“We want to use all the time available to continue to work the process,” Irsay said Monday at the NFL owners meetings at the Breakers hotel. “We have no preconceptions. We want to continue to do a detailed evaluation of each player. Robert Griffin is unbelievable. Luck is great as well.

“I don’t think it’s an either or thing. Both are great players. We’ll continue to use the time to evaluate and really sit down and decide to do a contract early or not. That’s certainly possible. We’re still in the evaluation process.”

Luck has been scheduled for a private workout with the Colts, according to general manager Ryan Grigson. The Colts haven’t set up a private workout for Griffin yet.

The Colts attended Griffin’s highly-regarded Pro Day workout at Baylor, and also attended the Stanford workout.

Irsay said he’s been getting to know both blue-chip quarterbacks fairly well.

“Yeah, I really do,” Irsay said. “I think they’re both outstanding young men in terms of what they meant to their schools, how they conducted themselves.”

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“I think they’re both outstanding young men,” Irsay said during a break in the owners meetings here Monday. “I don’t think it’s either-or, where only one of them is going to succeed. I think they’re both going to be great.”

It’s long been assumed the Colts would take Luck with the first pick, and after the Washington Redskins traded up to get the No. 2 pick in the draft, it’s been assumed that they’d take Griffin. In truth, the Redskins are expecting the Colts to take Luck and excited to have Griffin. But if the Colts did take Griffin instead, the Redskins would be thrilled to have Luck fall to their spot.

Since they have the No. 1 pick, the Colts could, if they so choose, do a contract with Luck (or Griffin, or any player they want, actually) in advance of the draft.

“If we decided to do a deal early with one of them, that’s something we could definitely look into,” Irsay said. “But we’re still in the evaluation process right now.”

It’s possible the Colts have always been and remain set on taking Luck, and that the public interest in Griffin is a negotiating tactic Irsay is attempting to use with Luck. The Colts have been enamored with Luck for a long time. ESPN analyst Bill Polian, who was the Colts’ GM until a couple of months ago, has said last week on NFL Live that he believes Irsay is set on Luck as Peyton Manning’s successor in Indianapolis.

The key thing to remember, though, if you’re a Redskins fan, is the team believes (as Irsay says his team does) that there are two can’t-miss quarterback prospects in this year’s draft, and the trade the Redskins made with St. Louis ensured they will get one of them. Which one it is doesn’t matter as much as the fact that the Redskins believe that No. 2 pick sets them up at quarterback for years to come.

Neither will falling flat on his face.

And falling flat on your face while throwing against no rush and no coverage is pretty difficult for a polished college quarterback.

Luck goes into the day as the presumed No. 1 pick by the Indianapolis Colts, and — anticlimactic though it may be — he’ll go out of the day the same.

You can watch the workout on ESPN3 at 2 p.m. ET today.

“I would think it’s a mere formality,” one scout told me. “I didn’t write him up or study him, but just from crossover tape, you say, ‘Oh my God.’ He can do a lot of things. He can move. He can throw. He’s smart. He’s in a pro-style offense, so there won’t be a big learning curve …”

“He would have to have a catastrophic workout for him not to be the guy, in my opinion,” said a second scout. “The one thing he has to do at his workout in the Colts’ eyes is to come out healthy. That is it. He is easy to scout. He is ready to play now and will play at a high level in a short time.”

And from former scout Russ Lande of the Sporting News and GM Jr.: “I think more than anything, since they are going to both [Robert Griffin III’s] and Luck’s pro days, they want to be sure about Luck’s arm strength as that is a concern amongst some. Other than that, from what I have been told they have already decided on Luck and would only change their mind if something completely unforeseen were to happen.”

The Colts watched Griffin’s pro day at Baylor on Wednesday. RG3 threw 51 passes over 30 minutes with music he chose playing in the background.

Such is the low-key nature of the event for a top quarterback with a strong résumé on film.

RG3 still holds out slight hope that he can overtake Luck and be taken first by the Colts.

