INDIANAPOLIS — With the National Football League’s veteran free agent signing period commencing at 12:01 a.m. Friday, there appears to be considerable interest from several of the other 31 league teams in what the Indianapolis Colts may have to offer.
Now that defensive end Dwight Freeney, who has been tagged as the Colts’ exclusive rights franchise player, is off-limits to everybody but Indianapolis, the NFL's wish list figures to be topped by outside linebacker Cato June, running back Dominic Rhodes and cornerback Nick Harper.
All three are unrestricted free agents and the chances appear to be pretty good that two and possibly all three could be wearing different uniforms in 2007. June may have the best opportunity to remain in Indianapolis, but that eventuality will all depend on what kind of interest he receives from other teams and how much money is being discussed.
At least one team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, reportedly has a need for a playmaking outside linebacker. The Steelers may also have interest in both Rhodes and Harper, although a recent arrest for speeding and drunk driving is expected to drive some teams away from the Colts’ veteran running back.
“Whether or not it eliminates him, I don't know if that's the case,” New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin said late last week. “But it certainly doesn't help.”
The Giants have room to add a running back with the recent retirement of Tiki Barber. New York officials have discussed the possibility of trading for a a runner — such as Buffalo’s Willis McGahee, Chicago’s Thomas Jones, Green Bay’s Ahman Green or Denver's Tatum Bell.
But barring a trade or the decision to go ahead and try to pick someone up in the draft, adding a free agent like Rhodes, Philadelphia’s Correll Buckhalter and San Diego's Michael Turner may also be in the cards at some point down the road.
Doss back in 2007? — Another potential Colts unrestricted free agent, safety Mike Doss, is expected to be gone before the start of next season. But Indianapolis coach Tony Dungy doesn’t appear ready to close the door completely on a possible return.
Doss — who has struggled in pass coverage since coming to the Colts as a second-round draft pick in 2003 — missed most of the 2006 season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and was replaced in the lineup by rookie safety Antoine Bethea. Heading into 2007, Bethea and veteran Bob Sanders figure to be the starters with Matt Giordano the top backup.
“(Doss leaving) is not a foregone conclusion to me,” Dungy said at the National Football Combine last week. “We’d love to have him back.”
Freeney money — According to a recent report by NFL Network reporter Adam Schefter, Freeney’s wish list for a new contract is a $30 million signing bonus and $9 million a year.
The highest paid defensive ends last season were Tampa Bay’s Simeon Rice at $7.25 million, followed by Miami's Jason Taylor ($7 million) and Carolina's Julius Peppers ($5.5 million).
Lions to part ways with Pollard — The Detroit News reported Monday that the Detroit Lions will attempt to trade or release former Indianapolis tight end Marcus Pollard.
Pollard has spent most of his NFL with the Colts but signed a free agent contract with Detroit prior to the 2005 season. He caught 49 passes his first year with the team but his production slipped to just 12 receptions in 2006.
The Lions may also decide to part ways with another ex-Colts player, offensive guard Rick DeMulling. DeMulling also signed with Detroit prior to the 2005 season but has seen limited playing time the last two seasons.
Mikell up for free agency — Quintin Mikell, the son of former Indiana State inside linebacker Quintin Mikell, is an unrestricted free agent for the
Philadelphia Eagles.
A safety who has specialized as a special teams player for the Eagles, Mikell has reportedly said that he would like to remain in Philadelphia if at all possible.
McGinnis happy for now — Former ISU assistant coach Dave McGinnis is happy in his role as the linebackers coach for the Tennessee Titans.
McGinnis’ name continues to come up for vacant head coaching jobs, both in the NFL and on the collegiate level. But his brief stay as the head coach with the Arizona Cardinals appears to have soured his desire to jump back into the fray, at least for the time being.
“I’m happy (with the Titans). I’ve had calls about (head coaching) jobs, but I really enjoy working for (Tennessee coach) Jeff (Fisher),” he said Monday at the combine. “If something came up that I really had an interest in, I would sit down with Jeff and talk it over with him. But for right now, I’m very happy where I am.”
Colts
Colts focusing on free agents June, Rhodes and Harper
- Colts
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Colts welcome Manusky aboard as defensive coordinator
On Thursday, Indianapolis Colts general manager Ryan Grigson, coach Chuck Pagano and potential No. 1 draft pick Andrew Luck led the parade.
Grigson and Pagano confirmed the hiring of several assistant coaches, including defensive coordinator Greg Manusky, Marwan Maalouf (special teams), Roy Anderson (safeties), Alfredo Roberts (tight ends) and Brandt Boyer (assistant special teams). -
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Back home again in Indiana
Former Indianapolis Colts coach Jim Caldwell has landed a job as quarterbacks coach for the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens announced Caldwell’s hiring Monday.
