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ANDERSON, Ind. —
The Indianapolis Colts got down to business Friday afternoon at Anderson University.

The team practiced for more than two hours in full pads, paying special attention to goal-line situations and welcoming in its full roster of healthy players.

Some 15 free agents who signed a contract after July 29 practiced for the first time Friday morning and added to an already energetic session.

The Colts will play their annual mock game today at 10:30 a.m., but offensive tackle Ryan Diem said practices like Friday’s afternoon session are even better.

“It’s always fun,” Diem said of the mock game. “They kind of put us in different situations and let us run through some stuff. But really it’s the practices like this afternoon that are going to help us get a lot better with our technique and fundamentals, and that’s the most important thing.”

The mock game pits the offense against the defense with a unique scoring system.

The offense will wear white and score points the same way it would during a regular game — six points for a touchdown, three for a field goal and one for a point-after attempt.

The defense will wear blue and score seven points for each takeaway, three for a forced fumble and one each for forcing a punt or a turnover on downs.

Last year, the game lasted only about one quarter — with the teams tied 21-21 at the start — and the defense routed the offense 52-24 in front of an estimated 8,500 fans.

Defensive end Dwight Freeney expects another large crowd today.

“I think it should be,” he said. “I think we have some real great fans here. They really support their teams out here. In years past, it’s always been electric on the mock game. So hopefully we get a big crowd again.”

Freeney’s even more excited about the big crowd in his daily meeting room.

The Colts have 15 defensive linemen in training camp. Typically, that number is closer to eight.

The reinforcements mean some players might not get as many reps as they’re used to, but that concern is alleviated by the competition the numbers create.

“Guys are maybe more competitive now at certain positions,” Freeney said. “You’re fighting. There’s no position that you’re just giving away spots. You gotta fight for it.”

Indianapolis opens the preseason in a just one week at the St. Louis Rams.

That’s the reason the team is going forward with the mock game today, even though so many players made their training camp debut Friday.

“It’s unusual because of the fact that typically your whole team is with you (at the start of camp),” head coach Jim Caldwell said. “But now we have a few guys that have only been with us in terms of practice one day prior to the mock game. So that will be interesting.”

It might be a real concern for some teams — trying to blend so many young players and veteran free agents together in so little time.

But the Colts believe they have one advantage.

Veteran leaders like Freeney, offensive lineman Jeff Saturday, wide receiver Reggie Wayne, tight end Dallas Clark and linebacker Gary Brackett should help ease the transition.

“No question,” Caldwell said. “I think that is very key. I think we have the right blend and the right mix because we have a number of guys that are at positions that have been around a while, and so they can kind of disseminate information. Often times the coaches do a great job, great teachers, but players can tell players about their position and little nuances from a different perspective. So I think that’s vital.”

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ANDERSON, Ind. —
If the Indianapolis Colts have a training camp this season, it’ll be held in Anderson, team owner Jim Irsay announced Wednesday.

The camp is dependent on the conclusion of collective bargaining negotiations between players and NFL owners.

“We’re prepared to go up to Anderson. We’re ready,” Irsay said  in Indianapolis. “Right now the plan is to be there and have training camp there.”

Last year, the Colts returned training camp to Anderson University after 15 years away and saw its largest turnout in years.

An estimated 83,500 fans showed up to watch at least one practice during the 18-day camp.

Chris Williams, spokesman for AU, is excited about the prospect of a Colts return to Anderson.

“We had a great experience with the Colts last year — a fantastic experience. The training camp was a success by every standard of measurement, and we would certainly welcome the Colts back,” he said Wednesday.

Anderson City Councilman Art Pepelea said city and university officials are currently working on the training camp contract with the Colts.

“We’re ecstatic with the negotiations going on,” Pepelea said Wednesday.

He would not reveal details of the contract or whether the Colts intend to sign a multi-season agreement with Anderson University.

Though tight-lipped about city preparations for the possibility of training camp returning, Pepelea did say “it’s going to be bigger than it was last year.”

Anderson Mayor Kris Ockomon agreed. “People from the Colts organization have promised they feel like they can do better this time with fans. They’re talking about their marketing doing something even bigger this year,” he said.

City officials have estimated that the 2010 Colts training camp had an impact of $6.4 million on local businesses.

By the end of the camp, Braun Roosa of Mounds Mall said the mall had seen a 30 percent increase in foot traffic.

Squeeze Play, a local sports memorabilia store, reported a 50 to 60 percent increase in sales during Colts camp last year.

A training camp attendance record was set when an estimated 9,500 fans turned out for a night practice.

Colts camp was previously hosted by Anderson University from 1984 to 1998.

Williams said the university will use the 2010 training camp as a blueprint for future camps.

“That provides us with a great model,” he said. “There are obviously some areas we might tweak and adjust.”

Of course, the return of Colts camp depends entirely on the ability of players and NFL owners to come to an agreement.

“We are hopeful that the negotiations between the players and the owners can reach a quick conclusion,” Williams said.

