Published: July 23, 2008 10:38 pm         

Colts working to sign rookies; ESPN bringing ‘NFL Live’ to TH

INDIANAPOLIS — With the first training-camp practice set to get underway Friday morning at Rose-Hulman, Indianapolis Colts president Bill Polian is working toward getting all nine of the franchise’s draft picks signed as quickly as possible.

A day after sixth-round pick Pierre Garcon (wide receiver) signed with the team, second-rounder Mike Pollak (offensive guard/center), fourth-round draft pick Jacob Tamme (tight end), fifth-round selection Marcus Howard (defensive end), along with sixth-rounders Steve Justice (center/offensive guard) and Mike Hart (running back), agreed to a deals on Wednesday and are expected to report in time for today's 2 p.m. deadline.

Contract terms for Garcon, Pollak, Tamme, Howard, Justice and Hart have not been disclosed per team policy. Tamme and unsigned sixth-round draft choice Tom Santi, along with former practice squad member Gijon Robinson, figure to provide most of the depth behind starter Dallas Clark.

Negotiations with Santi — who may begin preseason workout on the physically unable to perform list due to a knee injury.

Also in negotiations are linebacker Philip Wheeler (third round) and offensive guard/center Jamey Richard (seventh round) will probably be completed sometime today.

• • •

• ESPN coming to Colts camp — Two members of ESPN’s “NFL Live” crew will be visiting Rose-Hulman to watch the Colts’ workouts. Program host Trey Wingo and former NFL wide receiver Cris Carter will broadcast live from Indianapolis’ training camp Monday, July 28.

ESPN will carry “NFL Live” at 4 p.m. that day from the school as part of a six-city NFL ”Training Camp Tour.” The cable channel’s trip around selected league cities will begin Friday with a live broadcast from the New York Giants’ training camp in Albany, N.Y.

Other teams to be featured include the Dallas Cowboys in Oxnard, Calif. (July 29), the Green Bay Packers in De Pere, Wis. (July 30), the San Diego Chargers (July 31) and the Pittsburgh Steelers in Latrobe, Pa. (Aug. 1).