BLOOMINGTON —
With the possible exception of adding a few lesser-priced players, the Indianapolis Colts’ big-time foray into the veteran free-agent marketplace is pretty much done.
For a franchise that has usually watched from the sidelines each spring while other NFL teams threw money at players from other teams, the Colts — flush with nearly $43 million in salary-cap space — added seven players this week.
All seven — defensive tackle Ricky Jean-Francois (San Francisco), strong safety LaRon Landry (New York Jets), offensive tackle Gosder Cherilus (Detroit), offensive guard Donald Thomas (New England), outside linebacker Erik Walden (Green Bay), cornerback Greg Toler (Arizona) and outside linebacker Lawrence Sidbury (Atlanta) — have a chance to be difference-makers either as starters or as key backups.
It’s the most active that the Colts have been in the veteran free agent market since 1999. Former general manager Bill Polian also added seven players heading into his second year on the job, the same as current GM Ryan Grigson.
Grigson and head coach Chuck Pagano reviewed their most recent roster additions Friday morning and came away from the past week pleased with the results.
“I just want to thank Ryan, [player personnel director] Jimmy Raye, the entire scouting staff. I don’t think there is anybody in the entire National Football League that grinds like Ryan and his crew grinds and the process that they go through. The evaluation process is unbelievable and I don’t think anybody in the National Football League does it any better,” Pagano said.
“I think that’s why we were able to acquire the players that we were able to acquire and we feel great about every one of them. We feel like we’ve upgraded in a lot of areas.”
The Colts’ coach, in particular, liked the defensive players the team was able to acquire.
“I think we’ve added pieces to the front seven and a couple pieces to the back end that will definitely bring in some great players, add to the great players that we already have and create a ton of competition. I feel really good about that,” he voiced.
Jean-Francois and Landry, in particular, got Pagano’s attention early on.
“When you watch the tape, the No. 1 thing that sticks out is how [Jean-Francois] plays the game. He plays at a high level. He plays square. He’s been in a similar [defensive] front. He understands the technique. He’s great with his hands. He knocks them back … and he played all over that defensive front. He’s a very, very bright kid. From a terminology standpoint he’s got history with [coordinator] Greg [Manusky] in San Francisco, so that was paramount,” the Colts’ coach said.
“That helped in the decision-making process on both ends. So when he comes in here, from a terminology standpoint, scheme standpoint, he understands across the board all three positions across the defensive line. When you talk about versatility he’s played over the center, he’s played the nose, he’s played the three, he’s played a four, he’s played a five technique. He’s done it all and he’s been productive and has played all those positions well.”
As far as the hard-hitting Landry, Pagano figures that he will add a lot to the Indianapolis secondary.
“When our opponents put on the film just like we did this year, he’s a game wrecker. He’s a game changer. When you walk in, people are now going to have to look at it and they are going to have to look at the defensive personnel and one of the first guys they are going to talk about is LaRon Landry,” he previewed. “They are going to say, ‘We’ve got to account for this guy. We’ve got to make sure we block this guy.’ They are going to try and do whatever they can to account for him..”
Grigson agreed.
“We looked at everyone. We went through the process and we ended up with LaRon Landry. That’s who we wanted, that’s who we targeted and we got him. We felt he was the best option for us [at safety] in this free agent market. I think he’s a game changer. We feel he’s an impact player. We think he’s special. I mean he was in the Pro Bowl,” he said.
“His film, I could have my 89-year-old grandmother put on the tape and she’ll know he’s a special talent after three plays. It’s like a stick of dynamite going off when he hits somebody. His range, his top-end speed, his versatility. The word freak is thrown around a lot, ad nauseam, but he is a true freak.”
The addition of Landry means that the Colts might be closing the door on adding Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed to the roster.
“I mean right now with Antoine [Bethea] and Joe [Lefeged] and adding LaRon [Landry] in the mix, it would make no sense to go any further at this point,” Pagano said. “We feel really good about where we’re at.”
Indianapolis. however, did make one roster move at the position as strong safety Tom Zbikowski, a starter last season, was released. The move is expected to save the team around $800,000 under the salary cap.
Zbikowski started 11 games in his only season with the team, totaling 47 tackles (28 solo), four passes broken up, one interception and one sack. In addition, he returned six kickoffs for a total of 123 yards. The former Notre Dame standout recorded his first interception since the 2009 season in the Week 12 win over Buffalo.
The addition of Cherilis and Thomas helps settle things a bit on the Indianapolis offensive line as well.