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Patriots first to arrive in Indy
Welcome to Super Bowl Week.
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Pagano wants aggressive defense with Colts
When the Colts went looking for a new head coach, a good portion of the team’s fans made it clear that they wanted a departure from the laid-back style of former coaches Tony Dungy and Jim Caldwell.
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Irsay: Manning comments should have stayed in-house
Not only did the Colts introduce new head coach Chuck Pagano during an afternoon press conference, team owner Jim Irsay also made his feelings known about recent comments that quarterback Peyton Manning made.
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Colts go with defensive specialist
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Caldwell can’t survive 2-14 season in Indy
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Colts fire head coach Caldwell
Tribune-Star correspondent Tom James reports that Colts head coach Jim Caldwell has been fired. No other details are known at this time.
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Colts hire Eagles exec Grigson as GM
The Indianapolis Colts formally announced former Philadelphia director of player personnel Ryan Grigson as the team’s new general manager Wednesday.
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Colts hire Eagles executive Grigson as GM
The Indianapolis Colts have hired Eagles executive Ryan Grigson as their new general manager.
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Irsay: Colts are in 'rebuilding stage'
So are the Indianapolis Colts in a retooling or a rebuilding mode heading into the offseason?
If you ask the players, they would prefer to use the retooling philosophy. In their minds, get some injured players back and the Colts can be right back in the thick of the AFC South title race and once again be a contender for the AFC championship.
Team owner Jim Irsay, though, sees a tougher road ahead. -
Colts give the boot to Polian duo
It didn’t take long for Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay to start making moves with his team.
One day after Irsay’s Colts dropped a 19-13 road decision to Jacksonville, giving Indianapolis a 2-14 record and the No. 1 pick in the 2012 National Football League draft, longtime Colts executive Bill Polian and his son, vice-president/general manager Chris Polian, were both fired.
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Interesting subplots abound in Colts-Jags game
This afternoon’s AFC South matchup between the Indianapolis Colts (2-13) and Jacksonville Jaguars (4-11) is the regular-season finale for both teams.
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Colts players a fan of Murphy's promotion to defensive coordinator
Cohesion. That’s the word the keeps coming up when coach Jim Caldwell and many of the team’s players are asked about the turnaround of the Indianapolis Colts’ defensive unit.
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To win or to lose? For Colts fans, it's not an easy question
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Colts’ Freeney to play in seventh Pro Bowl
Despite a team record of 2-13 heading into the final week of the National Football League regular season, there was some good news coming out of the Indianapolis Colts’ West 56th Street facility Tuesday night.
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Colts’ last game not without questions
Are the Indianapolis Colts treating Sunday’s game at Jacksonville as the final game of the season or just the next game on the schedule?
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Colts celebrate second straight division victory
Indianapolis Colts fans finally got a little luck on their side Thursday night at Lucas Oil Stadium.
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With latest win, Colts provide suspense for 2012 draft position
Now that the Indianapolis Colts have posted two straight wins in their last two games, including Thursday night’s 19-16 victory over AFC South champion Houston, many of the team’s fans find themselves in quite a quandary.
The Colts will take a 2-13 record into next week’s New Year’s Day regular-season finale at Jacksonville. -
Colts face another tough running test
The credit for the Indianapolis Colts’ win over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday can go in a couple different directions.
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Colts taking no risks with injured Manning
Both Bill Polian and Jim Caldwell are looking to the future when it comes to injured quarterback Peyton Manning.
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More wins to come?
With a win finally under their belts, the Indianapolis Colts (1-13) now look forward to two days of intensive work beginning today.
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FINALLY! THEY WON
It was a day of firsts for the Indianapolis Colts.
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Polian hopes to set ‘record straight’
Indianapolis Colts vice chairman Bill Polian didn’t like what he was hearing prior to and during Sunday’s National Football League home game with the Tennessee Titans.
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Polian shares thoughts on QB situation
With the Indianapolis Colts’ chances of clinching the No. 1 pick in the 2012 National Football League draft getting closer with each succeeding loss, talk among fans and team observers invariably goes to the possibility of the team selecting Stanford junior quarterback Andrew Luck.
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Colts prepared for Hasselbeck or Locker
The Indianapolis Colts defense is preparing to face a two-pronged offensive attack when the Tennessee Titans visit Lucas Oil Stadium Sunday.
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Colts could still become spoiler
Time is running short for the 2011 Indianapolis Colts.
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Colts have three more chances to win
The Indianapolis Colts may be 0-13 for the season, but the team keeps battling.
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