Should colts try to sign Gary Brackett again

[stonehart1234]

I think they should because he was a good man and zone defender. He would help when we're blitzing or as a QB spy.

[bahhummbug]

I think he is too old and waste of roster spot.Gary was ok at LB had great moments but his injury and age i say no.

[CR91]

waste of a spot

[CjMcGirt23]

[Robin]

no hes not that good anymore, sadly though hes got a great personality

[Creekside]

loved Brackett in the old scheme....perfect fit....but not for a 3-4....not sure he's healthy, or someone prob would have signed him...

[21isSuperman]

I'm a big Brackett fan, but I don't think we should bring him back. We are trying to get younger and we already have two solid ILBs in Angerer and Connor.

[HungarianColtsFan]

No.

He isn't healthy, and is injury prone. He could be a great reinforcement, if he was healthy.

[NDKoltz]

i know he would always give 100% and would rather see him as a 3rd string backup in Indy than not playing anywhere this year.

[Balzer40]

He don't fit in the 3-4 at all and would just be robbing a roster spot from somebody that could actually contribute.

[Gavin]

Waste of a roster spot. Gave us some good years, but nothing irreplaceable. Although speaking in football years he is only 32 so if he is healthy and finds the right team I think he would be a quality backup but not a starter on most teams anymore in my opinion

[Peytonparker]

Easy question. NO

[ReMeDy]

I AGREE!

[Andy]

I don't he'll get the nod over Pat Angerer and Kavell Conner... plus he'll need to learn a whole new defense whereas Angerer and Conner are currently in the middle of learning this one.

[Andy]

No.

He isn't healthy, and is injury prone. He could be a great reinforcement, if he was healthy.

Well, he was cleared to play. I don't think his health is that big of a concern, whereas his age and unfamiliarity with the new defense are.

[ColtJ82]

What would his base salary be based on his experience (minimum)? Will we even have the cap space for that? I think they are probably going to leave a little padding in the cap for training cap cuts, injuries, etc.

[HGRekks]

If he's willing to give coaching a look, I think an assistant job could be merited (depending on how he interviews and such) and would also be a decent fan service. But only if he is qualified.

As a player, I think he's nearing the end. A stop-gap ILB is not needed.

[FireJimCaldwell]

No, his better Sunday's have past. Could catch on with a team needing depth and a that he fits into.

[dgambill]

So who plays if Angerer or Conner goes down? I'm not saying I know anything at all about his injury status or contract status but if he would come back for the minimum he was very servicable...especially in pass coverage. He is far from a great MLB but we don't have much depth in my opinion at that spot and he is a smart vet that could help our young defense. I mean it wouldn't be out of the question for us to have some injuries this year. I am suspecting that based on him being cut was more to do with his contract than his ability to play. Still no one has picked him up yet all our FA were slow to get looked at. I think he has something left in the tank. I think he would make a great vet backup for somebody. Very professional guy.

[HtownColt]

I don't bring brackett back too old and hurt but to say no because he doesn't fit a 3-4 is pretty asinine

[Gavin]

So who plays if Angerer or Conner goes down? I'm not saying I know anything at all about his injury status or contract status but if he would come back for the minimum he was very servicable...especially in pass coverage. He is far from a great MLB but we don't have much depth in my opinion at that spot and he is a smart vet that could help our young defense. I mean it wouldn't be out of the question for us to have some injuries this year. I am suspecting that based on him being cut was more to do with his contract than his ability to play. Still no one has picked him up yet all our FA were slow to get looked at. I think he has something left in the tank. I think he would make a great vet backup for somebody. Very professional guy.

Freeman if he makes the team could be very good

[DarkHorse]

No. He had his time and it has run out.

[Smitto]

Wish I could like this a million times lol... brackett was never a good LB, he was "good" at zone coverage and that's it. Sadly for him he would get man handled in the 3-4 because he's to weak compared to other 3-4 LBs.... really nice guy though.

[That Guy]

If he's willing to give coaching a look, I think an assistant job could be merited (depending on how he interviews and such) and would also be a decent fan service. But only if he is qualified.

As a player, I think he's nearing the end. A stop-gap ILB is not needed.

I agree entirely. Maybe sign him to a position like David Thornton to help players reach out to the community.

[Ohio Colt]

I agree with this. I would love to see it

[Balzer40]

I don't bring brackett back too old and hurt but to say no because he doesn't fit a 3-4 is pretty asinine

I think its asinine to say its asinine for saying he don't fit in a 3-4 system. There is a clear and obvious difference in playing LBer in a Tampa 2 and a 3-4. Brackett does not fit in a 3-4 system.

[mark5362]

Pat Angerer took that spot away.He played his tail off every down.

[21isSuperman]

Wish I could like this a million times lol... brackett was never a good LB, he was "good" at zone coverage and that's it. Sadly for him he would get man handled in the 3-4 because he's to weak compared to other 3-4 LBs.... really nice guy though.

I disagree. If you can find the full game film of our playoff game against the Jets in 2009, watch it. I distinctly remember one play where Brackett took on an O-lineman, shed him, and made a great tackle on the RB. I don't think he's weak. I think he was a good LB, but never a great one.

[dgambill]

I think its asinine to say its asinine for saying he don't fit in a 3-4 system. There is a clear and obvious difference in playing LBer in a Tampa 2 and a 3-4. Brackett does not fit in a 3-4 system.

So your saying that Freeney and Mathis who are the same age can change and play the OLB but Gary can't play MLB...the same position...just in a new scheme. If he is still hurt or he has fallen off I totally get it but lets be real. He was getting like 5 million a season so he was cut. He was a very solid MLB in the 4-3...very intelligent..calling all the plays and getting everyone lined up. Very good in pass coverage..solid tackler but because the scheme changed he couldn't play as a 3-4 MLB? I don't believe that one bit. A good MLB is a good MLB to me. I think he got cut because we saw Pat step up and play good enough for far far far cheaper to replace him. If he wanted to come back for much less he has been nothing but a positive for our franchise. A great person and a good teammate.

