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July 29, 2010

Colts sign second-round pick as camp nears

Hughes, Wayne, Mathis left on Polian's to do list

By Michael Marot Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts signed second-round draft choice Pat Angerer on Thursday, leaving team president Bill Polian free to concentrate on getting a deal done with first-round choice Jerry Hughes.

If Polian can also get things smoothed over with Pro Bowlers Reggie Wayne and Robert Mathis the Colts should have everyone reporting to camp on time Sunday.

Seventh-round draft choice Ricardo Mathews also signed, leaving only Hughes and third-rounder Kevin Thomas without deals. Thomas is expected to miss the entire season after tearing the ACL in his right knee during a rookie mini-camp following the draft.

Angerer, a linebacker from Iowa taken 63rd overall, reportedly signed a four-year deal worth $3.14 million with $1.35 million guaranteed.

“I’ve heard many GMs say to me when you get an Iowa player, you’re getting a second-year guy because he’s going to come prepared,” agent Jack Bechta said. They come prepared as professionals and they come prepared to play.”

Hughes, a defensive end from TCU, was the 31st pick overall. He is a speed rusher, expected to make an immediate difference in the Colts’ defense.

And he could have a more significant role if Mathis doesn’t show up on time.

Mathis, a defensive end, and Reggie Wayne, the Colts’ top receiver, both skipped the Colts’ offseason workouts including June’s mandatory mini-camp. Both players have two years remaining on their contracts and are looking for new deals before next season. Polian has repeatedly said it would be difficult to negotiate now with Mathis or Wayne because of the uncertain labor situation.

But the earlier absences have many wondering whether one or both veterans may skip Monday’s opening practice at the Colts’ new training camp facility, Anderson University, a Division III school about 25 miles north of Indianapolis.

Wayne dropped hints about his plans in a journal on his own web site Wednesday night.

“I hope it’s somewhere good to eat in Anderson,” he wrote. “It’s raining everyday in South Florida due to hurricane season. So maybe it is time to play some football. Not much else to talk about at this point in time. I’m about to go sit by the pool with a glass of lemonade and enjoy my last few days of freedom. Talk to you soon.”

Neither Wayne’s agent, David Dunn, nor Mathis’ agent, Hadley Engelhard, returned phone messages left at their offices.

Meanwhile, the Colts are proceeding normally.

Mathews, a defensive tackle from Cincinnati, was the last of Indy’s three seventh-round draft picks to sign. He agreed to a four-year deal worth $1.83 million, agent David Lee announced on his Twitter page. Four-year contracts at league minimum salaries have been the norm for Colts players taken after the second or third round in recent years.

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