Colts Free Agents for 2012 – Who Should Stay and Who Should Go?

February 20th, 2012 Matt Loede Posted in 2012 Free Agency, News, Opinions

Now that the 2011 season is officially over following the Super Bowl, now we can all look ahead to free agency.

The Colts have a number of players that will be unrestricted come March 13th when they can sign with other teams. You can see the complete list below, and give your thoughts about what players the team should keep, and what ones they could let go.

Exclusive Rights Free Agents (1)

S Stevie Brown

Restricted Free Agents (2)

TE Anthony Hill
CB Jacob Lacey

Unrestricted Free Agents (18)

QB Dan Orlovsky
FB Jerome Felton
WR Pierre Garcon
WR Anthony Gonzalez
WR Reggie Wayne
TE Jacob Tamme
OT Ryan Diem
OT Quinn Ojinnaka
OG Mike Pollak
OG Jamey Richard
OC Jeff Saturday
DE Jamaal Anderson
DE Tyler Brayton
DE Eric Foster
DE Robert Mathis
LB Kevin Bentley
LB Ernie Sims
LB Phillip Wheeler

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Video: Should the Colts try to re-sign Peyton Manning?

February 17th, 2012 Matt Loede Posted in Opinions, Video

It’s becoming more and more clear that the Colts are deciding the move on without Peyton Manning as their QB, and with Chuck Pagano taking over, Manning isn’t the only change in Indy.

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Talks for a Deal Between Manning and Colts Reportedly Underway

February 17th, 2012 Matt Loede Posted in News

Much has been made about the impending meeting between the Colts owner Jim Irsay and his star quarterback Peyton Manning, but Irsay says those negotiations are already under way, and the lines of communication have always been open according to Ashley Adamson of WISH TV.

“We talk a lot … and it’s probably not always what people think we might talk about,” Irsay said. “Very recently we got into a debate about – will Tiger Woods win more majors than Jack Nicklaus or not?”

Of course there is one major, far more serious, debate Colts fans would like Irsay and Manning to settle sometime soon. Unfortunately, it appears the negotiation process will likely last another three weeks – right up until Manning’s $28 million option bonus is due March 8.

“We both know everyone has great interest on it. We’ll just keep talking. And certainly by that date we’ll come up with something that makes sense for him and for the Colts,” Irsay said. “I think we both understand each other’s issues. [We’re] not delaying it for any intentional reason. It’s not only a big decision, but it’s a complicated and tough decision.”

“[Peyton] and I will continue to always be great friends, and I hope it’s with him still being in a Colt uniform,” Irsay said. “But we’ll see.”

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Manning Underwent Four – Not Three – Procedures the Last Two Seasons

February 15th, 2012 Matt Loede Posted in Injuries, News

It’s been widely believed that Colts quarterback Peyton Manning underwent three neck operations over the last two years, the third of which keeping him out for the duration of the 2011 season and likely leading to his release by the franchise.

According to Don Banks of Sports Illustrated, Manning actually underwent four procedures over the two seasons.

“While it cannot be determined exactly when the unreported procedure on Manning’s neck took place, it was at some point after his May 23 surgery in Chicago to correct a bulging disk, and before his Sept. 9 one-level cervical neck fusion surgery in Marina Del Rey, Calif.,” Banks writes. “The same doctor who operated on Manning’s bulging disk in May did a follow-up procedure last summer in Chicago, as a result of the original surgery.”

Manning has been medically cleared to resume his playing career, but the latest revelation gives potential suitors even more medical data to sift through when deciding to offer the four-time NFL Most Valuable Player a contract.

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Irsay Says Manning Can Stay a Colt – Wants to Work it Out

February 15th, 2012 Matt Loede Posted in News

The biggest NFL question this offseason has already been pondered over and over, and that’s where Peyton Manning is going to play (provided he does) in 2012.

Many feel there’s NO WAY the Colts and Manning came come to an agreement on how to deal with his mega $28 $28 million option bonus that’s due to come his way on March 1st – leading to his eventual release.

Colts owner Jim Irsay chatted about Manning on Valentine’s Day to the Indy Star, and says he wants his all-time franchise QB to come back.

“We can make it work if he wants to be here,’’ Irsay said today. “We’d be excited to have him back and finish his career with us.

“I want him to be able to make the choice. We would love to have him back here if he can get healthy and we can look at doing a contract that reflects the uncertainty of the . . . healing process with the regeneration of the nerve.’’

So basically Irsay is saying if Manning is willing to re-do his deal, he can stay. If he doesn’t – see ya.

The story says that Irsay expects to meet with Manning within the next week to talk about his career and future.

Manning is due a $28 million option bonus by March 8 that activates the final four years of the five-year, $90 million contract he signed in July. If Irsay does not pay the bonus, the NFL’s only four-time MVP becomes an unrestricted free agent.

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Colts Ink Both DE Hickman and Safety Newton to “Reserve/Futures” Contract

February 9th, 2012 Matt Loede Posted in Roster Moves

The Colts announced the signing of defensive end Justin Hickman and safety Mike Newton to “Reserve/Futures” contract.

Newton signed with the Colts as an undrafted free agent out of Buffalo, Newton had six tackles, including four on special teams, in 12 games. Waived/injured by the Colts in August, Newton spent the 2011 season as a street free agent and had workouts with the Jaguars and Eagles.

Hickman, 26, has spent the last three seasons with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League. The former undrafted free agent out of UCLA has 144 tackles, 27 quarterback sacks and was a 2011 East Division All-Star, a CFL All-Star and a Most Outstanding Defensive Player of the Year candidate.

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Manning Can’t Throw to His Left Says Lombardi

February 9th, 2012 Matt Loede Posted in News, Opinions

If Peyton Manning can’t throw to his left – what good is he?

That’s the word from NFL Network’s Mike Lombardi, who on a podcast on the website Grantland with Bill Simmons said that Manning isn’t close to his old form after three neck surgeries.

“He can’t throw the ball,” Lombardi said. “I’ve talked to people who’ve caught the ball for him. He can’t throw the ball to his left. He can’t throw the ball across his body, because he doesn’t feel it. People that catch the ball for him say he doesn’t really have velocity on the ball yet.”

Doctors have said for months that Manning nerves must regenerate before he will be back to full strength. They have said no one can predict when that will happen.

If he can’t throw across his body, forget about where Manning will end up in 2012 – he won’t be going anywhere, except back at home to sit and enjoy retirement.

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Metzelaars Says Coaches Wanted Manning to Come Back Last Season

February 9th, 2012 Matt Loede Posted in News

New Bills TE coach Pete Metzelaars, who was with the Colts as their OL coach a season ago, said some pretty interesting things about how the Colts wanted Peyton Manning to play last season.

“We talked about it a little bit, yeah. We were so dependent on him and what he did. The whole offensive structure was built upon what he could do and how he did it. The way his injury took place, there was always kind of the thought that ‘Well, he could come back, he might come back, maybe the recovery time is going to be x’.

“So we found ourselves kind of holding out hope ‘Well, let’s not change everything because there’s a chance he’s going to come back and when he comes back then we’re going to run it this way’. Unfortunately, he never did come back.

“So we got stuck with kind of trying to change in midstream and put some things together, and the people we had trying to do some of the things that Peyton did, even then we cut it down, but obviously they’re not Peyton Manning.

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