Posts tagged Bob Sanders
The Colts Mold: Free Agent Safety Market Values
Jun 28th
Yesterday, we discussed the proposed salary cap increase and how it will affect the Indianapolis Colts as they enter the free agent signing frenzy that will likely begin in early July. Although official salary numbers are hard to determine, we loosely projected that the Colts should be able to retain most of their own priority free agents — even if Peyton Manning plays at the $23 million franchise tag level in 2011.
With so many players set to enter unrestricted free agency though, there is a possibility that teams like the Colts will sign an uncharacteristically high number of outsiders. The best way to determine who Indianapolis is likely to take a close look at is to determine which players fit the team’s greatest areas of need, which players are most likely to fit in the Colts scheme, and which players are within the team’s budget. More >
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Colts Priority Free Agents: External Options
Jun 23rd
Although Indianapolis does not have a history of signing numerous outside free agents in the off-season, this year could be different. With the very real possibility that veterans like safety Melvin Bullitt, tackle/guard Charlie Johnson, defensive tackles Daniel Muir, Eric Foster, and Antonio Johnson, and running back Joseph Addai could all depart via free agency, uncharacteristic off-season choices may become the rule.
Although rumors have been relatively meaningless during the lockout they may take a step closer to reality in the coming weeks. More >
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Indianapolis Priority Veteran Free Agents: Current Colts
Jun 22nd
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Since it was reported that the players and owners are close to reaching a new CBA agreement, and details have started to spill out into the media, NFL teams have had to get into high gear in order to prepare for a free agency free for all. It has been reported that free agency rules would push back the unrestricted free agency eligibility to four years from five.
The result is that dozens of players who were previously tendered offers by their current teams will be free to negotiate with and sign with the highest bidding team. There is no doubt that this is a win for the players side in the negotiations but it could be a loss for team’s who were previously protected.
The Indianapolis Colts will have to compete with all other team’s if they hope to re-sign veterans like Joseph Addai, Melvin Bullitt, Antonio Johnson, Charlie Johnson, Daniel Muir, and Clint Session. More >
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Why It’s Easy to be an Indianapolis Colts Fan: Perpetual Underdogs
Jun 15th
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Professional sports is a religion for a lot of people, and while they have a variety of reasons for following their favorite players or teams — raised to be a fan, proximity, winning, etc. — being a fan is not always easy.
Consider how frustrating it must be for fans who have to deal with ongoing public relations nightmares from players who get into considerable trouble — or front offices who regularly sign players with troubled histories. Being a fan can also be difficult when a team has built a reputation for failure or mediocrity — Colts fans who have been around for awhile should be very familiar. No time can be more difficult for a fan base than when an elite player retires — a situation the Colts will face when Peyton Manning decides to hang it up.
But there are things about the Indianapolis Colts that will not go away, even when the wins do. It is what makes it relatively easy to remain a Colts fan, and is part of what will hold the fan base together when (arguably) the greatest quarterback to ever play football moves on. More >
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Colts are Interested: List of Players Entering 2011 NFL Draft
Apr 28th
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Each year leading up to the draft NFL teams have a spree of interviews, workouts, and visits with prospects. While most teams end up drafting players who they never have a reported interest or official contact with at any time, there are usually a handful of players that each team meets with who are either drafted or signed as priority free agents. In the 2010 NFL Draft, the Colts selected Jerry Hughes and Ray Fisher, both who visited with the team prior to the draft. Undrafted rookies Jeff Linkenbach, Vuna Tuihalamaka, and Mike Newton also were confirmed visitors.
With this in mind, after the jump you will find as many players at each position as Coltzilla could confirm having contact with the Colts prior to the start of the 2011 NFL Draft. Expect to see a few of these players at training camp this fall. More >
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Coltzilla’s Ultimate Colts Mock Draft
Apr 28th
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As NFL Draft crazed football fans already know, one of the biggest problems with mock drafts is that they are extremely unlikely to be accurate. Knowing how each team will pick, let alone the teams writers are most familiar with, is a shot in the dark scenario. Accordingly, Coltzilla has put together the “Ultimate Colts Mock Draft” which will list those players who may be available when the Colts make each of their six selections.
The Ultimate Colts Mock Draft will include prospects from nearly all positions in each round, and will attempt to rate the players in order in each round based upon our assessment of the raw best player available standard. Each of the players listed should be in contention for the most valuable player on the draft board specifically for the Colts, so this delineation hopes be useful following the draft to subjectively determine how team needs may affect Indy’s draft room. More >
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Assessing Positional Value for the Colts 2011 NFL Draft: Safety
Apr 20th
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The Colts are in a state of transition at the safety position. 2007 Defensive Player of the Year Bob Sanders will not return to Indianapolis and has signed a one-year contract with the San Diego Chargers. While this arguably “weakens” the position, what offsets the blow is that Sanders has not been a meaningful part of the rotation for three years. Losing Sanders, in some regards, is like losing something that was not really there.
What the Colts can be sure of is that safety Antoine Bethea is with the team long-term and is playing at a very high level. He is one of the league’s top safeties and is also one of the most reliable.
The uncertainty surrounds what will happen with strong safety Melvin Bullitt when the collective bargaining agreement negotiations are ironed out in court. If the Colts are able to honor the offer they made to Bullitt prior to the lockout, the team has a starter who is durable enough and strong enough in the Colts system to be a part of a very strong secondary. If, on the other hand, Bullitt’s restricted status is nullified from the court’s ruling, Indianapolis will be faced with players who have either never started in the NFL, who have not spent meaningful time in the Colts system, or who are coming off of relatively major injuries. Assuming they do not work out a long-term weal with Bullitt. More >
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Coltzilla Colts “Mock” Draft
Mar 22nd
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In following with the observations made in the 2011 Draft Class Could Benefit the Colts story, this mock draft will consider what players the Colts could select that should substantially bolster the team’s primary weaknesses and provide security at a couple of positions that have legitimate question-marks behind starters.
I did my best to not reach for any players and to be realistic about players who would be available when the Colts go on the board for each of their six picks. I also did not consider trades, although there is a good chance Polian would entertain a trade down if a partner with desirable compensation was interested. A later mock draft will consider those options. Opinions, observations, and suggestions are welcome. More >
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Combination of Lockout and 2011 Draft Class Could Benefit Colts
Mar 22nd
2011 is one of the busiest and potentially difficult off-seasons for the Indianapolis Colts in Peyton Manning’s career. To this point, the team has had to part ways with veteran safety Bob Sanders, has been unable to nail down a deal with franchise quarterback Peyton Manning, and has numerous questions regarding the future contracts of many steady contributors over the last two seasons.
Some of the questions may be answered — assuming a new CBA gets worked out that does not nullify the moves the franchise has already made — as the Colts have issued tenders to players like starting running back Joseph Addai, veteran linebacker Clint Session, defensive tackles Eric Foster and Daniel Muir, and assumed starting strong safety Melvin Bullitt. This still leaves the team’s sole nose tackle, Antonio Johnson in limbo, and kicker Adam Vinatieri floating around with an uncertain future. More >
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