Indianapolis Colts bring in five new players during free agency's opening hours

Lawrence Sidbury has been part of the the defensive end rotation in Atlanta for a few years now, although 2012 was not among his best seasons. He had just 31 snaps. He will likely continue to be part of a rotation in Indianapolis.Greg Toler, at 28, is a bit on the old side for a cornerback described as having "upside", but that is indeed the case. He missed the 2011 season with a torn ACL before re-emerging last season, eventually entering the starting lineup for two games before being derailed by injuries again. Toler should be another upgrade here in the secondary.Donald Thomas was not a surefire starter for New England, but when he did get put in the lineup, he was a quality performer. He should he able to find his way into the starting lineup in Indianapolis as another upgrade. O-line was a clear focus.View the list »
Certainly the highest profile and best signing, Gosder Cherilus, a former first round pick, performed well at right tackle for the Lions last season. He should be a significant upgrade for a Colts offensive line that struggled to protect its quarterback a season ago.

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The Indianapolis Colts have been active early in free agency, having already signed five new players to the roster. None of them certainly would qualify as big splash signings, as the Miami Dolphins have done already by signing wide receiver Mike Wallace and inside linebacker Dannell Ellerbe, but it is the less heralded signings that often makes up the foundation of a championship team.

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That said, that does not mean that these pieces the Colts are bringing in are the foundation of a championship team. Of course, it helps to have a franchise quarterback, which Andrew Luck certainly showed flashes of as a rookie last season.

Fortunately for the Colts, the biggest upgrades in this class of free agents that they have brought in should improve upon their biggest area of weakness, the offensive line, which allowed Luck to be battered last season.

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View the list
  • Certainly the highest profile and best signing, Gosder Cherilus, a former first round pick, performed well at right tackle for the Lions last season. He should be a significant upgrade for a Colts offensive line that struggled to protect its quarterback a season ago.
  • Donald Thomas was not a surefire starter for New England, but when he did get put in the lineup, he was a quality performer. He should he able to find his way into the starting lineup in Indianapolis as another upgrade. O-line was a clear focus.
  • Greg Toler, at 28, is a bit on the old side for a cornerback described as having "upside", but that is indeed the case. He missed the 2011 season with a torn ACL before re-emerging last season, eventually entering the starting lineup for two games before being derailed by injuries again. Toler should be another upgrade here in the secondary.
  • Lawrence Sidbury has been part of the the defensive end rotation in Atlanta for a few years now, although 2012 was not among his best seasons. He had just 31 snaps. He will likely continue to be part of a rotation in Indianapolis.
  • The signing of Erik Walden, however, raises some questions. According to the website Pro Football Focus, Walden was among the worst performers from a season ago. The site notes, however, that his best game came against the Colts last year. Perhaps they should have done more homework here.
View the list

, Newark Football Examiner

Having grown up in New Jersey, Matt has naturally been around Giants and Jets football his entire life. But at a young age, he also found an affinity for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and as he got older, his fondness for the game itself grew beyond rooting for certain teams. Although the NFL season...

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