Colts Free Agents: Players Not Under Contract For 2011
by Brad Wells on Jan 10, 2011 11:55 AM EST
in 2010 Colts Analysis
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As the Indianapolis Star reported on today, we still have no idea if there will be football in 2011.
"It's 100 percent in the owners' hands," said [Jeff Saturday], the Colts' representative to the NFL players association.
In less than two months, the CBA will expire. If it does, players say they will show up to work anyway. If they do, the owners have one of two choices: Let them work, or lock them out.
Without a CBA, that means, according to the Star, 'no free agency, no trades, no access to the team facility for players interested in working out or in the midst of injury rehabilitation.' This means that until we get people to sign a new agreement, get those fantasies of Nnamdi Asomugha in a Colts uniform out of your head.
It also means that the Colts likely cannot re-sign any of their own players who are not under contract for 2011. After the jump, we have the list of those players.
I'm leaving Peyton Manning off this list because even though he is a free agent, just as water is wet and the sky is blue, the Colts are indeed going to re-sign Peyton Manning. The only mystery to this is how much will they sign him to, and what conditions will Manning demand at the bargaining table.
As for everyone else:
Free Ggents Who Should Be Re-Signed
He's 27 and coming off a season where injuries kept him out of eight games. He did up his yards per carry to 4.3 running behind a putrid offensive line, and he one of the best pass blockers the Colts have at the RB position.
He's coming off his best season of his entire career, connecting on 93% of his field goals. Even at 37, he's still one of the most clutch kickers in the NFL. Such players do not grow on trees.
Solid back-up who can play four offensive linemen positions, including left tackle. He battling numerous injuries in 2010, but managed to play through and start in 15 games. His re-sign price likely won't be high.
The best defensive tackle the Colts had in 2010. When he started the last four games of the 2010 season, the Colts surrendered an average of 80 rushing yards a game. When he didn't start, the team gave up 140 a game. Unless the Colts plan to draft a stud DT, re-signing Mookie might actually be a priority.
Bob Sanders is likely gone from this team in 2011. Safety in the draft might be a priority. Regardless, retaining Bullitt is a must seeing as he is a quality player with big game experience. Also, he's only 26 years old. The only red flag is his chronically injured shoulder finally landed him on IR. If the shoulder continues to bother him, he isn't worth re-signing.
Free Agents Who May Or May Not Get Re-Signed
Wonderful success story. Was playing Arena II football in 2008 before supplanting Mike Pollak as the starting guard. Had to re-win his job this past year, and did so. If the Colts do not sign a veteran free agent guard, or draft a higher quality guard in the earlier rounds, re-signing DeVan becomes a priority.
Just a solid all-around player who can play both WILL and SAM backer spots. Also very dependable on special teams.
Fan favorite who proved that he still has some gas left in the tank. His infectious personality rubs off on teammates, and seems to give the colts offense a boost. He led the UFL in rushing, and after playing four games for the Colts, he averaged 4.6 yards a rush.
Free Agents Who Shouldn't Get Re-Signed
Decent reserve tackle who can also play end. Was once a starter. His role was diminished this year with the emergence of Fili Moala and Ricardo Mathews.
Tough linebacker with a excellent knack for making big hits. However, with Kavell Conner and Pat Angerer already on the roster, Session is expendable.
Regressed mightily in 2010. Muir consistently was mauled at the point of attack, and his style of play does not seem to mesh well with Fili Moala, who is more naturally suited for Muir's under tackle position.
He's a tight end who cannot catch nor block. Decent special teams player.
Solid special teams player, but is simply not a good safety.
Excellent special teams player, but coming off knee injury.
To this day I still do not know how he's managed to stay on this team. Nice person, but he can't rush the passer and is only decent as a run stuffer from DE position.
Other free agents like Javarris James, Al Afalava, Ken Hamlin, Chip Vaughn, Taj Smith, Nate Triplett, Cornelius Brown, Mike Newton, Mike Richardson, and Michael Toudouze are all likely to not get re-signed. Of this group, I'm partial to Javarris James. He had 6 rushing TDs as a rookie, and if the Colts are tired of seeing Mike Hart consistently appearing on the injury report (as he does every year), Javarris is another option worth exploring.
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I agree with most of this assesment.
The only thing I disagree with is not re-signing Eric Foster. He is valuable as a DLmen the can play a running down DE or a passing down DT. He’s definitely a situational player but he’s got a high motor and gets in the backfield when he is used properly. Stick him in at DT on first and ten or short yardage? Forget about it. He gets blown off the line of scrimmage.
18>12
by metallicolts on Jan 10, 2011 12:23 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Wow, couldn't agree more.
Excellent list. Session is absolutely expendable with Conner and Angerer emerging, mostly due to the fact he’ll command more money than the Colts will ever aim to pay a LB, especially a WILL LB which is the only plug-and-play LB position the Colts have.
Foster would be my only question mark, and that depends entirely on what they’re going to do in the draft/free agency.