“What we have coming back and then adding Gosder [Cherilus] and Donald [Thomas], it’s hard to find guys like that. It’s hard to get them in here. Again these guys did a tremendous job and I feel great about the group,” Pagano explained.
“Adding those two guys to the mix, again, our top priority is we’ve got a really special guy under center [quarterback Andrew Luck]. When he’s upright, he’s healthy and we keep him clean, then we’re going to continue to win a lot of football games around here. So adding those two guys was huge and paramount to us moving forward in our success.”
Colts
Colts likely done signing free agents, for now
- Colts
-
-
Luck having fun with his first OTAs
A year ago, quarterback Andrew Luck was unable to attend the Indianapolis Colts’ organized team activity practices due to school commitments at Stanford.
Luck, though, went on to have a stellar year for the Colts despite the lack of summer work with the team. Still, in a sense, he is a rookie during this year’s OTA workouts.
“These are my first OTAs. I missed these last year, so I think it’s great. It’s great to get on the field with the defense and trouble-shoot some stuff. Obviously, some of us ran some of this stuff [offense] at Stanford [under new offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton]. But to get out there with the defense and trouble-shoot some stuff is good,” Luck said Wednesday as the team wrapped up its first week of on-field voluntary practice sessions. -
Colts' coordinators enjoying getting rookies acclimated
While the Indianapolis Colts put their rookies and a handful of second-year players through workouts this weekend at the team’s Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center, a pair of first-year coordinators are getting a chance to do some valuable on-field work as well.
-
Werner, 36 others open Colts’ mini camp
The Indianapolis Colts welcomed 37 players to the start of the team’s rookie mini camp Friday at the West 56th Street headquarters.
-
Colts hoping for more high marks on draft picks
A year ago, the Indianapolis Colts received high marks for the impact players the team added through the NFL draft.
Of the 10 players selected, five ended up either starting or seeing extensive playing time (quarterback Andrew Luck, tight ends Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen, wide receiver T.Y. Hilton and running back Vick Ballard) during the Colts’ 11-5 season.
While this year’s class may not rival that group in terms of name recognition and flash, it may produce just as many major contributors once the 2013 season gets underway. -
Werner at top of game
Bjoern Werner was a late comer to football. But after being selected in the first round of the 2013 National Football League draft by the Indianapolis Colts, Werner realizes that he has reached the pinnacle of the sport in a relatively short amount of time.
-
Colts select pass rusher Werner in first round
The Indianapolis Colts selected Florida State defensive end Bjoern Werner. The 6-foot-3, 266-pound defensive lineman can also play left outside linebacker.
-
Colts in wait-and-see mode for tonight’s NFL draft
As the 2013 NFL draft gets underway tonight at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, the Indianapolis Colts are continuing their wait-and-see stance in regard to the first-round pick.
The draft begins at 8 p.m. — televised by the NFL Network and ESPN — with the Kansas City Chiefs making the night’s first selection. Teams will have 10 minutes to make their decisions during the first round. Indianapolis will have the 24th overall pick in the first round.
There will be only one round tonight. The second and third rounds are scheduled for Friday, beginning at 6:30 p.m. with seven minutes allotted per pick in the second round and five minutes allowed in the third. The final four rounds are slated to begin at noon Saturday with four minutes between selections.
As it stands now, Indianapolis does not have a second-round pick. It was traded to Miami last fall in exchange for veteran cornerback Vontae Davis. But second-year general manager Ryan Grigson has nut ruled out the possibility of trading down from the first round if the Colts aren’t satisfied with the players available. -
Direction clear for Colts in 2013 draft
The Indianapolis Colts head into the 2013 NFL Draft with some definite plans.
-
Colts veteran among those excited to see Luck's growth in 2013-14
Veteran defensive end Cory Redding is a big fan — literally and figuratively — of Indianapolis Colts second-year quarterback Andrew Luck.
Redding, who has become one of the Colts’ lockerroom leaders after just one season with the team, thinks he has some reasonable expectations of Indianapolis’ former No. 1 draft pick. -
Heyward-Bey feeling fortunate to hook up with Luck
Add one more player to the list of veteran free agents signed by the Indianapolis Colts this offseason.
Former Oakland Raiders wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey agreed to a a deal with the Colts late Monday evening. Bey, who played collegiately at Maryland, was the seventh player selected in the first round of the 2009 National Football League draft. -
Colts sign nose tackle
Another day, more player signings for the Indianapolis Colts.
Nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin agreed to terms with the Colts on Tuesday evening and officially signed with the team Wednesday. Franklin (6-1, 315) is a 10-year NFL veteran with stops in Baltimore (2003-06), San Francisco (2007-10), New Orleans (2011) and San Diego (2012). -
Colts sign Matt Hasselbeck to back up Luck
The Indianapolis Colts’ roster moves just keep coming.
While the Colts haven’t yet added that big-name wide receiver that team owner Jim Irsay hinted at in tweets over the weekend, Indianapolis has addressed one area on offense.
Former Tennessee Titans quarterback Matt Hasselbeck had agreed Monday night to be the Colts’ primary back-up to second-year starter Andrew Luck. He officially signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the team Tuesday morning.
“We are very pleased to announce the signing of Matt Hasselbeck,” general manager Ryan Grigson said in a prepared statement. “His body of work, intangibles, and extensive league experience speak for themselves. Those factors, plus his familiarity with our offensive scheme, will make him a great asset to our team and its vision as we move forward.” -
Colts likely done signing free agents, for now
With the possible exception of adding a few lesser-priced players, the Indianapolis Colts’ big-time foray into the veteran free-agent marketplace is pretty much done.
-
Landry, Jean Francois join Colts defensive unit
After adding five veteran free agent players to the Indianapolis Colts roster on Tuesday, general manager Ryan Grigson plucked two more plums late Wednesday night and Thursday afternoon.
New York Jets safety LaRon Landry and San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Ricky Jean-Francois both signed contracts with the Colts. Landry, a strong safety who appears to be a bigger version of former Indianapolis Pro Bowler Bob Sanders, and the versatile Jean-Francois are expected to make immediate impacts on the Colts’ defensive unit. -
Colts introduce free-agent signees
What the Indianapolis Colts accomplished last season — posting an 11-5 record and earning an AFC wild-card berth with a young team plus having that kind of success without its head coach on the sidelines for 12 games — didn’t go unnoticed by players around the NFL.
That was especially true for the five veteran free agents who were added to the Colts’ roster Tuesday. Offensive tackle Gosder Cherilus (Detroit), cornerback Greg Toler (Arizona), outside linebacker Erik Walden (Green Bay), offensive guard Donald Thomas (New England) and linebacker Lawrence Sidbury (Atlanta) admitted as much Wednesday.
“I felt like this would be the best fit for me at this point in my career. I really liked what I saw was happening with the program here and the way things have taken shape. I feel like we have a really great team here and it’s on the rise. I really wanted to be a part of that,” Thomas said during a teleconference interview with the Colts’ media. -
Colts sign five free agents, filling needs at offensive line, cornerback
The Indianapolis Colts were a busy team on the opening day of the National Football League’s veteran free agent market, which got underway at 4 p.m. Tuesday.
-
Jeff Saturday retires as a Colt
An Indianapolis Colt for life. Pencil in Jeff Saturday for that honor.
The 14-year veteran center in the NFL put an official stamp on a career Thursday that began in Baltimore in 1998 and ended in Green Bay in 2012. But it was those 13 seasons in between — from 1999 to 2011 in which he played for Indianapolis — when Saturday earned his greatest rewards. -
Saturday thrilled to retire as a Colt
The 14-year veteran center in the National Football League put an official stamp on a career Thursday that began in Baltimore in 1998 and ended in Green Bay in 2012. But it was those 13 seasons in-between — from 1999 to 2011 in which he played for Indianapolis — that Saturday earned his greatest rewards.
-
Saturday to retire as Colt on Thursday
Former Indianapolis Colts center Jeff Saturday will make his retirement from the National Football League official on Thursday.
-
Indianapolis franchises punter McAfee
A week ago, Indianapolis Colts coach Chuck Pagano said it was a priority that the team retain the services of punter Pat McAfee.
McAfee, an unrestricted free agent who’s contract is due to expire March 12, was designated as the Colts’ franchise player Friday. The move allows Indianapolis extra time to work out a long-term deal for the team’s special-teams ace.
“He’s huge. He’s a major priority in free agency. Obviously, we’ve reached out and are working to get Pat re-signed,” Pagano said during the National Football Scouting Combine. “We saw what he did for us last year. He’s a great weapon, not only kickoffs and touchbacks. -
Colts GM enjoying time at combine
Indianapolis Colts second-year general manager Ryan Grigson makes no bones about it. He enjoys watching prospective football players strut their stuff.
-
Colts keeping eye on large crop of talented linemen in NFL Draft
According to most National Football League draft observers, this year’s crop of prospects is deep with quality offensive and defensive linemen.
