Colts Sign Center Phil Costa

The Indianapolis Colts have addressed their center position.  No, they didn't sign Alex Mack.  Nor did they sign Evan Dietrich-Smith.  Nor Brian de la Puente or Jonathan Goodwin.

Instead, they signed center Phil Costa to a 2-year deal worth $2.7 million.  With incentives for playing time, there is a possibility of the deal reaching $3.5 million.  Costa spent the past four seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, where he appeared in 26 games, starting 20.  He went undrafted in the 2010 draft before being picked up by the Cowboys.  In 2011, he started all 16 games for Dallas, but last season he only appeared in 3 games, starting 0.

The reaction from many fans has been overwhelmingly negative.  They don't like this move, and I can honestly understand why.  Costa is an average center at best, and fans were looking for a much bigger upgrade than that this offseason at the position that myself and several others considered to be the biggest need.  Especially with players like Mack (who said he would listen to the Colts offer), Dietrich-Smith, Goodwin, and de la Puente out there, I totally understand why this is a disappointing move for many.  It is puzzling to me as well, and honestly it gives the impression that they just didn't care about the hole in the middle of the line that much.  We know based on Ryan Grigson's contracts last offseason to Gosder Cherilus and Donald Thomas that he's willing to spend along the line, but this move just makes he Colts look cheap.  Costa is an upgrade over Samson Satele, sure, but he's just an average player - for the biggest offseason need and a position that protects the franchise player, I would have liked to see them do a little better.

It is important to note, too, that just because a player did or didn't do well somewhere else doesn't absolutely mean it will be the same in Indy.  For example, Satele played well in Oakland before the Colts signed him, and we all know how that ended up.

so what now for the Colts?  Are they done at the center position?  I don't know, honestly,  this doesn't officially take them out of the running for Alex Mack, but it makes it much more doubtful than it was even before.  Also, this could mean good things for Khaled Holmes if the position isn't addressed more.  Costa isn't guranteed the starting spot, so it still allows room for Holmes to win it if he plays well.  If he doesn't, however, the Colts have Costa there.

I'm glad the Colts signed a center, I really am.  But this move doesn't really excite me, and I don't really like it.  What do you all think?

[UPDATE:] Colts general manager Ryan Grigson's comments on Phil Costa:

"Phil is a young, hard-nosed and physical center who has shown he can play at a winning level in our league.  He will provide strong competition at the center position."