There will be a lot of sad faces in Coltsville today. many of the free agents Indy fans have been public in their desire for signed elsewhere right away. Paul Kruger is a Brown, Andy Levitre a Flaming Thumbtack and Louis Vasquez will be protecting Peyton Manning in Colorado.
Perhaps more important is the fact that the team could not come to a deal with Jerraud Powers before he hit the open market. It's sad, because he's a quality player and guy, but the Colts brass are too smart to pay two guys No. 1 corner money.
As I write this (I'm at work), the announcement just came through that through that the Colts signed former first-round pick Gosder Cherilus. Although he'd had some problems with injuries and speed rushers in the past, he was outstanding for the Lions last season at right tackle, especially in pass defense. He's a plug-and-play starter, so his presence and the tender offer to Jeff Linkenbach make the likelihood of the team re-signed Winston Justice slim. Too bad, great guy, but Cherlius represents an upgrade.
Cherlius is still young-ish (28), but has a lot of miles on his tires. An excellent pass blocker and plus run blocker, his biggest liabilities are his penchant for penalties, and his injury history. He was arrested once for his part in a bar brawl years ago, but does not seem like a character risk at all. I'm not sure how big the contract is, but it's for five years, so it's probably quite large.
And now it's come to my attention that an old favorite of mine, Greg Toler, has signed with the Colts. Arizona's third corner last season after recovering from a nasty ACL tear in 2011, he played very well. According to ProFootballFocus.com, he allowed just a 41.4 completion percentage for a 51.5 passer rating. He also graded out as the team's best corner in run support.
Better in man than zone coverage, Toler is big and strong enough to make a real impression as a press corner. Many fans will probably expect him to be a slot guy, but he's way more effective outside. Three years at $15 million makes me think he's expected to start opposite Vontae Davis. I'm okay with that.
Lawrence Sidbury is interesting. Coming out of college, he was a much-desired pass-rushing prospect in 2009. He seems to have all the tools, and appeared to be emerging as a pass-rushing force in 2010 with four sacks, but the Falcons benched him and he added just one more sack in two years, playing sparingly. I don't know why the Falcons soured on him, just that they did.
He'll get a chance to compete, but does not look like the pass rusher the Colts need to make the next step.
The Colts also added much-traveled guard Donald Thomas. He had some issues, especially in pass protection, in the past, but played very well with the Patriots last season. An accomplished run blocker (contrary to common opinion, smaller guards often excel in the running game). If he's as good as he looked last season, the Colts have a strong candidate to start at guard.
I'm not nearly as nuts about another Colts' signing, outside linebacker Erik Walden. A college DE who's spent some time in Dallas, KC and Green Bay, Walden has collected just nine sacks in 66 games played. Last season in Green Bay, he played a lot and showed a few flashes, but nothing I got excited about. Not much against the run, but pretty decent in coverage. Since the Colts gave him $16 million for four years, they must see something I don't.
And he spent a weekend in jail for allegedly punching out his girlfriend.
Late note: The Colts also re-signed Darius Butler. Yisssss.
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