis police spokesman.
Sadly, this may not have been the first time that Gill had a similar brush with the law. WISH-TV in Indianapolis reported that the California native had also been arrested nearly a year ago for the same offense. Team officials, however, would not confirm those accounts, citing privacy issues.
As it stands now, however, Gill remains a member of the Colts. The chances of him playing in a game at any point this year are relatively slim.
“With respect to John Gill, he’s got a problem clearly that unfortunately many Americans are familiar with. The No. 1 priority for him is to get treatment. We’re in that process right now. Football is not a priority. It’s not even a consideration. We’re in discussion with the league office and they’ll let us know what the appropriate roster category is for him,” team president Bill Polian said Monday.
“He’s going into treatment as quickly as possible. That’s being arranged with the appropriate people at the league level. And we’ll move on from there. We hope, obviously, for John’s sake and his family’s sake, that everything in the end will work out. His focus now needs to be on treatment and getting himself squared away.”
Heading into this year’s training camp, there was a chance for the 6-foot-3, 302-pound defensive lineman to earn a spot on the Colts’ regular-season roster. With a year under his belt in the Indianapolis defensive system, Gill was in the mix for a full-time job with the team.
“We were very hopeful this would be a good year for him. But it hasn’t turned out that way. It’s important that he get on with the business of getting his life straightened out,” Polian said, adding that he anticipates that the NFL office will place Gill on the inactive list at some point.
“I would anticipate that. But I don’t know. We’ll hear from them later [Monday].”
Coach Jim Caldwell added later that the team will not make a roster move with Gill’s spot until hearing from the league office.
n Pitcock making a comeback — And then there’s former Colts defensive lineman Quinn Pitcock, who retired unexpectedly before the start of training camp two years ago. Pitcock had been a third-round draft pick in 2007.
After seeing limited playing time early that season, the former Ohio State defensive lineman appeared to be positioning himself for a starting role in 2008. But that never happened. Pitcock abruptly decided to quit playing professional football less than a year after being drafted.
He went into semi-seclusion in Indianapolis, not responding to questions as to why he decided to retire from the NFL at so young an age. In fact, it wasn’t until he was given his official release by the Colts a week before the start of training camp this year that Pitcock began to re-emerge.
Deciding that he wanted to give football another chance, he made it known through his agent that he was available to try out for a team if anybody was interested. The Seattle Seahawks took him up on his offer. He’s now in the Seahawks training camp, trying to win a job.
In returning to the world of the NFL, Pitcock finally decided to come clean about the reasons behind his leaving the Colts.
“I’m introverted,’’ Pitcock told Seattle-area reporters recently. “I cast myself away from everybody and became almost a hermit. I was a hermit for a year. No one knew where I was at. I just sat in my apartment and did nothing.’’
He became depressed, which led to an addiction to video games.
“I got sucked into that,’’ Pitcock said. “I’m going to be working soon starting some sort of charity to help kids who are addicted to video games, because that turned into my way out. I got lost to the world. It took me a while to get myself back and get my bearings and get back into society.
“You always say, ‘I’m fine, I’m fine.’ Then finally you just have an awakening where you say, ‘What am I doing?’ I got to the point where I broke and burned many video games trying to quit. Once I got rid of that and realized I could slowly start eating healthy, exercising and doing all that, I got back on track.’’
Wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez, a teammate of Pitcock’s at Ohio State and also a 2007 draft pick by Indianapolis, wishes him the best in his return to the playing field.
“Each person goes through his own personal struggles. Quinn was a teammate of mine at Ohio State, and while we weren’t great friends or best friends, we were certainly close from a teammate standpoint. It was difficult for the observers, myself included, to see him go through that,” Gonzales said Monday.
“I didn’t know about any depression or anything like that. But it certainly adds up. If you think about a guy coming into his second year [in the league] and he’s probably going to be a starter — or if not a starter, a pretty big contributor — and to just retire kind of out of the blue, it’s a little surprising. So I guess from that standpoint, it makes sense. Clearly there was something else going on. I think everything adds up. I hope he’s beaten the depression. And I hope that he can get himself back on track.”