Irsay told reporters Wednesday that continued delays in negotiations could lead to a shortened training camp that would be held in Indianapolis.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Contact Brandi Watters 640-4847, brandi.watters@heraldbulletin.com

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Pat Angerer probably expected to spend his rookie season for the Indianapolis Colts learning the ropes of playing linebacker in the NFL. Instead due to injuries, he ended up in the starting lineup for much of the season and earned all rookie honors at the position. He talks about his first year in the NFL, helping his niece with leukemia, and much more.

To donate to the Alexis Willey Benefit please send you checks to:
Alexis Willey Benefit
2928 Dundee Lane
Bettendorf, IA 52722

Q: What was your rookie year like in the NFL?

ANGERER: It went by fast. It was kind of crazy, but I think I got the hang of it and I thought that I continued to improve.

Q: Did you have a welcome to the NFL moment early in the season?

ANGERER: I got hit pretty good a lot of times. Probably the first one was on the opening kickoff of the first game when I thought I was going to block somebody and I got smoked pretty good.

Q: Did you pinch yourself sometimes during the season thinking, I’m going up against this team or I’m in an NFL playoff game?

ANGERER: I try not to think that way. I don’t want to confuse myself. (laugh) Sometimes it is kind of crazy and you are out there thinking, wow the game is kind of on the line.

Q: You faced Shonn Greene in the Colts final game of the season. I’m sure tackling him was fun.

ANGERER: Yeah, when I could tackle him. (laugh) When he fell over it was fun.

Q: There are a lot of former Iowa players in the NFL now, many of them former teammates. Is it neat to see those guys before or after a game?

ANGERER: It is and when you are watching tape, you are always rooting for the Iowa guys to do well. I’ll always say, this guy is from Iowa. We have so many guys who played at Iowa that represent the University of Iowa so well. When we played a team with an Iowa guy on the roster we usually talked after the game. It’s really cool and I root for all of them.

Q: It’s almost like you guys have your own little semi private fraternity.

ANGERER: Yeah, it is and the best part is that they are all really good people, good guys. I am just glad to be part of that group.

Q: You got kind of thrown into the lineup when the Colts starting middle linebacker, Gary Brackett, went down with an injury. How did he help you prepare for that moment?

ANGERER: He helped me tremendously. Every little question, he was there to help me and guide me. He had my back at every turn and he is one of the best guys that I have met.

Q: Looking back, can you talk about how being at Iowa helped prepare you for the NFL, in particular Coach Doyle.

ANGERER: I was ready thanks to my time at Iowa. They make you grow up. I grew up fast and honestly the transition wasn’t that bad thanks to being part of the Iowa program. I didn’t mind working hard thanks to what Coach Doyle and the rest of the coaches prepared me for.

Q: Some corners of the media have taken some shots at Coach Doyle in the past few weeks over the training incident with 13 players. You stepped up and have defended him very strongly.

ANGERER: Yeah, people who talk bad about Coach Doyle have no idea what they are talking about. That was my main point. I could go on and on about all of the good things he has done for guys coming out of the Iowa program. What it boils down to is he changed my life. I am one of many who had their life changed for the better thanks to Coach Doyle.

Q: Do you feel like you wouldn’t be where you are now without him?

ANGERER: No I wouldn’t. I gained 30 pounds in my freshman year and it was all good weight. That was thanks to him doing what he does. He really brings out the best in you.

Q: Any concerns about the possible NFL lockout and the collective bargaining agreement this spring?

ANGERER: Obviously I want to play, but it is out of my hands. I’m not smart enough to know what it is all about. (laugh)

Q: Talk about the benefit that your family and friends are putting on tonight for your 13 year old niece, Alexis, who is battling leukemia.

ANGERER: My niece is 13 and she just got diagnosed with acute leukemia. It is a very rare form of leukemia. Right now she is in Iowa City getting chemo and she is going to be there for a while. We are trying to do something to help out my brother with bills because it is going to be expensive. I’ve been up there to see her quite a bit and she is a fighter and it has been so motivating for me to see how positive she has been through all of this. Unfortunately she is going through this battle, but we are all going through it with her. I love Iowa. There is no place in the world where so many people would come out and support each other in this way. It is really amazing and I can’t thank everyone enough.

Q: You said earlier that cancer picked the wrong family to mess with.

ANGERER: My mom beat cancer back in 2005. It took cancer five years to mess with my family again.

Q: Talk about Alexis and the kind of person she is.

ANGERER: She’s great. She is your typical 13 year old girl who has had to mature fast because of this. She is just such an inspiration to all of us.

Q: You have some of your former teammates here tonight and many others who donated to this. That has to be pretty special.

ANGERER: Those guys didn’t have to come and I am sure that they have better things to do on a Saturday night. It just shows that Iowa guys are good guys and we will always be there for each other.

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Not much else going on in the NFL world today.

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Not much else going on in the NFL world today.

There is the quick update of the day.