Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - LOCKED ON COLTS -12/20- Non-UFA's Who Should Be On The Chopping Block Following The Season

Episode Date: December 20, 2016

With so many disappointing players, moments and situations over the past few seasons, the #Colts can't hold off any longer when deciding whether or not to cut bait with some regressing talents regardless of where they are in their contracts. Here are a handful of guys that Matt sees as expendable and should be given their walking papers before next season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

That's for my crazy day. My packed commute. All those unread emails in my inbox. But I'm getting stronger, faster, and pushing myself further every day. I don't care if I'm not like everyone else. This punching bag is the best way to end my day. Fearless is knowing yoga isn't your style. That's the power of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Federal Employee Program.

Learn more about our healthy benefits at fepblue.org slash getmore. No, I'm not for sale. You are lockeded On Colts, your daily Indianapolis Colts podcast. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. Welcome back to Locked On Colts, ladies and gentlemen. I'm your host, Matt Dainley. And thank you for joining me here on a Tuesday, December 20th, and we are jumping into something that I talked to you guys about yesterday, saying that I was going to give you guys a few people on this current Colts roster that I basically

either, A, don't want to see anymore next year for some variable reasons, or just that I probably don't think will be on the team next year. And there's just one of those. Not so much that I don't think he should be. I don't want him, so to speak. But I just don't think that he'll be on the team next year. I don't think he's a viable option. But thank you again, like I said, for joining me in here at Locked On Colts.

Here five times a week to talk with you guys and talk our Indianapolis Colts. We're coming to a close. We've got a big game coming up against Oakland. This is such a huge game. The Colts really have their work cut out for them. I mean, the Raiders have a dynamic running attack with Murray. They've got Amari Cooper, Crabtree in the passing game, Clive Walford. You know, I mean, they've got a lot of options, and Carr under center is as good as anybody in

the league for the most part. But they're a beatable team. They're absolutely a beatable team. And Wednesday through Friday, we're going to dive right into about everything that we can about this matchup and see what we can expect into about everything that we can about this matchup and see what we can expect to see from the Colts in this matchup on the road. Like I said, Colts have done pretty well on the road this year. Let's hope that they can keep that up. And let's hope that, you know, we get some help over the next couple weeks and get the Colts into the playoffs. That would be nice to see despite such a, you know,

such a bad year. It just seems it's just so, and then like I was telling you guys yesterday, is it, is it, I mean, does it even shock you guys that with those three wins that I talked about, uh, if those were wins, those three losses week one, and then, uh, the loss against the Jaguars and the loss against the Texans in the first half of the season, if those were wins that the Colts would be 10-4, I mean, is that even, I mean, that's almost hard to wrap my mind around because I just can't fathom that because if the Colts right now were 10-4, I would still feel like this year is not ideal. You know, I would feel like the Colts still have so much more that they could prove,

but we've definitely seen two out of the last three weeks what the Colts can do and what this offense is totally capable of, but we've known that. Between the Jets and the Vikings game, the Colts have that matchup 75-16. That's just hard to really sink your teeth into. But anyways, like I said, Wednesday through Friday, we're going to jump in with both feet here into this Indianapolis Colts and Oakland Raiders matchup for Week 16. Hope that you guys are all staying warm out there, especially in Indiana.

It's been absolutely bitter. Hopefully some of you who are in Indiana, it's been absolutely bitter. Hopefully some of you who are in some nicer weather climates are reaping the benefits of where you live. So congratulations if that's you and you don't have snow and ice that you're walking on all day. Before we get into it, I want to talk to you guys about SeatGeek. SeatGeek is the smartest, easiest way to find tickets for the football games you want to see up close and about SeatGeek. SeatGeek is the smartest, easiest way to find tickets for the football games you want to see up close and in person this season. There's nothing like being in the stadium for the biggest plays of the year,

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To get this $20 rebate on tickets, download the SeatGeek app, go to the settings tab and click add a promo code before you shop for tickets. Enter promo code LOCOLTS. SeatGeek will send you $20 right back in your pocket after you've made the first ticket purchase. That's at least a beer or two, a hot dog, whatever. That's nice to take that extra 20 bucks to the game with you. Download the SeatGeek app and enter the promo code L-O Colts today. All right, first on the chopping block, I've got Arthur Jones just signed, uh, just put on IR within the past 24 hours. And this should probably be no real surprise to anybody. He's a unrestricted free agent for 2019.

