Tony Ugoh, the Colts' second-round selection in the recent NFL Draft, didn’t know exactly what to expect from Glenn, a three-time Pro Bowl selection.

The Colts drafted Ugoh with the idea he could be the left tackle of the future.

Since his arrival, Ugoh said Glenn – the Colts’ starting left tackle since 1998 – has worked with him extensively on the field, and taken time to help him off the field, answering questions, offering advice. Just being there, basically.

“I was kind of surprised it was like that,” Ugoh said, but Glenn said the rookie shouldn’t have been surprised.

As far as Glenn sees it, there’s really no other way.

“I’ve been a Colt my whole career,” said Glenn, the No. 19 overall selection by the Colts in the 1997 NFL Draft and a Pro Bowl selection following the past three seasons. “I’d like nothing more than to finish my career here, but at the same time, to help build for the future. I’m committed to that.

“This organization has done nothing but do well by me. They’ve been with me through a lot of the good times as well as the hard times, personally. I can honestly say I’ll do whatever I can to help build this organization and to help build this team – not only for this year, but for years to come.

“If that means to get the second-round draft pick focused not only on the field, but off the field, I’m willing to be committed to doing that.”

Glenn, who will enter his 11th NFL season next season, said his approach is far from unusual around the Colts’ locker room these days. Veterans, he and Colts Head Coach Tony Dungy said, help rookies, with the idea being to pass down the Colts Way.

When Dungy was a player with the Pittsburgh Steelers, veterans helped younger players – even players at their own positions – and the result was a team that won four Super Bowls from 1974-1979.

“That’s something I tried to instill in this team,” Dungy said. “When I got there, it was like, 'Hey, you know what? We need everybody to win and everybody’s going to help you be as good a player as you can be because nobody’s worried about who plays the most or whatever: at some point, we’re going to need you and you have to be ready if you’re going to win.’

“That’s the way championship teams think. Our team over the years has begun to think like a champion, so I’m not surprised at all. I think that’s very important.”

Glenn said it wasn’t always that way. When he was a rookie in 1997, he said he felt shunned by older veterans on the offensive line. That made life difficult at times.

Finally, a player came to him and eased the transition.

That player wasn’t an offensive lineman.

Instead, it was wide receiver Marvin Harrison.

Harrison, then in his second season, had been drafted No. 19 overall the previous off-season. Immediately, the two formed a bond, one that exists a decade later.

“I didn’t get that same embrace by the majority of the guys,” Glenn said. “I remember Marvin pulling me aside and being one of those guys who kind of embraced me. Even though we don’t play the same position, he just taught me the ropes and what it meant to be a professional, and how to practice and not really take stuff for granted.

Harrison’s gesture made a lasting impression, Glenn said.

“Ever since then, I vowed I would try to be that kind of leader for guys who come in and hopefully give some kind of wisdom and words of encouragement,” Glenn said. “If I have anything technique-wise and fundamental-wise that I can give them to become a better player, I’m going to do that.”

Glenn said the idea Ugoh may eventually start for the Colts at his position did nothing to change his thinking.

“A lot of people, with him coming in here, could look at it as controversial,” Glenn said. “Whenever you’re trying to build a team, you have to believe in the way you want to do it. There is some time down the line they were going to have to prepare and make sure each position is secure not only in the short team but in the long-term.”

The approach is particularly important on the offensive line, Glenn said. The Colts typically carry only seven-to-eight offensive linemen, and often in recent seasons, young players have played key roles early. Last season, rookie right tackle Charlie Johnson played much of Indianapolis’ Super Bowl XLI victory in place of veteran Ryan Diem.

“(Offensive line coach) Howard Mudd always has been that kind of coach, and always encouraged that in our room,” Glenn said. “For the most part, our guys – the guys who have been here the longest – understand that that is the way we want it. The legacy we want to leave is that when you come into our room, there are no prima donnas. Everybody works as hard as the next man and if you have something to give, you don’t hold it back because if you hold back anything, all it does is it hurts the whole.

“I saw it when (former starting right tackle) Adam Meadows transferred from starter to backup to not being here. He embraced Ryan Diem and really encouraged him. It made us better as a team unit. Everybody didn’t agree with some of the decisions that were made, but it wasn’t about agreeing with the decisions as much as it was about building for the future.

“More than our personal gains, we want that unit to be cohesive and do whatever it takes to win games.”

Glenn said the approach involves more than football. He said it’s more about life.

And because of that, he said he really sees no other way.

“A lot of it has to with my faith, and my values,” Glenn said. “What I believe got me here isn’t a self-centered, selfish mentality or way of thinking.

“It’s more, ‘Whatever you receive, you give that much more.’’’