Photos posted on Yahoo.com:

Quinn Gray, learning the offense (AP Photo: Darron Cummings)

Dwight Freeney, running (AP Photo: Darron Cummings)

Jarod Lorenzen, very fat (AP Photo: Darron Cummings)

This man is not Peyton Manning (AP Photo: Darron Cummings)

Months after out dueling Jacksonville for the right to sign Rudy Burgess, the Colts have cut him. They also parted ways with QB Adam Tafrailas. So, it looks like Manning, Sorgi, Gray, and The Pillsbury Throwboy will be Indy's QBs for camp.

More updates from the first practice at camp say Marvin Harrison looked very good, practicing extremely hard and looking fast and crisp in his routes. Again, the more info we hear, the more other teams in the AFC South start to groan. Roy Hall and Gonzo have also looked good, with Hall standing out the most.

Dwight Freeney and Bob Sanders were there, but did not practice. Dwight jogged and Bob stretched with the team. No info yet on rookies Mike Pollak or Jacob Tamme, but it is still early.

Some early reports trickling in from the first practice today say that Marvin Harrison is "not holding back" and looks healthy. Marvin even waved to the fans when he entered, something he's not known for doing. Another player looking good in the first drills was Roy Hall, who really seems poised to make a big, positive impact in 2008. The receiving corps is a bit of a question coming into this season. That question will get answered big time if the 6'2, 240 pound Hall proves he can play WR in the NFL.

Our own TheMatic is "Twittering" from camp. Funny line from his live blog:

Gijon robinson is a BIG BOY!

TheMatic also passes on this bit of hot-off-the-press news: Clint Session is practicing with the starting defense at SAM.

More details from camp as we get them throughout the day.

As players filed into the Rose Hulman Institute, it seemed odd not to see Peyton Manning surrounded by reporters as he checked in. For the first time in ten years, Peyton was not at the first day of training camp. Per doctors orders, Peyton must remain at home in Indianapolis, with his leg immobilized and an IV in his arm. This is all to prevent his knee, which he just had surgery on, from getting infected. Peyton is expected back in camp in a few weeks, and he will likely play in the third or fourth pre-season game.

After the Colts signed QBs Quinn Gray and Jared "Battleship" Lorenzen, the cut longtime camp fodder QB Josh Betts.

Also, Rob-Westside made an interesting observation in these comments:

What do you want to bet that Santi stays unsigned until he’s ready to actually practice/play or they decide to IR him? With the hard 80 man cap on the roster (which now counts PUP players) a team as no reason to sign a rookie who is Physically Unable to Play. Agree to a deal, then hold off signing until he’s ready so you have 1 more body in camp. Makes sense to me.

And finally, please go to this Fan Post and recommend it. Like hearing your stories about why you love the Colts, I love reading people's stories about attending Colts games.

 ..it's time for the Bears to part ways with Devin Hester.

Now now now. Before you click the "get me outta here" button and dismiss me, let me remind you that it was yours truly that said waaaaaaaaaay back in 2006 that Cedric Benson was a cancer and needed to go. Many of you railed against me for saying that, and not only did I turn out to be right, but Benson was one of the main reasons why my Colts were able to dominate your Bears in Super Bowl 41. So know that when I say "Get rid of this guy" I'm not doing it because I have some secret agenda. I truly mean that if you want your team to win more games in 2008, get rid of Hester now.

There's two reasons for this. One, Hester's value is the highest it will ever be. The Bears might even get a first round pick for him. Bears fans need to face the fact that this is a rebuilding team, and the playoffs are a pipe dream. The other reason?

Hester is an entitled idiot.

Case in point, his comments that his $450,000 a year salary isn't enough for him to go out and play. Forget the fact that he signed a contract two years ago, and that he has no real true position other than kick and punt returner. These experiments with Hester as a starting WR are laughable. Numerous NFL scouts, like Tom Marino, have often said the reason Hester can't play any one true position is because he's too dumb to learn them. Now, Hester wants more money, and is willing to hold out of camp to get it.

Sorry Bears fans, but Hester is not worth more money is he is only a returner. I know his returns are dynamic, but if you guys had an offense that could score and a defense that could stop someone, you wouldn't need his dynamic returns, would you. Hester is now willing to lose $15,000 a day in order to prove his point.

