Carroll Angeles

Spectators no more, Addai, other vets happy to return to fray
By Mike Chappell - Indy Star
August 6, 2011
(two pages)
ANDERSON, Ind. -- Who could blame Joseph Addai for sporting a grin as he considered pulling on the
pads and hitting the practice field with more than a dozen veterans for the first time Friday afternoon?
It beat the alternative. His contract had expired at the end of the 2010 season.
"Yeah, I've been looking forward to this day for a long time," the Indianapolis Colts veteran running back
said, smiling broadly. "Remember, three weeks ago I was unemployed. I'm kind of blessed to be back here
and employed."
Addai had plenty of company.
While the Colts have been on the Anderson University practice fields since Monday, several players have
been forced to wait and watch. Veterans who signed new or restricted contracts were prohibited from
practicing until the new collective bargaining agreement was ratified. That occurred Thursday afternoon.
Now, the gang's all here, except for injured quarterback Peyton Manning (neck) and wide receiver Blair
White (back). Each remains on the physically unable to perform list.
Among returnees finally getting to work out Friday were safety Melvin Bullitt, offensive tackle Ryan
Diem, guard Kyle DeVan, kicker Adam Vinatieri and defensive linemen Eric Foster and Antonio Johnson.
The three recently signed veterans -- defensive tackle Tommie Harris, linebacker Ernie Sims and defensive
end Jamaal Anderson -- also had their first camp exposure Friday.
Bullitt said the spectator's role he had been forced to endure was testing his patience.
"When they told us we couldn't practice until Friday, at first I got a little smile," he said. "Then after the
first 20 minutes, you're like, 'Man, this is boring just being out here watching.' "
Added Diem: "Missing all summer, we didn't have a chance to get out there and do work. This is our time
now and we've got to take advantage of it. We're hoping Peyton can get out there soon, but in the
meantime, we'll get tuned up."
Addai was one of the bigger question marks -- would he be re-signed? -- as the lockout persisted and the
offseason unfolded. The Colts' 2006 first-round draft pick spent most of the offseason in Baton Rouge, La.
He divided his time between working out and fretting.
"I always think the worst, no matter what," Addai said.
Manning made it clear re-signing Addai was one of his priorities when he agreed to accept less than the
Colts were offering. Although he has battled injuries during his five-year career, Addai is the total package:
runner, receiver, blocker in pass protection. He led the team in rushing in each of his first four seasons
before falling two yards shy of Donald Brown's team-high 497 yards last season. Addai's 4,020 career yards
rank No. 8 in club history.
"He's a superb competitor and one that I think without question has an impact on our team because he
knows his craft to a 'T,' " coach Jim Caldwell said. "He is an expert at it. He is a difference maker."
However, the Colts do not have a history of signing their feature running backs to a second contract.
Marshall Faulk, who will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame today, didn't get one. Neither did