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Indianapolis Colts News & Rumors

Extra Points: Colts, Rams, Lowery, Lions

February 20th, 2015 at 1:21pm CST by Luke Adams

While Colts GM Ryan Grigson didn’t reveal anything too significant during his conversation with reporters this week at the combine in Indianapolis, Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star came away with the sense that the team would make “consequential moves” in free agency next month. With possible at holes at safety, running back, and perhaps wide receiver, as well as a need for pass rushers, the Colts are armed with plenty of cap room and have the ability to make impact additions.

Here’s more from around the NFL:

  • According to Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net (Twitter link), word from the combine has the Rams preparing to target linebackers early in the draft. All three of St. Louis’ regular linebackers in 2014 received negative grades, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
  • There have been no contract discussions between the Falcons and safety Dwight Lowery yet, tweets Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com. Lowery is eligible for unrestricted free agency next month.
  • Speaking to Tori Petry of DetroitLions.com (video link), Lions GM Martin Mayhew singled out quarterback Dan Orlovsky and long snapper Don Muhlbach as two under-the-radar potential free agents that the team is optimistic about re-signing.
  • Former Browns and Eagles executive Joe Banner cautions fans not to think that every team is having the same Marcus Mariota vs. Jameis Winston debate that the media is having. According to Banner (via Twitter), many clubs already have Mariota “clearly” at the top of their quarterback rankings.
  • Former first-round quarterback Brady Quinn, who was in camp with the Dolphins in 2014, is planning to give it one last shot in the NFL this year in the hopes of landing a regular season roster spot, tweets Ben Volin of the Boston Globe.

AFC South Notes: Colts, Hilton, Titans

February 19th, 2015 at 9:47pm CST by Zachary Links

A quick look at the AFC South..

  • Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link) expects the Colts to be “very proactive” when it comes to locking up the members of their 2012 draft class, who are now eligible for contract extensions. Wideout T.Y. Hilton will likely be first up, according to La Canfora. Other players from that class include Coby Fleener, Dwayne Allen, and – of course – Andrew Luck.
  • Stephen Holder of the Indy Star (on Twitter) feels that the Colts must address their safety situation in both free agency and the draft. The Colts need to solidify the position and they have no viable safeties in-house.
  • We learned last month that veteran safety Bernard Pollard has asked the Titans for his release, and coach Ken Whisenhunt says that sort of thing is “not uncommon” at this time of year, per Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean. “[Bernard’s] not healthy right now, so there is no decision to be made,” Whisenhunt said of the safety’s request.

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

Combine Pressers: Colts, Bengals, Falcons

February 19th, 2015 at 4:18pm CST by Luke Adams

The last of today’s head coach and general manager press conferences with the media are in the books, so let’s check in on the highlights for the noteworthy sessions that we haven’t already covered. Here’s the latest, with all links going to Twitter accounts for reporters on the scene in Indianapolis:

Colts general manager Ryan Grigson and head coach Chuck Pagano:

  • The team will take a look at all its options at the safety position, which may be an area of need. Grigson indicated that the Colts would like to re-sign Mike Adams, who “never played like he was long in the tooth.”
  • Both Pagano and Grigson stressed the importance of improving the team’s running game. Asked about the possibility of adding a workhorse back, Pagano said he’d love to have a player like that, but added that the club could get the production it needs with a committee approach.
  • Expect the Colts to always be on the lookout for pass rushers. Grigson said today that even if he had 12 pass rushers, he’d want a 13th.
  • Veteran wideout Reggie Wayne hasn’t yet informed the team if he wants to play in 2015. As Grigson notes, everyone knows what he means to the organization, so if Wayne does continue his career, it will almost certainly happen in Indianapolis — for now, he doesn’t have a contract for next season.

Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis:

  • According to Lewis, there have been no discussions yet about his contract, which is set to expire after the 2015 season.
  • Lewis didn’t exactly give a ringing endorsement for Jermaine Gresham when he was asked today if there’s a place on the Bengals for the free-agent-to-be going forward. The veteran tight end is considered likely to land elsewhere this offseason.
  • According to Lewis, the Bengals have made a conscious effort to draft high-character plays in recent years. The head coach acknowledged that in some cases he can’t “fix” a player with off-field issues, and he doesn’t want to waste his time dealing with the distractions.
  • Lewis confirmed that he has spoken to veteran defensive back Terence Newman, who wants to continue his playing career. It’s not clear yet if there will be a spot in Cincinnati for Newman, who will turn 37 in September.