Among the offensive line candidates who have been showcasing their talents at the National Football Scouting Combine, which began in earnest Thursday and wraps up on Tuesday, the spotlight has been on the offensive tackles. Offensive left tackles in particular. -
Colts' Pagano back to full work schedule at combine
Back and ready to go.
That’s the attitude Indianapolis Colts coach Chuck Pagano is taking during the National Football Scouting Combine, which completed its second day of operations Friday at Lucas Oil Stadium. During a wide-ranging press conference at the combine, Pagano confirmed that he is back to a full work regimen after missing 12 games last fall as he battled a rare form of leukemia.
After undergoing cancer treatments that featured heavy doses of chemotherapy, the second-year head coach was able to return to the sidelines for Indianapolis’ final regular-season home game against Houston and for the team’s AFC wild-card matchup with eventual Super Bowl champion Baltimore. -
Colts looking forward to different approach to draft in 2013
A year ago, the Indianapolis Colts had the first overall pick in the 2012 National Football League draft.
It was a foregone conclusion that the Colts would select former Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck with the selection. While Indianapolis front office and player personnel officials certainly had to do their due diligence in preparing for the draft, the Colts find themselves this year in a bit different situation.
The team will have the 24th overall pick in the first round, which is a double-edged sword. Indianapolis picks lower in the round due to a successful season. But the pool of available can’t-miss talent isn’t quite as plentiful as drafting earlier in the round. -
Former Pro Bowl selection Freeney won't return to Colts
The news coming out of the Indianapolis Colts headquarters Friday afternoon was not totally unexpected. Team officials have confirmed that two veteran players – former Pro Bowl defensive end/outside linebacker Dwight Freeney and wide receiver Austin Collie — will not be returning for the 2013 season.
-
Colts’ new offensive coordinator will offer variety
Quarterback Andrew Luck running the Pistol offense? Wide receiver T.Y. Hilton lining up in the Wildcat?
-
Colts moving on to the off season
Moving on. That’s the immediate plans for the Indianapolis Colts as they head into the off season.
-
Baltimore ends Indy’s playoff run early
The Baltimore Ravens want one long final ride for Ray Lewis. Having disposed of Andrew Luck and the Colts, they now face a more imposing challenge.
Next up, Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos. -
Switching sides: Colts-Ravens matchup includes old friends on new teams
Just as Baltimore Ravens players and coaches will be seeing some old friends returning to M&T Bank Stadium today, several Indianapolis Colts veterans will also have an opportunity to renew acquaintances with a familiar face.
-
Pagano prepares Colts for tough crowd in Baltimore
As a former resident of Baltimore, Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano knows all about the hard feelings that still run strong about the move of the Colts franchise to Indianapolis in 1984.
- More Colts Headlines
-
Luck having fun with his first OTAs
Mayor: Person Killed in San Antonio Flooding
Raw: Train Derails After Overpass Collapse
Raw: Apple 1 Computer Sells for More Than $650k
Raw: French Soldier Stabbed in Throat Near Paris
Raw: Trucker Bumps I-5 Bridge Before Collapse
Raw: Rescues From San Antonio Flooding
High Wire Spectacle Thrills Crowd in Austria
Bus Fire Kills 16 Children, Teacher in Pakistan
Raw: Gay Rights Activists March in Ukraine
Suspect in Killing of Officer Found Dead in Cell
Hagel Urges Cadets to End Scourge of Sex Assault
American Held in Grisly Czech Murders
A Slice of Apple History Up for Grabs
Raw: Texas Deputy Shot by Colo. Suspect Honored
Britain Braces for Possible Copycat Attacks
UK-bound Pakistan Plane Diverted, 2 Men Arrested
Study: Cockroaches Survive by Losing Sweet Tooth
First Person: Mom Discusses Famous Tornado Photo
Major Detours Following Wash. Bridge Collapse
Today in History May 25
Massive Flooding in San Antonio Area; Rescue Efforts Underway
Hope For The Boy Who Can't Smile
Young protestor goes viral on Youtube
Toronto Mayor says he's not a crack head
Maine island offers lighthouse getaway
Should We Prepare for Quakes?
Lynn Kindergarten Class Rescues Ducklings
Congressional gold medal awarded to civil rights heroes
Charles Ramsey visits Kentucky
Unique Display Greets Guests At Revel Casino
Cape Cod Train Service Worries Residents
BASE jumper rides snowmobile off cliff to honor dead friend
Bridge Collapse Survivor: 'Rough Day'
SHOCKING: School Guard Throws Girl Down Stairs
Star Wars X-Wing Star Fighter Made of Legos
Actress Amanda Bynes Arrested in New York
Singer Psy Has An Imposter
