Receiver Wants His Hands On More Than Manning’s Bag

So when the No. 2 all-time pass catcher in NFL history (Marvin Harrison) exits stage left, you know there’s going to be a glaring hole that needs plugging.

And Indianapolis Colts receiver Anthony Gonzalez wants to do just that, and he’s willing to do anything - well almost anything - to get in his quarterback’s good graces. (Who knows what Jason Witten did for - or to - Tony Romo to get all those looks in Big D. Terrell Owens had some theories.)

All Gonzalez had to do was caddy for the NFL’s three-time MVP during Wednesday’s Quail Hollow Championship pro-am with the world’s most recognizable athlete, Tiger Woods.

Tough day’s work. And considering last year, Peyton Manning wouldn’t even let Gonzalez join in on his pre-game route-tree routine with Reggie Wayne and Harrison, this is a nice step up. If I remember correctly, Manning’s quote was “Gonzo hasn’t proven that he should be out here with us yet.”

Plus, I thought only rookies carried bags. “Hey, third-year guy that we took in the first round and starts, grab my bag.”

Manning joked with reporters that Gonzalez was caddying “because he wanted more catches.” I mean, Gonzalez has already shown he’ll try off the wall ways to gain a competitive edge. The dude slept in a hyperbaric chamber. I bet the ladies loved getting laid in a bubble.

Last season, Gonzalez caught 57 passes for 664 yards and four touchdowns.

Harrison had 60 catches for 636 yards and five scores.

Wayne and Dallas Clark will still get their looks, but Gonzalez figures to benefit most from Harrison’s departure. Though some Colts fans are convinced BYU’s Austin Collie, the team’s fourth round pick, is the second coming of Brandon Stokley (is that necessarily a good thing?).

Photo courtesy of The Charlotte Observer.