Like they have done in the past, the Indianapolis Colts are once again taking a chance on a player from the Canadian Football League. Today they announced that they have signed outside linebacker Alex Bazzie to a reserve/future contract.
Bazzie (6-2, 240 pounds) has spent the last three years playing for the BC Lions in the CFL. In all, he has played in 50 games and recorded 83 tackles, 29 sacks, two forced fumbles, and eight special teams tackles. In 2016, he was fourth in the CFL in sacks with eleven, earning an All-Star selection for his play as he also recorded 31 tackles, four tackles for loss, and a forced fumble while starting all 18 games. He recorded eight sacks in 2015 and ten sacks in 2014. Before his time in the CFL, Bazzie played collegiately at Marshall.
With the Colts desperate for any bit of pass rush help that they can find, it makes a lot of sense to take a shot on a guy like Alex Bazzie. He’s been a productive and disruptive pass rusher in the Canadian Football League, and in the offseason with the rosters soon expanding to 90 players it makes it much easier to take chances on guys like this, hoping that some are able to stick around (like Jerrell Freeman did, for example).
Bazzie is the tenth player signed by the Colts to a reserve/future contract this year since the end of the regular season, joining outside linebacker Lavar Edwards, wide receiver Marcus Leak, safety Stefan McClure, cornerback Tevin Mitchel, quarterback Stephen Morris, guard Adam Redmond, wide receiver Tevaun Smith, cornerback Larry Scott, and kicker Devon Bell. These guys will have a spot on the 90-man offseason roster once the rosters expand.