He got cut because of his contract, a younger player played well to take his position, but to think he would not be a servicable back up LB at a minimum type salary I think is being too harsh. Just my opinion. If healthy he still had enough skills and a great teammate to be a very solid contributor to a team. 3-4 or 4-3.

[bahhummbug]

I disagree. If you can find the full game film of our playoff game against the Jets in 2009, watch it. I distinctly remember one play where Brackett took on an O-lineman, shed him, and made a great tackle on the RB. I don't think he's weak. I think he was a good LB, but never a great one.

Agree as i said above Gary had great moments but was just ok at LB.Good leader great guy but we do not need to re-sign an aging injury prone LBER when were going younger,

[GoColts8818]

No, I think Brackett can still play I just think we are moving away from the kind of defense he needs to be successful in and that's the Cover-2.

[HtownColt]

I think its asinine to say its asinine for saying he don't fit in a 3-4 system. There is a clear and obvious difference in playing LBer in a Tampa 2 and a 3-4. Brackett does not fit in a 3-4 system.

It's just different assignments how does he not fit

[Creekside]

..... from what I understand, the two interior LB's in a 3-4 will need to fight through more direct blocks from O-linemen and full backs because there are only 3 down linemen in front of them. Strength is more important than speed.

[HtownColt]

..... from what I understand, the two interior LB's in a 3-4 will need to fight through more direct blocks from O-linemen and full backs because there are only 3 down linemen in front of them. Strength is more important than speed.

Not really a 3-4 is designed for the LB to run more freely and make plays. The key is to have a NT that command double teams and at least one of the DE that can demand a double team as well which allows the LB to move more freely

[John Waylon]

No. He could only play inside in the 3-4 and we've got Angerer and Conner to anchor those spots. Brackett, as much as it hurts to admit, has lost a step over the past few years.

[Balzer40]

So your saying that Freeney and Mathis who are the same age can change and play the OLB but Gary can't play MLB...the same position...just in a new scheme. If he is still hurt or he has fallen off I totally get it but lets be real. He was getting like 5 million a season so he was cut. He was a very solid MLB in the 4-3...very intelligent..calling all the plays and getting everyone lined up. Very good in pass coverage..solid tackler but because the scheme changed he couldn't play as a 3-4 MLB? I don't believe that one bit. A good MLB is a good MLB to me. I think he got cut because we saw Pat step up and play good enough for far far far cheaper to replace him. If he wanted to come back for much less he has been nothing but a positive for our franchise. A great person and a good teammate.

He got cut because of his contract, a younger player played well to take his position, but to think he would not be a servicable back up LB at a minimum type salary I think is being too harsh. Just my opinion. If healthy he still had enough skills and a great teammate to be a very solid contributor to a team. 3-4 or 4-3.

No thats not what im saying at all. Freeney and mathis have the size to play LBer in a 3-4 defense. Whether they're any good or not is yet to be determined. Brackett is a small undersized Tampa 2 LBer that don't fit a 3-4 system. Like it or not, thats just the way it is. There is a reason why nobody has even sniffed in his direction since he was cut. If he was so good, at the age of 32, he would be getting calls and its obvious he is not. A 3-4 defense is more of a smashmouth defense that was designed to stop the run more efficiently and the LBers have to be bigger and stronger to fight their way thru blocks. Brackett would get absolutely manhandled playing in a 3-4. People can argue all they want, but thats just the way it is.

[Gavin]

No thats not what im saying at all. Freeney and mathis have the size to play LBer in a 3-4 defense. Whether they're any good or not is yet to be determined. Brackett is a small undersized Tampa 2 LBer that don't fit a 3-4 system. Like it or not, thats just the way it is. There is a reason why nobody has even sniffed in his direction since he was cut. If he was so good, at the age of 32, he would be getting calls and its obvious he is not. A 3-4 defense is more of a smashmouth defense that was designed to stop the run more efficiently and the LBers have to be bigger and stronger to fight their way thru blocks. Brackett would get absolutely manhandled playing in a 3-4. People can argue all they want, but thats just the way it is.

Angerer is listed as the same weight and only 1 inch taller then Brackett, and Connor is also 6' but 242lb, thats what they are all listed on the NFL.com site anyway, if you ask me it had everything to do with the production we got from Angerer combined with Bracketts injury made him dispensible, nothing to do with what Brackett can play in,

[Superman]

Angerer is listed as the same weight and only 1 inch taller then Brackett, and Connor is also 6' but 242lb, thats what they are all listed on the NFL.com site anyway, if you ask me it had everything to do with the production we got from Angerer combined with Bracketts injury made him dispensible, nothing to do with what Brackett can play in,

Gary Brackett was due a $5 million base salary and had a $7.4m cap hit in 2012, and had cap hits of $9m in 2013 and 2014. By releasing him, we pay him nothing more, keep pretty much the same cap hit in 2012, but are completely free of his contract after 2012. His contract was the single biggest reason he wasn't retained.

Beyond that, he wasn't able to pass his physical after the season, and had only played in 13 games the past two seasons. Even without Angerer's production, which undoubtedly made this easier, it would have been necessary to do something about that contract. I believe it was the team's intention to address the contract around this time anyways, given the backloaded base salaries.

[Mcafee420]

Love me some Gary Brackett but I think it would be a waste of space. Not even from a captain state of mind. The 3-4 defense would be foreign with him.

[El Poonerator]

Didn't he fail the team physical just before we released him? That is your answer...No