AOL Fanhouse's Michael David Smith is confused as to way the Colts signed Dominic Rhodes, suggesting Kenton Keith is better because he rushed for 4.4 yards a carry in 2007 while Rhodes rushed for 3.4 in 2006. Maybe Smith missed the 2006 playoffs, where Rhodes rushed for 306 yards on 62 carries (4.9 a carry) in three BIG games, including a 113 yard, 1 TD performance in the Super Bowl. What did Kenton Keith do in the 2007 playoffs? Turn the football over.



18 to 88 places their collective feet on the throat of Mike Florio for his ridiculous article for The Sporting News regarding the shooting outside Marvin Harrison's bar:

Again, I'm not saying [Harrison] didn't do it. I'm not saying he was justified if he did do it. I am saying that the media coverage of this has been very odd and utterly irrational. This particular article is a great case in point. It sees only two possible scenarios when it's clear there are at least three.

Speaking of Marvin, Pete Prisco has an article up talking about how private Marvin is:

Again, what people don't know is Harrison is a product of the tough streets of North Philly. He still has a lot of that in him. Beating the daylights out of somebody shouldn't be a shock. Some say Harrison still has too much street in him, that he is too loyal to the older neighborhood.

These people that think Harrison is "too loyal" to his old neighborhood are morons like ESPN's Sal Paolantonio.

 

Indy Star has an article from Mike Chappell talking about the Colts signing Dom:

"I can't even share with you the excitement I'm feeling right now,'' Rhodes said in a telephone interview from Arizona.

From the moment he was released by the Oakland Raiders last month, he said, "I knew there was a possibility to come back (to Indy).''

It's nice having Dom back.

Photo: NY Daily News

With Dominic Rhodes likely back in the fold, the next step is to sign former Patriots LBer Rosevelt Colvin. After Indy released Bryan Fletcher and Dylan Gandy last week, it was really only a matter of time before they started reaching out to veterans like Dom and Colvin.

We discussed the benefit both these players could add, but it's important to remember that simply getting signed means nothing when the 53 man roster is selected. Last year, Indy brought back OG Rick DeMulling only to cut him at the end of pre-season. However, I find it very hard to believe that Rhodes will get cut.

Despite what some think, Rhodes can still play and it was moronic on the part of the Oakland Raiders to draft RB Darren McFadden when they had Rhodes, Justin Fargas, and Michael Bush on the team. Rhodes saw extensive action during the last four games of Oakland's 2007 season after Justin Fargas went down with injury. Rhodes rushed for 279 yards and a TD, averaging 4.3 a rush. Rhodes also caught 10 passes for 60 yards during that stretch. Just so people can compare, Kenton Keith caught a total of 13 passes for 77 yards and 0 TDs for the 2007 regular season. (Note: Keith had a receiving TD in the playoffs though). He also dropped a ton of balls thrown at him, with one resulting in a turnover in the San Diego playoff game.

So, there is no question Rhodes is an upgrade over Keith, but even Kenton has his uses. K2 was very good as a short yardage, goal-line runner in 2007. He also ran for 4.4 yards per carry behind a very beaten up o-line, and notched 3 rushing TDs. The key to K2 keeping his job is how willing he is to play play special teams and how much he can add to the short yardage package over rookie Mike Hart.

Hart is clearly a fan favorite both because of his college career and his personality. When you read about Hart, it is hard not to like him:

The hand stuck out. Suddenly, to Mike Hart, the NFL was no longer a distant dream.

The hand belonged to Colts quarterback Peyton Manning.

“I said, ‘I’m Mike,’’’ Hart said.

Manning’s reply: “I’m Peyton.”

“I was like, ‘I know who you are,’’’ Hart said, recalling the story with a smile.

And because the hand was a real hand – because it wasn’t on television and because it wasn’t animated – Hart said it took a moment to realize the reality of the moment.

“I grew up watching Peyton,” said Hart, a running back from the University of Michigan and a sixth-round selection in this past weekend’s 2008 NFL Draft.

“When I saw Peyton, I was like, ‘I’m not playing with him on a video game. I just shook his hand.’ “It’s nice. I’m definitely a little in awe.”