But the Baylor quarterback doesn’t believe he put any pressure on Luck with his good performance.

“Nah, no pressure,” RG3 said. “… He’ll go out and dazzle you guys like we hope we did.”

What is the Luck camp hoping to show?

“Essentially, a wide-ranging skill set, consistency and explosiveness,” said George Whitfield, the quarterback guru who’s been working with Luck.

The first scout I spoke with said he figures the Colts will arrive early and/or stay late to chat with Luck and perhaps take him out to dinner. Informal interview time might allow them to pick up and flesh out a subject or two they’ve previously discussed. A coach or executive who didn’t get close to Luck at the combine could have that chance now.

The second scout said he thought the get-together would offer a chance for Luck to reaffirm to the Colts that he wants to play for the franchise, and that he and his family will not do what Eli Manning did in 2004. Manning forced the Chargers to deal him after they took him No. 1 because he didn’t think San Diego would offer a good chance to win. He’s now won two Super Bowls quarterbacking the New York Giants.

But there have been no indications that Luck would pull such a power play, that he doesn’t want to follow in Peyton Manning’s footsteps in Indianapolis or that he is wary of the Colts’ ability to rebuild in a speedy fashion.

Rare is the top quarterback’s pro day that doesn’t draw raves. I expect Luck will receive the same sort of praise RG3 did.

The Colts will certainly keep that in context.

They’ll be able to negotiate a deal in advance of the April 26 first round. The rookie deals outlined in the new CBA mean that won’t be complicated, but also mean there probably won’t be a rush.

Luck will surely make an official visit to team headquarters in Indianapolis between now and then.

“You get your résumé on film,” said scout No. 1. “Your references are your coaches. Through the interview process, people around the building find out about your approach and expectations.

“All this running around in tights, I think it’s more a dog and pony show than actual football.”

Samson Satele, who started at center for the Raiders over the past three seasons, signed a free-agent contract with the Indianapolis Colts on Wednesday.

Satele was arrested Saturday morning for disorderly conduct in his native Hawaii and still faces a charge.

The 27-year-old Satele will likely replace Jeff Saturday as the Colts’ starting center. Satele has been a starter in each of his five NFL seasons since being a second-round pick by Miami in 2007.

Satele started 42 games over the past three seasons in Oakland. The Raiders could move second-year guard Stefen Wisniewski from left guard to center.

I don’t know where Peyton Manning will land, but I’m sure he’ll cause some anguish for the Indianapolis Colts and their fans in no time at all.

Manning will burn the Colts, whether from Denver or San Francisco in a distant, “Look what he’s doing!” way or from Tennessee with a “Look what he’s doing to us!” twice a year kind of way. My advice for Colts fans is to curse fate or Jim Irsay or both, but remember this will be short-term pain.

Five years from now, Manning will be retired and Andrew Luck will be – if all goes well – hitting his stride. Long term, it’s an understandable, even wise, change for the Colts. But the next four years could be emotionally taxing for fans.

I’ve yet to meet a Colts fan who wishes ill on the final stage of Manning’s career. He was nothing but classy as the Colts’ biggest star since moving to Indianapolis (Johnny Unitas ranks even if you connect the all-time Colts). He was sincere in his emotional goodbye. And, if he has some life yet in his arm, he’ll put up numbers and win a lot more games.

I’d like to see Manning play for the 49ers, just to see how willing 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh will be to share some leadership with the guy who replaced him in Indianapolis. Harbaugh’s style is pretty much the opposite of Manning’s. Harbaugh is emotion-driven. Manning is all about emotionless control.

Harbaugh will have to turn the offensive tenor over to Manning and get out of the way. Is he capable of doing that? No question. But that will require a slight, or not so slight, adjustment in style.

Perhaps the bigger question will be how the 49ers’ current players will react. This is a team known for its defense. If Manning come to town, everyone else becomes the “supporting cast.” How will this fly? For good measure, throw Randy Moss into the mix.

