Eric Fisher to the Colts
 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Pro Bowl LT Eric Fisher is signing a one-year, $9.4 million deal with the Indianapolis Colts, per source. The former No. 1 overall pick now will be Carson Wentz’s blindside protector.</p>&mdash; Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1391781673986035717?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 10, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Awesome. Congrats Fish

I'll always love and appreciate Fish, but O Brown >>>> Fisher.

Depending on guarantees, that's a lot for an LT on the wrong side of 30 coming of a torn Achilles.

He isn't even healthy yet. Seems like a shot in the dark for a team that should have done what the Chiefs did.

Is he even expected to be ready to play at the beginning of the season? I didn't think so. Good luck to him, though.

Protecting a brokedick like Wentz with a 30 year old LT coming off a very late season achilles tear sounds pretty risky for a GM that tends to play it safe.

Cross posting this idea but the Colts remind me so much of the Bad Era Chiefs it's almost funny.

Give me your tired old players, your poor statistical cast-offs, your huddle jackoffs yearning to sit on the bench
The wretched refuse of your team's cuts.
Send these, the homeless, easily-tossed to me,
We lift our lamp beside the Indianapolis Speedway

good luck fish
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Colts?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Colts</a> are signing former <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chiefs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Chiefs</a> LT Eric Fisher to a 1-year, $9.4M deal, source said. They are comfortable with his rehab.</p>&mdash; Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/1391782005784911872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 10, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The Colts are buying another one of our old, broken down players? LOL

Thanks to you Fish for your effort and play that helped the team win Super Bowl.

Makes the Orlando Brown trade look even better.
Brown costs a third of what Fish costs this year. That's crazy, and he's the longterm solution at LT while Fisher is an expensive rental.

Not true! We haven't always been that way!

Scott Pioli would only take wretched refuse from other teams if they were associated with Belichick/Parcells!

This, this and this.

I have about 4-5 takes that were complete doozies that I can think of, but my Ballard > Veach ones may end up being my worst.

They can play Tevi and bandaid it up til Fish gets healthy I suppose.

That would be hoping that Wentz makes it long enough to when Fisher comes back.

Although that could be a benefit because it wouldn’t cost them a first round pick for him.

late season insurance I guess. 9 mil is a lot. Not sure I get this move.

Man, starting a former Charger, knowing how badly the Chargers needed a LT, seems like a big problem.

Somewhere a bunch of Colts fans are high fiving and clapping.

It's not ideal. But it's a way to go about it and make it functional. To get your long term LT, gonna have to draft one early or trade for one so bandaid it up and move on.

That's a roll of the dice for $9 million. I felt bad for Fish getting hurt late in the AFC Championship game. He was a good soldier here. Wish him the best and that he gets healthy enough to play well.

That's just the thing - they had multiple opportunities to address the position and simply didn't.

They weren't in on many of the early free agents and when the draft came around they took Paye (can't blame them there) AND Dayo (this one is a head scratcher).

I mean, for all of the talk about Veach and Ballard, it seems like Veach is always looking ahead a year while Ballard's moves are always a year behind.

With Reich and the offensive staff, I'd guess they figure they can get by with what they had and just couldn't pass up on a pass rusher or two. Makes some sense.

I think I'd have taken Darrisaw but Paye could be really good.

Similar situation we all thought KC could be in and they went about it the way I figured the Chiefs would.

They'll have to spend a 1 on it sooner than later.

I think, when it comes down to it, Veach has Andy and Mahomes and Ballard doesn't.

Ballard is a fine GM. Pretty good. But until you hit on those two things ( I think Reich will continue to be a really good coach though) you're just capped.

There were options in the 2nd and they took a guy that's already talking about whether or not he'll be ready for the start of the season.

They could have gone after Brown like we did. Unless they weren’t willing to give up that much....they could have had Brown, Basham and Dayo. Instead they got Fish, Paye and Dayo.

Of course, but they're not trying to get their Mahomes.

After what happened with Luck, they went the old Chiefs route - first with Rivers and now with Wentz.

A big reason why they are capped is because of Ballard's moves.

Oh I think they should swing for a QB at some point. But since Luck did what he did, I get steadying the ship a bit and sorting some things out.

Well see on Wentz. He's in a great spot to get back to what he was. I'm skeptical.

I'm not sure why they took Odey. I get the whole BPA approach and trying to throw numbers at the pass rush but in his first interview as a Colt, he said this:

There's absolutely zero confidence in that. None. Sounds like a whole lot of hope.

Ballard is really risk averse. He doesn't sign or trade for anyone unless it's on his terms. He has to feel like he 100% won to make the move.

Yeah, they passed on a 2nd round OT for a DE that won’t be ready to play. Then signed a LT that won’t be ready to play.

All to protect a QB that has shown that if he gets pressured.....he’s shit.

Go get your money Fish. I wish they would've just done one of the Tackles and not both of them, but we needed the cap space so it's understandable that you want to continue your career for a contender as of sorts. I hope Carson Wentz doesn't waste your final years in the NFL, but you'll always have the memories of playing with Patrick and the Super Bowl ring for your years of hard work and dedication to the Chiefs. I'm sorry many fans didn't give you a fair shake given where you went and the years it took for us to reach our potential as a team, but it could've been worse, we could've taken Luke Joeckel instead. God speed sir.

Now we can stop the dumb idea that he was coming back here.. That ship sailed when he tore his Achilles... Same thing with Mitch.. Not paying brokedicks to protect the Franchise...

Chris Ballard is Carl Peterson 2.0.

His drafts have been solid, if not confusing. He's traded for a backup QB in Jacoby Brissett, traded for an injured QB whose play fell off a cliff three years ago, settles for a second option at head coach and has absolutely no plan in place to make his team a contender.

