Lions cut CB Brian Kelly; should the Colts sign him?

by BigBlueShoe on Dec 10, 2008 10:42 AM EST in Analysis Comment 10 comments

Could former Lions and Buccaneers CB Brian Kelly help our football team?

Brian Kelly was, at one point, one of the better corners in the NFL a few years ago. While with the Tampa Bay Bucs, he and Ronde Barber formed an outstanding CB tandem that was vital in Tampa Bay's Super Bowl run back in 2002. As a Cover-2 corner, he was as good as it gets: Sure tackler, tough, covers well in zone, ballhawk. He signed with the Lions this past off-season, but it just didn't work out. Detroit cut Kelly yesterday.

Kelly was initially drafted and coached by Tony Dungy in Tampa Bay 11 years ago. Dungy coached Kelly for four seasons before Tampa Bay fired him. With the season-ending injuries to starting CB Marlin Jackson and reserve Michael Coe, the Colts might consider bringing Kelly on board. The key is: Does he have anything left?

The pinnacle of Kelly's career was 2002, when Tampa Bay won the Super Bowl. He had 65 tackles, 8 INTs, and 13 passes defended. Some were calling him the best CB in football. In 2003 he got hurt, but bounced back for some very good seasons following. Then, he got hurt again in 2006, and has really been battling the injury bug since with knee, groin, and ankle ailments. After 2007, he signed with the Lions after buying out his own contract so he could get away from Tampa Bay.

I'll repeat that: Kelly bought out his contract with the Bucs so he could sign with the Lions. If you needed any more proof that Jon Gruden is an ass, look no further than that.

Can Brian Kelly help the Colts? Yes. Even though the Colts are posed to have the greatest regular season passing defense in modern NFL history (only 4 passing TDs allowed in 14 games... amazing), Kelly could provide a veteran presence and playmaking ability, especially in nickel packages.

The key is his health. Kelly will look to sign with a playoff team that runs a Cover 2 or Tampa 2 scheme. Teams currently fitting that bill are Indy, Minnesota, Chicago (maybe), and Tennessee.

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Pass. The Colts have no need for an older, injury prone corner.

by KingRichard on Dec 10, 2008 11:24 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

didn't you just hate on Tim Jennings

I would love a deal with him for the rest of the season. You can’t carry cap space over so you might as well use it.

Even a 2 year (1 and 1/2 really) deal would be fine with me with Hayden an FA. The guy was released from Detriot, they won’t have to break the bank (and before saying it’s Detriot he sucks, remember than we signed and just started someone off the Detriot practice squad).

Shonn Greene for Heisman
Big Ten's leading Rusher
144 yards per game
6.2 yards per carry
08 TDs per game > 06 GPA

by shake n bake on Dec 10, 2008 11:29 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

No, the Colts do need to replace Jennings, just not with this guy. I said they don’t need an older, injury prone corner, not they don’t need a corner period. =P

by KingRichard on Dec 10, 2008 11:47 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Besides, the guy was cut from the goddamn Lions. PASS!

by KingRichard on Dec 10, 2008 11:48 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't understand why..

Ratliff isn’t the other starter. If one of you guys has a reason to hate on him, I’d love to hear it. This has nothing to do with his INT in the Pitts game, either… he’s more physical, he’s a better tackler, he’s been in the system forever, and when the game is on the line, I don’t want to rip my eyes out with a pair of tweezers like I do when Jennings is the main man.

by Nideak on Dec 10, 2008 1:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm interested.

This is a position that I have felt we are too thin at. We probably couldn’t get a better option at this point in a season. 1 or 2 year deal. Quick fit with his experience. The key is that he understands that he needs to be very affordable at this point.

by coltsfanawalt on Dec 10, 2008 11:37 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Sign Him

I think he could be beneficial to the team. Even if we only sign him for the rest of this season, I think we should try to work something out. I heard the Lions are getting rid of a lot of older veterans in anticipation of their upcoming overhaul of the team. It’s not that the players are washed up, they (Lions) just want lots of cap space and a young core of players. So, if he can be had for cheap, grab him. We need some CB depth right now.

by TouchdownMonkey on Dec 10, 2008 12:12 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Get him

Gotta think he’s a better option than on-again off-again Keiwan Ratliff.

by yellowsnow on Dec 10, 2008 12:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Ill take him

For a short term contract and I think he still has something left

by metal_militia on Dec 10, 2008 1:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

SeanYuille said over at Pride of Detriot (kind of ironic name right now)

that Kelly was on a 3 year contact and paid 4 million this season. They might just not want to pay him if they are going to suck anyway or think he isn’t worth a decently sized contract they gave him. He might have plenty still in the tank. I wouldn’t right him off as a guy that wasn’t good enough for the worst D in the league quite yet.

Shonn Greene for Heisman
Big Ten's leading Rusher
144 yards per game
6.2 yards per carry
08 TDs per game > 06 GPA

by shake n bake on Dec 10, 2008 1:17 PM EST reply actions 0 recs