With Manning in the NFC, we’d have all sorts of playoff possibilities with Eli Manning, Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees, plus the upcoming Detroit Lions and refurbished Chicago Bears.

I can’t imagine a more intriguing Super Bowl contender than the 49ers with Manning. Make that Super Bowl favorite.

In terms of control and coaching style, Denver would seem a quicker fit. Coach John Fox is as flexible as any coach in the league. Meanwhile, Manning is a student of the game, not only in terms of studying film and preparation but in the history of pro football. As such, he’s an admirer of Denver legend John Elway, the team’s vice president of football operations.

Manning could enjoy playing on Elway’s old stomping grounds. He’d still be facing AFC opponents, where his vast knowledge of teams is of even more use. The Broncos made the playoffs last season with Tim Tebow at quarterback. I can give plenty of credit to Tebow for helping engineer that run. He’s no Peyton Manning, however.

Then we have the Titans, who would be the most logical choice for Manning. He stays in the AFC, in the division where he’s comfortable. He goes to the state where he spent his college years. He goes to a city with a lower-key profile not unlike Indianapolis.

Manning worked out for the Titans and they declared, like Elway before them, that Manning looked “comfortable” throwing the ball. I don’t know exactly what that means. He didn’t grimace? He didn’t hold his arm after deep throws? He said, “This is comfortable”? Who knows? If I’m a fan of those other teams, I’d prefer to hear he looked “awesome” or “incredible” or even “Peyton Manning-like.” But maybe this is all posturing by everyone.

Some expect Manning to make his decision Monday. You can find a columnist or analyst or “unnamed source” who has Manning picking each of the three alleged finalists.

I’d guess 49ers, Broncos and Titans in that order. Manning would not play against the Colts in the regular season this year unless he picks the Titans.

But that order of possibility is just a guess. Here’s a prediction: Wherever Manning plays, he’ll generate more short-term pain for Colts fans.

I don’t know where Peyton Manning will land, but I’m sure he’ll cause some anguish for the Indianapolis Colts and their fans in no time at all.

Manning will burn the Colts, whether from Denver or San Francisco in a distant, “Look what he’s doing!” way or from Tennessee with a “Look what he’s doing to us!” twice a year kind of way. My advice for Colts fans is to curse fate or Jim Irsay or both, but remember this will be short-term pain.

Five years from now, Manning will be retired and Andrew Luck will be – if all goes well – hitting his stride. Long term, it’s an understandable, even wise, change for the Colts. But the next four years could be emotionally taxing for fans.

I’ve yet to meet a Colts fan who wishes ill on the final stage of Manning’s career. He was nothing but classy as the Colts’ biggest star since moving to Indianapolis (Johnny Unitas ranks even if you connect the all-time Colts). He was sincere in his emotional goodbye. And, if he has some life yet in his arm, he’ll put up numbers and win a lot more games.

I’d like to see Manning play for the 49ers, just to see how willing 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh will be to share some leadership with the guy who replaced him in Indianapolis. Harbaugh’s style is pretty much the opposite of Manning’s. Harbaugh is emotion-driven. Manning is all about emotionless control.

Harbaugh will have to turn the offensive tenor over to Manning and get out of the way. Is he capable of doing that? No question. But that will require a slight, or not so slight, adjustment in style.

Perhaps the bigger question will be how the 49ers’ current players will react. This is a team known for its defense. If Manning come to town, everyone else becomes the “supporting cast.” How will this fly? For good measure, throw Randy Moss into the mix.

With Manning in the NFC, we’d have all sorts of playoff possibilities with Eli Manning, Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees, plus the upcoming Detroit Lions and refurbished Chicago Bears.

I can’t imagine a more intriguing Super Bowl contender than the 49ers with Manning. Make that Super Bowl favorite.

In terms of control and coaching style, Denver would seem a quicker fit. Coach John Fox is as flexible as any coach in the league. Meanwhile, Manning is a student of the game, not only in terms of studying film and preparation but in the history of pro football. As such, he’s an admirer of Denver legend John Elway, the team’s vice president of football operations.

