QB Cory Sauter Among Colts Cuts

      INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Joe Hamilton's legs are healthy and
apparently so is his right arm.
      After missing two NFL seasons because of a knee injury, Hamilton
is returning to the NFL as Peyton Manning's top backup.
      The Indianapolis Colts released 21 players Sunday but only
announced 10 of the cuts. One player waived was quarterback Cory
Sauter, who was expected to be the Colts' No. 2 quarterback until
Hamilton, the 1999 Heisman Trophy runner-up, beat him out.
      "I had a good feeling that I would be one of the three
quarterbacks here," Hamilton said. "You're talking to a very
excited man right now."
      Sauter's release and Hamilton's ascent was Sunday's biggest
surprise. The Colts also released two veteran free agents -
defensive backs Corey Chamblin and Kato Serwanga - and tackle Jim
Newton, who played in three games with the Colts last season.
      Hamilton, 27, impressed the Colts with his mobility, knowledge
of the offense and ability to lead a team. In the preseason opener
at San Diego, Hamilton used the final three minutes to lead the
Colts on a game-winning touchdown drive.
      There have always been questions about Hamilton, most notably
his size. Listed at a generous 5-foot-10 and 190 pounds, some have
wondered how the 1999 Heisman Trophy runner-up would hold up in the
NFL.
      Hamilton never threw a pass in two seasons with Tampa Bay before
a knee injury in NFL Europe put him on the Buccaneers injured
reserve list in 2002. He didn't play at all in 2003, then joined
the Arena Football League's Orlando Predators this spring.
      After throwing for 2,919 yards and 57 touchdowns, the Colts
signed Hamilton as a free agent in June. Coach Tony Dungy, who kept
him on the Bucs roster, liked what he saw from Hamilton during the
past month.
      "He picked up our offense as fast as anybody since I came in
here," Dungy said. "We could have a very different package with
him, naked bootlegs, things like that. It would give us a very
different look."
      For Hamilton and more than a handful of other players, though,
this was no holiday weekend.
      Some players, like undrafted rookie defensive end Josh Thomas
spent Saturday wondering whether the phone would ring.
      "It's always in the back of your mind, whether you're going to
get a call," Thomas said. "I figured if I got a call, I could
feel good knowing I did everything I could."
      Others spent Sunday preparing for Thursday's season-opener at
New England still not knowing whether they'd be active for the
game, on the practice squad or possibly with another team. The
Colts have lost seven straight at Foxboro, Mass.
      Before practice, free agents Bryan Fletcher and Ran Carthon
nervously awaited word on whether their spots were safe.
      Carthon had 20 carries for a team-high 69 yards during the four
preseason games, while Fletcher, a tight end, caught 10 passes for
112 yards and scored a team-leading three touchdowns.
      "My job was to take advantage of the opportunities given me,
and I think I did that," Fletcher said. "I'm confident in the way
I played."
      Sauter threw just nine passes in his six-year NFL career and
produced solid numbers during the preseason. He was 28 of 40 for
336 yards with one touchdown, no interceptions and a rating of
103.8 - 33 points higher than Manning.
      But it wasn't enough to convince Dungy and the Colts he was the
right man for the job. Dungy called it a tough decision.
      "Cory ran the system smoothly and had more experience in it,"
Dungy said. "It was kind of a gut feeling."
     
      (Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)