Falcons head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Thomas Dimitroff:

  • We covered Dimitroff’s presser earlier this afternoon, but the GM also spoke to local media off to the side, and addressed a few more topics. Among them: Dimitroff said the Falcons would like to get a deal done quickly with kicker Matt Bryant, who is eligible for free agency.
  • We heard this morning that the Falcons haven’t opened negotiations yet on a contract extension for Julio Jones, but Dimitroff was adamant today the club wants to keep the standout receiver in Atlanta for years to come.
  • Both Dimitroff and Quinn are high on running back Devonta Freeman, whom the GM thinks could be a full-time back in Kyle Shanahan’s offensive scheme.
  • According to Dimitroff, Quinn’s philosophy is that you don’t have to pay a huge amount for a pass rusher. The GM added that he believes the free agent class has some depth at that spot, and it’s worth noting that Quinn’s defense in Seattle frequently rotated part-time specialists in and out as a way of pressuring the quarterback.
  • Cornerbacks Desmond Trufant and Robert Alford should be scheme fits for the Falcons’ new system, per Quinn.

NFC Notes: Wilson, Gore, Vikes, Gholston

February 17th, 2015 at 3:32pm CST by Luke Adams

Former agent Joel Corry tells Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times that he can envision the Seahawks and Russell Wilson‘s camp coming to a creative compromise on a contract extension. A good halfway point for the two sides could be a deal that comes in at significantly less money than a top quarterback would receive, but with that money fully guaranteed. Corry throws out the idea of a possible five-year contract that would guarantee Wilson something like $75-$80MM.

Here’s more from around the NFC:

  • Frank Gore doesn’t appear likely to re-sign with the 49ers this offseason, according to Matt Miller of Bleacher Report (video link), who identifies the Colts, the Dolphins, and Washington as probable suitors for the veteran running back. Based on the conversations Miller has had with executives around the league, he names Indianapolis as the most likely landing spot for Gore.
  • The Vikings will meet with agent Hadley Engelhard in Indianapolis this week, according to Darren Wolfson of ESPN 1500 Twin Cities (via Twitter). Engelhard represents current Vikings cornerback Captain Munnerlyn as well as free agent wideout Mike Williams.
  • Former sixth overall pick Vernon Gholston hasn’t appeared in a regular season NFL game since 2010, but the ex-Jets edge defender announced today on Twitter that he has a tryout with Washington on tap.
  • Pass rushers will likely be atop the Falcons‘ list of priorities this winter, prompting Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com to explore just how much the team should be willing to invest in the position.
  • After tackling the AFC last week, former agent Joel Corry focuses on one pressing offseason issue for each of the 16 NFC teams in a piece for CBSSports.com. The topics addressed by Corry include Larry Fitzgerald‘s future in Arizona, Jerry Jones‘ willingness to keep spending on the Cowboys, and the moves the Saints will make to get under the cap.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

AFC South Notes: Titans, Jackson, Hilton

February 17th, 2015 at 11:16am CST by Luke Adams

Three years ago, the Rams struck gold in the draft when they took advantage of Washington’s desire to land Robert Griffin III by turning the second overall pick into a huge haul of future picks. The Titans hold the No. 2 overall pick in 2015, in a class with two consensus top signal-callers well above the rest of the players at the position. However, even with teams like the Browns and Eagles reportedly interested in moving up to select Marcus Mariota, NFL Network draft guru Mike Mayock doesn’t foresee any team mortgaging the franchise for either of this year’s top quarterbacks (Mariota and Jameis Winston).

“Washington went and got the guy they thought could help them win a Super Bowl,” Mayock said on Monday’s conference call, per Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean. “Because of what’s happened with that kid, both with injuries and the way he’s played, I think a lot of teams are very nervous about the perception of mortgaging your future.”

As the Titans consider their options for what to do with that second overall pick, let’s check in on a few more notes from out of the AFC South….

