INDIANAPOLIS —
With three days of rookie mini-camp now behind him and a few more weeks of college class work still ahead, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck has come to a crossroads.
Luck is still a student in good standing at Stanford University, with classes scheduled for every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday until the end of the quarter on June 7. He’ll then go through the school’s graduation ceremonies on June 17 at Palo Alto.
The Colts’ No. 1 draft pick, who was selected as the first player overall two weeks ago, is also just beginning his professional career. After this past weekend’s rookie camp, Luck is prohibited by National Football League rules from working out the team’s Indianapolis facility until his school obligations have been completed.
That means no participation in the upcoming organized team activity sessions, which get under way in a couple of weeks. He won’t be able to do anything officially at the Colts’ headquarters until a mandatory full-team mini-camp on June 12.
Luck knows that he has a lot on his plate right now. It’s also a delicate balancing act, wanting to finish school and get his architecture degree while also preparing himself for the start of what could be a long and productive NFL career.
“I have a job now. This is my job. This is what I love to do and I want to devote 100 percent of my time right now to being the best football player I can be and the best quarterback for this team,” he acknowledged after Sunday’s final mini-camp practice.
“But I realize that I’m not going to let three and a half years of school go to waste right now. I am going to try to finish strong and go from there.”
Tight end Coby Fleener, as well as wide receivers Griff Whalen and LaVon Brazill, understand what Luck is going through. Fleener and Whalen were both teammates of Luck’s at Stanford. Brazill, meanwhile, attended Ohio University, which is also on the quarters schedule.
Fleener is in grad school, which means that his return to the Indianapolis facility could be sooner. It’s predicated on his classwork. Whalen and Brazill, though, are in the same boat as Luck, who is looking forward to taking part in Stanford’s graduation ceremonies.
“It is symbolic finishing, sort of closing the chapter on that part of your life,” the quarterback said.
n Looking ahead — Luck, much like his immediate predecessor Peyton Manning, is often his often his own worst critic. But he saw some progress in learning Bruce Arians’ offensive playbook.
“Leaps and bounds. The chance to get practice reps is huge, and to get on the field, get all of the reps and put something on film that you can go back to and have it start clicking. So leaps and bounds,” Luck voiced.
“The ability to come out here, you make a mistake that you watched on film, and the ability to come out and not do it again, I think, is something that has spread out through all of the guys here. So it is fun to be around.”
Next on the agenda, football-wise, is to try and organize some informal workouts with some of his new Indianapolis teammates away from practice facility.
Wide receivers Austin Collie (who has an offseason home in Sacramento) and Jeremy Ross (who attended the University of California) are expected to join Fleener and Whalen for some passing sessions at Stanford.
Luck, though, said that he will go wherever veteran wide receiver Reggie Wayne wants to get together and also wants to get some time in with Donnie Avery and Quan Cosby.
“We are going to have to find ways, legally, to get work in with the guys and start building those relationships with the veterans who can’t be here at [rookie] mini-camp,” he said.
“As a rookie quarterback, I wish it would be easier to get out here and to do this stuff, but it is the way it is. Everybody has got to do it. So do it within the rules, and find a way around it.”
Team owner Jim Irsay recently said that he would be willing to let Luck use his personal plane and helicopter if it would help ferry players around and allow them to get some work in.
“I’ve got to figure out dates and talk to the other guys first, but I will definitely use whatever means of transportation, especially if it is Mr. Irsay’s stuff,” Luck joked.
Pro Sports
Colts’ new QB has a lot to keep him busy
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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. -
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. -
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 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. -
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' 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. -
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One thing is for certain. Meyers Leonard of the Portland Trail Blazers doesn’t need 40 minutes to incite a crowd with a posterizing slam dunk or a big shot block.
At just 20 years of age, the former Robinson, Ill., standout who took his talents to Champaign for two years is getting his feet wet at the highest level of basketball.
Close to 300 fans, many of whom watched Leonard take the Maroons to the 2010 IHSA Class 2A state championship, rode on charter buses to watch him battle the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis last week. -
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Titans to sport new look vs. Colts
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Do-or-die Bills next for Colts
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Colts healthy entering key road game
If all goes well during today’s short walk-through practice, it appears the Indianapolis Colts will be in pretty good health heading into Sunday’s nationally televised (4:25 p.m., CBS Sports) road game with the New England Patriots.
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Times have changed
A lot has changed for the Indianapolis Colts since a 22-17 home loss to Jacksonville on Sept. 23.
For starters, that’s the only game the 1-7 Jaguars have won this season. Indianapolis, meanwhile, has posted wins in four of its last five games and is rolling along with a 5-3 record.
Many Colts point to that loss in the third week of the season. Indianapolis led 14-3 at the half and were ahead 14-13 after three quarters of play.
In fact, the Colts led 17-16 with 0:45 remaining in the game. That’s when Jacksonville quarterback Blaine Gabbert connected with speedy wide receiver Cecil Shorts III on an 80-yard pass play that resulted in the final margin of victory.
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Not pretty, but Colts take win
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Pagano gives Colts 4 days off
With a bye this weekend, the Indianapolis Colts went through a short week of practice before taking a long four-day weekend.
Indianapolis coach Chuck Pagano put the Colts through workouts Tuesday and Wednesday before allowing the team to scatter across the country.
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Tentative agreement reached on NFL referees' contract
The NFL and the referees’ union reached a tentative contract agreement at midnight today, ending an impasse that began in June when the league locked out the officials and used replacements instead.
“Our officials will be back on the field starting tomorrow night” for the Cleveland-Baltimore game, Commissioner Roger Goodell said after a day of marathon negotiations.
With Goodell at the table, the sides concluded two days of talks with the announcement of a tentative eight-year deal, which must be ratified by 51 percent of the union’s 121 members. They plan to vote Friday. -
Colts receiver Collie will miss season with knee injury
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Wide receiver Avery starting to feel at home with Colts
Count Indianapolis Colts coach Chuck Pagano and offensive coordinator Bruce Arians as two of Donnie Avery’s biggest supporters.
The Colts’ wide receiver, who has struggled with knee issues the last two seasons after being the first receiver selected in the 2008 NFL draft, opened a lot of eyes in last Sunday’s 23-20 win over the Minnesota Vikings.
Avery hauled in nine passes for 111 yards in the victory, his first big performance since joining the team as an unrestricted free agent last March.
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