Writer for Stampede Blue.
by Collin McCollough on Jan 10, 2011 12:24 PM EST reply actions
Exactly
Session will have to offer to play for table scraps to stay, and Foster I think is expendable because I have to imagine they’ll go OT then DT with their first 2 rounds. But we’ve all seen that Polian tends to avoid the obvious draft, which sometimes is good and sometimes hurts my head.
BTW,
Tommie Harris had a bad season in Chicago, actually two. He gets paid too much to not make an impact. If the Bears cut him, we should take a look at him. He might suck in Chicago, but we have lower standards for DTs. He is only 27 and if he isn’t too washed up, he would be an upgrade over Muir.
by Ty46 on Jan 10, 2011 12:26 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Co-sign
It was a bad season for a guy who has been a consistently good player. His asking price went way down and he’s a DT that — when healthy and on his game — can push the pocket and make QBs pay for stepping up to avoid the edge rush.
The Colts would be lucky to sign Harris. Obviously he would have to be a free agent first. But if he is, he’s a lot more realistic than Asomugha, and would be arguably just as effective (if not more so) in this defense.
Writer for Stampede Blue.
by Collin McCollough on Jan 10, 2011 12:29 PM EST up reply actions
Aso
To me Aso is still dependant on whether or not he is more focused on a ring or a bigger paycheck. There are not a lot of teams that will almost certainly give you a good shot at a run in the playoffs that are in the market to pay a CB very well. A couple, but not a lot.
If we don't get Asomugha, I hope he goes to the NFC
As far from the AFC South as possible. And please not to NE, Jets, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, SD
Great Comment Guys
I have been silent for a while but in looking at this team, I must say agree with the FA assessments but please scrap our injury prone SS’s and draft a prototypical safety (6’0 215 lbs) with coverage skills and instincts. Above all else, please stay away from injury prone players. Please!
Bullitt
I thought bullitt got a new contract this year? or was that only a 1 year deal?
An expert is someone who knows more and more about less and less until they know everything about nothing...
1 year deal
!
Writer for Stampede Blue.
by Collin McCollough on Jan 10, 2011 1:11 PM EST up reply actions
If rhodes was cheap
I’d love to see him back.. He just hits the holes and sees them better than any other back we have.
With Addai, unless he comes cheap, I say let him go. The only thing he does really well is block. As a running back he is average as best, and I personally think he just doesn’t know how to hit the hole. He doesn’t have have the vision of a good back, and he has been injured a lot.
An expert is someone who knows more and more about less and less until they know everything about nothing...
Completely disagree...
Addai was averaging almost 4.5 ypc until injured. He was slithering through non-existent holes. He’s a great blocker and receiver. He proved this season he can run even without a good OL. It’s also erroneous to say that he’s been injured a lot. He missed half of 2010 but was there for all or almost all of 2006-09.
Writer for Stampede Blue.
by Collin McCollough on Jan 10, 2011 1:12 PM EST up reply actions
No O-line and too simple of an offense
The playcalling hurts his runs too, they only run on super-amazingly-incredibly obvious rushing downs. Or well on really stupid ones like 3rd-9. He did well with no offensive line and an offense that, mostly due to injuries, was stuck running a 10-play playbook. With so many injuries, your playbook shrinks to plays like quick outs and slants and screens. They are very basic plays and help un-familiar players get into play quickly. And he still got 4.5 ypc. Given all of that, he was out mostly for playing plinko inside his helmet, happens to anyone.
yes but
How many times do you see him bouncing around behind the line and seem to go away from where there looks to be room to run or just not deciding to go anywhere.. And Addai can’t break a tackle to save his life. (damn I miss edge and his stiff arm.. did you see that one Marshawn Lynch laid on the saints defender..that was a thing of beauty) I personally begin to think our O line is not as bad as run blocking as everyone seems to think, Addai just doesn’t have any vision.
I think the yards per carry are deceptive as he has a lot of runs for no gain, then manages one or two long ones when he gets a really good block and can actually use a bit of speed.
I really think we need to look for a new back. Our running game just had more of something the last two games rhodes was in.
Addai has also been hurt alot, maybe that contributes, but irrelevant of that he just has NOT been the answer at RB
An expert is someone who knows more and more about less and less until they know everything about nothing...
Unless you want the Colts to draft yet ANOTHER RB in the first round
Or pay big money for a free agent RB who probably is no better than Addai, there is no better option. Rhodes is great. We ALL love him as a player, but he is not starting RB material.
What the Colts need is a better O-Line, and one that can run a quality stretch play, which will allow both Addai and Brown to do well.
Dallas Clark: Some tight ends catch. Some block. Clark just owns.
Agree with this assessment...
except I’m not really all that excited about tieing a lot of money up in Addai. Yeah he’s a great blocking back, but that’s not worth much more than about $2-3 million a year.
