Andre Johnson officially released by Colts

The Indianapolis Colts today announced that they have officially released wide receiver Andre Johnson.

This was a move that has been expected for several months, as Johnson was underwhelming in his first season with the Colts and the team saves $5 million in cap space by cutting him.  Johnson caught 41 passes for 507 yards and four touchdowns last year for the Colts in 16 games, but there were times where it felt like he was invisible in the offense and he never really became a focal point or the go-to possession receiver many thought he could be.  He will turn 35 before the start of the 2016 season, but his agent has said that the receiver isn't considering retirement.

After twelve seasons with the Houston Texans, Johnson was released and began looking for another team.  The Colts became an immediate draw, as they had Frank Gore (a good friend of Johnson's), Andrew Luck (who Johnson called the best quarterback in the NFL and the reason he signed with the Colts), and a legitimate shot at making the Super Bowl.  Of course, we all know how the season turned out - as Luck missed nine games and the Colts missed the playoffs - so in reality Johnson struggling was simply a microcosm of the entire season for the Colts.  Now, the veteran receiver is left looking for a team for the second year in a row.

Though things didn't work out in Indianapolis, Johnson has had a terrific NFL career.  A seven-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All Pro, Johnson has caught 1,053 passes (eighth all-time) for 14,100 yards (ninth all-time) and 68 touchdowns in his 13-year career (12 with the Houston Texans).  It's unclear where he will be playing in 2016 (if anywhere), but his career resume speaks for itself.

Unfortunately, it didn't go as planned for the Colts in signing Johnson, but they are able to get out of the deal after only one year by saving $5 million, something that seemed like an obvious move for months that they finally made today.