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The Indianapolis Colts tonight have announced that they have re-signed one of their own defensive players less than 24 hours before free agency is set to begin. No, it isn't that one.
The Colts tonight announced that they have re-signed defensive end Fili Moala to a contract. In 2013, Moala played in all 16 games (starting 6) and notched a career high 26 tackles and also notched 1.5 sacks, 1 pass defensed, and 1 fumble recoveries. In 64 games (45 starts) with the Colts, Moala has made 112 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 3 passes defensed, and 2 fumble recoveries. The Colts originally selected Fili Moala in the second round of the 2009 draft.
Moala was re-signed to a one year contract last offseason and played hard for the Colts in 2013 yet again, but he showed some limitations. Still, he is a valuable player to have as depth and I have no problem with re-signing him. We don't know the contract details yet, but I don't expect Ryan Grigson to have overpaid for him and I think it should be viewed as a good move by the Colts to provide depth along the defensive line. I don't think this move will really affect their efforts to pursue other defensive linemen (like, for example, the Ravens' Arthur Jones), but instead provides solid depth no matter who the starters are.
In my opinion, Moala has been better as a 3-4 defensive end under Chuck Pagano than he was as a 4-3 defensive end, and I am glad to see him back in Indianapolis. This move won't be one that has a huge impact on the Colts success in 2014, but it provides insurance and gives the Colts a good backup who can step in and play well in spot duty if need be. To me, that's a good move for the Colts, especially along the defensive line, where they can use all the help they can get.
Moala hasn't been one of the players that fans have been paying close attention to (ahem, Vontae Davis, Adam Vinatieri, Antoine Bethea, etc.), but he was a player who deserved to be brought back and a player who I am perfectly fine with as depth along the defensive line.