Stephen Holder

stephen.holder@indystar.com

UPDATE, 11:42 a.m.: Here's what coach Chuck Pagano had to say about Richardson at his just-completed press conference:

"We all know his background, we know his history. We know he made a bad choice and made a mistake five years ago as an 18-year old. We brought Nu'Keese in here a week and a half ago, sat him down and talked to him at length about what he's been doing with himself and his life. We just felt like we wanted to give Nu'Keese a second chance. We all understand there's no do-overs. We can't take back the mistakes that we've made. We feel like we've done our due diligence, we've done our homework."

An important point to note is that Richardson maintains the robbery attempt was a prank, and authorities retrieved only a pellet gun from the getaway car used in the crime.

ANDERSON -- Daily transactions during training camp come fast and furious, many times featuring names you've never heard of.

But the Colts' signing of receiver Nu'Keese Richardson has turned quite a few heads.

That's because the former University of Tennessee receiver in 2010 pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and was sentenced to three years of probation in a plea agreement.

Richardson was ultimately kicked out of UT and, after his adjudication, played at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College and Pikeville, an NAIA school in Kentucky.

An impressive 2013 season at Pikeville – Richardson caught 39 passes for 588 yards and in nine games – caught the eye of NFL scouts. Richardson had a recent tryout with the New England Patriots and now will get a look from the Colts as part of their 90-man training camp roster.

Richardson is the second former Tennessee player with a checkered past to be given a shot by the Colts. Da'Rick Rogers, who was kicked out of Tennessee for failing multiple drug tests, made the team last season and remains on the roster.

Colts General Manager Ryan Grigson is sensitive to criticism that he's taken some chances on players with a checkered past, countering that most are players at the fringe of the roster who are on a zero-tolerance policy.

The Colts last week waived running back Chris Rainey after he violated a team rule in the player dorms. Rainey had previously been arrested for battery against a female acquaintance before joining the Colts.