Manning could enjoy playing on Elway’s old stomping grounds. He’d still be facing AFC opponents, where his vast knowledge of teams is of even more use. The Broncos made the playoffs last season with Tim Tebow at quarterback. I can give plenty of credit to Tebow for helping engineer that run. He’s no Peyton Manning, however.

Then we have the Titans, who would be the most logical choice for Manning. He stays in the AFC, in the division where he’s comfortable. He goes to the state where he spent his college years. He goes to a city with a lower-key profile not unlike Indianapolis.

Manning worked out for the Titans and they declared, like Elway before them, that Manning looked “comfortable” throwing the ball. I don’t know exactly what that means. He didn’t grimace? He didn’t hold his arm after deep throws? He said, “This is comfortable”? Who knows? If I’m a fan of those other teams, I’d prefer to hear he looked “awesome” or “incredible” or even “Peyton Manning-like.” But maybe this is all posturing by everyone.

Some expect Manning to make his decision Monday. You can find a columnist or analyst or “unnamed source” who has Manning picking each of the three alleged finalists.

I’d guess 49ers, Broncos and Titans in that order. Manning would not play against the Colts in the regular season this year unless he picks the Titans.

But that order of possibility is just a guess. Here’s a prediction: Wherever Manning plays, he’ll generate more short-term pain for Colts fans.

Reggie Wayne is one of the best and most consistent receivers in the NFL. During the glory years of the Indianapolis Colts, Peyton Manning to Reggie Wayne became one of the best quarterback-receiver combinations in the league.

Wayne supplanted Marvin Harrison as the top receiver on the team. Harrison’s ability to get open and catch the ball were stellar, but he would almost always run out of bounds or look for a piece of turf to go fetal so he didn’t have to get tackled. As a receiver, he was a specialist who did not like to get hit.

Wayne is a different type of player. He is not afraid of contact and he seems to relish the opportunity of hammering a defensive player when that chance comes his way. He can make the tough catch, run after taking possession of the football and block. He’s not just a receiver, but he is a real football player. Wayne had seven straight seasons with 1,000 receiving yards before catching 75 passes for 960 yards with 4 touchdowns last year.

So it was a surprise that this real football player decided sign a new contract with the Indianapolis Colts after he became a free agent. It always seemed like Wayne was interested in becoming a winning player and playing for a winning team.

The Colts are clearly a rebuilding team at this point. Peyton Manning, tight end Dallas Clark, running back Joseph Addai, linebacker Gary Brackett and wide receiver Pierre Garcon are all gone. The Colts have the No. 1 pick and will select Stanford’s Andrew Luck, who has a boatload of talent and will likely become a star quarterback in the years to come. But he has much to learn and it will probably take him a couple of seasons to get up to speed.

Wayne, 33, signed a 3-year, $17.5 million contract with the Colts. Prior to the 2011 season, his career was all about being part of a winning organization. He was pursued by at least three other teams as a free agent, including the New England Patriots. Playing for Bill Belichick and with Tom Brady seems like it would have been the way for Wayne to go if winning another Super Bowl – or at least playing for a winning team – was his primary goal.

Wayne traded a chance to win to play in a comfortable environment. If he sees the Patriots back in the playoffs next season while the Colts languish in the vicinity of 5-11, his competitive nature will cause him to have second thoughts about taking the safe route back home.

Reference:

Indianapolis Star – Reggie Wayne returns to Colts; Pierre Garcon leaves for Redskins

http://www.indystar.com/article/20120314/SPORTS03/203140317/Colts-receivers-Reggie-Wayne-returns-Pierre-Garcon-gone?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Sports|p

Reggie Wayne will be a great fit with the new Indianapolis Colts. No training required.

With Pierre Garcon leaving for a multi-year deal with the Washington Redskins, the Colts will rely on Wayne now more than ever, and it’s a good call. To steal a thought from Gisele Bundchen, Andrew Luck can’t throw AND catch the ball.