I’d rank Bullitt as number 1, AV as 2, AJ as 3, CJ as 4 and Addai as 5 in terms of priority. Session should be 6 – I’d like to see if they can keep him.
I am intrigued by everyone's love for Vinatieri
Incredible kicker? Absolutely. Best the Colts have ever had, hands down. Especially after the playoffs, it is incredibly difficult to say anything other than we should sign him to a new 35-year contract. But, he’s also one of the highest paid kickers in the league (maybe the highest?), and the dude is 38 years old. He has ice in his veins, but I’ve seen people calling for Polian to sign him for 5 more years. And, while I have complete faith in him drilling a 45-yarder, or maybe a 50-yarder in the playoffs… but do you exude much confidence when we’re stuck at the 39 on 4th-and-8 and need to kick a 56-yarder to win the game?
Now, do I think they should kick him to the curb and pick up whatever’s left over after the draft? Of course not. But, kids like Alex Henery (by far the absolute best option this year; has one hell of a leg and is the most accurate place kicker in NCAA history) could be grabbed in maybe the 6th round, and a few other guys could be picked up in the 7th or possibly as UDFAs. These guys would play for nearly the league minimum.
I know guys like Asomugha are a long-shot, but cutting Hayden and Vinatieri and replacing them with a stud rookie and a premium DB wouldn’t cost the team much more (or would be significantly less if they pursue a star DB in the draft), and free up some cash for other crucial positions.
I will be heartbroken if Addai isn't resigned.
His skill set is exactly what the Colts look for at RB. Plus, he’s one of the nicest and most humble guys on the team.
Anyone who has a problem with Joseph should stop watching Colts football. It's unfair to expect a back to replace Edge, and Addai has been excellent in all areas when he is healthy.
Sure...
If you can find somebody to replace Vinatieri, go for it. But you’ve got to have a great fg kicker in today’s NFL.
There’s not a kicker around which you could count as “automatic” from 56. If there is, they’re so rare as to not even be worth discussing, especially drafting. I’d rather see them find somebody with a big leg that can put it through the back of the endzone on kickoffs before I’d even start to worry about FG kicking.
Is it possible that the season could be played without a CBA?
what if the players show up, they have games but with no CBA no free agents can be signed. Is it possible that Curtis Painter will play QB for us next year???? (very scared)
I know that even if this is possible the chances of it happening are .00001% but I just want to know if it is a remote possiblilty.
No
CBA will be required.
SB Nation's Indianapolis Colts blogger at Stampede Blue and editor of SB Nation Indiana.
Let them compete at training camp
I’m guessing that most of the guys on the “may or may not” or “shouldn’t” list can be re-signed for not much above the league minimum. If so, I’d be inclined to bring them back to camp and let them compete to stick around unless we find better camp candidates from the ranks of free agents or our draft picks. Even if they don’t make the team, they may be valuable mid-season pick-ups like Fransisco or Hagler were this year.
Exception to above is Session, who can probably get a pretty nice deal elsewhere. I agree we’ve probably got enough quality linebackers to make him expendible.
Money
Guaranteed money for experienced players to have another chance to prove themself? I don’t think so. If you’ve had 5 years on the team, you’ve MORE than had your shot to be on the “DUH RE-SIGN THIS PERSON OR DROWN IN THE SWIRLING VORTEX TO TAKE YOU TO THE UNDERWORLD” list. It’s familiar to Dungy’s take on overtime, you’ve had 60 minutes to beat them and if you failed to do it, cross your fingers and finish playing hard.
We should keep
Taj Smith and Eric Foster. Our special teams are constantly bad because we don’t keep players like Taj around- he provided a huge spark when he was signed this year and was one of the better of the coverage unit. Special teams has definitely cost us playoff wins in the last few years and we need to fix it not just through coaching but also personel. Foster has actually been our best DT this year in what he does (play passing downs, occasionally get penetration on running downs). He’s not a run stuffer so shouldn’t be judged as such. Moala has actually been very poor this season and consistently gets pushed around. Agree about most of the others but while Angerer has made a lot of tackles he rarely makes positive plays and struggled mightily in coverage.
Polian would NEVER
spend that kind of money on a free agent, and his style of corner really doesn’t suit the cover 2
An expert is someone who knows more and more about less and less until they know everything about nothing...
expendable
Clint Session “expendable” this is proof that its not possible to be a fan and objective in reporting. Ricardo Mathews should have to beat out Erik Foster in summer camp. Keyunta Dawson i agree with. But he’s a Polian favorite like Bob.
I agree with most but now all.
I think Foster, Session and Silva will most likely get resigned, I would hope Dominic Rhodes stay around also. Plus Polian seems to like Mike Newton so will be on PS the most. Hagler has won my heart this season, so hopefully he’ll be back.
As for Francisco, Dawson, Muir, and Robinson, they will be goners next season. I might have to add in Philip Wheeler.
Plus you just gave me any fanpost idea.
Colts fan since Tony Dungy's 48th Birthday.
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