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Indianapolis Colts News & Rumors

Colts Sign David Sims

February 10th, 2014 at 8:37am CST by Luke Adams

The Colts have added another player to their roster, signing safety David Sims, according to Kevin Bowen of Colts.com (via Twitter). While details of the contract haven’t been reported or announced, it figures to be a minimum-salary reserve/futures deal.

Sims, 27, appeared in 15 games for the Eagles during the 2012 season, including one start. However, he was cut by the team before the 2013 campaign. In Indianapolis, Sims may have a chance to earn a roster spot, considering the club has multiple defensive backs facing free agency, and didn’t have an elite secondary to begin with. The 5’9″ safety could also provide depth on special teams.

AFC South Links: Jaguars, Colts, Mitchell

February 9th, 2014 at 3:00pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com believes the Jaguars will select defensive end Jadeveon Clowney with the third overall selection, adding that while quarterback remains an obvious need, internal team sources may believe that none of the top QB prospects are ready to start from day one. Clowney certainly presents a safe option, and would allow the Jaguars to wait until a later round to select a quarterback, ostensibly to pair with a veteran like Chad Henne. DiRocco’s opinion meshes with comments made by Jaguars GM Dave Caldwell, who indicated the team would not be beholden to drafting a quarterback with the third pick.

  • Regarding Caldwell’s indication that the team has an internal consensus of the top five players available, DiRocco believes those players to be Clowney, Teddy Bridgewater, Anthony Barr, Khalil Mack, and one of Johnny Manziel or Blake Bortles.
  • Defensive end Michael Johnson is an option for the Jaguars as they look to bolster their defensive line.
  • The notion that the Colts’ hiring of Rob Chudzinkski is indicative of offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton’s performance last season is only partially true, according to Mike Wells of ESPN.com. While Wells believes the hire is more related to Chudzinski’s familiarity with Chuck Pagano, there is do denying that Hamilton’s run-heavy play-calling was widely panned last season.
  • Colts running back Donald Brown is among the best bargains available at the position this offseason, according to OverTheCap.com.
  • Defensive tackle Earl Mitchell will likely not be re-signed by the Texans, as they aim to find a more traditional 3-4 nose tackle, according to Tania Ganguli of ESPN.com.

Colts Add Rob Chudzinski To Staff

February 8th, 2014 at 11:15am CST by Matt Feminis

The Colts have hired Rob Chudzinski as special assistant to head coach Chuck Pagano (link). Chudzinski, who was canned after one season leading the Browns, has eight years experience working with Pagano, primarily at the University of Miami (Fla.).

The addition could boost the potency of the offense. Chudzinski has a history of maximizing tight end talent, and the Colts have two young, talented tight ends in Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen, who went down in Week One with a season-ending hip injury.

AFC Links: Texans, Browns, Pats, Raiders

February 6th, 2014 at 4:28pm CST by Luke Adams

Asked today on the Dan Patrick Show (video link) if he believes he should be picked first overall in May’s draft, Jadeveon Clowney said yes, but former Texans defensive coordinator Wade Phillips would go a different direction if he were making the call for Houston. Appearing on 610 SportsRadio in Houston (hat tip to Pro Football Talk), Phillips said he told Texans ownership that he believes quarterback Johnny Manziel is the best choice for the franchise.

“Those kinds of guys who can make first downs when you’re not supposed to, I think they give you something.” Phillips said. “I just think he makes plays that nobody else can make.”

John McClain of the Houston Chronicle, who has maintained that the Texans intend to take a QB with the No. 1 pick, tweets that, with so much of the process still remaining, the team doesn’t yet favor one of the top three (Manziel, Teddy Bridgewater, or Blake Bortles). The club still has three months to decide what it’ll do with that top pick so in the meantime, let’s round up a few more updates from across the AFC….

  • After the trade of Trent Richardson, running back devolved into the weakest position on the Browns‘ roster, and will need to be addressed this offseason, says Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com.
  • Noting that the Patriots typically spend as little as possible on a backup quarterback, Mike Reiss of ESPN Boston writes that it would make sense if the club selects a QB in the draft’s middle rounds, with Ryan Mallett a good bet to depart via free agency in a year.
  • The Raiders announced four additions to their coaching staff today, including defensive backs coach Joe Woods, according to a team release.
  • Mike Wells of ESPN.com discussed the Colts with former Browns scout Matt Williamson, who suggested that Indianapolis could use some help on the interior of the offensive line, as well as just about everywhere on defense.

South Notes: Falcons, Byrd, Bucs, Luck

February 6th, 2014 at 9:28am CST by Luke Adams

Let’s round up a few Thursday morning items from around the NFC and AFC South divisions….

AFC Notes: Wilkerson, Incognito, Colts

February 5th, 2014 at 8:20pm CST by Rob DiRe

Muhammad Wilkerson was arguably the best player on the Jets last season, and even that may not truly be very “arguable.” In his third year, the defensive end led the team in sacks, and positioned himself for a big contract extension. However, extension talks may have stalled, meaning it could begin to resemble the Darrelle Revis situation from a few years ago, writes Brian Costello of the New York Post.