Wayne, who agreed Tuesday to a three-year deal worth at least $17.5 million to return to the Colts, will be a perfect welcome-to-the-NFL receiver for probable No.1 draft pick Luck.

Wayne, 33, has the experience, the temperament and the talents to help a rookie quarterback learn the ropes. He can talk with Luck about how the best quarterbacks (i.e. Peyton Manning) approach games, dissect film and communicate with receivers. He can bail Luck out of jams with sideline catches and precision routes.

It’s no secret that when Manning came in the league, it was a huge help to have Marvin Harrison on his side. And, even then, Manning threw 28 interceptions.

Without Wayne, Luck’s receivers would have been Austin Collie and Blair White. Both make fine third options.

It was disappointing for Indianapolis to see Garcon turn down the Colts’ offer and sign with the Redskins. It’s a great story in other regards, with Garcon rising from a sixth-round pick out of Mount Union to a six-year, $42.5 million deal.

And it’s also a sign of the Colts’ time that they didn’t bring out the blank check necessary to entice Garcon. While the Colts might not have originally planned it this way, Wayne will be more helpful to grooming Luck in his first season.

The Colts are looking to help their next quarterback in other ways, too. They’re showing interest in Evan Mathis, a solid free agent left guard from the Philadelphia Eagles. They’ll have second-year left tackle Anthony Castonzo back. They want to protect the upcoming investment.

The Colts are also intent on building a defense that will limit the need for competing in shootouts. They are negotiating with Ravens defensive end Cory Redding.

But every quarterback needs a No.1 receiver and the Colts secured one by bringing back Wayne. If the Colts fill offensive and defensive line needs in free agency, perhaps they can afford to use a later pick on another wide receiver. They might also be looking for a tight end, given the release of Dallas Clark and the free agency of Jacob Tamme. They could still re-sign Tamme.

Still, Wayne brings back the offensive side of a confident locker room to balance the defensive side now resting on Robert Mathis’ shoulders.

Wayne sets a tone with professionalism and an optimistic outlook. And don’t forget loyalty. He was the one player who openly had Curtis Painter’s back when the Colts brought in Kerry Collins and showed no confidence in Painter to open last season. He came through for Dan Orlovsky with a game-winning touchdown catch in the Colts final home game last year.

Despite quarterback woes, Wayne caught 75 passes for 960 yards and four touchdowns. Prior to that, he had seven straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons and five Pro Bowl awards.

Wayne said all along he would like to finish his career with the Colts. Loyalty has its limits, however, and Wayne had felt little loyalty from the Colts since he packed up his “Super Bowl Under Construction” hard hat and left town.

I realize Colts general manager Ryan Grigson and coach Chuck Pagano have no ties to the past (although Pagano and Wayne were at the University of Miami together), but starting their new quarterback with a reliable veteran receiver is key to the future. It will be much easier with Wayne in uniform.

Wayne’s signing wasn’t cheap, but it won’t break the bank. This is about making wise investments for the Colts now as they rebuild, almost from scratch.

The Colts made the right call in bringing back Wayne, the one free agent receiver capable of bridging the Colts’ good old days and the wild, new frontier.

Peyton Manning was cut by the Indianapolis Colts after a 14-year stint with the franchise that included a Super Bowl win and four National Football League MVP awards for the quarterback, the team said on Wednesday.

Manning, 35, missed the entire 2011 NFL season after neck surgery last September and was due a $28 million bonus if the club had decided to keep him.

“We’re here to announce the conclusion of Peyton’s playing career with the Colts,” team owner Jim Irsay said during an emotional news conference at the Colts’ practice facility in Indianapolis.

“We’re here very much as well to honour all the incredible memories and incredible things that he’s done for the franchise.”

Manning, who turned the Colts into a perennial contender and broke all of the franchise’s major career passing records, also struggled to choke back tears.

“I have been a Colt for almost all of my adult life, but I guess in life and in sports we all know that nothing lasts forever,” said Manning.