Bill Polian has often compared Mike Hart to James Mungro, a RB whose career was ended by a knee injury during pre-season in 2006. If Kenton Keith wants to stay a Colt, he has to beat out Hart for that roll. I have a very hard time imagining the Colts keeping 4 RBs on the active roster. Another possible RB prosect is rookie free agent Chad Simpson of Morgan State. He's a fast player who has kickoff return ability.

The more you look at it, the more it seems that Kenton Keith has a big mountain to climb to keep his job.

I will never understand Peter King. I mean really! I just don't get it. Peter will surprise me with excellent nuggets like this:

I've got to see Philip Rivers perform at a high level consistently to think this is a Super Bowl winner, particularly in a conference as tough as the top-heavy AFC.

And this:

I want to like Vince Young, and his improvement from 52 to 62 percent in accuracy from his rookie year to his second season helps a little. But this is the year he's got to start being consistent if the Titans are going to make the playoffs again and again. He threw nine touchdowns and 17 interceptions last year.

But then, he'll go a say something stupid, like rank the Patriots ahead of the Colts going into 2008.

Peter cites the Patriots doing nothing as a sign they will be fine in 2008. This is funny compared to last year, when the Colts did nothing and the Patriots went on a shopping spree, prompting people like Peter King to say had gotten better than Indy. Now, with New England bleeding players and doing little to stop it, while the Colts retain theirs and beef up weaknesses... the Patriots are still better? Huh?

Is it so much to ask for a little consistency with one's logic?

Even New England's draft did not address their offensive line (which was overpowered in the Super Bowl), their defense (which is still old, and allowed Eli Manning to burn them in the 4th quarter), or their running game (which is always hurt). Add to this the fact that New England lost virtually their entire secondary (including Pro Bowler Asante Samuel) to free agency. Meanwhile, Tedy Bruschi and Junior Seau are still old and slow, and Mike Vrabel is getting there. Jerod Mayo will help, but a rookie playing in this defensive system is too much to ask for.

Needless to say, New England's defense was not very good in the playoffs last year, in particular the Super Bowl. This puts extra pressure on the offense, which is a pass happy unit that struggles running the ball. Not a good formula for success.

Meanwhile, the Colts are getting Dwight Freeney and Marvin Harrison back. They beefed up their o-line, drafted Mike Hart, and found another speed rusher in Marcus Howard. Their entire starting defense is returning, a top 5 unit that is both young and fast.

So, how is New England considered better?

Speaking of rookie DE Marcus Howard, Tony Dungy really likes his speed.

  Michael Hobson is the biggest fan of the Indianapolis Colts. i believe I saw him at Training Camp last year. Michael goes all out.

If you want to learn more about rookie free agent acquisition Samuel Giguere, click here. However, you might need to brush up on your French. This is the second year in a row the Colts have imported a free agent from Canada. Hopefully, unlike last year's import, Giguere can catch the friggin' football.

Rosevelt Colvin would add more depth to the d-line, if he is healthy. Photo: via www.projo.com

Even though the Colts spent much of Saturday and Sunday adding excellent depth to the roster, that does not mean the Colts should turn a blind eye to cheap, talented, free agent talent especially when that talent is proven. I understand people think Dom Rhodes might have "character issues," but the reality is he was a pretty stand up guy when he played in Indy for years. Yes, he had his run-ins with the law. No, Dom Rhodes is not a saint. However, unlike Kenton Keith, Dom Rhodes is a proven RB. When Kenton Keith runs for 113 yards and a TD with only 21 carries in the Super Bowl, then I'll call him proven. When Kenton Keith decimates the best defense in football (Baltimore) in their house (Baltimore) keeping the football away from their offense for over 7 minutes to seal an amazing and improbable playoff game (Baltimore, Baltimore, Baltimore!) then I will call him proven.

My own personal annoyance with Kenton Keith has more to do with his on-the-field screw-ups that have cost us games rather than his one run-in with local police. The police thing was an annoying screw-up that just adds more to fans not liking him. I have ZERO tolerance for anyone who has trouble catching friggin' screen passes, dump offs, or check downs. This is not rocket science. Catch. The. F&%king. Ball. Even worse, K2 lets it get batted in the air against the Chargers, and you've got another turnover.

Now, is Dom guilty of doing similar things? Yes. Remember Tedy Bruschi ripping the football from him in the 2004 playoff game? Remember Dom fumbling in the 2006 AFC Championship Game near the goal line? Jeff Saturday did recover it for a TD, but Dom did fumble in crunch time. Remember my post about Dom not playing hard in 2005? Dom is no saint, but, unlike Kenton Keith, Dom is proven.

