Star-struck Luck gets down to business

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - A throng of national and local media showed up to the Colts complex on West 56th Street Tuesday morning to watch Andrew Luck work out with his entire team for the very first time. The No. 1 overall pick admitted his first few snaps at minicamp had him feeling slightly star struck.

“That was cool,” Luck said with a big smile. “Especially (throwing to) a guy like Reggie (Wayne) and seeing guys like Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis coming off the edge. It’s a cool experience. But at the end of the day, one play happens, and then it’s football. It doesn’t matter who is out there, doesn’t matter who I am or who anybody else is; it’s just football.”

Luck was back on the Colts’ practice field for the first time in nearly six weeks. Despite having missed all of the team’s OTAs while finishing up class requirements at Stanford University, the Colts’ rookie quarterback hasn’t missed a beat, head coach Chuck Pagano said.

“There are no mental errors,” Pagano said. “The same thing we saw at rookie minicamp. He is a really bright kid. He is really focused, and he is really driven … we are very pleased with where he is at.”

Austin Collie declined to give Luck a comprehensive endorsement after what was essentially just one walk-through, but the fourth-year receiver said he already feels good about what the former Stanford star showed on day one.

“As far as an attitude standpoint, which is probably the only thing I can make a judgment on, Andrew has got it,” Collie said. “He is a hard worker, and you can tell he is on his stuff just by being out there. He is pointing out the (hot reads), so that is always reassuring.”

The progress comes as no surprise to Luck’s college teammate Coby Fleener. The Colts’ rookie tight end was asked how long he thinks it will take for the young quarterback to get up to speed on the playbook.

“You mean, more up to speed?” Fleener quipped. “He is one of the quickest learners I’ve ever met. He’s taught me a lot already. He’s just a brilliant kid.”

But - as always - that type of brilliance breeds a special type of scrutiny.

“I just feel bad for the guy,” linebacker Pat Angerer said, looking at the mob of reporters surrounding Luck’s locker. “That must be hell. You couldn’t pay me enough. Well, maybe as much as he’s making. I’m going to try and be friends with him because he’s really rich. Maybe he’ll take me out to dinner or something.”

Wednesday, Luck will make his first on-field appearance at Lucas Oil Stadium. Colts practice begins at 2 p.m. and is free and open to the public.