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ESPN: Don't expect the Colts to be big spenders (Poll/Discussion)

EastStreet

By EastStreet
in Colts Football

ESPN: Don't expect the Colts to be big spenders (Poll/Discussion)  

111 members have voted

  1. 1. What are your thoughts on the current salary cap situation (Colts have the 2nd most money at $86.1M)

    • I'm good with it, glad Ballard is being frugal
      55
    • We should be closer to the league average (~$44M) and signing more difference makers
      43
    • We need to spend a lot more, there's no reason we should be running such a large surplus every year.
      13

  2. 2. What word best describes the Colts in their current approach

  3. 3. How much will the Colts have in space once the season starts?

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  • Poll closed on 03/20/2020 at 04:00 AM

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EastStreet Ring of Honor

EastStreet

Posted
Posted

Nothing earth shattering. The only thing new that I hadn't heard prior was Irsay's comment about needing friction. 

 

They do suggest that the Colts will likely sign a QB early on in FA (assuming they want to sign a QB), but then kind of hedges. 

 

All in all, Irsay's previously reported comments that he'll make the QB decision (along with Chris and Frank) tells me it's pretty obvious they'll be going in a different direction this year. That is, unless they fail to get the guy they want (in FA and/or draft).

Quote

 

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indianapolis Colts have nearly $86 million in salary-cap space and players who could immediately help are available.

 

That means the Colts will be linked to many players after the legal tampering period begins Monday, before the new league year starts and free agents can be signed. The Colts' $85.5 million in salary-cap space is second only to the Miami Dolphins' $88.5 million.

 

But don't get too excited when it comes to the Colts. If history and recent comments are any indication, general manager Chris Ballard doesn't plan to change his roster-building approach. The NFL new league year is scheduled to begin Wednesday.

 

"We are going to stay the course of how we believe in team-building," Ballard said. "Things don't always go the way you want them to go, but we have a philosophy of how we are going to build it. We want to be able to acquire young players and develop our own and develop them as Colts. I'm not saying that we won't enter into free agency because we have, but it won't be our main source of player acquisition. We will continue to build this thing the way we see fit and the way we think you can win football games."

 

It's not that Ballard is completely against spending money. He sets a price tag based on how he values a player and he rarely goes over that mark. Ballard went after safety Landon Collins in free agency last year before losing out on him to the Washington Redskins.

 

Ballard gave a slight indication during the combine last month that he might be open to adding a player who comes with a high-dollar figure because he believes the locker room is mature enough to handle it better now than in previous seasons.

 

"We talked a lot at the end of the season about needing more friction," he said. "Lord knows, I've had a lot of talks with our players about that. Let's just take the defense. That was almost a complete starting over from scratch, defensively, not from a player standpoint, but from a schematic standpoint. So, we knew it was going to take time. Between [Denico] Autry, [Margus] Hunt and [Justin] Houston, they were able to bridge the gap as we continued to grab and develop players. But our locker room is outstanding. They work. They are good guys and they do things the right way. So, I do think we can handle it."

 

If the Colts decide to pursue a quarterback, they will have to spend significant money. Philip Rivers, 38, is the quarterback who continues to be linked to the Colts. The team has spent time this offseason researching Rivers, who was coached by Colts coach Frank Reich for three seasons with the Chargers, first as quarterbacks coach and then as offensive coordinator.

 

Owner Jim Irsay will have his say in any decision the Colts make when it comes to quarterback. Irsay has been spoiled over the past two decades, with Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck at the position for all but three seasons since 1998. Irsay and Ballard will go only as far as to say that Jacoby Brissett is the starter right now. There has been no indication that he'll be the starter in the fall.

 

"The quarterback position, the three of us will make [the call]," Irsay said. "We have to. It's too big of a decision. All options are on the table. I've never quite ... seen a year when this was so unusual, if you will. It's exciting. I look at as a challenge. I don't look at it as, 'Oh god, what are we gonna do?' Not at all. I see great opportunity and have strong feelings about where this football team can go this decade."

 

If the Colts do sign a quarterback, it'll probably be within the first couple of days of free agency. Beyond that, Ballard has never been one to hurry and sign a player. Teams sometimes overspend during the first week of free agency because there are bidding wars with other teams.

 

Quarterbacks such as Tom Brady, Dak Prescott and Ryan Tannehill, pass-rusher Jadeveon Clowney, receiver Amari Cooper and tight end Austin Hooper probably will land headline-grabbing deals quickly.

