Andrew Luck building trust in Colts organization

Late last week, Andrew Luck became a very rich man. It was inevitable, of course, but he made it official last Thursday when he signed a four-year contract with the Indianapolis Colts worth in excess of $22 million.

Late last week, Andrew Luck became a very rich man. It was inevitable, of course, but he made it official last Thursday when he signed a four-year contract with the Indianapolis Colts worth in excess of $22 million.

But it's not so much the value of the contract, or the terms, or the length that's important. It's the timing.

Luck and the Colts agreed to the deal more than a week before the opening of training camp. Indianapolis will begin practice July 29, and the importance of the star quarterback and top overall draft pick's timely attendance is not lost on his teammates.

“Whenever you have your starting quarterback signed, and you know that he’s going to be there on time and everything is going to be good, it’s always a load off of our shoulders just like it is for him,” veteran wide receiver Reggie Wayne told the Indianapolis Star. “I’m sure he’s excited about it, we’re excited to have him now and we’re looking forward to a great year.”

Gaining the trust of the veterans in the locker room is always important, especially when you're being looked upon as the savior of the franchise, as Luck is. The former Stanford quarterback has been frequently lauded for his maturity, something that was evident through this entire process.

“In this day and age, to have someone be so completely team-oriented is uncommon. That’s why I say Andrew’s abilities fit like such a glove with what we’re building,” general manager Ryan Grigson told the team's official website. “He has those values and he has demonstrated them in a genuine way throughout his career. He’s completely selfless. He’s all about the team. That’s rare these days in any walk of life to have someone that unselfish, especially someone in Andrew’s position." 

Now, it's time for Luck to prove his mettle on the field, something Wayne thinks will be certainly achievable.

“He’s everything you want in a quarterback," Wayne told the website. "He’s out there having fun, smiling. He’s not super serious all the time.  Whenever you see a quarterback out there having fun, you have fun. I see him doing real well. I want to make sure to do my part to make him look good.”