Ryan Grigson: Colts to go through Free Agency "Wisely"

[GoColts8818]

I think Grigson would tell those on here he feels like they did approach free agency last year wisely.  Just because some here didn't like the end results doesn't mean Grigson feels like they blew free agency last year.

 

What I take from this is that he's probably going to approach free agency the same way and get the most bang for his buck IE not over spending to get one big star when he can get three really good guys at different positions for the same price which is probably going to lead to the forum being upset when they don't sign every big name that has been put on some's wish lists. 

 

People are free to disagree with that approach and they might very well end up right but I think that's Grigson's approach to free agency. 

[GoColts8818]

It sounded to me like Grigson is starting to seriously factor in the future need to resign Andrew Luck and possibly Trent Richardson into how he is approaching Free Agency and available cash from here on out.

Not to mention Ty Hilton, Coby Fleener, Dwayne Allen, and Vick Ballard, all players out of last year's draft class we liked that are going to need new contracts sooner or later plus at some point they are going to have to make a long term decision on Castonzo. 

[JoshPhilpot]

Vontae wont get the tag not 11m

Get A.Jones 5/25m DE

Cut Toler, Satele, RJF

V.Davis 5/32m

C.Clemens 3/12m FS

Use another 6m on resigning (Mcafee, Gordy, S.Brown, C.Johnson, etc.)

B.Puente C 3/12m

Draft:

59: Trade to browns for 71st and 83rd overall picks and we trade a seventh rounder

71: S.Jean Baptiste CB (Number 2 corner next to Vontae Davis)

83: D.Jones DT (What we need)

90: Trade for 2 4th rounders to Jags (Get More Picks)

101:M.Sam OLB (Help Transition with Mathis, Werner and Walden)

110: C.Jones ILB (Side to Side with Freeman)

5th: D.Anthony Thomas RB (Speed Back)

6th: L'Damian Washington (Tall WR)

7th: A.Fera K (Good)

7th: Trade for TE depth from another NFL team (We need More)

Around 10m for all picks

We have around 5m leftover with several cap casualties

The key is small base salaries and high signings bonuses.

 

I bet we could trade Toler for a mid level draft pick maybe late 3rd early 4th, I wouldn't release him.

[Surge89]

Nothing wrong with spending wisely. 

 

 

I'd be more focused on nailing a few draft picks.

 

I would normally agree with you but I believe Grigson's position is a bit more complicated right now.  He understands that if he goes for win now and spends for the names he will be in a bad place come Luck's signing time.  If he lands a star player in the draft he will have to pay that man right after Luck lands his first big contract.  So I'm thinking he is thinking more of an importance on FA for needs but low key guys, and Drafting BPA.  This upcoming draft is pretty deep with talent at 4 or 5 positions. DE depth will be there and I assume that is what he will be targeting.  So imo (of course) nailing a draft pick THIS year isn't particularly necessary as the main nucleus is here on the team. Doesn't mean I wouldn't love a star ILB or Dlineman to be drafted :-) 

 

So all in all I think he just publicly saying that Byrd, Mack and other "named" FA may not be on the board as he is thinking of a wiser spending FA period. Mid cost in position of need is what that tells me.

[southwest1]

I'm finally getting used to GM Ryan Grigson's press conference speaking style & I do like the fact that he thanked the coaches, scouts, & fan base. Don't forget about the loyalty of displaced INDY fans geographically speaking though. It's not only about Colts fans inside LOS with season tickets. Loyalty from afar means more than loyalty residing within the same zip code. Never ever forget that please.

 

Yes, I get the sense that Grigs is not a let's make a big splash signing guy--the anti-Jerry Jones or Daniel Synder approach. Thank god for that. His commitment is resigning veteran leadership & continuing to add roster depth at the best value. I still don't want Antoine Bethea re-signed though, but all signs leave me with the impression that he will be. A big mistake IMO.

 

Grigs believes you build a championship squad through the draft not free agency & I agree with that. "When we plug em in [the Colts active roster & practice squad] there's no drop off." Amen to that.

 

"We don't win 12 games this year without Trent Richardson" Wait...What? If you said that about a healthy Bradshaw, I'd believe you & I like TR but let's not get crazy Grigs. LOL! 