Okay. So this isn't somebody who's contracts up. Uh, he's not, uh, even next year or the year after that for that matter. But, uh, he's going to be getting, if he's on the team, he's going to be getting $6.25 million per year, both next year and in 2018. Plus he's got $2.2 million in dead money. His signing bonus, this overall, if we cut him, he saves just over $4 million, more or less is what it is. He's going to get that get that 6.25 think about it that way and over the next two years he has 1.1 million dollars in bonuses each season signing bonus he started only

17 games since he's been in Indianapolis and that's which over the last three seasons he wasn't even healthy at all for 2015 he can't stay healthy healthy at all, and when he is, he's getting suspended. He's got a total of 34 tackles, 30 assists, and a sack and a half since 2014. He was billed as this run stopper that was going to come in and solidify the Colts' defensive line. He was a guy that, you know, coming from the Ravens was going to be a guy that the Colts could basically throw all their chips in and use him for run stoppage while being able to unleash some sort of a pass rush. Well, it hasn't worked out. I mean, granted, the Colts

over the past couple years haven't had much of a pass rush at all. And not only that, but like I said, Jones can't stay healthy, can't stay on the field when he's in, he plays pretty solid. I mean, he's not a bad player, but he's not good enough to waste another four, some $4 million, uh, this next year to just have him on the team. He's this next draft, expect the Colts to go heavy defense and heavy offensive line. I mean, there's going to be some, you know, here's and there's as well, but that's, I mean, the, the, whether it's Pagano and Grigson or somebody else, that's what they're going to do. Cause they're not going to have a choice regardless of who takes over this, uh, job for 2017. This is going to have to be a full defense and a full offensive line, uh, draft. It's just the way it's going to be to be a full defense and a full offensive line draft.

It's just the way it's going to be. And there may be some unrestricted free agents out there that the Colts could bring in, but for the time being, Arthur Jones, he's just getting too old, and he's not effective. He can't stay on the field. He gets suspended, and $4 million back in the Colts' pocket is well worth saving. Next, another guy who likes to get suspended, DeQuell Jackson. He's an unrestricted free agent in 2018.

To get rid of him, he would save about $5.25 million. Basically, he's only got $250,000 in dead money left over for his signing bonus. He'll be 34 next year. His production has continuously dropped each season. He had 96 tackles 2014, went down to 70-something, and then this year is down to 50-something. Granted, that's only in 12 games for him or 13 games, but he's continually gone down. Like I said, he's getting older. In my opinion, this suspension was him trying to make some sort of a move to elongate his career and elongate his stability, and he's not going to be able to do it. Basically, 2016

was one of the worst seasons of his career, one of the worst three seasons anyways, and cutting him saves a ton of money. I mean, right there, overall, there's almost $9.5 million between Arthur Jones and DeQuell Jackson. That could bring in a solid guy. Now, we'll talk about free agency and stuff like that after the season, but free agency is kind of slim too, so this is somewhat of a double-edged sword, guys. DeQuell still may be on the team next year,

but he's very much a one-trick pony. He's a run stopper. He's had a couple good games in coverage, not very many over his career in Indy. And his age, he's just at that high-impact position. He's not going to last very long. I mean, he's just not. And they run the risk of him going on IR next year and all that stuff. It's just better to cut bait with him, save the money. do it through the draft, get a couple of solid contributory pieces in free agency, and let's move on. DeQuell's not going to be the

