Indianapolis Colts President Bill Polian on DT John Gill: "Football is not a priority"

ANDERSON, Ind. – The Indianapolis Colts returned to practice Monday, with the primary topic the future of reserve defensive lineman John Gill.

Gill, a second-year veteran from Northwestern University, was released from jail Sunday after his arrest early Sunday morning on a public intoxication charge. The charge also was dropped Sunday, an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department spokesman told the Indianapolis Star.

Colts President Bill Polian said Gill likely will be placed on a list that would sideline him for the season.

“I would anticipate that, but I don't know,” Polian said Monday shortly after the first of two Colts 2010 Training Camp practices at Anderson University.

Colts Head Coach Jim Caldwell also addressed the issue Monday.

“The most important thing is he gets things straightened away,” Caldwell said. “He has a lot of work to do.”

Said Polian, “We were very hopeful that this would be a good year for him. It hasn't turned out that way. It's important he get on with the business of getting his life straightened out.”

Polian said the team is in discussion with the league office about the appropriate roster category.

“We'll hear from them later today,” Gill said.

Polian said Gill will go into treatment as quickly as possible.

“The No. 1 priority for him is to get treatment,” Polian said. “We're in that process right now. Football is not a priority. It's not even a consideration.

“We hope, obviously, for John's sake and his family's sake that everything in the end will work out.”

Gill, who played two regular-season games last season, was found passed out in a ditch in the 3600 block of Lafayette Road around 4 a.m. Sunday, the Star cited a police report as saying. According to the Star, the report said, “An officer had been sent to check on a man said to be on the ground in front of a car. Gill reportedly had trouble standing, smelled of alcohol and spoke with a slur.”