INDIANAPOLIS –The Indianapolis Colts on Tuesday moved one step closer to watching their key free agents walk out the door.
With the NFL’s “legal tampering” period underway — allowing impending free agents to begin advance contract negotiations with outside teams — the Colts might have to compete with other clubs if they wish to retain tight end Jack Doyle, linebacker Erik Walden and defensive back Darius Butler.
Those three are among current Colts scheduled to become free agents at 4 p.m. Thursday, the start of the 2017 NFL calendar. To discourage illegal tampering, the NFL now allows agents of those players to negotiate with any team two days before the start of free agency.