TERRE HAUTE – Even if he were so inclined, Peyton Manning couldn't hide his eagerness to attack training camp this season.

The Indianapolis Colts quarterback was one of the first to report Sunday, and he was the last one to leave the field after the first practice Monday at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.

Is this his 12th season or his first?

“I went O-for-training camp last year, and it feels good to be back,” Manning said. “I've never taken for granted being healthy and being out here for practice, but last year was not much fun at all.”

Manning missed all of training camp a year ago while recovering from surgical work on his knees. His “training camp” essentially took place during the start of the regular season, and the Colts' 3-4 record through the first seven games reflected it. After that, he turned in an MVP season.

This year brings ample changes, with wide receiver Marvin Harrison no longer lining up wide on the right side and coach Tony Dungy no longer running the show on the sidelines.

A trio of relative no-names (Pierre Garcon, Roy Hall and Austin Collie) are battling for a third receiver spot behind Reggie Wayne and Anthony Gonzalez. And coach Jim Caldwell's voice is front and center in a way it has never been before.

Yet the opening of this camp – despite new roles and faces – seems infinitely smoother than a year ago.

That's pure Manning.

When the quarterback is dialed in, the rest of the team follows. Manning entered this camp on speed dial, so to speak.

“Just his presence helps a lot,” said center Jeff Saturday, who battled some injuries of his own last year, too. “Every year you start training camp, it's a new season and you want everybody there, live bullets. You want all the pieces of the machine working at the same time.”

Manning is 33 now, still at the top of his game, but with NFL mortality within sight. How many more camps can he have? Five? Six? The end isn't near, but it's in sight.

He has always been a driven player, leaving no throwing repetition unexplored, no video unwatched and no time unused. And the memory of last season, when he was taken out of the Colts' loop during camp, has pushed him to use his stamina to its fullest this fall.

“(Last year's camp) was not a good feeling,” Manning said. “Even though you have a lot of pain and couldn't walk, you feel guilty that 79 other guys are here sweating in the heat and you can't be part of it. I'm sure they were having more fun than I was.”

Manning came out firing the first practice this year, hitting Wayne several times (although not enough for Wayne's taste, even in practice) but spreading the ball around. Gonzalez is the heir apparent to Harrison on the right side, and Manning has a lot of trust in him.

Wayne's complaints about not seeing enough passes to open practice were dismissed with a smile from Manning.

“All the great receivers want the ball every player and think they're open every play,” Manning said. “That's what separates them. …I feel pretty confident, come crunch time, that Reggie will be getting plenty of catches.”

The other receivers – Manning mentioned free agent signee Taj Smith along with Garcon, Hall and Collie – had their chances, too. Garcon made a nice catch and move for significant yardage in the 11-on-11 shoulder pads and shorts scrimmage, delighting the large crowd that came out to watch the first practice.

“It's going to take a lot of getting used to – to line up under center and not see No. 88 (Harrison) out on the right,” Manning said. “Reggie and Anthony Gonzalez will be out there, but that third spot should be helped by the competition. … All of those guys made a few plays today.”

Tight end Dallas Clark, another of Manning's favorite receivers, said the absence of Manning last season lent an odd atmosphere to preparations a year ago.

“It's going to be great to have him out there,” Clark said. “(Last year) was a different camp. It had a different atmosphere not having him at practice. It's great to have him back. It's going to help him a lot and help the team a lot.”

Manning returns to a healthy offense, too, with guard Ryan Lilja back in action. The running game returns Joseph Addai, and adds rookie Donald Brown, who reached a contract deal late Sunday that enabled him to immediately participate in camp.

The Colts' running game was fairly awful last season, for a variety of reasons.

Manning deferred questions about the running game to Caldwell, line coach Howard Mudd and the lineman and backs.

“As far as the impact I can have on the running game – I won't be running it a lot, I don't think,” Manning said.

That's the playful Manning. That's the confident Manning. That's the fully engaged in preparation – and loving it – Manning.

He looked in no hurry to rush through the hot August grind of camp. Manning seemed intent on soaking in what he missed a year ago. There's no better sign of a beautiful fall ahead for the Colts.