INDIANAPOLIS — The Colts, like a lot of NFL teams, have always said they’d like to reward their homegrown players by bringing them back when they reach the end of their contract.
The reality is the ideal isn’t always possible.
Because of the way Indianapolis general manager Chris Ballard approaches the salary cap, and more important, because of the way Ballard values draft picks and depth, there are several Colts approaching free agency who have been key pieces of the Ballard-Reich era, but likely will not return.
Not if they can help it, and it’s understandable.