NFL Notes: Colts, Dolphins & Patriots

Colts

Indianapolis cannot waste QB Andrew Luck‘s talent and the $140 million they’re giving him via a recent extension, according to ESPN’s Mike Wells.

Therefore, Wells writes that the pressure is on Colts general manager Ryan Grigson to continue developing Indianapolis’ roster by retaining their own free agents, which is something the franchise did with QB Peyton Manning several years ago.

“I think that with Peyton, and certainly with Andrew, there was some, I’ll use the word ‘self-sacrifice,” Colts Owner Jim Irsay said. “I guess, just some real consideration about making sure we could pay that nucleus of 10 to 12 guys around Andrew like it was around Peyton.”

The foundation has been laid for the Colts to maintain consistency, because players like WR Donte Moncrief, WR Phillip Dorsett, OL Jack Mewhort, and C Ryan Kelly are healthy and in their rookie deals.

“Of course in Peyton’s years, we kept the [Dwight] Freeneys and the [Robert] Mathises and the [Marvin] Harrisons and the [Reggie] Waynes and the Tarik Glenns,” Irsay said.

Dolphins

ESPN’s James Walker writes that last summer’s surgery caused WR DeVante Parker‘s slow start to the season, which is something the team is trying to avoid this offseason.

“My mindset keeps being of, ‘I want him to be able to train for the next five weeks,’” Dolphins head coach Adam Gase said during minicamp. “The last thing I want to do is put him in a situation where he has one little setback and now he’s in the training room for two to three weeks or something, and we have a setback and now I’m going, ‘What did I do that for?’ Where he could’ve been training for five weeks, I guess I’m being overly cautious about this.”

Patriots

ESPN’s Mike Reiss notes that the Patriots have a history of bringing in players they’ve had practices with in the past.  With this in mind, Reiss takes a look at players New England could consider from the Bears and Saints, both of whom are practicing with the Patriots this summer.

• Defensive tackles John Jenkins and Tyeler Davison could get a look from the Patriots, but Reiss expects them to end up on the Saints’ final roster. Reiss also points out that RB Daniel Lasco and DE Davis Tull are athletic players competing for a roster spot with New Orleans.
• As for the Bears, Reiss is excited to see rookie WR Daniel Braverman. Before the draft, Reiss listed Braverman as a player who fits the Patriots’ style. Beyond Braverman, Reiss lists linebackers Christian Jones and Sam Acho as defensive players worth keeping an eye on.