answer for very much longer, if at all. Another guy, Dwayne Allen. He's not an unrestricted free agent until 2020. And here's the thing. He just signed this new contract this past year. They've already paid him $8.9 million, or they will have at the end of the year, and a million of his $4 million signing bonus, which leaves $3 million left in dead money. That's kind of cheap. I mean, with only a $4 million bonus, that's pretty nice. A million of that's already gone. He's going to have $5 million owed to him in March of next year. That's going to save $2 million. Not a bunch, but look, the Colts have Jack Doyle. He's definitely the best tight end on the Indianapolis Colts roster at this point. And then you've got a guy like Eric Swoop, who's coming up, turning somewhat, he's not a blocker.

There's no chance of that, so I'm not trying to say that. But he is somewhat of a hybrid role as far as he's a little stiff like Dwayne Allen when he runs, but he's got a little bit more speed than that, similar to Fleener. Not quite Fleener's speed or anything like that. But I'm just saying he's somewhat of a mix of those two guys. Now, blocking tight ends are a dime a dozen, A. B, there are a ton of tight ends in this draft as well. So if you want to draft one, I'm not necessarily saying the Colts should cut him. I'm saying the Colts should maybe try to swing a deal with Cleveland,

who's got Pep Hamilton and got some familiarity with alan or somebody else you know trading for just a mid-round pick or something like that bite the bullet on the money and move on he's not going to last much longer guys he is nicked up all the time he has uh 62.5 career catch percentage. That's over the past two years has been 60.8. He's got six touchdowns in the last two seasons, and three of those were in week 13 of this year against the Jets. 7.25 drop rate over the last three seasons, and that might be generous. They didn't have him for any in 2015, and I'm sorry. I just don't see that. I don't know how that's possible. So, I mean, he's going to cost $14.4 million, which is

$17.4 minus the $3 million in dead money through the life of his contract if we keep him. That's too expensive for him. He's not worth that, okay? I was totally on board with keeping him over Fleener. No two ways about it. I'm not saying that I was wrong, but I'm saying that he's not worth the rest of his contract. That's my opinion. Try to trade him. Not necessarily cut him. He's a valuable piece. You can get him for a mid-round pick, late-round pick, something like that. Use him. I mean, ultimately, the Colts are going to end up getting some nice late-round picks out of this for losing free agency anyway. So, I mean, it's not that the Colts aren't going to have it. I mean, they're going to get one for Fliener probably. And, you know, I think there's another one on there somewhere. I can't think of

where it's at right now off the top of my head. But that, to me, is worth it. I don't know about what you guys think. I mean, maybe Dwayne Allen's worth keeping it. Maybe all these guys are worth keeping it. But if there's three guys off the jump that I just don't want to see on this Colts team next year, those are the three. I mean, those are the three that I would pick. Now there's another guy here, Joe Reitz.

Not because I don't think he's, you know, I'm not as strong on him, but there is thing about Joe Reitz is last year he was pretty solid, filled in, played a lot of the season. This year he's not been, you know, last year, late last year, he started getting nicked up. This year he's been in concussion protocol and he saves $2.5 million next year. Mainly it's just his ineffectiveness and the fact that he'll be all but insignificant next year, in my opinion, after the draft. And I think that they're going to also try to get some cushion pieces through free agency in that regard. I think they're really going to try to beat up those things and just focus on them

and deal with it because you have to focus in on one spot and really go after it, in my opinion. Whoever the coach and GM is, that's what they're going to have to do. Like I said, he'll be 32 next year. He's been getting dinged up quite a bit, nagging injuries over the past couple seasons, and he's not an unrestricted free agent until 2018 as well, but he doesn't have any dead money. So he's cheap to lose. I mean, they can just cut him and not pay him. That's one of the things about him.

