AFC Notes: Colts, Patriots, Raiders

Colts

Colts QB Andrew Luck said he was “scared” that his shoulder injury would prevent him from playing football and that he had a lot of “apprehension” playing again.

“There was an uncertainty, an apprehension,” said Luck, via Zak Keefer of the Indianapolis Star. “I was scared, scared in my core, in my insides. There was a time I was very scared about football, and about my place in football.”

• Colts HC Frank Reich told reporters that LT Anthony Castonzo did not practice on Wednesday and his status for Week 1 remains up in the air. (Zak Keefer)
• The Colts are scheduled to host free agent LB Nigel Harris on Monday. (Greg Auman)

Patriots

Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski said he is “super satisfied” with his contract and would have attempted to hold out if he did not like his deal.

“I’m super satisfied with my situation,” Gronkowski said, via Zach Cox of NESN. “If I wasn’t, I would try to pull a move like they did. It works out. You get rewarded for holding out. But I’m not frustrated at all or anything. I’m super satisfied and just ready to go. Ready to play. That’s my main focus.”

Gronkowski added that he is relieved to get contract negotiations out of the way during the offseason so he can focus on the regular season.

“It’s definitely a relief to have that all out of the way,” Gronkowski said. “That was last week, and now that’s in the past, which is good. I can put my main focus on the Houston Texans now.”

Raiders

Raiders DE Bruce Irvin says he’s excited about having an expanded role now that Khalil Mack has been traded.

“I’m excited, man,” Irvin said, via ESPN.com. “I’ve got my young boys working with me, four days a week. Arden [Key], Fadol [Brown] and Shilique [Calhoun], we work out four days a week at 7 a.m. If one do it, we all going to do it. It’s great, man. I’m looking forward to taking on the challenge and I think we’re going to be pretty good.”

• According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the City of Oakland is prepared to sue the Raiders over their move to Las Vegas in upwards of $500 million, while Coliseum officials said the lawsuit could result in the team leaving Oakland at the end of the 2018 season.
• The Chronicle reports that the City of Oakland’s attorney’s office is preparing to file the antitrust suit and is awaiting contract language sign-offs from three outside law firms that will handle the litigation.
• It is worth mentioning that Oakland and Alameda County are still facing a $75 million bond debt for renovating the stadium to bring the Raiders back from Los Angeles in the 90s.