2026 Off-Season Thread

[Thorgrim]

Originally Posted by Racehorse

To say that those who don't have torches and pitchforks out are happy with the records of the past few years. We are not. However, we do not see it as much of a doom and gloom situation like some do on here and other fan sites.

Fair enough. I didn’t mean to imply that they are happy. I was referring to those who every year refuse to acknowledge that things are going wrong. I don’t think you can paint the fans here with a wide brush. I was referring to a segment of our participants. Should’ve made that clear. In some years past I’d go whistling past the graveyard. I’m sure that’s true of many now. Im just past that. Others genuinely see the glass more full. We all have our own perspectives. I can respect that. I’ll be cheering for them.

[Puck]

Originally Posted by rm1369

Honest question - you don’t see it as doom and gloom because you believe in what they have done and are doing? Or because you just always have a “this is our year” mentality and rarely criticize the team? I’m not saying that as a knock to that style of fandom. I’m just honestly trying to understand the continued Ballard support by some.

This is a great question and I will answer after Race. Since you directed it to him

[Racehorse]

Originally Posted by rm1369

Honest question - you don’t see it as doom and gloom because you believe in what they have done and are doing? Or because you just always have a “this is our year” mentality and rarely criticize the team? I’m not saying that as a knock to that style of fandom. I’m just honestly trying to understand the continued Ballard support by some.

I am a generally positive person. I think the best of most people and situations. However, I knew that Polian turning the reigns over to his son was a bad idea. I figured out Grigson was not a good GM. I knew when it was time for Pagano and Reich to go. I think Caldwell got a raw deal. I had high hopes for Wentz, until he started playing like Will Levis. I had high hopes for Matt Ryan. I was rooting for Jeff Saturday, but it became very obvious that he was brought in to tank the season.

As for Ballard, I like a lot of his draft picks. I even think the AR pick was a good idea, but the execution of his development was where they went wrong. The guy needed reps, but he also needed to learn how to be a pro QB by sitting behind a guy like Rivers, Manning, Luck, Brady.

[sherck]

Originally Posted by rm1369

Honest question - you don’t see it as doom and gloom because you believe in what they have done and are doing? Or because you just always have a “this is our year” mentality and rarely criticize the team? I’m not saying that as a knock to that style of fandom. I’m just honestly trying to understand the continued Ballard support by some.

I know this was not directed at me but I am also a generally positive and upbeat fan of the Colts for now 42 years since they moved to Indy.

This off-season has not been a surprise to me at all. As I said in another thread, after living for decades with superior QB play and have now been searching for it again for 7 year since Luck retired, once they found someone whom they BELIEVE can deliver it again, they pushed all their chips in on him.

As much as I believe he is going to break our hearts, the Colts betting on Daniel Jones was a 100% guarantee once he showed he could execute the offense at a high level. There was zero chance that the Colts were not going to re-sign him after last season.

Along with that, there was zero chance that the Colts were not going to give it their best shot to re-sign Pierce as the new #1 WR because of the friendship and bond DJ and AP share.

And then, based on that, there was a 100% chance that Pittman was going to be traded to clear cap space to allow for those first two moves.

And, then based on having spent the bulk of available free agency money on those two players, I knew that the rest of our signings were going to be veterans whom are more "bit" players and not full time starters. That we were in talks with Hendrickson were gratifying and getting him would have been great but once he signed with BAL, well, then came the tier 2 players.

The only "surprise" of the off-season for me so far is letting Cross walk for $7m a year. They may have someone on the roster whom they think can replace him cheaper but I don't know who that is.

I am hopeful that it will work out for the Colts and while I beieve that it will not and that DJ will disappoint, I knew 100% that this was the path the Colts were going to walk on for the 2026 off-season.

So, why am I optimistic and upbeat on the Colts? Probably because I don't measure my enjoyment of the Colts only on Superbowl wins, playoff appearances or even wins some seasons.

I throughly enjoyed the second half of 2025 almost as much as the first half because we played a couple really close, competitive games as now the underdogs and almost got wins. Seeing young players step up and compete? Not win but compete? Yeah, I love watching that. I was against the Rivers experiment because I wanted to see more of Leonard but I still enjoyed watching Rivers grow as he threw a couple of really nice games while here at 79 years old!

Anyway, my gauge of fun while watching the Colts is not just rooted in wins or losses or playoffs or SB appearances. My fun is rooted in the game of football and win or lose, the Colts are my team.

