Today marks the return to active writing and entertaining of the tens of fans that have pined away for more of these articles of joy. You see, every year I go into mourning following the end of the NFL season. The Colts could have won the Super Bowl (checking one more time…nope, they still didn’t) and it wouldn’t have made one bit of difference.
This offseason, however, is vastly different. The Colts find themselves not only seriously under the salary cap, but armed with second-year General Manager Ryan Grigson, a man that turned nothing into much more than that last year. Grigson was pretty exceptional with his draft selections, while to be fair he was much more hit-or-miss in free agency, last season. Samson Satele and Tom Zbikowski are two such deals that bring shudders.
Looking back gives you something to do, but it won’t get you anywhere. Instead, the focus is on the future, more specifically the immediate future. Free agency, hello! While tons of mock drafts are flowing like golden delicious ales at websites near and far, free agency takes center stage in a mere 13 days. Nothing against all those mock draft authors; after all, they’re doing their jobs and generating hits for their respective employers. But the simple fact is that free agency will drastically alter teams’ needs heading into the draft.
Over the next several days (and yes, that is a promise clad in aluminum) we will delve into the names being bandied about as candidates to wear the horseshoe next season. The obvious needs are along the lines (both offense and defense), cornerback and outside linebacker. You want names? You need something tangible already? Fine. You are entitled to an appetizer.
Anthony Spencer rates highly on the wish list at outside linebacker. Offensive line? How about a man named Louis Vasquez in that Colts blue?
Truth be told, there’s no way to have any real pulse on what Grigson and Coach Chuck Pagano have in mind. The sky could be the limit, or they could be low key and stick to the middle of the road names and contract values. The answer may very well lie, as it often the case, somewhere in the middle.
One thing is for sure…this offseason and free agency period stand to be far more interesting than any in recent memory. Let’s get ready to….wait, think that may be trademarked.
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