  • Earlier this week, Texans cornerback Kareem Jackson said he doesn’t love the idea of receiving the franchise tag, and I pointed out that the team isn’t likely to use it on him anyway. John McClain of the Houston Chronicle agrees with that assessment, suggesting that while the Texans will do their best to keep Jackson, the franchise and transition tags won’t be in play.
  • T.Y. Hilton, who is heading into the final year of his rookie contract, is eligible for a contract extension this offseason, and it appears a new agent will be handling those negotiations. That new agent? Hilton’s old agent. Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (via Twitter) that the Colts wideout has re-hired Drew Rosenhaus, whom he fired back in June. Maverick Carter and Erik Burkhardt represented Hilton in between his stints with Rosenhaus.
  • With the scouting combine taking place in Indianapolis this week, Stephen Holder of the Indy Star evaluated the drafts of Colts GM Ryan Grigson. The stellar 2012 draft featuring Andrew Luck, Coby Fleener, Dwayne Allen, and Hilton predictably got an A grade. The 2013 draft didn’t pan out the same way, but the 2014 draft featuring three starters – Jack Mewhort, Donte Moncrief, and Jonathan Newsome – got a B grade.

Colts Release Shaun Phillips

February 16th, 2015 at 1:28pm CST by Luke Adams

The Colts have parted ways with a player they picked up halfway through the 2014 season, announcing today in a press release that they’ve released veteran outside linebacker Shaun Phillips. Phillips was also cut back in November by the Titans, but didn’t reach free agency, after being claimed off waivers by Indianapolis. Because players with Phillips’ NFL experience aren’t subject to waivers during the offseason, he’ll be free to sign with any team this time.

Phillips, 33, played nine seasons for the Chargers before joining the Broncos in 2013 and then signing with the Titans last March. The veteran inked a two-year, $5MM contract with Tennessee, but wasn’t overly effective in a part-time role, recording just a pair of sacks after reaching double-digits in 2013. With the Colts, Phillips made even less of an impact, recording seven tackles and no sacks in his five regular-season contests with the team.

The Colts’ claim of Phillips came at a time when the team was struggling to mount an outside pass rush, particularly with veteran edge defender Robert Mathis out for the year. However, Phillips was always viewed as a short-term option — his $2.65MM cap number for 2015 was too high for the Colts to consider carrying him, and the club will clear a little extra cap room by parting ways with him before free agency.

AFC Links: Johnson, Forsett, Spiller, Richardson

February 14th, 2015 at 4:44pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Jets declined the option on Chris Johnson earlier today, making him a free agent this offseason. Johnson played only one year in New York, and his release will save the team $3.5MM on the 2015 cap. Johnson figures to be available for even less than the two-year, $8MM contract he signed last offseason, but should be able to find work somewhere.

Here are some links surrounding AFC running backs this offseason:

  • Johnson was reportedly reluctant to consider the Ravens last offseason despite some interest from the organization, due to the presence of Ray Rice on the roster, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). With his value another year diminished and no starting running back on the roster, he might reconsider Baltimore this time around. Of course, the team will likely try to keep revelation Justin Forsett (via Twitter). While the offense will likely change without Gary Kubiak at the helm, new offensive coordinator Marc Trestman is expected to keep the zone blocking scheme in place (via Twitter).
  • With Johnson out of the picture, the Jets could target Bills’ former first-round draft pick C.J. Spiller, writes Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com. Chan Gailey was the head coach in Buffalo when Spiller was drafted, and Spiller experienced some of his best success in limited snaps early on there. He could be a great complement to Chris Ivory.
  • Trent Richardson had a tumultuous end to the 2014 season to say the least, and Matt Bowen of Bleacher Report wonders if he can be fixed. Bowen notes that scouts still swear by Richardson’s college tape. Bowen quotes two scouts as saying he was the best running back they ever graded at the college level. Still, he believes the former third overall pick needs to set new goals for himself in order for him to stay in the league long enough to change his image.

AFC Mailbags: Chiefs, Raiders, Colts, Jags

February 14th, 2015 at 8:55am CST by Ben Levine

It’s Saturday morning, and that means ESPN.com’s NFL writers are opening their mailbags and answering questions from readers. Let’s start off the day with some whispers from the AFC…

Off-Field Notes: Bradshaw, Fairley, Hardy

February 13th, 2015 at 6:56pm CST by Sam Robinson

Impending free agent Ahmad Bradshaw‘s road back to the field now includes more than just another injury rehabilitation after the veteran running back was cited for marijuana possession Feb. 5 in Ohio, WDTN in Dayton reports.

