Indy Football Report Editor John Oehser takes a look at the first few days of Indianapolis Colts training camp while trying to catch his breath . . .
We covered Bob Sanders, Anthony Gonzalez and the fact that the Indianapolis Colts could be improved in Monday's look at the first day of Colts training camp.
So, let's move on.
I'll preface by apologizing for being sporadic in posting lately. Still juggling gigs and budgeting time, so thanks for those who are still reading. Kudos to StampedeBlue.com, 18to88.com and Coltzilla.com for doing their usual great job keeping up with all things Colts, and the Indianapolis Star's coverage is revamped with Mike Chappell, Phil B. Wilson & Co. getting information out quickly and accurately.
Where Indy Football Report will fit in with that this season is anyone's guess.
But we'll keep trying if you keep reading.
But, really, this time, let's move on to football. Astute readers know how IFR Report loves lists, and that's probably what training camp will be more than anything on IFR – as many days as possible weighing in with some thoughts on just what's going on so far.
So, what is? This is what:
1. QB Peyton Manning is going to get paid. This isn't exactly breaking news, but Colts Owner and Chief Executive Officer Jim Irsay reiterated early in camp that Manning's not going anywhere – the lack of a renegotiated long-term contract this summer notwithstanding. Manning is entering his 13th NFL season, but anyone looking for a dropoff likely will be disappointed. One of the most fascinating things covering Manning for 10 seasons has been how he remains focused and diligent about preparation whatever the stage of his career and whatever the circumstance, and there are no signs of that changing. Colts Head Coach Jim Caldwell said this off-season there's little reason to think Manning won't find something to improve upon this season, and that almost always has been the case. Manning certainly has to decline some time, but watching him early in this year's camp, there are no signs that's coming soon.
2. Reggie Wayne and Robert Mathis aren't going to get paid. That's not news, either, and it's probably not fair to either player. But it's the reality around the Colts these days. Each player sat out mini-camp and organized team activities to send a message to the team that they wanted to renegotiate their contracts, each of which has two years remaining. Irsay said Monday renegotiations aren't going to happen, probably not as long as there is uncertainty with the league's Collective Bargaining Agreement with the players. That's also causing the delay in redoing Manning's deal, which has a year remaining. But Irsay was clear on Monday that little will happen regarding Wayne and Mathis, and that the CBA isn't the only reason. The reality is that the organization is probably taking the right approach here in this sense: at the core of the organizational philosophy is their focus on re-signing players they consider critical to the team's core. To do that, the Colts often pay above market value for their own players that they have developed, and the thinking within the organization is if they're going to take that approach, the player has to play out the contract in order to make the salary cap and the budget work. Not what the players want to hear, but it's a philosophy that has kept the Colts atop the NFL in a relatively small market and the team's not likely to stray from it soon.
3. Wayne and Mathis are class acts. Credit the Colts for this: they almost always emphasize character in the draft and any player acquisition, and the scenarios involving Wayne and Mathis are clear examples of why that works. Are they happy with their contracts? No. Do they want to get paid more? Yes. Are they perhaps upset with the organization? Almost certainly. But when it came time to decide whether to hold out or report, each player reported – as much out of an obligation to their teammates as anything else. The Colts have built a locker room of players that like each other and like football, and in this case, it's probably a key part of why two relatively unhappy Pro Bowl players reported to training camp with remarkably good attitudes.
That's it for now. We'll check in tomorrow.
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