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Indianapolis Colts News & Rumors

Morocco Brown Out Of Contention For Eagles’ Assistant GM Job?

May 20th, 2022 at 9:00am CST by Adam La Rose

One of the many positions in the Eagles’ front office which needs to be filled is that of assistant general manager. It appears that Morocco Brown is no longer a candidate to fill that role, reports Josina Anderson of CBS Sports (Twitter link).

[RELATED: Eagles Eyeing Morocco Brown]

That news is surprising, as Brown, the college scouting director of the Colts, was described as being “on track for the position as a ‘no-brainer’ hire”, per Anderson. Brown has been with Indianapolis in his current capacity for the past five seasons, earning a reputation around the league for his scouting prowess. He also has experience in Cleveland, Washington and Chicago.

His standing amongst various front offices led to interest from multiple teams this offseason apart from the Eagles, who were reported to be interviewing him earlier this month. He was a candidate to become the Bears’ general manager, in no small part due to his seven years previously spent in Chicago as assistant director of pro personnel. In the end, the Bears went in the direction of Ryan Poles to fill the spot.

Brown has also been involved in the Steelers’ ongoing GM search. He was among the many candidates to receive one interview with the team, though he is not presently on the shortlist of finalists whom Pittsburgh has met with a second time. That fact seemed to point him even more towards Philadelphia, but he will now likely remain with the Colts for at least one more season.

Latest On T.Y. Hilton

May 19th, 2022 at 10:08am CST by Adam La Rose

T.Y. Hilton remains a free agent, but there is still little clarity on his future. As detailed by Stephen Holder of the Athletic (subscription required), all options remain on the table for the veteran. 

One of those is retirement, something which the 32-year-old was reported to be contemplating in January, after doing the same one year earlier. His decision was set to be closely tied to that made by tight end Jack Doyle, who, in March, did indeed hang up his cleats. Ending his NFL career would be related, of course, to injuries; neck surgery limited him to 10 games last season, leading to his worst statistical performance.

Still, a return to the field for what would be his 11th campaign remains a possibility as well. Not long before Doyle’s retirement announcement, Hilton made it clear he wishes to continue playing. Just like last offseason, though, the question of whether he does so in Indianapolis or elsewhere has become central to the situation. The four-time Pro Bowler almost signed with the Ravens in 2021, ultimately choosing to remain with the Colts on a one-year, $8MM deal.

Likewise, there is “legitimate interest” in Hilton from outside teams once again, Holder reports. More to the point, Hilton has had “fruitful conversations with at least two other teams”, indicating that there is the chance he finishes his career elsewhere. That may be a stronger possibility now than it was one year ago, given the Colts’ decision to use its top draft pick on wideout Alec Pierce. He, along with Michael Pittman Jr. and Parris Campbell would limit the snaps and targets Hilton would receive at this stage of his career.

Team owner Jim Irsay has left the door open to another deal with Hilton throughout the offseason when speaking about potential additions at the position. If the team were to add a veteran to its young WR corps, he would be the most logical candidate, but the team will once again have competition if it chooses to do so.

2022 NFL General Manager Search Tracker

May 18th, 2022 at 5:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

Along with the head coaches being fired, a few NFL teams are looking for new general managers. Listed below are the GM candidates that have been linked to each of the teams with vacancies, along with their current status.

If and when other teams decide to make GM changes, they’ll be added to this list. Here is the current breakdown:

Updated 5-24-22 (9:03pm CT)

Chicago Bears

Las Vegas Raiders

Minnesota Vikings

New York Giants

Pittsburgh Steelers

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/17/22

May 17th, 2022 at 5:14pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are the latest draft pick signings around the NFL:

Chicago Bears

Dallas Cowboys

Detroit Lions

Indianapolis Colts

Colts To Sign Phillip Lindsay

May 17th, 2022 at 2:07pm CST by Adam La Rose

Running back Phillip Lindsay has found a new home. The veteran’s agent confirmed (on Twitter) Tuesday that he is signing with the Colts on a one-year deal. 