And, quite frankly, Dom is just better.

Unlike Keith, Dom can actually catch the ball. He is an excellent blocker. I personally think that the more RBs you have, the better; especially if they can produce for you and not kill your cap. Add to this mix a solid draft pick like Mike Hart, and the Colts would have four excellent RB options, including Keith (who Indy should really keep because he is so good punching it in along the goal line). Again, the more the merrier.

The same holds true for DEs. Freeney is recovering from foot surgery and Robert Mathis has knee problems last year. Both are expected back 100%, but that doesn't comfort me. Drafting Marcus Howard was smart, but if the Colts can add a healthy Rosey Colvin to the mix (and play him down on the line as a DE), it just adds more depth and more options to level opposing QBs. Tom Brady was killed in the Super Bowl because the Giants never let up, and the reason the Patriots beat Indy in the regular season last year is because the Colts did.

The reason? Indy ran out of healthy bodies. New York didn't.

Both Colvin and Rhodes will likely not cost much. Colvin is injury prone, and is looking to prove he can still play. Dom was just cut by the Raiders, which is like wearing a scarlet letter on your forehead. I mean, if the friggin' Raiders think he suck, you must really be at the bottom of the talent barrel. Dom recently spoke about the wacky goings on in Raiders Land (from AOL Fanhouse):

I don't see the reason why the Raiders needed to draft a running back, you know what I'm saying? I mean, we have a stable full of running backs, that ran for 100 yards every one of them. And then we went and drafted a guy -- he's a great runner, don't get me wrong -- but, I don't understand the logic, everybody wanted to do this or that; it was never saying, "Okay, we're all going to do this together." I mean, there were just a whole bunch of fires everywhere, and ... then they seemed to blaze out of control.

I don't really think Lane Kiffin wanted to take a running back in the first round, let's just put it like that ... he has to deal with it now, but I don't think that's what he wanted to do.

The point of all this is we know Dom can still play, and if he can it is so obvious the Colts should sign him it isn't even funny. And if Colvin is healthy, he should get signed as well. Even though he has acted like a jerk as a Patriot, the guy used to sell concessions at the RCA Dome when he was a kid. He grew up a Colts fan. I'm sure it is a dream of his to play for the Colts before he retires.

With the news that Dom Rhodes was cut by Oakland yesterday, it seems logical to assume the Colts will look into bringing him back into the fold. Rhodes was a very popular member of the team. Despite his arrest last year for getting drunk and peeing in his pants, Dom is not known as a trouble maker or a jackhole. I will always remember Dom for how he took Joseph Addai under his wing when Addai was a rookie. Also, Dom did not complain, whine cry, or moan when he was benched in favor of Addai later in the 2006 season. In fact, Dom actually got better, and really dominated in the 2006 playoffs. Dom and Addai are fast friends, and guys like Peyton and Saturday also speak well of Dom.

The bottom line is if Dom wants to come back here, the team would love to have him. But, the price must be right.

The other possible addition, one that Bill Polian has said the Colts are looking into, is acquiring former Patriots LB Rosevelt Colvin. Colvin visited Indy this past Saturday. The concern on Colvin is his health. All throughout his career, he's been hurt. One of the reasons for this is Colvin just isn't very durable. He could stay healthy if he were a part-time pass rush specialist, which the Colts will likely use him as if they sign him. The other issue with Colvin is he's kind of acted like a jerk when he's played the Colts. Remember, he was the jerk who spiked the football on the mid-field Horse Shoe after New England beat Indy in the regular season last year. Shortly afterwards, Colvin got hurt hurt (again), was placed on IR, and, at the end of the season, got cut.

Note: Never, ever, mess with The Shoe.

Still, despite all that, if Colvin is healthy he would make a great addition. Colvin and recently drafted DE Marcus Howard would solidify the Colts' pass rush. Should Dominic Rhodes return, it will provide Indy with the same RB depth they had when they won it all in 2006. Add to this Mike Hart, and the Colts have three quality backs (and likely Kenton Keith will be looking for residence again in Canada). If Colvin and Rhodes are signed, it would add the finishing touch on a very strong draft for the Colts.