Mike Chappell reports that the Indianapolis Colts are continuing their roster make over by releasing LB Gary Brackett, S Melvin Bullitt, TE Dallas Clark, RB Joseph Addai and QB Curtis Painter.
There have been rumors that some of these moves could be coming but it’s certainly surprising to see the team make all of them at one time. NFL.com’s Jason La Canfora reports that Colts will save $51 million after releasing all of these players plus Peyton Manning which saved them $36M allow.
Dallas Clark is the biggest name out of the group but the fact that he’s 32 and dealt with a number of injuries in recent years makes him seem like a liability moving forward. The Colts would have had to pay him $4.53 million for the 2012 season. Clark was one of Peyton Manning‘s best weapons during the team’s successful run in the 2000’s. Clark will certainly find someone willing to bring him in and there’s chance that he could follow Manning.
Joseph Addai had 2012 contract of $2.9 million. Indianapolis has struggled to run the ball in recent years and despite re-signing him last year, there are certainly questions about his ability moving forward.
Brackett, 31, was schedule to make $5 million for the 2012 season but it will only create an extra $200,000 in cap space according to Mac’s Football Blog. He’s spent all nine of his seasons with the Colts.
Melvin Bullitt, 27, has a base salary of $2.4 million and is coming off of right shoulder injury that cost him the remainder of the 2011 season.
The team was reluctant to play Painter last season and even brought in Kerry Collins who was sitting at home to play instead of him. When he finally got his opportunity, he was as unimpressive as quarterback playing in the league. Painter may have a hard time even finding work as a backup on the open market.
The Colts are obviously willing to completely start over and build around Andrew Luck much the same way they did with Peyton Manning. It’s hard to imagine that they’ll be competing next year. In fact, Manning led the league in interception his first year in the league so the expectations for Luck should be scaled back a bit until the team has added some quality young pieces.
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damn i was looking forward to seeing luck go off but now the colts really have no one in the passing game, reggie wayne, pierre garcon, dallas clark and i believe addai who i believe can catch a little bit all called it quits or were let go. all i got to say to andrew luck is hang in there bro you’ll get the receiving core you need soon
Don’t forget that they’re shopping DE Dwight Freeney too! It’s going to be really strange to see what their team looks like next year but I assume that they’re going to start acquiring draft picks and building through the draft.