“I haven’t thought yet about where I’ll play but I have thought a lot about where I’ve been, and I’ve truly been blessed to play here an blessed to be in the NFL.”

Doctors have cleared Manning, who broke all of the team’s major career quarterbacking records and never missed a start before last season, to resume his career.

Manning, who will become perhaps the most sought after free agent ever in the NFL, stressed how much playing for the Colts had meant to him, but said he was eager to get back to playing.

“I’m throwing it pretty well,” he said. “I still have some progress to make, but I’ve been working pretty hard. I’m enjoying being back out there.

”Nobody loves playing quarterback more than I do.“

Irsay said severing ties with Manning was extremely difficult but that circumstances conspired to make a parting of the ways something that made sense to both parties since the Colts were in the early stages of a rebuilding process.

Following the season, the Colts set the stage for launching a new era by firing Vice Chairman Bill Polian, General Manager Chris Polian and head coach Jim Caldwell.

The Colts, who had a league-worst 2-14 record during Manning’s absence, have the No. 1 overall pick in April’s NFL draft, where Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck is widely pegged as the top choice.

Manning led Indianapolis to the playoffs 11 times, won two AFC championships and was named Super Bowl MVP in the Colts’ victory over the Chicago Bears in 2007.

© Copyright (c) Reuters

In this Dec. 2, 2011, file photo, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning talks to reporters in the locker room at the NFL football team’s practice facility in Indianapolis. The Super Bowl is getting upstaged by the greatest spectacle in football. Manning is making headlines without playing a down, dominating conversations without saying a word and superseding the two conference champions from the sideline.

(AP File Photo by Michael Conroy)

INDIANAPOLIS — The Peyton Manning era in Indianapolis is expected to end Wednesday, according to a report.

Citing anonymous sources, ESPN reported today that the Colts plan to hold a news conference to announce the long-expected decision. Manning is expected to attend.

Team owner Jim Irsay and Manning’s agent, Tom Condon, did not immediately respond to messages left by The Associated Press.

Manning turns 36 later this month, and missed the entire 2011 season after a third neck surgery. Before that, he’d never missed a game in his 13 NFL seasons.

He is owed a $28 million bonus, and with the Colts holding the top draft pick, they apparently have decided it was too risky and pricey to keep the four-time league MVP.

Manning led the Colts to the 2006 NFL title.

March 6 (Reuters) – The Peyton Manning era with the
Indianapolis Colts appears set to end as the National Football
League (NFL) team is expected to cut the 11-time Pro Bowl
quarterback on Wednesday, according to multiple reports.

The end of their 14-year relationship, which produced a
Super Bowl championship, was widely expected since Indianapolis
faced a deadline this week of paying a $28 million bonus to
Manning, who missed the entire 2011 season with a neck injury.

Sources close to the team said the announcement will be made
at a news conference in Indianapolis with both Manning and Colts
owner Jim Irsay in attendance, according to ESPN, which first
reported the news on Tuesday.

The decision to pass on the bonus and not pick up the four
remaining years on Manning’s contract would make the four-time
league most valuable player a free agent.

Manning, who turns 36 later this month, had his third neck
surgery in 19 months, to fuse two vertebrae in September.

Doctors have cleared him to resume his career and Manning
has returned to training as nerves in his neck have regenerated.

Manning has broken all of Indianapolis’ career records for a
quarterback and had never missed a start before last season.

He led Indianapolis to the playoffs 11 times and won two AFC
championships and was named Super Bowl MVP in the Colts’ victory
over the Chicago Bears in 2007.

Indianapolis finished with the league’s worst record last
season and have since endured a tumultuous offseason that has
already claimed the jobs of Vice Chairman Bill Polian, General
Manager Chris Polian and head coach Jim Caldwell.

The Colts, who posted a 2-14 record in Manning’s absence,
have the No. 1 overall pick in April’s draft, where Stanford
quarterback Andrew Luck is widely pegged as the top choice.

(Reporting By Larry Fine in New York; Editing by Frank Pingue)