Colts Sign CB Jalil Brown; Extend Contract of OLB Robert Mathis

The Colts have the day off from practice today, but they're active in making roster moves.  The team signed cornerback Jalil Brown to the active roster, signed wide receiver Chandler Jones and linebacker Rob Ruggiero to the practice squad, and announced a contract extension with outside linebacker Robert Mathis.

Jalil Brown has appeared in 34 career games (2 starts), including 5 with the Colts in 2013.  In his career, he has recorded 24 tackles, 2 passes defensed, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.  He was originally drafted by the Chiefs in 2011.

Chandler Jones was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Browns this offseason out of San Jose State.  He recorded 248 career receptions, 3,087 yards, and 29 touchdowns - all of which are San Jose State records. Ruggiero participated in the Colts rookie mini-camp and was signed by the team on August 21,  before being waived on August 30.  Ruggiero spent three seasons at Springfield College before transferring to Bridgewater State University, and in four sessions he recorded 47.5 tackles for loss and 22 sacks.

Perhaps the most significant move the Colts announced today was the contract extension with star outside linebacker Robert Mathis.  The Colts extended Mathis for an additional year, through 2016.  At first, the Colts' extension of Mathis seems like an odd one, considering the fact that he's out for the season with a torn Achilles and currently on the reserve/non-football injury list.  Mathis is 33-years old and will be recovering from a torn Achilles.  It seems, however, like a good move for the Colts.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Per source, Robert Mathis gets his full $6 million for this year while on NFI. So they agreed to add a year to the deal (&#39;16) at $6 million.</p>&mdash; Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlbertBreer/status/516983444270612481">September 30, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Why did <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Colts?src=hash">#Colts</a> &amp; Robert Mathis do an extension? They fully guaranteed his 2014 salary even on NFI, he agreed to add a year between $5M &amp; $6M</p>&mdash; Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/516988197964750848">September 30, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

This move actually makes a lot of sense for the Colts.  They extend Mathis for an extra year at around a $5-6 million salary and they then pay Mathis his full salary for this year, even though they don't have to.  We had known for a while that the Colts planned to pay Mathis, but now we know that the Colts have fully guaranteed his salary and get another year on his deal.  It sounds like a good deal for the Colts.