[Modern]

Yeah, the we dont win 12 games without Richardson was dumb. Almost a slap in the face to the player who actually contributed.

The Colts dont win against Seattle without Guy and he got cut like the next day.

[Dustin]

Yeah, the we dont win 12 games without Richardson was dumb. Almost a slap in the face to the player who actually contributed.

The Colts dont win against Seattle without Guy and he got cut like the next day.

 

I mean he was probably right. We probably would have won 13!! lol

[southwest1]

I mean he was probably right. We probably would have won 13!! lol

I don't mean to laugh Dustin, but that made me chuckle pretty good. Other than than 49ers game with that 1st qtr TD, I don't really remember any dominate TR games for the Blue Horseshoe. I will be patient though. 

 

SW1 need to start giving Gosder Cherilus some props too. TY Hilton getting a shout out was nice & well deserved. It will be nice to see Landry, Toler, Ballard, & Wanye back healthy again. Is it  May yet? Man, I miss football already. Withdrawal really blows...

[swankdizzle]

Many of the posts note that Luck and others have only two years left on their rookie contracts.  However, if you believe that the Colts can get to the Super Bowl this year, or next, we may be able to "rent" some good players for their immediate impact and limit the cap hit in 2016.  Karlos Dansby?  Anquan Boldin? 

[HarassedOffTheSite]

Not to mention Ty Hilton, Coby Fleener, Dwayne Allen, and Vick Ballard, all players out of last year's draft class we liked that are going to need new contracts sooner or later plus at some point they are going to have to make a long term decision on Castonzo. 

 

I'm wondering if Costanzo is a part of the future long-term.

[HarassedOffTheSite]

Many of the posts note that Luck and others have only two years left on their rookie contracts.  However, if you believe that the Colts can get to the Super Bowl this year, or next, we may be able to "rent" some good players for their immediate impact and limit the cap hit in 2016.  Karlos Dansby?  Anquan Boldin? 

 

Apparently the 49ers have made Boldin a priority and I would not be surprised if Dansby hooked up with his old DC in Tennessee. We'll see.

[GoColts8818]

I'm wondering if Costanzo is a part of the future long-term.

I think it's a fair question.  I think this is a big year for him.  He's solid but he's not great.  It'll probably come down to what kind of money he thinks he's worth.  If it's reasonable the Colts could do far worse at left tackle if it's not reasonable well I wouldn't over pay for him.  It will also probably depend on what the Colts do/can do in the draft as well at the tackle position. 

[HarassedOffTheSite]

I think it's a fair question.  I think this is a big year for him.  He's solid but he's not great.  It'll probably come down to what kind of money he thinks he's worth.  If it's reasonable the Colts could do far worse at left tackle if it's not reasonable well I wouldn't over pay for him.  It will also probably depend on what the Colts do/can do in the draft as well at the tackle position. 

 

With Alabama's Kouandjio beginning to slide...and depending on how far that slide ends up being, maybe there will be an opportunity to draft "Can'tStandYa's" replacement.

[B-B]

I bet we could trade Toler for a mid level draft pick maybe late 3rd early 4th.

He's not worth anywhere near that, unless Grigson could swindle a team, he can play well when healthy but when is he ever really healthy? He's never finished a whole season, and is constantly injured

[#12]

It sounded to me like Grigson is starting to seriously factor in the future need to resign Andrew Luck and possibly Trent Richardson into how he is approaching Free Agency and available cash from here on out.

 

As it stands, that might set Irsay back all of about 10 bucks. 

[throwing BBZ]

Wow, then I guess you don't care that Grigson took risks and front loaded the contracts so we could walk away easily if they didn't pan out. SMH Who's the homer? I'll give you a hint, it's not me. ;)

 

 He took players with Higher Risk and Lost.

 Good plan.

 You, i`ll take players with high Risk, front load their contracts so when they DON`T Play as well as i Hoped, i can cut them. Pure Folly.

 To me a Homer is someone who can`t see the forest for the trees. Like, 11-5 is all they need to be happy, NOT to look at the Reality of what got you there and where we are headed, HOMER.

 

[Jaric]

 He took players with Higher Risk and Lost.

 Good plan.

 You, i`ll take players with high Risk, front load their contracts so when they DON`T Play as well as i Hoped, i can cut them. Pure Folly.

