Peyton Manning, Tony Dungy weigh in on Colts, Andrew Luck injury situation

WESTFIELD -- The stars came out Thursday. Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett, Hall-of-Fame executive Bill Polian and a collection of Colts alumni headlined by five-time Pro Bowl pass-rusher Robert Mathis, all spent at least part of their evening at Grand Park taking in an ugly Day 2 of Colts-Cleveland Browns joint practice sessions. 

However, the pair of Colts legends strolling the practice fields who attracted the most attention were Hall-of-Fame coach Tony Dungy and a legendary quarterback who will soon have his own bust in Canton: Peyton Manning. 

The man with a statue outside of Lucas Oil Stadium spent much of Thursday watching Jacoby Brissett and the Colts offense in hopes of being able to pass along some insight to his one-time tutor, Colts coach Frank Reich. 

In fact, he and Reich -- Manning’s quarterback coach a decade ago -- had already spent some quality time together. According to Reich, Manning arrived at Grand Park around 9:30 Wednesday night and stayed up well past midnight talking football with the Colts’ offensive staff.

“Frank had talked about some questions that we wanted to discuss, and topics, with the offensive staff and defensive staff. What things you liked, what things you didn’t like. It was just kind of good football talk,” Manning told a swarm of Indianapolis media following practice. “I don’t know how much I said that they didn’t already know,  but it’s fun for me to get a football fix and talk some ball. Tell some stories, watch some film. I really enjoyed it.”

The next morning, Manning chatted with the Colts’ defensive staff before addressing the team. 

“That was unbelievable,” Reich said. “Just hearing a guy who's done what he's done. Just his words were very carefully chosen, and as you would imagine, very articulate. Right on point about what it takes to be a pro, and I think our guys really take it to heart."

Of course, the two-time Super-Bowl winning quarterback was also asked about the elephant in the room, his successor’s ankle injury. 

On the subject of Andrew Luck, Manning only offered, “I feel pretty good about him being out there.” 

Dungy offered a similar confidence regarding Luck’s return, saying that Manning’s heir is doing everything he can to get back on the field and that everyone should take a page out of Aaron Rodgers’ playbook and R-E-L-A-X. 

“He’s going to be back and he’ll be fine at some point soon,” Dungy said. 

Dungy also offered his support for Reich, whom he believes is handling a very tough situation admirably. 

When asked if he had imparted any wisdom to the second-year head coach, the Super Bowl-winning coach said he really hasn’t had to. While they have discussed Luck's injury, Dungy believes Reich’s already handling the situation perfectly. 

“Frank’s on the right page,” Dungy said. “You do everything you can to support Andrew, to get him ready and you let the team know: We’re looking forward to Andrew being back. But if he’s not back, we still have to win games. And we still can win games. That’s the mindset it’s got to be. To treat it as, ‘We’re supporting Andrew, but we’re also gearing up and getting ready to go. And we’re going to be fine. If Andrew gets back, we know we’re going to be great. If Andrew doesn’t get back until Week 2 or Week 3 or Week 5, we still have to be great until he gets back.”

As he has with other Colts legends who have showed up at camp in recent days, Reich asked Dungy to talk to his team after practice. Dungy, in Indianapolis in part to promote the book he and his wife, Lauren, wrote: "We Chose You," kept his message brief. He told the team what his own Hall-of-Fame coach, Chuck Noll, once told him: "Champions do the ordinary things better than everyone else."

While Thursday's sloppy practice wasn't a good way to cap camp at Grand Park, Reich was at least happy to send his team off with more inspiration from yet another Colts legend. 

"In the course of a week, we've had Bill Polian, Peyton Manning and Tony Dungy," Reich said.  "That's quite the trio right there. They really represent what this is all about. And what's really cool is they're just excited about what's happening here and rooting for our team and for our guys."

Follow IndyStar Colts Insider Jim Ayello on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram: @jimayello.