 

Not getting in the first wave of free agency doesn't mean the Colts won't be able to find talented players. Ballard routinely has let the initial rush pass before he starts making moves. Ballard didn't sign pass-rusher Justin Houston, who led the Colts with 11 sacks last season, until the second week of free agency in 2019.

 

The Colts have needs at receiver, cornerback and pass-rusher, especially if they don't re-sign Jabaal Sheard.

 

 

 

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throwing BBZ Ring of Honor

throwing BBZ

Posted
Posted

Ballard has been Prudent & Frugal as he builds the roster with low cost 1st contract players.

He has been successful enough that it is time to acquire at least 2 high quality difference makers on defense in FA. If they were both DT's it would really free us up for the draft. Here is hoping.

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The Fish Active Roster

The Fish

Posted
Posted
6 minutes ago, AwesomeAustin said:

It will never happen but I would love to get Dak Prescott.  He dropped due to character concerns and he has been a model pro since he entered the league.  Cowboys will tag him bc you don’t let that guy sniff free agency.  

When JB is playing close to his ceiling, his game isn't dissimilar to Dak's (though Dak can toss the deep ball against bad D's).

 

I wouldn't want to pay what he wants, as he's worth about half of that 33 mill number.

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GRUMPY OLD MAN Active Roster

GRUMPY OLD MAN

Posted
Posted
3 hours ago, throwing BBZ said:

Ballard has been Prudent & Frugal as he builds the roster with low cost 1st contract players.

He has been successful enough that it is time to acquire at least 2 high quality difference makers on defense in FA. If they were both DT's it would really free us up for the draft. Here is hoping.

our record last season says he has not been successful in getting above average talent

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csmopar Ring of Honor

csmopar

Posted
Posted

With the new CBA, the cap went up 10 million. Does anyone know if the 90 percent rule still is for this year or did it get reset?

24 minutes ago, DEFENSE said:

our record last season says he has not been successful in getting above average talent

:scorebad:

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ScotColt Practice Squad

ScotColt

Posted
Posted

Now is the time to make a bit of a splash, not saying go crazy but don't be stubborn when bidding for a top player either. With a few big additions this team could be a real contender and still have a healthy amount of cap space... I sincerely hope Ballard makes a couple of big moves this off-season.

 

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stitches Ring of Honor

stitches

Posted
Posted

Well.... on the last question of the poll - signing AC drops us to under 70M, the draft picks will drop us at about 60M maybe less. So the question is - do we expect any more major signings or extensions? I kind of expect us to spend a bit more this year. Even with this spending we are still about 15M under the minimum. So I would expect us to drop at the very least to about 45M. 

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richard pallo Ring of Honor

richard pallo

Posted
Posted
3 hours ago, stitches said:

Well.... on the last question of the poll - signing AC drops us to under 70M, the draft picks will drop us at about 60M maybe less. So the question is - do we expect any more major signings or extensions? I kind of expect us to spend a bit more this year. Even with this spending we are still about 15M under the minimum. So I would expect us to drop at the very least to about 45M. 

I'm not sure his signing drops us to under 70M.  With the new CBA teams were given more freedom in accounting for contracts.  A large portion of his contract is bonus money which could be spread out.  So it will be interesting to see how the new accounting rules works out.

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Blueblood23 Team Captain

Blueblood23

Posted
Posted
21 hours ago, DEFENSE said:

our record last season says he has not been successful in getting above average talent

He has hit on a few very good players. The roster still needs a lot of help with WR, CB,  

DE, DT, QB and special team players. Maybe some of these current players will step up this year and show more than a flash. We can only hope.

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aaron11 Practice Squad

aaron11

Posted
Posted
21 hours ago, DEFENSE said:

our record last season says he has not been successful in getting above average talent

the team was built around Luck, sucks that hes gone but any GM would have catered the roster to a star qb like that.

 

i think we have a pretty average team  now that will probably be in the 7-9 win range again unless whoever the qb is balls out next year.  obviously we still have the draft and Free agents, but so does every other team

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jameszeigler834 Walk On

jameszeigler834

Posted
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On 3/15/2020 at 3:18 AM, EastStreet said:

Nothing earth shattering. The only thing new that I hadn't heard prior was Irsay's comment about needing friction. 

 

They do suggest that the Colts will likely sign a QB early on in FA (assuming they want to sign a QB), but then kind of hedges. 

 

All in all, Irsay's previously reported comments that he'll make the QB decision (along with Chris and Frank) tells me it's pretty obvious they'll be going in a different direction this year. That is, unless they fail to get the guy they want (in FA and/or draft).

 

 

We were in April or may before he signed.

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