National Football League

Colts eager to get back to work after lockout ends

Published Jul. 27, 2011 12:26 a.m. ET

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Now, it's Chris Polian racing against the clock.

One day after NFL players approved a new labor pact to end the 4 1/2-month lockout, about two dozen players returned to the Colts' complex Tuesday and Indianapolis' general manager started working on his No. 1 job: keeping Peyton Manning in Indy for the rest of his career.

Polian must complete a long-term deal with Manning in time to create enough salary cap space before other teams start signing Indy's free agents on Friday.

It won't be easy, especially in a week that Polian describes as ''organized chaos.''

''I certainly wouldn't put any timetable on it,'' Polian said in a conference call with reporters Tuesday. ''All I can tell you is it's certainly our intent, and has been our intent, to get him signed to a long-term deal and we are going to work toward that.''

Clearly, re-signing the four-time MVP is the first piece in Indy's complex puzzle.

On Monday night, team owner Jim Irsay again acknowledged he would pay Manning more than Tom Brady's annual average salary of $18 million, a league record. That offer was on the table before the lockout began in March, and Irsay said he would be willing to stay up ''past midnight'' if it would lead to a quick deal.

Still, Manning's price does have a limit.

''You have to have a (cap) number that works,'' Irsay said. ''You can't pay $25 million to a guy in this system, it just doesn't work.''

At least Polian, Manning and his teammates can get back to work.

About two dozen players could be seen entering or leaving the team's headquarters Tuesday. The list included familiar names such as receiver Pierre Garcon and linebacker Gary Brackett, Indy's defensive captain, and not-so-familiar names such as cornerback Justin Tryon and linebacker Cody Glenn.

Manning, who would make about $23 million this season if he played under the franchise tag the Colts used in February, was not among those in attendance and has not been able to work with the team trainers since having neck surgery in May. It's also possible Manning won't be ready to practice at the start of training camp.

Apparently, the Colts will have to wait a bit longer to get Manning's prognosis.

''No, we have not,'' Polian said when asked whether he had seen Manning on Tuesday. ''Most of the guys, or some of the guys, are filtering in. I know the weight Peyton carries, but that's not out of the norm.''

Polian estimated about one-third of the Colts' roster showed up Tuesday.

Those who did come were thrilled.

''If camp started tomorrow, I'd be ready to go,'' starting cornerback Jerraud Powers said after comparing the return to Christmas morning. ''I'm going to take a picture of my locker or something so the next time this happens, 10 years from now, I remember it.''

Pro Bowl defensive end Robert Mathis was all smiles, too.

''I'd say it's more like Christmas Eve,'' he said. ''It still hasn't hit me until now.''

Both players have concerns, too, particularly about what Indy's roster will look like.

Starting running back Joseph Addai, starting left tackle Charlie Johnson, starting linebacker Clint Session, kicker Adam Vinatieri and safety Melvin Bullitt, the projected replacement for former starting safety Bob Sanders, headline a long list of free agents.

While redoing Manning's contract would help the Colts get under the salary cap, it probably won't create enough room to re-sign everybody. In other words, the Colts will likely have to cut some high-priced and potentially well-liked players.

''Just to get under the cap now we'll have to release some players, possibly a well-known player,'' Irsay said.

He did not elaborate on which players those would be, and Mathis and Powers are hoping for the best.

''I tweeted last night that there were a lot of guys who are free agents that I didn't know were free agents,'' Mathis said. ''We've got to get those guys signed. There are a lot of good friends of mine on that list.''

The Colts announced Tuesday they rescinded the rights to five restricted free agents - running back Mike Hart, defensive backs Mike Richardson and Jamie Silva and tight ends Gijon Robinson and Tom Santi.

They also reportedly signed Nate Davis, the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback and Ball State quarterback, to a two-year deal. The Muncie Star Press, where Ball State is located, first reported the signing.

Davis, once considered a potential first-round pick, would be the third quarterback on Indy's roster, joining Manning and backup Curtis Painter.

Polian would not confirm the deal.

''Those kinds of contracts can't go into until later in the week,'' he said. ''Our feeling is that until a contract is in and approved, it's not official until it's official with the league.''

Instead, he was trying to figure out how to proceed in a whirlwind week that could dramatically change how the Colts roster looks when they report to camp Sunday.

''We are talking to some of our own guys. We will not have the ability to retain all of our free agents,'' Polian said. ''We will try to retain as many as we can, but I would not expect that to be 100 percent across the board. Hopefully, what we are going through is a one in a career situation. Our focus has always been our own and that is what we are working toward.''

The Colts also have signed at least two undrafted rookies. Northern Illinois confirmed that running back Chad Spann, who played at Indy's North Central High School, had signed with his hometown team. TCU confirmed on its web site that offensive lineman Jake Kirkpatrick had signed with the Colts, too. Kirkpatrick won the Rimington Award last season as the nation's best center.