Also cited for following too close on Westbound I-70, Bradshaw could be subject to the NFL’s personal conduct policy. While with the Colts last year, 29-year-old was one of the league’s best all-around backs in 2014 on a per-touch basis, averaging 4.7 yards per carry and 7.9 yards per catch en route to an eight-touchdown year — his most since 2011 with the Giants. Bradshaw graded as Pro Football Focus’ 11th-best back (subscription required) despite missing more than five games due to the season-ending fractured fibula he suffered against the Patriots in November.

The multipurpose ball-carrier also missed most of the 2013 campaign — his first with the Colts — with a season-ending neck injury. Since playing in at least 15 games in his first three seasons, Bradshaw has missed at least four during the past four slates.

Coupled with his most recent brush with the law — of which there were more during his college days, issues that resulted him spending time in jail while with the Giants — Bradshaw entering his age-29 season will not make him a high commodity on a running back market that also includes younger performers DeMarco Murray, Ryan Mathews and C.J. Spiller.

  • Nick Fairley, on the other hand, can enter his free agent year relatively free of distractions after being found not guilty for driving under the influence, WKRG’s Jacqueline Quynh tweeted. The jury did find Fairley guilty of reckless driving, however. A former Lions first-round pick in 2011, the 27-year-old Fairley is a free agent after Detroit did not pick up his fifth-year option. After posting a top-20 season for defensive tackles, per PFF (subscription required), Fairley should be a reasonably coveted commodity in March, especially now that his chances of missing the first two games on a personal conduct-related issue are slimmer — but not out of the question.
  • Even though Greg Hardy‘s domestic violence case was dismissed earlier this week, the NFL seeks his court file, reports Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. The free agent defensive end ,who drew the franchise tag from the Panthers last offseason before the incident forced him off the field for almost all of 2014, can still be suspended. The former Pro Bowler, however, is now a free agent with a clearer future than he had entering this month.

East Notes: Dolphins, Wallace, Maclin, Bills

February 12th, 2015 at 11:14am CST by Luke Adams

A possible contract extension for starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill will be a top priority for the Dolphins this offseason, but the club will also need to secure a backup, writes Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. In Salguero’s view, considering Tannehill has been sacked more than any other QB in the league over the last two seasons, Miami will target a veteran backup who could potentially salvage the season if he were forced into action. Given his history with the team, free-agent-to-be Matt Moore may be the Dolphins’ best bet, but there should be no shortage of veteran alternatives on the market.

Here’s more from around the NFL’s two East divisions:

  • Nothing is off limits this offseason for wide receiver Mike Wallace, including being retained, traded or released by the Dolphins. Mulling the idea of a Wallace trade, James Walker of ESPN.com names three potential suitors for the veteran wideout, identifying the Seahawks and Colts as the best fits.
  • It doesn’t make much sense for Jeremy Maclin to sign a deal with the Eagles right now, writes Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com, pointing out that Maclin could end up being the best receiver on the market in a few weeks depending on how teams use their franchise tags. If Maclin were to sign an extension with Philadelphia now, he could short-change himself by millions – or tens of millions – during his best chance to “hit the jackpot.”
  • Appearing on WGR 550 in Buffalo today, Bills head coach Rex Ryan indicated the team is keeping every option open in the search for an answer at quarterback. “We are in the evaluating stages. So, we’re looking,” Ryan said, per Joe Buscaglia of WGR 550. “We’ve got the draft coming up, free agency is coming up. You’re looking at all those type of things. Are there some scenarios out there, are there trade possibilities? You look at every possible scenario there is. From Doug Whaley all the way to our scouts, all our positional coaches… we’re looking at that. Believe me, we’ll be prepared for every scenario out there.“
  • Andrew Brandt of TheMMQB.com makes 12 predictions for the coming offseason, forecasting that DeMarco Murray will return to the Cowboys on a team-friendly deal, Dallas will pay Dez Bryant a top-of-the-market multiyear contract, and Darrelle Revis will pass up a potentially bigger offer to return to the Patriots.
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