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ANDERSON, Ind. (July 26, 1998) -- Ryan Leaf's benchmark rookie contract signed Saturday night with the San Diego Chargers provides the Indianapolis Colts with a blueprint to hasten negotiations with quarterback Peyton Manning. But Colts president Bill Polian said Sunday no deal has been finalized that would end Manning's four-day holdout. "It's clearly an event that has an affect," Polian said of Leaf's five-year, $31.25 million deal that includes the highest signing bonus ever for a rookie, $11.25 million. "What that affect is remains to be seen." Manning, the highly-touted first pick from Tennessee, reportedly is working out privately in New Orleans. Polian said negotiations with Manning's agent, Tom Condon of Kansas City-based IMG Football, would resume Sunday night or Monday. Early in negotiations, Condon told Polian that Manning, by his draft status, should sign for "something more" than Leaf. "I didn't disagree with that," Polian said. "The point is, what's something? I'm anxious to talk with Tom." Condon met with Polian in Indianapolis on Thursday and Friday but returned to Kansas City to conduct other IMG business Saturday. The Colts practiced in full pads for the first time Sunday. With three quarterbacks in camp, they are downplaying Manning's absence, despite the fact he has already been dubbed the starter. "You've had high draft picks holding out since the year of the flood," Polian said. As Manning remains a no show, untested second-year veteran Kelly Holcomb is lining up as the first string quarterback. Bill Musgrave, in his fifth NFL season, is the backup and Jim Kubiak is third string. "These guys have an opportunity now, and they are making the best of it," Colts quarterbacks coach Bruce Arians said. "What we are watching out for is these guys getting sore arms because they are making all the throws." The three quarterbacks in Colts' camp have the combined NFL experience of 16 games, 142 career pass attempts and two starts. "We're getting all the plays Peyton normally would have taken," Musgrave said. "If Peyton was in here, we'd be fighting over the scraps." |