Published: July 25, 2008 10:41 pm            

Marvelous Marvin: Colts star receiver looks good in first camp practice

TERRE HAUTE — Wondering if the old Marvin Harrison is back after a disastrous 2007 season and off-season knee surgery?

Well, he declined a request for media interviews Friday morning.

That hasn’t changed.

More importantly, however, No. 88 was running effortless routes, snatching passes out of thin air and zig-zagging through defenders with the first-team offense during the Indianapolis Colts’ first training-camp practice at Rose-Hulman.

Harrison also drew plenty of cheers from the appreciative crowd, just like in the old days.

Granted, this was only the first of several preseason practices. But it was still a good sign for concerned Colts fans.

“Marvin did fine,” Indianapolis coach Tony Dungy assessed afterward. “He did all of his work and took his normal turns. We are going to see how it goes and see how he progresses, but for the first day it was encouraging. It was good to see him out there really smiling and just running easily.”

Dungy said the key to evaluating Harrison’s mood is by trying to read his face.

“When he’s smiling and doesn’t have that worried look, I think things are pretty much normal,” the Colts’ coach mentioned. “That’s how it was today. He has done a lot of work one on one, but hadn’t done a lot of team work and he got in there and made his cuts, caught the ball and just looked like he felt comfortable, so that was good to see.”

Dungy said he isn’t sure how Harrison, who was injured on a freak play against the Denver Broncos and missed 11 regular-season games last season, will feel today after getting in so much action Friday.

“I think we will continue on assuming everything is going to be fine until we see otherwise,” Dungy said.

Harrison is entering his 13th National Football League season. Already the most productive receiver in Colts history, he ranks among the leaders in NFL history — fourth in receptions, fifth in receiving yards, fifth in touchdown receptions and 11th in total TDs.

But on Aug. 25, he’ll turn 36. That’s an age where few receivers — Jerry Rice comes to mind — remain productive in the highly competitive NFL.

Can Harrison be an exception?

“That’s the hope, that you are dealing with a rare guy,” Dungy said. “We saw it with Jerry Rice and you see it with very, very few people and Marvin shows every indication of being that way. When we looked at the tape from last year, the first four games, there was nothing that you could discern that was different from 2003 or 2005. So, if everything is right with him physically, we think we will get the same type of production.”

With star quarterback Peyton Manning absent from the early part of camp as he recovers from his own knee injury, Harrison’s performance was the center of attention among his teammates Friday.

“It was fantastic,” Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday emphasized. “You see him out there running routes and catching balls. You definitely feel a sense of security when you look out there and you see someone as good as Marvin out there catching balls. I was real glad to see he was back. He’s ready to rock. You can tell he’s excited. I think that really motivates Marvin when people challenge him and talk about him. I think he’s ready to go.”

“It was cool to see him out there suited up,” noted Pro Bowl wide receiver Reggie Wayne, who has lined up on the opposite side of Harrison for seven seasons. “He was first in the receiving lines. It’s back to old Marvin. I was excited to see him out there.”

“It was great to see him,” starting tight end Dallas Clark chimed in. “He said he felt good and it was good to get him out here. Marvin’s a very special player and to see him open up camp is a good sign. It’s always good to have him out there. He’s definitely a special person.”

Asked if Harrison can keep up his production late in his career, Clark replied: “I wouldn’t put him in the category of old. He’s pretty productive at his age. I think it’s based on the person.”

Harrison and the Colts will make their 2008 regular-season debut Sept. 7 against the Chicago Bears inside the new Lucas Oil Stadium.



Tribune-Star correspondent Tom James contributed to this report.

        

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