If I read more about the longest work stoppage in NFL history, I'm going to need to start taking anti-depressants. So, to help pick me up a little bit today, I'm taking a stab at guessing the Colts 53-man roster come September. My hope is that by doing this I'll, somehow, send positive vibes in the direction of the owners, convincing them to lift the lockout and getting us back to discussing football.
So, knowing full well this roster could be totally different come August, or September, or (gulp) October when football starts, here's my projected Colts roster for 2011...
QB: Peyton Manning, Free Agent*
RB: Joseph Addai, Donald Brown, Dominic Rhodes, Mike Hart, Delone Carter
WR: Reggie Wayne, Pierre Garcon, Austin Collie, Anthony Gonzalez, Blair White
OL: Anthony Castonzo, Jeff Linkenbach, Ben Ijalana, Jacques McClendon, Mike Pollak, Jeff Saturday, Charlie Johnson, Free Agent*
TE: Dallas Clark, Jacob Tamme, Brody Eldridge, Justin Snow
DL: Dwight Freeney, Robert Mathis, Jerry Hughes, Ricardo Mathews, Drake Nevis, DeMario Pressley, Antonio Johnson, Fili Moala, Free Agent*
LB: Gary Brackett, Tyjuan Hagler, Pat Angerer, Kavell Conner, Cody Glenn, Philip Wheeler
CB: Kelvin Hayden, Jerraud Powers, Justin Tryon, Jacob Lacey, Chris Rucker, Kevin Thomas, Free Agent*
S: Antoine Bethea, Melvin Bullitt, Free Agent*, Jamie Silva, Aaron Francisco
P: Pat McAfee
K: Adam Vinatieri
*I list five 'free agents' on the team. These free agents can be either undrafted players or veteran free agents like Quintin Mikell or Barry Cofield.
For special teams return duties, I think the Colts would be happy tossing Dominic Rhodes, Justin Tryon, Blair White, or some random free agent out there. The Colts simply don't care about ST returns. If they did, you'd see veterans playing on special teams, blocking for the returners and tackling people on coverage. Clubs like the Patriots do this, and it's been successful for them. Don't see why the Colts don't employ it.
For other moves, Curtis Painter is left off because he sucks. The Colts should have ditched him last year and gone with Tom Brandstater. He thoroughly outplayed Painter in training camp and preseason last year. But, whatever. It's obvious that, should Peyton go down, the Colts would start forfeiting games.
I also left Clint Session off because Kavell Conner will take his starting job. Clint won't like that, and he will probably ask for his release. The only way Session stays is if there is an injury to Angerer, Conner, or Brackett. Mike Hart stays on the team because of special teams play.
Toss out your thoughts on the roster. It will help take your mind off the stupidity of the work stoppage.