 To me a Homer is someone who can`t see the forest for the trees. Like, 11-5 is all they need to be happy, NOT to look at the Reality of what got you there and where we are headed, HOMER.

 

 

Serious or trolling?

[dgambill]

I can only assume this is code for "We're signing Alex Mack."

Alex Mack is not getting out of Cleveland...I will almost bet my mother on it. They have more money to spend than we do at it has been quoted as their #1 priority. We have a better chance to get Ward from them considering they are looking at Byrd then Mack. I put our chance at Mack at 5%.

 

I think we are going to have a lot of dissappointed fans this offseason hearing the names they are throwing around.

[HarassedOffTheSite]

As it stands, that might set Irsay back all of about 10 bucks. 

 

I think how it affects our future cap is probably the only thing Grigson is concerning himself with.

[SilentHill]

 He took players with Higher Risk and Lost.

 Good plan.

 You, i`ll take players with high Risk, front load their contracts so when they DON`T Play as well as i Hoped, i can cut them. Pure Folly.

 To me a Homer is someone who can`t see the forest for the trees. Like, 11-5 is all they need to be happy, NOT to look at the Reality of what got you there and where we are headed, HOMER.

 

 

 

Serious or trolling?

 

Trolling I hope.

[Jaric]

Trolling I hope.

 

I haven't been posting here for a bit so help me out.

 

Are people seriously upset with the progress this team has made in two years?  I'm not saying there hasn't been room for criticism but we're way ahead of schedule.

[Jaric]

Alex Mack is not getting out of Cleveland...I will almost bet my mother on it. They have more money to spend than we do at it has been quoted as their #1 priority. We have a better chance to get Ward from them considering they are looking at Byrd then Mack. I put our chance at Mack at 5%.

 

I think we are going to have a lot of dissappointed fans this offseason hearing the names they are throwing around.

 

Fortunately Bill Polian conditioned me for offseason disappointment.  They never do what I want them to...

[Narcosys]

Are we gonna let Mc Afee & Vinatieri go ? At least keep Mc Afee .

Antoine Bethea, S

Adam Vinatieri, K

Pat McAfee, P

Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR

Mike McGlynn, OG

Ahmad Bradshaw, RB

Vontae Davis, CB

Jeff Linkenbach, OG

Cassius Vaughn, CB

Pat Angerer, ILB

Aubrayo Franklin, DT

Fili Moala, DE

Sergio Brown, S

Ricardo Mathews, DE

Lawrence Sidbury, OLB

and out of that list i hope half are gone

[MarvinTheGreat88]

Fortunately Bill Polian conditioned me for offseason disappointment.  They never do what I want them to...

 

This is so true. The Polian regime NEVER signed anybody of note in free agency, with the exception of Corey Simon. It was so frustrating to get your hopes up in the offseason, only to see us sign "Who is that?" type of players, all while losing every freaking LB we ever developed into a decent player.

Anyway, I think Grigson has already changed that mindset for us fans. He's gone after some decent mid-tier names like Landry and Cherilus that we wouldn't have before. Personally, I'd like to see him take the next step and sign an actual blue-chipper who is worthy of a big contract... like Mack.

[Jason_]

I haven't been posting here for a bit so help me out.

 

Are people seriously upset with the progress this team has made in two years?  I'm not saying there hasn't been room for criticism but we're way ahead of schedule.

 

Sadly yes.  

[wordofmouth]

This is so true. The Polian regime NEVER signed anybody of note in free agency, with the exception of Corey Simon. It was so frustrating to get your hopes up in the offseason, only to see us sign "Who is that?" type of players, all while losing every freaking LB we ever developed into a decent player.

Anyway, I think Grigson has already changed that mindset for us fans. He's gone after some decent mid-tier names like Landry and Cherilus that we wouldn't have before. Personally, I'd like to see him take the next step and sign an actual blue-chipper who is worthy of a big contract... like Mack.

 A lot of people around here think that Grigson is the anti-Polian in his approach. They will find that is completely wrong once Luck, Costonzo, Hilton etc. are resigned to veteran contacts. At that point we will not have the cap space we had the last two years and will not have as many holes to fill. The plan will be to build through the draft just like it was with Polian. Yes, he may not be quite as conservative but the approach will be the same.

Don't forget Manning put us in cap constraints right from the start. Things couldn't have worked out any better drafting Luck the first year of the rookie  salary cap.

