By Colleen Kane
Enquirer staff writer

Former University of Kentucky quarterback Jared Lorenzen, still a free agent with the New York Giants, remained in Kentucky on Tuesday, a week and a half after training camp started.

Lorenzen made travel arrangements and was set to report to training camp on July 29, the same day the Giants signed No. 1 draft pick Eli Manning to a six-year, $45 million contract. Lorenzen said he received phone calls from several people and agents, saying that the team had released him.

"I thought I was released," Lorenzen said.

The Giants, however, said they have not talked to Lorenzen, according to Peter John-Baptiste, director of public relations. They placed him on the reserve/did not report list on July 30.

"We did not cut Lorenzen - I don't know where that started," general manager Ernie Accorsi told Giants.com on July 30.

Lorenzen was signed by the Giants in May as an undrafted free agent, and he attended the team's mini-camp. But his place on the team looked shaky this summer, with quarterbacks Ryan Van Dyke, Jesse Palmer, Kurt Warner, who was signed in June, and now Manning all vying for spots. Lorenzen denied rumors that his absence from camp was based on his weight, 288 pounds at draft time.

"It more or less turned into a numbers game," Lorenzen said.

Lorenzen remains in town, where he said he has been for six weeks, spending time with his daughter and family. He bought a house in Edgewood. He said if football does not work out, he would like to get into sports reporting, and hopes to do commentary for high school games this fall.

"It was unfortunate, but I'm spending time with my family, doing things I've been missing out on for five years now," Lorenzen said. "I'm kind of happy right now. ... I'm not as upset as I was when it happened."

But the 23-year-old, who passed for 185 yards a game at Kentucky last year, leaves open the possibility of a future football career, saying he'd like a shot at NFL Europe if the Giants would have him.

"I'd be willing to do it if they would. And if I did get released, and another team would take me, that would be great. More football," Lorenzen said.

"I know I'm not a starter and maybe not even a backup, but just to be on another team ..."