I wouldn't expect to see him on the team next year. I just won't. If the Raven Clark plays anything like he did this past week, again, it's in the books. Forget it. Joe Reitz isn't on the team next year. There's no two ways about it. That's just my opinion. So those four guys right there, I could see valid arguments for a couple different ways to get them off the team saving money especially with Arthur Jones and DeQuell Jackson uh you're you're just not paying Joe Wright's his money next year and Dwayne Allen saves a couple million dollars and he's starting to lose his effectiveness and I think

14.4 million uh over the next few years is too much for him, too much for what he actually brings. He's not good enough blocking. He's regressed in that, and I just don't think that he's worth keeping, to be quite honest with you. There's a lot of tight ends in this draft. There's a lot of tight ends that they could pick up with a fourth or fifth round, sixth round pick if they could get that for Dwayne Allen, and there's a couple other options too. So give me those four guys off of here. Now I know that a lot of you are thinking about Philip Dorsett. He's not one guy for next year for me,

but he's going to be on the bubble for 2018 if he doesn't turn it around. Look, all your worries about this guy are accurate. He struggles catching, especially on anything with a little bit of heat on it. He struggles getting separation at the top of his routes, maintaining his route integrity, you know, actually following the route. He's still very young though. I mean, and you know, however, he should be relegated to a number four on the depth chart, as far as I'm concerned, behind Chester Rogers in 17, if he can't prove that he's worth it. He should be on the chopping block in 2018. And with only a million in dead cap money at that time,

he'd be uber cheap. That would be basically nothing to get rid of him. Despite being a first-round pick, they have that fifth-round option on him, obviously, but he's still not very expensive, even where he was selected. So that's not too big of a deal. Right now, his dead money's kind of high. They're going to have to pay kind of a price if they were to do anything like that.

Trade, I don't know, maybe. But like I said, he's too young, he's too fast, and he can get better. I want to see him get another year I think he like I said he may have to drop a little bit in the depth chart to get it through his head but you know he has a lot he has a lot to offer and if he can't step up that's another conversation for the end of next year in my opinion but right now I think it's just too soon there's too many positives in keeping him on the roster for at least this other this one more season and he could break out regardless of the fact that he was overdrafted because he was absolutely overdrafted but he could break out

you just don't know but that's those are the guys that I see probably have a strong case for not having on the team next year like I, Phillip Dorsett's on the bubble for 2018 if he doesn't improve. But, you know, I think that the Colts could save a lot of money without those four guys, and they could actually set this 2017 mini-rebuild in order with getting rid of those guys. You know, I think, on the other hand, a lot of people are wondering about Frank Gore. I think Frank Gore is worth keeping. I think it's possible his body will break down too, but he's not all that expensive. He would save a few million dollars if the Colts got rid of him,

but he's not worth letting go, in my opinion. The Colts need to keep him. If for nothing else, the fact that he is a brute and they need to draft or find a way to bring in a young dynamic running back, if at all possible. If not, they're going to have to push to another year. I don't know. But running back, as you've seen, is a position that can be pushed around with a couple backups and can be utilized solidly with a guy with a number one there solid in place but they're going to have to address it soon because the Colts are not doing a good job of drafting running backs that is for sure so thank

you guys for joining me here on this Tuesday show Locked on Col As always, you can get with me at LockedOnColtsPod at gmail.com at MDainleyNFL or LockedOnColts on Twitter. The LockedOnColts Facebook page. I mean, it's everywhere, guys. Give me a rating on iTunes and a review. I would really appreciate that. Any little bits

like that help a ton. Tremendously, actually. So, thank you guys for joining me. And like I said, tomorrow we're going to dive right in, Wednesday through Friday. We're going to dive in on this Indianapolis Colts-Oakland Raiders matchup. So I will talk to you guys all on Wednesday right here on Locked on Colts. You are Locked on Colts, your daily podcast on the Indianapolis Colts, part of the Locked On Podcast Network,

your team every day.