Does that sound like a smart man to you?

I know Hester wants to get paid as a WR, but Hester must first prove he can PLAY the WR before he gets paid like one. If some other team wants to be dumb and pay him Reggie Wayne-like money, let them eat it. In the age of the cap, one cannot afford to overpay players like Hester if you want to stay competitive.

Trade him now, and thank me later.

From Colt Homer over at Naptown's Finest:

But I could see Gray passing Sorgi before the Hall of Fame Game.  Gray was waived by the Texans for not picking up the system quick enough.  That could be a problem since the Colts have a much more complicated system than the Texans.

Lorenzen is just a camp body.  And a big one at that.

Not a good sign. The Texans offense is about as simple as it gets, folks. It's a zone blocking scheme with designed bootlegs which shorten the field for the QB. It's also very run heavy, and Quinn had trouble learning it.

Not good. Quinn might not last a week.

Part 1 of our Training Camp Rankings Chart:

Wide Receivers
1	Reggie Wayne, #87
2	Marvin Harrison, #88
3	Anthony Gonzalez, #11
4	Roy Hall, #83
5	Devin Aromashodu, #80
6	Samuel Giguere, #14
7	Pierre Garcon, #85
8	Rudy Burgess, #3
9	Courtney Roby, #10
10	Charles Dillon, #2
11	Ornea Jones, #16

Today, all players under contract for the Indianapolis Colts are required to report to Rose Hulman Institute for the start of mandatory training camp for the 2008 season. Nearly 48 hours after Bill Polian said he "didn't care" if his draft picks were signed in time for camp, a flurry of activity has seen Indy signed top pick Mike Pollak; 6th round picks Mike Hart and Pierre Garcon; TE Jacob Tamme; and DE Marcus Howard. One interesting note out of the rookie signings: Howard got a 4 year deal. Not sure the terms, but it is a tad unusual for a 5th round pick to get a 4 year deal. Maybe Indy really sees something in Howard.

The Colts also made some moves in (gasp!) free agency! I nearly fell out of my chair when I saw the position the moves the moves for: Quarterback.

Rotoworld has picked up a story floated by the Internet's resident Joan Rivers (Mike Florio) that the Colts have signed former Jags QB Quinn Gray and former Giants QB Jared "I'm really fat" Lorenzen (tip to farris6659). Of course, in usual Florio style, rather than report the news he simply starts making stuff up, speculating the moves are a sign that Peyton Manning will not be ready for the regular season. Gee, thanks Mike. I'm sure it has nothing to do with Indy trying to upgrade its back-up QB position, which for the last few years has been manned by the immortal Jim Sorgi.

Quinn Gray, Indy's new back-up QB?

Photo via cache.daylife.com

Or, maybe Indy signed Gray so they could get the inside dirt on the Jaguars new offense, which (with WR Jerry Porter out all pre-season with a hamstring injury) looks surprising similar to the Jaguars offense the Colts swept last season.

Starting training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform (or PUP) list are DE Dwight Freeney, OG Ryan Lilja, SS Bob Sanders, and QB Peyton Manning. When he gets signed, rookie TE Tom Santi will also join these men on the PUP. Because of this injury to Santi, in my mind Jacob Tamme is now the front runner to replace Ben Utecht as the starting #2 TE. Tamme will have a leg up on learning the offense, working with the QBs, and he'll have a chance to prove he can block at the pro level. There is also Gijon Robinson, who already knows the offense.

I'll try posting my training camp depth chart list later today. We will also be getting updates from site reader Matic. For a complete schedule of training camp, click here. If you have the chance to drive to Terre Haute and attend camp, I strongly suggest you do so. It is a lot of fun. And when you are done, log in here and post your thoughts on players, coaches, and other training camp news.

Can you smell it in the air, folks? I can.

IT'S FOOTBALL! GO COLTS!

In a whirlwind of last minute deals, the Colts have signed all but three of the draft picks. Those two are LBer Philip Wheeler, OG Jamey Richard, and TE Tom Santi. Of the two, Wheeler is the priority, as no matter what Tom Santi will start training camp on the PUP list, along with seemingly everyone else on this team. Joining Santi on the too-hurt-for-training-camp list are Peyton Manning, Dwight Freeney, Bob Sanders, and Ryan Lilja.