Tom James
Tribune-Star Correspondent
INDIANAPOLIS —
Peyton Manning readily admits that he’s going to miss visiting Terre Haute for three weeks every summer.
The Indianapolis Colts officials formally announced Thursday that, after 11 years, the team would be moving its preseason training camp from Rose-Hulman back to Anderson University in August.
Manning wants fans to know that he enjoyed — as much as anybody ever really enjoys going through the rigorous work of training camp in a hot and humid environment — his time in the Wabash Valley.
The Colts’ Pro Bowl quarterback understands the business aspect of professional sports. Attitudes and priorities often change on a yearly basis. That’s just the way of life for an NFL player.
“I guess that I’m probably the only player [on the current Colts roster] that was [at training camp at Anderson in 1998]… Once again, a change. A transition. But let me say this first and foremost, Terre Haute was nothing but great to us as players. Everything from the support they gave us was outstanding,” the four-time NFL Most Valuable Player said Friday.
“I know we won a lot of games, there in Terre Haute, from a training-camp standpoint. Transition and change are part of it. I think our team has handled those type of things in the past. We’re looking forward to going to Anderson. I know the fans there will be excited. But I, personally, want to thank what Terre Haute did for us for the past 11 seasons. It was a great run there.”
• Next man up — The Colts began a three-day mandatory mini-camp Friday at the team’s West 56th Street complex. Three players were absent from the workouts — wide receiver Reggie Wayne, defensive end Robert Mathis and safety Antoine Bethea.
The three opted not to attend the workouts because of contractual issues. All want to re-structure their current deals with the team.
Publicly, Indianapolis second-year head coach Jim Caldwell isn’t concerned about the absences. He’d much rather talk about the players who are attending practices.
“Obviously, [we’ve] typically made it a policy not to discuss anything dealing with contract issues and things of that nature. But I can tell you that what we’re doing is that we’re trying to figure out a way to get better every day. That’s our goal and our focus. And we’re going to continue to do that,” Caldwell said.
“There’s times that happen during the course of the season where certain guys may not be able to go. So what we do is adjust and keep moving. We find a way to get better. That’s what our goal is. We don’t certainly have to be concerned about anything else other than that. That’s my job. My job is to get our team in the best position to win. I had an old motto that I used to live by when I was a young coach. And that’s “Coach who shows up.’ And that’s what I intend to do.”
Wayne, who is scheduled to make $5.47 million in 2010 and $5.95 million in 2011, has two years left on his contract. He e-mailed a letter to selected members of the media Thursday night detailing his reasons for sitting out this weekend’s practices.
“I have tremendous respect for Jim Irsay, Bill Polian and the entire Indianapolis Colts organization, but at this time, we are in disagreement concerning my contract situation,” he wrote. “Therefore, I will not be attending this weekend’s mini-camp.
“I will continue training diligently in Florida, as I have each offseason since my rookie year, to ensure that I am fully ready for this season. I hope that a fair resolution can be reached in the not-too-distant future that allows me to achieve my goal of playing my entire career with the Indianapolis Colts.”
Mathis, meanwhile, has two years remaining on the $30 million contract he signed in 2006. He’s due a base salary of $2.31 million this season and $2.4 million next season.
Bethea is the lone remaining restricted free agent on the Colts. He wants to negotiate a multi-year deal and has not signed his one-year tender offer sheet. But the 2006 sixth-round draft pick is locked in to playing for Indianapolis this season. The Colts can make him play this year for $2.521 million.
Missing Friday’s workout because of medical reasons were defensive ends Dwight Freeney and Ervin Baldwin, running back Donald Brown, wide receivers Anthony Gonzalez and John Matthews, cornerbacks Kelvin Hayden and Jerraud Powers, tight end Jacob Tamme, defensive tackle Antonio Johnson, offensive guard Jaimie Thomas, offensive tackle/guard Tony Ugoh, placekicker Brett Swenson and rookie kick-returner Brandon James.
• Open practice today — Indianapolis will have an open-access practice today at Lucas Oil Stadium. The workout is scheduled to begin around 2:15 p.m. and wrap up at approximately 4:30.
An open house, which will begin at 10 a.m., includes activities on the playing field, live music, appearances by team mascot Blue and cheerleaders, a Colts garage sale, unique photo opportunities and free cholesterol screenings.