• Injury list — Sitting out Monday morning’s practice were tight end Dallas Clark, defensive end Keyunta Dawson, weakside linebacker Clint Session, tight end Colin Cloherty, rookie cornerback Brandon King, Gonzalez, offensive tackle Charlie Johnson, center Jeff Saturday, rookie offensive guard/center Jacques McClendon and offensive guard Andy Alleman.
Returning for practice on Monday morning were rookie cornerback Ray Fisher, offensive guard Tony Ugoh and offensive tackle Ryan Diem.
“If I start going down the whole list, there’s not a guy out there who doesn’t have something wrong with him at this time of year,” Caldwell said.
• Blue helmets on Monday — Players donned throwback blue helmets during Monday morning’s practice. The dark blue helmets sported two small horseshoes on the back instead of the more recognizable white helmets with the large blue horseshoe design.
The Colts will wear vintage 1955 uniforms during Sunday’s 2010 preseason home opener with San Francisco.
“I love them, actually. Not to get in trouble, but I think the horseshoes [on the blue helmets] are a little oddly placed. I’m not sure they are necessary, but other than that the blue helmets are great. I think they are pretty cool looking,” Gonzalez said.
“Variety is nice. I’ll say that. Mix it in [the blue helmets] every now and then.”
• Vinatieri feeling fine — Placekicker Adam Vinatieri says that he is feels fine after missing most of 2009 with hip and knee issues.
“I don’t have anything that’s bothering me,” he said Monday afternoon. “And when we’re out there and we’re nice and loose and warm, it feels like it should.”
Vinatieri missed two of three field goal attempts in last Saturday’s controlled scrimmage.
“It’s about timing. You miss a couple, you’re happy it’s early in preseason and training camp. You go back out and keep going,” Vinatieri said.
Colts
Colts showing compassion for troubled DL John Gill
- Colts
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Colts' coordinators enjoying getting rookies acclimated
While the Indianapolis Colts put their rookies and a handful of second-year players through workouts this weekend at the team’s Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center, a pair of first-year coordinators are getting a chance to do some valuable on-field work as well.
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Werner, 36 others open Colts’ mini camp
The Indianapolis Colts welcomed 37 players to the start of the team’s rookie mini camp Friday at the West 56th Street headquarters.
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Colts hoping for more high marks on draft picks
A year ago, the Indianapolis Colts received high marks for the impact players the team added through the NFL draft.
Of the 10 players selected, five ended up either starting or seeing extensive playing time (quarterback Andrew Luck, tight ends Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen, wide receiver T.Y. Hilton and running back Vick Ballard) during the Colts’ 11-5 season.
While this year’s class may not rival that group in terms of name recognition and flash, it may produce just as many major contributors once the 2013 season gets underway. -
Werner at top of game
Bjoern Werner was a late comer to football. But after being selected in the first round of the 2013 National Football League draft by the Indianapolis Colts, Werner realizes that he has reached the pinnacle of the sport in a relatively short amount of time.
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Colts select pass rusher Werner in first round
The Indianapolis Colts selected Florida State defensive end Bjoern Werner. The 6-foot-3, 266-pound defensive lineman can also play left outside linebacker.
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Colts in wait-and-see mode for tonight’s NFL draft
As the 2013 NFL draft gets underway tonight at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, the Indianapolis Colts are continuing their wait-and-see stance in regard to the first-round pick.
The draft begins at 8 p.m. — televised by the NFL Network and ESPN — with the Kansas City Chiefs making the night’s first selection. Teams will have 10 minutes to make their decisions during the first round. Indianapolis will have the 24th overall pick in the first round.
There will be only one round tonight. The second and third rounds are scheduled for Friday, beginning at 6:30 p.m. with seven minutes allotted per pick in the second round and five minutes allowed in the third. The final four rounds are slated to begin at noon Saturday with four minutes between selections.
As it stands now, Indianapolis does not have a second-round pick. It was traded to Miami last fall in exchange for veteran cornerback Vontae Davis. But second-year general manager Ryan Grigson has nut ruled out the possibility of trading down from the first round if the Colts aren’t satisfied with the players available. -
Direction clear for Colts in 2013 draft
The Indianapolis Colts head into the 2013 NFL Draft with some definite plans.
