Colts Gab

It’s that time again to start talking about free agency, and we’ll spend some time breaking down positions, and today we are going to start with maybe the most important position on the field – quarterback. Here are our rankings of Free Agent QB’s, and what we think will be the end result for some of these players.

1. Kurt Warner – Cardinals: The Super Bowl QB is going to be a free man, but expect the Cardinals to make a more than fair offer to keep Kurt around, win or lose the big game a week from Sunday. Kurt could have been the MVP this season without a doubt, and while a couple other teams will likely flirt with the idea of grabbing him, I can’t see him anywhere else but in the desert.

2. Matt Cassel – Patriots: Look for Cassel to be franchised, meaning he’s not going anywhere in 2009. The Pats need to protect themselves just in case Tom Brady is not going to be ready to go at the start of the season. Again, he’ll get plenty of interest in the open market, but don’t expect him to make it there unless teams are willing to give up two #1 picks.

3. Jeff Garcia – Buccaneers: Even at 39, Garcia can be a stop gap for some team on the steps of being a possible playoff or Super Bowl contender. With the coaching changes in Tampa Bay, it wouldn’t be a big surprise to see Garcia take his game elsewhere, but there is always the chance he may retire.

4. Kerry Collins – Titans: The Titans had a great season with Collins, but even as the #1 seed in the AFC were not able to get by the Ravens. Collins played tough when the team needed it, beating the Steelers late and Ravens early in the year. He’s the perfect QB for the Titans system, and giving him two years at $10 mil per year would not be out of the question.

5. Rex Grossman – Bears: Rex in effect should get a fresh start and bail from the situation that is the Bears. The team appears to have made a commitment to Kyle Orton as their QB of the future, and if Grossman wants to be a starter, he’ll likely have to go somewhere as a backup and then hope for poor play or an injury to be in the starting lineup.

6. Luke McCown – Buccaneers: McCown is still young enough to where he could be a decent player in this league, as he’s shown flashes but has never fully taken it to the next level. Look for him to go somewhere and be a backup with the hopes of being a starter down the road.

7. Kyle Boller – Ravens: This may be a shot in the dark, but I wouldn’t mind seeing Boller somewhere else with a fresh start. He wasn’t ever able to live up to the level of the pick the Ravens used on him, and with Joe Flacco taking them to the AFC Title Game, there is no question who the long term starter will be in Baltimore.

8. Ryan Fitzpatrick – Bengals: The former Harvard QB started the year awful, but by the end was playing much better, but won’t have that shot again with the Bengals as Carson Palmer will be back under center in 2009. Wouldn’t doubt if another team or even the Bengals locked him up as their back-up. He’d be smart to stay in Cincy if the offer is there.

9. J.P. Losman – Bills: Not a big fan of Losman, but someone will give him a job as a 2nd QB on their roster. I wouldn’t doubt if he’s in camp with a team that has an unstable QB situation come July.

10. Byron Leftwich – Steelers: The former starter with the Jags has found a nice home with the Steelers, and has played well when called upon. With that, he’d be well served to stay in the Steel City, but with the desire to compete, my guess is he moves on to another squad.

Other Free Agent QB’s:

David Carr – NY Giants
Brett Ratliff – NY Jets
Brock Berlin – St.Louis
Charlie Batch – Pittsburgh
Dan Orlovsky – Detroit
Chris Simms – Tennessee
Joey Harrington – New Orleans
Brian St.Pierre – Arizona
Brooks Bollinger – Dallas
Gibran Hamdan (RFA) – Buffalo
Jared Lorenzen – Indianapolis
Tim Rattay – Arizona
J.T. O’Sullivan – San Francisco
Charlie Frye – Seattle
Patrick Ramsey – Denver
Craig Nall – Houston
Marques Tuiasosopo – Oakland
Lester Ricard – Carolina
Bret Basanez – Carolina
Todd Bouman – Baltimore
Jamie Martin – San Francisco
Anthony Morelli – Arizona

It is pretty much common knowledge that Indianapolis Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri is still the NFL’s best clutch kicker, both while with the New England Patriots and with the Colts. Vinatieri sent the Patriots a reminder what he is still capable of doing when he hit a clutch 52-yard field goal, which allowed the Colts to edge the Patriots 18-15 Sunday night at Lucas Oil Stadium.

The game, while big for both teams – especially Indianapolis – it had the feel of a contest that had very little at stake, which is understandable since Tom Brady wasn’t playing and none of the hype of games past. The game even had some twists to it, such as Colts wide receiver Marvin Harrison serving as a punt returner and even typically conservative Patriots coach Bill Belichick calling for a halfback pass.

Early on, Colts quarterback Peyton Manning exposed the Patriots middle passing lanes and the Colts benefitted as on their second drive of the game, Manning directed a 15-play, 91-yard drive, capped by a 12-yard TD pass from Manning to WR Anthony Gonzalez to give the Colts a 7-0 lead. New England responded with a conservative offense which kept them close as Stephen Gotkowski kicked a pair of field goals to narrow the Colts’ lead to 7-6 at halftime.

The Patriots stuck to their “dink-and-dunk” offense in the second half, opening the third quarter with a 15-play drive, ending with a TD run by running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis, giving New England a 12-7 lead. Manning rsponded like the Manning of old, using the short field with intermediate-to-long passes to stretch out the Patriots’ secondary while connecting again with Gonzalez with a 9-yard TD pass, giving the Colts a 15-12 lead. The Patriots tied the game at 15 on a FG by Gotkowski but Manning would take the Colts on a 48-yard drive which would set up the game-winning FG by Vinatieri.

Manning had one of his better games of the season, going 21-of-29 for 254 yards and 2 TD’s while Patriots QB Matt Cassel went 25-of-34 for 204 yards and an interception. The Colts’ rushing attack – or lack thereof – was led by Joseph Addai with 32 yards on 17 carries; Kevin Faulk led the Patriots with 60 yards on 10 carries while Green-Ellis added 57 yards on 15 carries and a TD.

Reggie Wayne led all Colts receivers with 5 receptions for 65 yards while Dallas Clark caught 4 passes for 64 yards; Gonzalez added 55 yards on 4 catches and two scores while Harrison caught 4 passes for 50 yards. Randy Moss led all Patriots receivers with 6 receptions for 65 yards. Indianapolis (4-4) plays again on Sunday when they visit Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers while New England (5-3) return home to face the Buffalo Bills – also on Sunday.