The whole “Next Man Up” thing has worked wonders for the Colts.
One player leaves, another comes in. Production stays the same, no matter what the talent of the departed players. It’s a big reason why the Colts have been not only been the most successful franchise win wise over the last decade, but far and away the most consistent.
For Anthony Gonzalez, however, it might be something that works against him.
“I’m motivated by other things, not necessarily that,” said the Colts receiver, who watched Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon fill in admirably after he went down in week one with a knee injury and was lost for the season.
“My motivation comes from the fact that this is my profession, this is what I’ve decided to dedicate this part of my life to.”
But in order to keep that career path with the Colts, Gonzalez knows he’ll have to return from the injury stronger than ever. With Collie catching 60 passes for 676 yards and seven touchdowns and Garcon collecting 47 catches for 765 yards and four scores, the 2007 first round draft pick will have his work cut out for him getting back on the field.
“I think you have to reprove yourself, whether you’re a rookie, whether your coming off an injury or anything, this is the NFL, there are phenomenal athletes here,” said Gonzalez. “No matter who you are, you kinda have to reprove yourself every year.”
Gonzalez says he finally feels like he can after missing all but one quarter last season when he strained ligaments in his right knee without being hit in the opener against Jacksonville. A few times during the season it appeared that Gonzalez might return, but problems continued to surface and his season was finally shut down on December 24th.
With an offseason to rehab, Gonzalez was back participating in the voluntary offseason training activities that were open to the media on Thursday, and expects to be ready from the get go in training camp.
“I don’t know if I’ll ever be 100 percent again, with my knee. I think. I’m pretty darn close, my speed is back,” said Gonzalez of his health. “My route running feels like its there, there’s a little bit of rust there but I think that’s just from being off for a year, not necessarily having an injury.
“I think I’m as close as I will be.”
Now comes the question of where to put Gonzalez, who tended to play inside but has played on the outside in the past.
“That’s what’s great about this time a year, it gives us a chance to look at everything,” said head coach Jim Caldwell of Gonzalez. “He has a lot of versatility, obviously, he played both previously, inside and outside, and that certainly could be the case going forward in the future but we certainly want to take a look at everyone.”
according to fox59.com