Lindsay, who will be 28 by the start of the season, burst onto the scene during his inaugural season in 2018. He topped 1,000 rushing yards and scored 10 total touchdowns as a rookie. He eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark for the second time the following campaign, becoming the first UDFA in league history to do so.

Things changed dramatically after that, however. Competing with Melvin Gordon in the Broncos’ backfield, Lindsay’s workload was significantly reduced. He totalled just 502 rushing yards, albeit at a respectable rate of 4.3 yards per carry. Given the team’s commitment to Gordon (and its decision to draft Javonte Williams), it wasn’t a surprise when they rescinded Lindsay’s RFA tender, allowing him to depart in free agency.

That led him to Houston on a one-year deal to rebuild his value. He joined a backfield crowded by veterans David Johnson and Mark Ingram, and failed to produce at the level he was expecting. Having received only 50 carries in 10 games with the Texans, he found himself on waivers after the trade deadline.

The Dolphins claimed him, attempting to boost their underwhelming run game. While he saw a small uptick in terms of snap percentage in Miami, Lindsay didn’t do enough to garner interest in him as a starter this offseason. Now, he will join a Colts team already set at the top of the RB depth chart with Jonathan Taylor and Nyheim Hines. He is set to compete with Deon Jackson and a number of 2022 UDFAs for the No. 3 role.

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/16/22

May 16th, 2022 at 7:22pm CST by Ben Levine

Several more mid- and late-round picks agreed to terms on their four-year rookie contracts Friday. Here are the latest agreements:

Chicago Bears

Indianapolis Colts

  • S Rodney Thomas II (seventh round, Yale)

New England Patriots

Colts Sign Second-Round WR Alec Pierce

May 16th, 2022 at 4:14pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Colts used a second-round pick on a wide receiver for the third time in four years. They agreed to terms with the most recent of those — Cincinnati alum Alec Pierce — on his four-year rookie deal Monday.

Indianapolis took Pierce 53rd overall, after having traded down 11 spots via the Vikings on Day 2 of the draft. Pierce is Indy’s top draft pick this year, with the team having traded its 2022 first to Philadelphia for Carson Wentz, and will be expected to be an early contributor.

Although the Colts roster Michael Pittman Jr., they have not received much from 2019 second-rounder Parris Campbell, who has suffered numerous injuries as a pro. Indianapolis sat out the veteran receiver market, though they did add ex-Houston slot player Keke Coutee on a reserve/futures deal. This situation, one that does not include T.Y. Hilton presently, would point to the Colts being in the mix for one of the veteran wideouts still available. As is, Pierce will not receive much acclimation time.

Pierce went off the board in between wideouts George Pickens (Steelers) and Skyy Moore (Chiefs). A 6-foot-3, 211-pound target, Pierce helped Cincinnati become the first Group of Five program to advance to the College Football Playoff. He caught 52 passes for 884 yards and eight touchdowns last season. Although Pierce did not post a 1,000-yard season in college, a knee injury limited him to six games in a 2020 season already shortened by the pandemic. He led the 2021 Bearcats in receiving by a wide margin.

Colts Open To Veteran QB Addition

May 15th, 2022 at 9:43am CST by Rory Parks

The Colts will be deploying Matt Ryan, who will turn 37 in two days, under center in 2022 (and perhaps for several years beyond that). But as Joel A. Erickson of the Indianapolis Star writes, the club remains open to adding a veteran passer.

At the Colts’ rookie minicamp on Friday, head coach Frank Reich was asked specifically about the possibility of signing Nick Foles, who was released by the Bears at the end of April. “We’re always looking at who makes this team better, at every position,” Reich said. “Who are the available veterans? Who can we still sign? [GM] Chris [Ballard] is very methodical about that process. We’re not in a rush. There is a timing to the way things go, and the way the roster is put together, that is very intentional.” 