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Colts veteran among those excited to see Luck's growth in 2013-14
Veteran defensive end Cory Redding is a big fan — literally and figuratively — of Indianapolis Colts second-year quarterback Andrew Luck.
Redding, who has become one of the Colts’ lockerroom leaders after just one season with the team, thinks he has some reasonable expectations of Indianapolis’ former No. 1 draft pick. -
Heyward-Bey feeling fortunate to hook up with Luck
Add one more player to the list of veteran free agents signed by the Indianapolis Colts this offseason.
Former Oakland Raiders wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey agreed to a a deal with the Colts late Monday evening. Bey, who played collegiately at Maryland, was the seventh player selected in the first round of the 2009 National Football League draft. -
Colts sign nose tackle
Another day, more player signings for the Indianapolis Colts.
Nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin agreed to terms with the Colts on Tuesday evening and officially signed with the team Wednesday. Franklin (6-1, 315) is a 10-year NFL veteran with stops in Baltimore (2003-06), San Francisco (2007-10), New Orleans (2011) and San Diego (2012). -
Colts sign Matt Hasselbeck to back up Luck
The Indianapolis Colts’ roster moves just keep coming.
While the Colts haven’t yet added that big-name wide receiver that team owner Jim Irsay hinted at in tweets over the weekend, Indianapolis has addressed one area on offense.
Former Tennessee Titans quarterback Matt Hasselbeck had agreed Monday night to be the Colts’ primary back-up to second-year starter Andrew Luck. He officially signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the team Tuesday morning.
“We are very pleased to announce the signing of Matt Hasselbeck,” general manager Ryan Grigson said in a prepared statement. “His body of work, intangibles, and extensive league experience speak for themselves. Those factors, plus his familiarity with our offensive scheme, will make him a great asset to our team and its vision as we move forward.” -
Colts likely done signing free agents, for now
With the possible exception of adding a few lesser-priced players, the Indianapolis Colts’ big-time foray into the veteran free-agent marketplace is pretty much done.
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Landry, Jean Francois join Colts defensive unit
After adding five veteran free agent players to the Indianapolis Colts roster on Tuesday, general manager Ryan Grigson plucked two more plums late Wednesday night and Thursday afternoon.
New York Jets safety LaRon Landry and San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Ricky Jean-Francois both signed contracts with the Colts. Landry, a strong safety who appears to be a bigger version of former Indianapolis Pro Bowler Bob Sanders, and the versatile Jean-Francois are expected to make immediate impacts on the Colts’ defensive unit. -
Colts introduce free-agent signees
What the Indianapolis Colts accomplished last season — posting an 11-5 record and earning an AFC wild-card berth with a young team plus having that kind of success without its head coach on the sidelines for 12 games — didn’t go unnoticed by players around the NFL.
That was especially true for the five veteran free agents who were added to the Colts’ roster Tuesday. Offensive tackle Gosder Cherilus (Detroit), cornerback Greg Toler (Arizona), outside linebacker Erik Walden (Green Bay), offensive guard Donald Thomas (New England) and linebacker Lawrence Sidbury (Atlanta) admitted as much Wednesday.
“I felt like this would be the best fit for me at this point in my career. I really liked what I saw was happening with the program here and the way things have taken shape. I feel like we have a really great team here and it’s on the rise. I really wanted to be a part of that,” Thomas said during a teleconference interview with the Colts’ media. -
Colts sign five free agents, filling needs at offensive line, cornerback
The Indianapolis Colts were a busy team on the opening day of the National Football League’s veteran free agent market, which got underway at 4 p.m. Tuesday.
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Jeff Saturday retires as a Colt
An Indianapolis Colt for life. Pencil in Jeff Saturday for that honor.
The 14-year veteran center in the NFL put an official stamp on a career Thursday that began in Baltimore in 1998 and ended in Green Bay in 2012. But it was those 13 seasons in between — from 1999 to 2011 in which he played for Indianapolis — when Saturday earned his greatest rewards. -
Saturday thrilled to retire as a Colt
The 14-year veteran center in the National Football League put an official stamp on a career Thursday that began in Baltimore in 1998 and ended in Green Bay in 2012. But it was those 13 seasons in-between — from 1999 to 2011 in which he played for Indianapolis — that Saturday earned his greatest rewards.
