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Prior to the Indianapolis Colts and general manager Ryan Grigson trading a 2013 second round pick to the Miami Dolphins for cornerback Vontae Davis, there were reports that Grigson was eying a move for disgruntled Cowboys corner Mike Jenkins. Jenkins, who has been Dallas' No. 1 cover corner for roughly three seasons, found himself sitting behind Brandon Carr, Morris Claiborne, and Orlando Scandrick on the 2012 depth chart. He was also in the last year of his rookie contract, and wanted a bit more commitment from the Cowboys (i.e., he wanted a new deal).
Jerry Jones balked, and Jenkins decided to sit out of OTAs and other "voluntary" workouts last season. He also did not rehab his shoulder in Dallas with team doctors.
Jenkins was bothered all throughout 2012 with that bum shoulder. This was the same shoulder injury Jenkins played with, and through, for much of the 2011 season. I guess Jenkins thought that playing through injury and pain in '11 would reap rewards for him in '12.
Nope. Not in Dallas, brother.
On March 12th, 2013, Jenkins will become an unrestricted free agent. He told the media back on Dec. 31st that:
"Uh, do I want to come back [to Dallas]? I’ve been here for five years and I’ve grown attached to everybody here," Jenkins said. "It’s hard to just get up and leave and not want to come back, but at the same time you want to go somewhere where you have a fair opportunity and I guess you just go from there."
Translation: Jenkins isn't re-signing with the friggin' Cowboys.
This brings us to our beloved Colts and the $41.3 million dollars in cap space they have this year. Did we mention Ryan Grigson REALLY wanted to trade for Jenkins, but Dallas said no? We did? Well, now Grigson doesn't have to trade anything to Dallas for Jenkins' services. (Suck it, Jerry!) He can just sign Jenkins, and it seems that the price might be less than what the grumpy corner wanted from Dallas because, at this time, it seems unclear just how healthy Jenkins' shoulder is.
He received an MRI on it back in October of last year. This was after Jenkins missed the preseason and the season opener against the Giants. Jenkins participated in 13 games in 2012, starting two of them. His best season as a professional was in 2009 when he had 49 combined tackles, 5 picks, and 19 passes defended.
If Jenkins is healthy, you can absolutely believe Ryan Grigson will try and sign him. The Colts have a need at corner, what with both Jerraud Powers and Darius Butler hitting free agency. Powers' career in Indianapolis is likely finished because he consistently ends seasons on IR. Butler had a nice bounce-back year after getting tossed aside by the Patriots and Panthers. However, Butler isn't a true starting corner. He's best utilized in the slot, as is Cassius Vaughn.
If Jenkins is signed, that would provide defensive coordinator Greg Manusky with two quality cover guys in Davis and Jenkins, with either Vaughn or a re-signed Butler in the slot.