Of course, Reich was the Eagles’ offensive coordinator in 2017 when Foles, filling in for an injured Carson Wentz, led Philadelphia on a magical run to its first Lombardi Trophy. Foles and Reich have a strong relationship, and Foles recently said, “I learned more with [Reich] and that staff in that season in 2017 than I ever have.”

Foles’ subsequent stints with the Jaguars and Bears were eminently forgettable, but he would certainly represent a qualified backup for Ryan. And that could be critical for a team that saw firsthand in 2021 how an inexperienced QB2 can negatively impact a season.

In a close game against the Rams in Week 2 of the 2021 campaign, Jacob Eason replaced (coincidentally) Wentz, who had suffered two sprained ankles. Eason, a 2020 fourth-rounder who was seeing his first regular season action, promptly threw a crippling interception and finished the game 2-for-5 for 40 yards and the pick. He was waived a month later.

Indianapolis is high on 2021 sixth-rounder Sam Ehlinger, and it would not be surprising to see him as Ryan’s clipboard holder come Week 1. However, he has not thrown a regular season pass in the NFL, and the same can be said for James Morgan and rookie UDFA Jack Coan, who round out the current QB depth chart.

As such, Foles could be an attractive option. Aside from him, the pickings on the free agent quarterback market are pretty slim, with Cam Newton at the top of a list that also includes Ryan Fitzpatrick — who is 39 and who suffered a season-ending hip injury in the first game of the 2021 season — Mike Glennon, and A.J. McCarron.

NFL Workouts: Callaway, Falcons, Buggs

May 14th, 2022 at 8:03pm CST by Ely Allen

Here’s a look at some of the league’s recent tryout invitations:

  • The Colts will host former Browns wide receiver Antonio Callaway at minicamp for a tryout, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The fourth-round pick for Cleveland in 2018 made an impact during his rookie season before running into issues with the league’s substance abuse policies and Cleveland’s team rules. The Browns waived Callaway during his sophomore season. He signed with the Tampa Bay Vipers of the XFL, but was placed on injured reserve before ever appearing in a game. He’s had short stints since then with the Dolphins and Chiefs and now has an opportunity to stick in Indianapolis.
  • Michael Rothstein of ESPN reported that the Falcons will host a trio of players for tryouts this weekend: former Packers wide receiver Geronimo Allison, quarterback Anthony Gordon, and center Evan Boehm. Allison spent the first four years of his career in Green Bay, never surpassing 303 receiving yards or two touchdowns in a season. He appeared in three games last year for the Lions. Gordon has spent time rostered in Seattle, Denver, and Kansas City after going undrafted in 2020. After getting drafted in the fourth round of 2016, Boehm has bounced around to eight different NFL squads, appearing in 55 games, starting 21.
  • Former Steelers nose tackle Isaiah Buggs will attend the Vikings minicamp for a tryout, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. The sixth-round pick from 2019 spent three seasons in Pittsburgh earning six starts last season before getting waived at the turn of the year. Buggs briefly signed to the Raiders practice squad and will now look for a new home in Minnesota.

Giants Hire Longtime Colts Scout

May 14th, 2022 at 2:36pm CST by Sam Robinson
  • Giants GM Joe Schoen continues to form his front office, and after adding two-time coworker Dennis Hickey to the mix, the first-year GM is hiring another former colleague. Chris Rossetti, who was with the Dolphins during Schoen’s mid-2010s tenure, will become the Giants’ new director of pro scouting, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com tweets. Rossetti was most recently the Dolphins’ assistant pro scouting director. Big Blue is also hiring Mike Derice as a national scout, InsideTheLeague.com’s Neil Stratton tweets. Derice, a Brooklyn native, worked as a Colts area scout for the past 10 years. The Giants are adding an area scout as well, announcing the hire of Scott Hamel, who spent the past seven years with the Bears under Ryan Pace.
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