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Saturday to retire as Colt on Thursday
Former Indianapolis Colts center Jeff Saturday will make his retirement from the National Football League official on Thursday.
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Indianapolis franchises punter McAfee
A week ago, Indianapolis Colts coach Chuck Pagano said it was a priority that the team retain the services of punter Pat McAfee.
McAfee, an unrestricted free agent who’s contract is due to expire March 12, was designated as the Colts’ franchise player Friday. The move allows Indianapolis extra time to work out a long-term deal for the team’s special-teams ace.
“He’s huge. He’s a major priority in free agency. Obviously, we’ve reached out and are working to get Pat re-signed,” Pagano said during the National Football Scouting Combine. “We saw what he did for us last year. He’s a great weapon, not only kickoffs and touchbacks. -
Colts GM enjoying time at combine
Indianapolis Colts second-year general manager Ryan Grigson makes no bones about it. He enjoys watching prospective football players strut their stuff.
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Colts keeping eye on large crop of talented linemen in NFL Draft
According to most National Football League draft observers, this year’s crop of prospects is deep with quality offensive and defensive linemen.
Among the offensive line candidates who have been showcasing their talents at the National Football Scouting Combine, which began in earnest Thursday and wraps up on Tuesday, the spotlight has been on the offensive tackles. Offensive left tackles in particular. -
Colts' Pagano back to full work schedule at combine
Back and ready to go.
That’s the attitude Indianapolis Colts coach Chuck Pagano is taking during the National Football Scouting Combine, which completed its second day of operations Friday at Lucas Oil Stadium. During a wide-ranging press conference at the combine, Pagano confirmed that he is back to a full work regimen after missing 12 games last fall as he battled a rare form of leukemia.
After undergoing cancer treatments that featured heavy doses of chemotherapy, the second-year head coach was able to return to the sidelines for Indianapolis’ final regular-season home game against Houston and for the team’s AFC wild-card matchup with eventual Super Bowl champion Baltimore. -
Colts looking forward to different approach to draft in 2013
A year ago, the Indianapolis Colts had the first overall pick in the 2012 National Football League draft.
It was a foregone conclusion that the Colts would select former Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck with the selection. While Indianapolis front office and player personnel officials certainly had to do their due diligence in preparing for the draft, the Colts find themselves this year in a bit different situation.
The team will have the 24th overall pick in the first round, which is a double-edged sword. Indianapolis picks lower in the round due to a successful season. But the pool of available can’t-miss talent isn’t quite as plentiful as drafting earlier in the round. -
Former Pro Bowl selection Freeney won't return to Colts
The news coming out of the Indianapolis Colts headquarters Friday afternoon was not totally unexpected. Team officials have confirmed that two veteran players – former Pro Bowl defensive end/outside linebacker Dwight Freeney and wide receiver Austin Collie — will not be returning for the 2013 season.
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Colts’ new offensive coordinator will offer variety
Quarterback Andrew Luck running the Pistol offense? Wide receiver T.Y. Hilton lining up in the Wildcat?
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Colts moving on to the off season
Moving on. That’s the immediate plans for the Indianapolis Colts as they head into the off season.
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Baltimore ends Indy’s playoff run early
The Baltimore Ravens want one long final ride for Ray Lewis. Having disposed of Andrew Luck and the Colts, they now face a more imposing challenge.
Next up, Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos. -
Switching sides: Colts-Ravens matchup includes old friends on new teams
Just as Baltimore Ravens players and coaches will be seeing some old friends returning to M&T Bank Stadium today, several Indianapolis Colts veterans will also have an opportunity to renew acquaintances with a familiar face.
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Pagano prepares Colts for tough crowd in Baltimore
As a former resident of Baltimore, Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano knows all about the hard feelings that still run strong about the move of the Colts franchise to Indianapolis in 1984.
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Pagano marvels at Colt’s progress
In the minutes after last Sunday’s win over AFC South champion Houston, Indianapolis Colts coach Chuck Pagano marveled at how the 2012 season has progressed for his team.
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