The Jets hold all the leverage in negotiations, because they hold Wilkerson’s rights over the next two seasons for a bargain price of $7.2MM, and if they franchise tag him after next season, they’ll still have him for the cheap price of about $19MM depending on the tag number. At the same time, Costello notes that the Jets’ goal is to get a long-term contract in place. Here are some other free agency notes from the AFC:

  • While the Richie Incognito controversy last season will most likely preclude him from signing with the Dolphins, the free agent guard should still have suitors this offseason. One team that could use his services is the Raiders, writes Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com. The Raiders’ interior offensive line was unimpressive last season, struggling to find consistency at the guard positions. Raider offensive coordinator Greg Olsen coached Incognito in St. Louis in 2006-07, and stood up for the troubled lineman during the season when the allegations of bullying first came out.
  • The Colts‘ number one priority this offseason should be re-signing their own free agents, according to Mike Wells of ESPN.com. He writes that Vontae Davis, Pat McAfee, and Antoine Bethea should be the first three players taken care of, before the team starts thinking about bringing in new pieces.
  • Dane Fletcher is not one of the most notable free agents the Patriots have to worry about, and if the linebacker is looking for a bigger role, then he is better off leaving New England, writes Tom E. Curran of CSNNE.com. While the Patriots don’t necessarily need him (he only played 209 snaps on defense in 2013), even with the assumed departure of Brandon Spikes, Curran believes the Patriots would welcome him back.

Colts Sign Jack Breckner

February 5th, 2014 at 11:55am CST by Luke Adams

The Colts have signed offensive lineman Jack Breckner, according to Kevin Bowen of Colts.com (via Twitter). While Bowen doesn’t pass along the specific terms of the agreement, it figures to be a reserve/futures contract that will take effect next month.

Breckner, who stands 6’9″, has played for various arena and indoor football teams, including the Chicago Slaughter of the Indoor Football League, the Eastern Kentucky Drillers of the Ultimate Indoor Football League, and the AFL’s Iowa Barnstormers.

AFC Notes: Alex Smith, Broncos, Ravens, Pats

February 4th, 2014 at 11:23am CST by Luke Adams

Alex Smith is eligible for free agency next winter, but the Chiefs intend to keep their quarterback around longer than that. Team chairman Clark Hunt told 810 WHB in Kansas City (link via Adam Teicher of ESPN.com) that when the Chiefs traded for Smith, a long-term extension was part of their plan.

“I don’t think that thinking has changed,” Hunt said. “He came in and did a nice job. We’re glad to have him as a part of the Kansas City Chiefs and we hope it’s longer than a two-year stay.”

Here’s more from around the AFC:

  • A number of prospective Denver free agents, including Eric Decker, Shaun Phillips, and Mike Adams, have expressed a preference to remain with the Broncos, but it looks like the team will let its free agents hit the open market, according to Mike Klis of the Denver Post. At that point, the Broncos will have a better understanding of its players’ market value, though it may reduce the likelihood of bringing back certain players.
  • Jeff Zrebiec passes along a number of interesting Ravens-related items in his latest piece for the Baltimore Sun. In discussing the team’s draft plans. Zrebiec surmises that the Ravens will likely target either an offensive lineman or a receiving weapon with their first-round pick, though Zrebiec himself thinks it could make sense to draft a playmaking safety.
  • Free agent safety Antoine Bethea won’t be a “slam-dunk signing” for the Colts this winter, as Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star details.
  • Christopher L. Gasper of the Boston Globe believes the Patriots ought to be focusing less on shoring up the bottom third of their roster and more on acquiring impact talent.

AFC Links: Bailey, Davis, Harrison, Dolphins

February 3rd, 2014 at 1:32pm CST by Luke Adams

During the week leading up to the Super Bowl, Champ Bailey indicated that he hoped to his continue his playing career and didn’t have any interest in moving from cornerback to safety. However, after the game last night, Bailey appeared willing to compromise on one of those two stances. The longtime corner suggested that he’d “definitely look into” playing safety if it’s something that makes sense for him and the Broncos, according to Matt Walks of the Denver Post. Of course, given his $10MM cap number for 2014, Bailey isn’t a mortal lock to remain in Denver, at least at that price.

Here’s more from around the AFC:

  • While Vontae Davis is expected to be among a strong crop of free agent cornerbacks this offseason, both he and the Colts seem to have interest in a reunion, writes Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star. There’s no guarantee that the team will re-sign Davis, but Holder expects the two sides to “work diligently” on a new contract in the coming weeks.
  • Jets defensive tackle Damon Harrison, who will be eligible for restricted free agency a year from now, has changed agents, joining CAA Sports, tweets Liz Mullen of Sports Business Journal.
  • ESPN.com’s James Walker examines a list of potential cap casualties for the Dolphins, led by offensive lineman Jonathan Martin.
  • One of the Dolphins‘ GM candidates who didn’t get the job tells Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald (Twitter link) that he believes the club is one good offseason away from a playoff berth, and two or three years away from bigger things.
  • With backup quarterback Charlie Whitehurst facing free agency, the Chargers will have to decide whether to bring him back or to add another signal-caller via the draft, writes Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com.

Adam Vinatieri Not Considering Retirement

January 31st, 2014 at 8:20am CST by Luke Adams

The NFL’s oldest player figures to hold that title again in the 2014 season. 41-year-old Adam Vinatieri isn’t considering retiring this offseason, telling Adam Schefter of ESPN.com that he hopes to continue kicking in the NFL for “two or three more years.”

Vinatieri showed no signs of slowing down in 2013, converting all 34 of his extra-point attempts and 35 of 40 field goal tries, including four of six from beyond 50 yards. The four-time Super Bowl champion passed several players on the NFL’s all-time scoring list this season, and now sits fifth overall with 2,006 points. If he does play for two or three more years, Vinatieri would likely finish his career as the NFL’s third all-time scorer, behind Morten Anderson and Gary Anderson.

Before he starts pursuing NFL records though, Vinatieri will have to find a team. The longtime Patriot and Colt will be a free agent this offseason, and tells Schefter that he’d “love” to re-sign in Indianapolis, where he has played since 2006. However, he adds that he’s also open to playing for the team that wants him the most.

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