He's starting caliber when healthy. I just don't trust his health.

According to NFL network, Colts have signed Jabaal Sheard. 3 yrs, 25 mil.

Where is the outrage like when we signed Walden? Let's hear it.

There's not a Cliff Avril on the market that was passed on to sign him, and he's still got some upside, unlike Walden. That said, not a huge fan of the contract, seems like he could've been had cheaper.

Maybe back when the Colts were contending for the #1 seed and considered a well-run, highly appealing free agent destination. Now, they're a mess and may make the playoffs if the South still sucks, which is far from given so they have to overpay to get free agents to come here.

What I love most about signing Simon and Sheard is that we have stabilized our most critical need.

Now if we can sign a CB and one of the ILBs, then we are defensive BPA all through the draft.

No position group is good enough to not need help, but none would be in critical need of a starter right now.

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Walden was signed to replace Freeney, wasn't he? If so, that's part of why fans didn't welcome him. He was also more of a fringe starter, whereas this guy is probably better than whatever else is currently on the D-line--certainly no one would be replaced that would cause anyone to complain. Maybe this guy turns out to be a knucklehead and a bum, but for now I don't think you'll find anyone ready to fight about this move.

But people can't stand the talent we had on d and we might have gotten worse

Glad to see Ballard made a couple decent signings today, may not be Pro Bowlers, but they are improvements.

In what universe have the Colts gotten worse?? Please explain!!

Who are our cbs?

Simon was a backup. Is he a sure fire great player? Is he better than Mathis was last year?

Sheard is a younger Walden. How much better is he?

Mingo is trash that we are paying too much for.

How exactly are we better

Still no word on Darius Butler ??? This surprises me ... :cool:

Butler has spent the past five seasons with the Colts, playing in 67 games (starting 24) and recording 214 tackles, 41 passes defensed, 12 interceptions (three touchdowns), and six forced fumbles. Last year, he played in 12 games and started seven of them, recording 33 tackles, seven passes defensed, three interceptions, and a forced fumble. He was productive as a slot cornerback and also spent time at safety, where he wants to move full-time

http://www.stampedeblue.com/2017/3/1...ee-agency-2017

Sometimes, one must take two steps backward in order to go three steps forward. Usually, after one realizes he has stepped in isht. Wouldn't you say this franchise has stepped in isht?

Packers Signing TE Martellus Bennett :cool:

Sheard was my #5 OLB in free agency and Simon was my #6 OLB in free agency only behind Melvin Ingram, Chandler Jones, Mario Addison, and Nick Perry.

Anyone else better is over 30 (James Harrison, Charles Johnson) and would not have been a target for Ballard.

Cheers,

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shit.

no more filter.

Has he ever played in a 3-4 defense? I don't think so. That and his injury status, would be enough for me to pass.

he is over 30. we will wait and possible sign him later if no one else does.

His declining performance seems linked to a bad back that's plagued him the past couple of years. Injury free, he's an elite player, but he hasn't been injury free for awhile.

isn't it nice

which is fine

but lets not just pretend these guys are beasts on the field. and possibly no better than walden.

Younger hopefully cheaper versions of Walden, and I'm fine with that.

Walden caught far too much grief around here for his contract. But, IMO he played up to that contract, and I'm not talking about last year either.

In fact, I though last season was his worst season from a run defense, set the edge perspective. He got more sacks only because he was being used as the Rush LB more and because he lucked into some very favorable matchups, or wasn't blocked at all.

Sheard is. There's a good possibility Simon is as well.

Right now, we just need fine.

Upgrades will come in the draft.

Cheers,

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don't know who will be playing CB, probably a rookie and Vontae

Simon was a backup to Clowney, Mercilus and Cushing...I doubt any of our LBs last year would have made the Texans roster, so yes IMO much better

You are right, Sheard and Walden are probably a wash, except for age, so I will give Sheard a slight edge because of that.

Mingo is a former 1st round pick that I for one am hoping for him to be our version of Jerry Hughes.

I just don't see how we could be any worse than last year, but thats just one mans opinion.

Exactly, the Colts had one NFL caliber OLB entering free agency. Now they have three. Five are needed. They have maybe one NFL caliber ILB. Four are needed. Hopefully that's addressed both before and during the draft.

Butler should have been signed by now. Last year he proved that he can play safety while still retaining a nose for the football which has always been an unappreciated strength of his. What's more, we know exactly what we have in him. Why replace him with a jag? Even if we draft a safety he would be a reliable backup and a positive veteran influence in the secondary. Can't imagine he would command an unacceptable contract.

Who is the one that was on the roster? Ayers?

Cheers,

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I have no idea.

Cheerio,

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Brandin Cooks to the Pats for the Pat's 1st round pick. Fucking Pats.

I don't hate the signings, but I am always a bit hesitant of roleplayers who looked good on teams with great players or coaching to make them look better. Those guys seem to end up being mediocre far more often than good.

Yes.

Even if they are, who are they blocking? Mediocre is better than awful. Awful was just about all that was on the roster.

Sorry if it's already been posted, but saw somewhere that Colts signed Sheard, Simon & Mingo for basically $2-3M more than what Packers gave to just Nick Perry.

In a defense that basically just needs bodies at every position -- and specifically, a LB corps that needs entirely remade -- that's really not bad GM'ing.

Also saw cap hits are frontloaded, so presumably if the Colts can/do improve from these guys by 2018 or 2019, it's nothing to cut weight.

(That said, I think Simon has some real potential based on who I listed to/read. And I don't know much about Sheard, but at least you know unlike LBs native to this roster, he has actually been coached.)

Hell, mediocre woulda won the AFC South last year.

Fricking Cooks to the Cheats.

The rich keep getting richer.

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They gave up a lot for Cooks, probably worth it.

It's baffling how few GMs seem to understand the value of trades. If you have a #good team, known quality (players you trade for) are far more often better than draft picks (unknown quality).

I don't blame the Colts, for instance, for acquiring draft capital, because they need to create a roster / culture / youth movement. So it makes sense for them.

But why the hell the Chiefs, for instance, aren't all over the trade market is beyond me.

Your opinion of a players ability means nothing to me