That said, I am pretty much done with Ballard if the DJ experiment fails. NEXT!

[AlwaysSunnyinIndy]

Colts are signing Notre Dame alum Jerry Tillery for DL depth and a Notre Dame basketball player to try to learn the TE position.

https://x.com/RomeovilleKid/status/2033972990703005704

Colts are signing veteran DT Jerry Tillery and former Notre Dame forward (yes, basketball) Carson Towt, who will be listed as a TE, per the team.

https://x.com/RomeovilleKid/status/2033978792843055543

New Colts DL Jerry Tillery says he feels comfortable playing all across the line.

"I played nose (guard) last year. I played 3-technique throughout my whole career. I've played on the edge. ... It's all defensive line. And I think I can do whatever I can to help us win."

https://x.com/RomeovilleKid/status/2033976513276649748

New Colts TE Carson Towt says he spoke to veteran TE Mo Alie-Cox about the transition from college basketball to the NFL.

Says he's grateful to have that real-life example/success story on a team he's joining.

https://x.com/RomeovilleKid/status/2033977291458404665

New Colts TE Carson Towt, who played basketball at Notre Dame, says he's actually not eligible for the NFL Draft, so that's why he can sign as a free agent right now.

[AlwaysSunnyinIndy]

Pinter is headed to Baltimore:

https://x.com/JFowlerESPN/status/2033966241560306004

The Ravens and C Danny Pinter have reached agreement on a deal, per source.

Baltimore gets much-needed help at center. Pinter spent five seasons with Indianapolis.

https://x.com/jeffzrebiec/status/2033969168903438516

Ravens deal with C/G Danny Pinter: 1 year, $2.25 million. Max value is $2.75 million.

[AlwaysSunnyinIndy]

Colts add more to the secondary by signing another former Bengal


https://x.com/TomPelissero/status/2034006109929799981

Former Bengals CB Cam Taylor-Britt is expected to sign with the Colts, per source.

He visited today and now is set for a reunion with DC Lou Anarumo.

https://x.com/TomPelissero/status/2034006749288575189

It's a one-year deal for Cam Taylor-Britt and the Colts, who take a low-risk flier on a player who started 38 games over his first three NFL seasons and is still only 26 years old.

[Oldcolt]

I like Pinter as a backup however if there is one position Ballard can draft and develop it is offensive lineman

[apballin]

Originally Posted by AlwaysSunnyinIndy

Colts add more to the secondary by signing another former Bengal


https://x.com/TomPelissero/status/2034006109929799981




https://x.com/TomPelissero/status/2034006749288575189

I’d say he’s insurance for Ward and Walley but I like it

[rm1369]

Racehorse and Shreck, I appreciate the responses and perspectives. And I’d love to hear Puck’s as well.

It doesn’t sound like we are that far off from each other. I thinks when you are as consistently critical as I’ve been, people believe you have unrealistic expectations and just complain about everything. I honestly don’t believe that is accurate for me. I don’t believe they should win the SB every year and I’ve never believed they should sign every big FA - things I’ve been accused of. I can love the down years, not just the winners. Hope is what I love about being a fan, often even more than the reality. I love watching a player and especially the team develop. Those years where you can see the small progress and you start projecting what they could become in the following years. Anticipating getting over that hump. That is where I think I’m the happiest as a fan honestly. The years where you KNOW they could win it all are great, but for me the hope and anticipation of those lesser years define fandom.

And that is largely why I’ve been so critical of Ballard. From his second offseason I’ve had no faith in his stated beliefs and philosophy so it’s been extremely hard for me to ever have hope. If his methods worked I’m more than capable of realizing I’m wrong. The problem is, that while I’ve been wrong on some individual moves, he has not really proven me wrong on his philosophy. The team has been almost exactly where I’ve said it would be when Chaka was on the board telling me I just couldn’t see the dynasty Ballard was building.


As far as this coming season, I’ve agreed it made sense to keep Ballard and Stechein at least one more year. I’m not a big believer in DJ, but you had to run it back with him to see. I think AP is probably overpaid (temporarily) but he was a must resign. And once they committed to AP they had to move on from MP. None of that is a major surprise or a major complaint. It’s just that I see almost nothing that gives me hope. Doing what you had to do is fine in some years, but there should be times you load up and go for it. Isn’t this one of them? It never seems to be with Ballard. It’s part of the philosophical disagreement I’ve always had with him. So again I can’t find much hope for the season. It sucks.