clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Colts sign OLB Daniel Adongo; Waive TE Weslye Saunders

Enough is enough for the Colts, who released Saunders after he was suspended last week for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances.

Simon Watts

Chuck Pagano and the Colts coaching staff have decided to make an example of a player after all.

A week after tight end Weslye Saunders was suspended for his second violation of the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances, the Colts waived him.

The move comes a day after a report by Indianapolis Star reporter Mike Chappell on how Pagano was approaching the suspensions of Saunders and second-year wide receiver LaVon Brazill, as well as safety Joe Lefeged's arrest last month.

"Obviously you're extremely disappointed as a coach and a staff and an organization," Pagano told The Indianapolis Star on Wednesday. "The (players) are equally or more disappointed because we talk all the time about representing (the Colts' horseshoe), this organization, this city, your family, your name on the back of your jersey."

To replace Saunders on the roster, the Colts signed OLB Daniel Adongo. Adongo is an accomplished rugby player from Kenya who doesn't seem to have any football experience. This is a strange addition, but one that says to me that the Colts had their eye on Adongo for a while. They just had to find the right opportunity to sign him.

If you're interested, here's some rugby highlights from Adongo. It's something, right?


Rookie tight end Justice Cunningham will likely benefit the most from this transaction. He now only has to compete with Dominique Jones to be the third tight end on the 53-man roster behind Dwayne Allen and Coby Fleener. I like his chances.

Saunders' release should be viewed as a wake-up call to all of the Colts players. The coaches are done with the suspensions and arrests. It's time to take note of that.