News is buzzing everywhere in the NFL. Let’s recap what has been going on with the Colts and how the night looks to wrap up for them. Safety Melvin Bullitt and kicker Adam Vinatieri have been resigned. The two biggest safeties are off the market, Weddle and Mikell, so hanging on the Bullitt was a move that had to be done and I’m glad it is. Signing Adam Vinatieri is another plus because when he is healthy, he is as close as you can get to a sure thing.
[caption id="attachment_197" align="alignright" width="186" caption="Hayden needs a new contract to stay in Indy"]
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Rumors are still speculating around two players, Kelvin Hayden and Ryan Diem. Both have too much money guaranteed to them in the newly restructured salary cap and the Colts must either part ways with them or rework their contracts. While I’ve heard no word on Diem other than we’re supposed to know within the next day what his future is, reports coming out of the Colts organization suggest Hayden will stay with the team.
Multiple sources have confirmed that the Colts have signed 14 undrafted free agents. The big names in this list include OL Jake Kirkpatrick (TCU), RB Darren Evans (V Tech), RB Chad Spann (N. Illinois), and QB Mike Hartline (Kentucky). I’ll go into a little more detail about the two running backs in a moment. Jake Kirkpatrick was a center who made it on the Rimington semifinalist list and helped an explosive offense at TCU move down the field. Mike Hartline makes sense here because of Manning missing some time in training camp. It is unknown if the Colts really believe he can develop and compete with Curtis Painter for a spot on the depth chart. He is a working project but does have good physical tools that are a good starting point at the professional level.
The two running backs come as a bit of a surprise. What it suggests is that the Colts may cut ties with Dominic Rhodes or even Joseph Addai. One will stay though, unless buzz starts circulating about the Colts going after a high profile running back in the market. It doesn’t make since to cut both veterans. I like the move because it creates competition between Evans, Spann, and Carter.
[caption id="attachment_198" align="alignleft" width="184" caption="Evans once shined. Could he do the same for Indy?"]
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One of them will definitely not make it on the Colts final roster so they’ll go hard in camp. Evans was the leader and showed some amazing talent before Ryan Williams came along at Virginia Tech. Evans would fade into the background with injury problems and having to share carries. Spann is a small school guy but has solid fundamentals. He won’t wow you with speed or cuts but is a strong football player who gives his full effort on every play and that’s something the Colts will certainly consider when making roster cuts and probably what earned him a contract in the first place.
This is only the beginning of free agency. Check back to find out what happens to Hayden and Diem. Also, the Colts are bound to make at least one move in the market for a veteran player but who will it be? ChatColts has the latest news on Twitter and Facebook. Expect another posting tomorrow for a wrap up of Day 3.
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