[DoubleE Colt]

I was watching the drafting of Luck again on YouTube recently and I feel its a good reminder of how far we've come. The telling comments from there were how the Colts weren't a very good football team, the offense resembled an expansion team, no TE to speak of, an 'aging' Reggie Wayne at WR, a LT and C and that's about it! In the grander scheme of things we've come along way.

[Jaric]

This is so true. The Polian regime NEVER signed anybody of note in free agency, with the exception of Corey Simon. It was so frustrating to get your hopes up in the offseason, only to see us sign "Who is that?" type of players, all while losing every freaking LB we ever developed into a decent player.

Anyway, I think Grigson has already changed that mindset for us fans. He's gone after some decent mid-tier names like Landry and Cherilus that we wouldn't have before. Personally, I'd like to see him take the next step and sign an actual blue-chipper who is worthy of a big contract... like Mack.

I'm ashamed to say I own a Corey Simon Jersey.

I keep it in the back of my closet as a constant warning about impulse purchases.

[Jaric]

Sadly yes.

Where they fans two years ago? (Aka the Curtis Painter era)

[Naptown Lifer]

Where they fans two years ago? (Aka the Curtis Painter era)

My guess is no. That guy constantly bashes the colts and especially Peyton. How he calls himself a colt fan is beyond me, and the way he bashes Peyton just makes me think he jumped on the luck bandwagon like everyone else.

[Jaric]

My guess is no. That guy constantly bashes the colts and especially Peyton. How he calls himself a colt fan is beyond me, and the way he bashes Peyton just makes me think he jumped on the luck bandwagon like everyone else.

It just seems like some people forget we completely gutted our roster two years ago and had like 40 million in dead cap space last year.

Yet we made the playoffs both years and won a playoff game year 2. If I didn't know better Id think this was a Browns forum and we'd just gone 4-12.

I'm not saying you can't criticize. No ones perfect, but good grief.

[Naptown Lifer]

It just seems like some people forget we completely gutted our roster two years ago and had like 40 million in dead cap space last year.

Yet we made the playoffs both years and won a playoff game year 2. If I didn't know better Id think this was a Browns forum and we'd just gone 4-12.

I'm not saying you can't criticize. No ones perfect, but good grief.

After watching us play with Curtis pAinter, it's obvious how Peyton was the entire colts team for a decade. People like to bash on him and bash on anything that isn't a Super Bowl every year. The league anymore is setup to prevent teams from building dynasty's that win every year and make it so to be successful you have to draft well, draft picks take time, and were already a contender.

Peyton manning is the most under appreciated man I've ever met and a lot of "fans" (some of which admitted to not watching the games) need to realize there was hardly a team around him because Chris polliAn was garbage and he carried us. Therefore what did grigs on inherit, not much. For him to pull two 11-5 seasons out of his rear is phenomenal.

[schwamm]

I think Grigson would tell those on here he feels like they did approach free agency last year wisely. Just because some here didn't like the end results doesn't mean Grigson feels like they blew free agency last year.

What I take from this is that he's probably going to approach free agency the same way and get the most bang for his buck IE not over spending to get one big star when he can get three really good guys at different positions for the same price which is probably going to lead to the forum being upset when they don't sign every big name that has been put on some's wish lists.

People are free to disagree with that approach and they might very well end up right but I think that's Grigson's approach to free agency.

I was trying to explain to everyone last year why Grigs would approach FA like a variation on the movie Moneyball. I can certainly see how his comments would seem to suggest more of the same, but I interpret his comments differently.

If I'm establishing my budget for the next year, and know that my car is in bad shape, the refrigerator needs to be replaced, the wife needs some minor surgery, and the roof has a couple leaks... I doubt I'm going to be thinking about a trip to Cancun. That, in my mind, was where the team was last year.

This year, I think the Colts house and health are at least in decent shape. Grigs had to buy a used refrigerator and car, and couldn't yet afford a roof that he knows will last, so he did some patching... but at least nothing is in awful shape. A bargain splurge on a little vacay might do the family some good, and is now not unwise to add to the budget.

I think if there is a specific player that Grigs feels will drastically improve the team, I would not be surprised to see him "make a splash" this year. Otherwise, I agree with your assessment.