richard pallo

I don’t know why but I’m getting the feeling the Colts will not bring Grover back. He will turn 31 when the season starts. I’m thinking his 6 game suspension didn’t sit well with the Colts and I also think he’s looking for one last big contract. There are a few good tackles in FA that are younger and I think would be cheaper and would also benefit from playing alongside Buckner. I think this decision would remind me of the Eubkam move. I also think the Colts are going to draft one in the first three rounds. I’m probably wrong but if we don’t resign him I won’t be surprised.

We know Ballard loves the trenches. So if he has success in FA at WR and secondary I can see DT with pick 15 or DE. It really depends on FA for me. He could make a couple of significant additions if he decides to spend this year.

What worries me a little is we haven’t signed any other of our FA. We don’t know if we are having problems signing the other guys. We could be. The quicker we sign Pittman then we have a tag at our disposal for another player if we need it. We tagged McAfee once so anything is possible. Imo we need to sign our other FA asap. I would hate to see none of them signed before FA and we are forced to tag Pittman and then compete for our other FA. Time is of the essence.

I think if you add in Pierce or Downs as part of the trade (give them the option ) and I would bet they do the trade. That would be adding a starting receiver for them.

I think FA actually starts this week. All the players involved are in town for the combine. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner meeting all week. I think deals are agreed to but not to be announced until the tampering period begins. Here’s hoping Ballard is busy and secures us a couple of new difference makers for the Colts.

If Ballard wants to replace Leonard there is an opportunity in FA with Patrick Queen. The Ravens traded for Raquon Smith and gave him a new contract. They just don’t want to pay a linebacker again and are letting Queen hit FA. Queen was drafted 28th in the first round and has very good numbers in the box and coverage. There is no linebacker that we have that I trust in coverage on a TE. Queen would be that guy. Okeroke was better than any player we have in coverage and we missed him. I think they were hoping Leonard would bounce back. It didn’t happen of course. Queen is only 24 and will be a player many teams will go after I believe. Not sure Ballard would do it but Queen is the veteran who would come close to replacing Leonard and would be an every down linebacker. Choices choices choices. That’s what FA is all about. So we shall see.

That shouldn’t affect whether you do four episodes or two. There are plenty of interesting topics or events you can cover without tipping your hand on a player or strategy. That reason holds no water with me.

I agree. Maybe they had turnover or a cut back in the department that produces the videos. Who knows but last year was a real disappointment. Hopefully this year is not a repeat of last year.

The Dolphins already released two star starting defenders in Xavier Howard and Emanuel Ogbah for cap purposes. No doubt there will be some restructuring done. Saints already have but it isn’t enough in all cases. More good players will be cut. It’s inevitable with so many teams.

You would think a lot of good players will be released as teams move towards getting under the cap. For example we could cut Cox before FA starts adding him to the TE pool of FA. Next week should be an interesting week for the Colts.

Patrick Queen would be a difference maker. We can only hope. I prefer Noah Fant as you know. Three years younger and more explosive. Either one would be a nice upgrade over Moe.

Listened to a podcast today where it was suggested that maybe the Colts could tag Pittman and then include him in a trade to move up in the draft and draft another WR. You know who.

I can’t imagine any team will talk to Pittman with the non exclusive tag on him. That means they will give up two 1st rd picks if they sign him. Can’t see a team doing that. The transition tag makes more sense. It’s lower at $19m ish. Any offer he receives will be around $22n ish which I think the Colts would be happy to match. The non exclusive tag is $22m ish. I don’t see a reason to start there and go up. Hopefully they get him signed before they have to put the tag on him.

Makes me think Ballard and the other GM’s were holding off on resigning players until after they found out the updated cap numbers. Hopefully we get some players extended now.

I don’t think the Colts will sign Williams or Evans in FA too expensive. But Ridley, Davis and Mooney are on the radar I’m guessing. If we sign one of those three I don’t see a WR with our 1st pick. Any one of those three would be a great get imo.

I guess trading back might not be a good strategy this year. Trying to move up into the first four rounds or acquiring more picks in the first four rounds might make more sense.

If Pittman signs an extension he won’t count $20 against the cap this year. Could be under $10m actually. Depends how it’s structured. Cap wise it could be much lower than $40m for those two.

I agree. I think what you suggest happens all the time. I don’t expect Pittman’s cap hit to be anywhere near $20m if he signs an extension. For a couple of years actually. The only way he will count $20m against the cap is if he plays under the tag. That’s why it’s advantageous to get an extension. You have more cap space to work with.

Pittman for less than 20m a year I would be shocked if that happens. I think we are going to be surprised when FA start signing their new contracts. I’m hoping they sign him too but if we have to tag him it should be the transition tag. I don’t think Pittman will get the big number he’s looking for so if he signs an offer sheet I think Ballard will match it.

We'll see about Mooney. His first two years were good in Chicago. Had 1000 yards and 4 td's his second season. Then Moore comes aboard with Eberflus and his production tailed off on a pretty anemic Bears offense. I think he's another stretch the field deep threat that the Colts and Steichen could be interested in. His contract is estimated to be 9m from what I read. I think he would be a good fit. Time will tell.

Couldn’t agree more. This is why I like Darnell Moody and Noah Fant in FA. They are both fast and explosive at their respective positions. Both in their mid 20’s as well. They will not break the bank and seem to fit Ballard’s MO. He did bring in Ebron I believe so a TE FA is possible. Last year it was McKenzie at WR. So I’m expecting FA upgrades at those two positions.

If push came to shove I can see him taking a pay cut to stay with the Colts and not moving. Staying with his teammates and remaining in the organization could mean a lot to him.

I was thinking about Moe Allie Cox’s cap situation. He currently counts at almost $6m against the cap. PFF thinks he could be a cap casualty. With Ogletree’s spot on the team up in the air and Woods situation also not the most assuring I was thinking the Colts might ask him to take a pay cut and keep him. He might be receptive to that instead of going out in the market and taking a lesser amount with a different team. He has certainly made contributions in the red zone and as a blocking tight end. Taking a pay cut might make sense all the way around. Just a thought that I think has merit.

I would love to have McKinney at safety too. He would be my first choice. That said the FA safety class is very deep. There are a number of players who I think would be an upgrade and not cost as much as McKinney. Two that come to mind are Jeremy Chinn and Jordan Fuller. Both 27 years old I think. Either one playing alongside Blackmon would be a nice combination. Last year Ballard added two significant FA pickups. Ebucam and Gay. I’m hoping for four this year. They are S, TE, WR, and LB. Good players with upside that shouldn’t break the bank. I’m thinking of players like Darnell Moody, Noah Fant, Jeremy Chinn and Patrick Queen. Queen being the most expensive I would think. All of those players would push for starting spots or even start. Getting three of those players would upgrade the roster significantly I believe and address weaknesses in the roster. For me those type of signings fit Ballard’s MO. Not top tier and super expensive but good players young enough to be Colts for quite a few years and also upgrade positions of need. FA is fun. There are so many players out there and numerous paths to follow. It will be interesting to see where Ballard winds up going when FA opens up.

For me I think Ballard and Gus will let their new DL coach have a crack at improving the pressure rate. Hopefully Dayo and Kwity continue making strides. That’s why I think ER might not be high on the FA list. But I can see safety and WR being the priority in FA. Followed by a coverage linebacker like Patrick Queen or a TE like Noah Fant. I think signing three out of four of those positions in FA would really fill a number of needs and improve the team considerably.