The Indianapolis Colts today signed offensive lineman Jack Breckner, who most recently played for the Iowa Barnstormers of the Arena Football League. Breckner is a 6-9, 320 pound offensive lineman - in other words, he's big.
Breckner played in the Arena Football League in 2013, the Indoor Football League in 2012, and the Ultimate Indoor Football League in 2013. The Iowa Barnstormers, Breckner's team in the AFL, is famous for producing quarterback Kurt Warner, who went on to have a very successful NFL career and play in 3 Super Bowls, winning one, and he won 2 league MVP awards. In college, Breckner was a four year starter at Gustavus Adolphus College (a Division III school in Minnesota), from 2006-2009.
It is clear that the Colts are looking at offensive linemen, as that is a huge need this offseason. Last month they added former Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins offensive guard Lance Louis. Breckner is a tackle while the real need the Colts have is at guard and center, but any lineman could help at this point. Breckner is just an offseason guy and, if he makes it to training camp, will likely just be a camp body, but he gets a chance now.
Ryan Grigson loves to sign players from other football leagues or players overlooked by other teams and he has hit on a few of them so far in his time as general manager - star linebacker Jerrell Freeman being the most obvious one. He even signed African rugby player Daniel Adongo last offseason and hopefully Adongo will continue to develop this offseason. One thing about Ryan Grigson is certain, and that is that he is looking at anywhere and everywhere for players who could potentially help the Colts team, and while the signing of Jack Breckner seems like nothing more than an offseason addition, they are low-risk, high-reward signings. If they don't work out, the Colts aren't hurt by it, but if they do work out, it's great. Grigson loves to try to find those type of players, and Breckner is just another one of them that the Colts general manager has signed.