Published: August 06, 2007 11:30 pm            

Colts camp: Colts receiver Moorehead is still fighting for a job

TERRE HAUTE — Wide receiver Aaron Moorehead has been taking on all comers in his four previous training camps with the Indianapolis Colts, making the team’s roster on all four occasions.

But since signing as a free agent in 2003 after playing for the University of Illinois, Moorehead’s playing time could only be described as sporadic at best.

Trouble is, Moorehead’s game time has been limited due to playing behind a pair of durable wideouts named Marvin Harrison (missed only two games to injury in last eight seasons) and Reggie Wayne (not missed a game in past four seasons).

Therefore, Moorehead (6-foot-3, 200 pounds) has played in just 28 games in his four seasons, a career-high of 12 coming in 2006. In the regular season, he has caught 23 passes for 265 yards (11.5 per catch average) and one touchdown.

More importantly, after being inactive for the playoffs in 2003-2005, Moorehead was on the active roster for all four playoff games last season, including Super Bowl XLI in Miami. In last year’s playoffs, he caught five passes for 41 yards (8.2 per catch average).

“Just being around for so many years where guy’s just weren’t getting hurt and I was just sitting there kind of waiting,” Moorehead recalled feeling last season following morning practice at Rose-Hulman on Monday. “Then all of a sudden, a couple guys go down right at the same time.

“Basically I go from playing a little bit on special teams every game to playing on special teams and being a key component the last six, seven, eight games of the year. That was fun. It was a good experience. I think it’s definitely going to help me in the long run.”

But despite playing for a Super Bowl champion last season, Moorehead is back to familiar territory in this season’s training camp. Fighting for a job.

Of course, Harrison and Wayne are still prominent with the Colts. But there’s always a new gunslinger in town it seems every season.

This year, Moorehead has competition from a pair of former Ohio State players, first-round draft pick Anthony Gonzalez and fifth-round pick Roy Hall. Also in the mix is former Purdue player John Standeford, who is out of options.

Moorehead insists on taking an optimistic approach when competing for a roster spot every year.

“I think it’s fun,” he stated. “It makes the best come out of you. You’re going to come out and play hard every day. You’re going to work like it’s your first training camp. You know if you don’t, there’s a chance you might not be here.

“[Gonzalez, Hall] are young, they’re playing well. That’s a good combination if you’re a football team to have guys that are young, that are fast and playing well. As a vet, you’ve got to come out and prove that you’re supposed to still be here and you’re a vet for a reason.”

In his situation this training camp, Moorehead knows that all else being equal, experience can play a huge factor in any final decision.

“Definitely,” Moorehead exclaimed when asked if his four years experience is an advantage. “Anytime you can go into camp and you know what you’re doing, you’re always going to have an advantage over a guy who doesn’t.

“But [the young guys] have a quick learning curve and they’re playing really well. But that’s good for us, competition makes everybody come out and play better. You know, if you don’t, the next guy is going to step up and play and play well. It’s bringing out the best in all of us.”

Moorehead offered his opinion on the two former Buckeyes, Gonzalez and Hall.

“[Anthony] Gonzalez is playing real well right now,” Moorehead noted. “Him and Peyton [quarterback Manning] seem to have almost like an instant rapport … and that’s great for the team. Because he’s going to be the guy that’s counted on through the whole season.

“[Roy Hall] is playing real well right now, but he’s still learning the offense. It’s tough to play when you’re still learning the offense and he’s done a great job. It’s going to fun the rest of camp.”

Moorehead is the son of Emery Moorehead, a 12-year NFL tight end for the New York Giants, Denver and Chicago. He is also a cousin of Brad Daugherty, the former NBA player with the Cleveland Cavaliers and currently a NASCAR TV analyst on ESPN.

        

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