A Categorical Look at the Day in Colts Camp
EYE ON CAMP
It's not exactly a Homecoming Weekend for Anthony Gonzalez.
Then again, it's not far off.
Gonzalez, a second-year wide receiver for the Colts, played collegiately at Ohio State. He also grew up in Cleveland, which is about an hour from Canton, Ohio, the site of the Hall of Fame Game, in which the Colts will open the preseason Sunday night against the Washington Redskins.
"I will have dinner at my parents' house Saturday," Gonzalez said with a smile between a pair of 2008 Training Camp practices at the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Ind., on Wednesday.
"If I can eat at my house, I'm in heaven."
Gonzalez has played at Fawcett Stadium – the site of the Hall of Fame game – five times, and played there in his final high school game, in which his team won the state title.
While Colts rookies, about 20 veteran players and some coaches will visit the Hall of Fame, Gonzalez said he likely will not.
"I've been there about 15 times," Gonzalez said. "Growing up, my grandpa had this thing where he tried to take us to all of the Halls of Fame. Obviously, that one was pretty easy to hit, so we went there a couple of times. I've been there enough.
"I'm excited to be playing in the game, for sure. Being in that area, you hear about it. You see the parade, see the Hall of Famers. The city of Canton really comes alive for this week, so I'm looking forward to it."
CAMP SKED
The Colts held two practices Wednesday at the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute – a two-hour, full-team session at 8:30 a.m. and a night practice at 7:30 p.m. The Colts will hold a full-team practice at 9:30 a.m. and a special-teams practice at 3:30 p.m. Thursday.
WEATHER RE
The temperature in Terre Haute on Wednesday reached 80 degrees with scattered rain throughout. According to weather.com, the forecast for Thursday calls for a high of 89 degrees.
WHO'S COVERING THE COLTS
Media in Terre Haute Wednesday covering the Colts included John Madden of NBC.
PLAY OF THE DAY
The highlights of the day came in the night practice, with quarterback Jim Sorgi – playing in place of injured starter Peyton Manning – pleasing a large crowd with several long passes and a successful late drive.
On one play midway through the night practice, Sorgi threw deep down the right sideline to wide receiver Marvin Harrison, who caught the pass and stepped the last five yards into the end zone for a 50-yard touchdown reception.
In the last session of practice, Sorgi led the offense on a successful drive in the two-minute drill, first throwing deep for a 40-yard gain to second-year wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez, then finishing the drive with a short touchdown pass to tight end Dallas Clark.
PRACTICE HIGHLIGHTS
--- Early in the night practice, reserve quarterback Quinn Gray threw a 20-yard pass to wide receiver Onrea Jones.
--- Midway through the night practice, quarterback Jim Sorgi threw a long touchdown pass down the middle of the field to wide receiver Marvin Harrison.
--- Wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez caught a 15-yard pass midway through the night practice.
--- Cornerback T.J. Rushing batted down a pass from Sorgi intended for wide receiver Reggie Wayne in the night practice.
--- Late in the night practice, Gray threw a long pass to reserve wide receiver Roy Hall, a 30-yard pass that took the offense inside the defense's 10-yard line.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"Being a second-year guy, I'm excited to get reps (repetitions in Sunday's Hall of Fame Game). I feel like a guy who needs some work and certainly has a long way to go. I'm just excited to get the reps and get in there and hopefully do a couple of things as long as they'll let me."
--- Colts Wide Receiver Anthony Gonzalez
TRIVIA QUIZ
Colts quarterback Peyton Manning's 160 consecutive regular-season starts is the longest such streak on the team. Who has the second longest active streak on the Colts?
DUNGY SAYS
"It's always different (practicing at night). "You don't think it would be, but with a great number of fans out and the lights, it's not something we normally do. It is a lot of fun."
--- Colts Head Coach Tony Dungy
FOR THE FANS
Colts City was open Wednesday from 4-8 p.m. for the Night Practice Party and is scheduled to be open on Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for Kids Day. Elements on Friday are scheduled to include Colts Inflatables (Mountain Slide, Football Bouncer, Quarterback Throw), DJ Entertainment, Kids Pavilion with Face Painters, Colts In Motion traveling museum, Colts Retail Express (Merchandise Sales), Colts Kids Club and Sponsor Booths.
TRIVIA ANSWER
Wide receiver Reggie Wayne, 81.
