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Posted by Michael David Smith on May 16, 2012, 5:16 PM EDT

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Colts quarterback Andrew Luck is barred by NFL rule from participating in organized team activities until Stanford’s graduation next month. But the coaching staff is still keeping close tabs on him.

Head coach Chuck Pagano said he’s been in “constant communication” with Luck since the Colts’ rookie minicamp. Luck is still throwing regularly working with former Stanford receiver Griff Whalen, who was signed by the Colts as an undrafted free agent. (Colts second-round tight end Coby Fleener has also worked with Luck at Stanford, although Fleener, a graduate student, is allowed to return to the Colts’ facilities before Stanford’s graduation.)

“We’re talking back and forth and he was able to take some stuff with him,” Pagano said, in comments distributed by the team. “Besides school, he’s spending time with Griff out there and a couple of his other teammates. He does football in the morning, goes out and throws, works out [and is] staying on top of everything. He’s on point. He does a couple of classes. I spoke to him as a matter of fact last night he called me, and it’s killing him not to be here. He’s just dying to get out here. He’s doing well.”

Pagano said he’d like to have Luck in Indianapolis, but considering the success that rookie quarterbacks Cam Newton and Andy Dalton had last year with no offseason work at all, Luck should be able to get ready even if he’s missing some offseason work.

“It’s like money you never get back. It’d be awesome to have him here, but we’re going to make due,” Pagano said. “Last year we had a lockout right? There were four, five, six rookie quarterbacks that came in and a couple of those guys had more success than others. So doing what he’s doing, spending time with the materials that we’ve given him, working out and throwing.”

And still getting some coaching from Pagano, even 2,000 miles away.

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Posted by Mike Florio on May 16, 2012, 2:01 PM EDT

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In a former life, I always encouraged clients to attend important hearings, since it demonstrates to the person making the decision that the person about whom the decision is being made takes the situation seriously and cares deeply about the outcome.

Regardless of their motivation, that’s the message Browns linebacker Scott Fujita and Packers defensive end Anthony Hargrove have sent by personally attending the grievance hearing before Shayam Das, according to Albert Breer of NFL.com.

The two current Saints who face bounty-related suspensions are not present.  Per Breer, linebacker Jonathan Vilma decided to remain with the team for offseason workouts.  (It’s unknown why Smith didn’t attend.)

Their absence doesn’t mean they don’t care.  Given that Vilma and Smith play for the team that was hit hardest by the penalties, it makes sense for them to choose to stay at the workouts over attending the grievance hearing.  They already believe they’re facing unwarranted suspensions; why make it worse by missing the limited opportunities in the offseason to get ready for the regular season?

Das is taking up two questions — whether the new CBA waives the ability to impose discipline for anything happening before August 4, 2011 and whether the appeals should be handled not by Commissioner Roger Goodell but by Ted Cottrell or Art Shell, who review decisions regarding on-field discipline.  As explained during Wednesday’s PFT Live, Hargrove may have the best luck under the latter argument, since the other three players have been suspended not for acting on a potential bounty but for funding and/or managing the bounty pool.

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