Instead, he's hoping that something good might happen to his team during the "tournament".

He might be fine at identifying talent, even though his time in Chicago and Indy haven't amounted to much, but he's a lameass GM that hasn't taken any risks to pull the Colts out of their doldrums.

Which is fine by me because the Colts can suck it.

I mean, they had Manning, then Luck. Then he pulls what he did, so yeah they're kinda stuck.

I think they should be aggressive to get a QB, but we'll see what happens with Wentz. I'm not sure it works out there, I think he is probably toast but who knows.

9.4 million for an average LT that is barely 3 months removed from a ruptured achilles? They must really be desperate.

The Colts and the Chiefs have similarities.
What were the colts after Unitas until Manning? About the same as the Chiefs were after Dawson until Mahomes?
Both teams were from dissolved Dallas Texans teams.

:shrug:

Ballard traded for Brissett in 2017, so he's had plenty of time to replace the QB, or at least have a succession plan in place considering that Luck was injured frequently behind that offensive line. The Patriots took Garappolo in the 2nd, the Eagles took Jalen Hurts in the 2nd and the Packers took Love in the 1st, even though all of those teams had starters on huge contracts.

I'm not saying that those teams were perfect in their decision making but at least they had some sort of plan in place, if they were to lose their starting QB

Indy under Ballard had none. He passed on left tackles and potential solid backup QB's in favor of trading for a defensive lineman. His first choice was Josh McDaniels, who punked his ass, so he was stuck with a bunch of misfits and Reich. They have shit at QB so where do they turn? To an oft-injured QB who lost his mojo years ago but since the new head coach is familiar with him, they gave up draft picks in the hope that it "works out".

That's a shitty way to run a football team.

I doubt it. If Ballard doesn't hit on Wentz, why would the owner give him another 3 years with a rookie QB?

Somehow im sure they thought KC over payed and theyll never do anything but underpay.

The Chiefs traded up from 26 to get Mahomes so calling the Colts the old Chiefs is a weird statement

I don't think his Achilles was a complete tear, and Veach was stating a mid-August return. If his Achilles holds, this would be a good pickup. If fish was healthy and we cut him he would have garnered much more than $9.5 mil on the open market. I wish nothing but the best for Fish, he loved the Chiefs, despite many fans despising him for a draft class he had no control over. I hope he is successful at Indy and we beat them in the playoffs...

KEEP ****ING DOUBTING BERT JONES

That's the new Chiefs, not the old Chiefs.

The problem is that Veach said he could "participate" by August.

That could mean anything from full pads to sitting on a stationary bike watching other people practice.

How dare you leave out the Jeff George era

Comparing Ballard to Carl Peterson is pretty on point thus far in Ballard's career (though I think Ballard has drafted in the later rounds marginally better. Carl was awful in the later rounds).

Andrew Luck has been 100% on his messaging that he was done since 2019. He has never wavered or gone full Rodgers with mixed messaging. The dude has been 100% on saying "he's done" since he left. Anytime there's been chatter he (or his Dad) either contact Irsay or message the media the same thing. Ballard gets a pass for 2019, but beyond that? Eh. Trading for Rivers (Bono) was an ultimate Peterson move. Trading for Wentz (Grbac/Green) is the ultimate Peterson move.

But, if you're going to revive Wentz career, you have to be able to give him an ironclad offensive line after the yips he's had the past two years, Reich has even alluded to this. You can't go cheap or rely on a bandaid by signing people for their past value here, which Peterson did throughout his time here, too (ignoring the defense or trying to band-aid it with washed up vets before 2003, going bargain bin on a QB and kicker for the 1995 season, going full Oakland with desperation signings in 98', etc). These band-aids never feel significant until they do, a mistake made by Carl over and over again.

Sure, Eric Fisher was the definition of solid in 2019-2020, but he's always struggled with bull rushers and now you're hopeful he can get back to that "solid" form before a serious achilles injury on the wrong side of 30. What could Ballard have done differently? Well, quite a lot, as we've proven this offseason (with arguably far less of a need to do so with Patrick at QB). KC also could have hoped that Fish could rehab for our line, in fact, I think the NFL expected it and we would have crossed our fingers, too, but hot damn if we didn't go out, roll the dice, and get the best possible option at that position.

It's just amazing to see the difference in our franchise now (one of the most proactive in the game) compared to read and react one I grew up with.

Does this take the dead money for Fisher off our books?

No I don't think so.

I think he can come off the 6 week designation and play. He had surgery in late January so the beginning of October will be his 10th month of rehab.

And honestly it’s a good move. He’s not done as a football player.

He’s only 30. He’s got time left.

I've never seen a guy get his dick sucked so much by the media for doing so little.

He drafted Darius Leonard. And a really awesome OG, but he needed to burn the 6th overall pick to get him. And that's about it.

Great job, Chris! Want a damn cookie?

Hitting on a couple draft picks doesn't make you an elite GM (particularly for positions that are harder to go bust on than others). Has he created a bank within his own salary cap structure where cash can be "withdrawn" through contract restructures? Has he devised the most creative and awesome contract for his QB the league has ever seen? Has he ever completely renovated an entire position group in the course of just 3 months of an offseason not once but TWICE?

He's absolutely the ultimate Carl. Dane is right. He'll get you a playoff team, but he's never going to make the moves that will put them over the top.

Personally, its surprising that Fish didn't end up with a 2 year deal, even if it was incentive based. He won't contribute much his first year, much less be in top form. A 2nd year could be cheaper for the team and give him the security of having a chance to prove himself at 100%

Good for him.

I’m thrilled we upgraded and hope the best for Fish.

He did his part and didn’t complain when we cut him for being injured.

Dayo is gonna be a good player.

Keep hope alive.

This is a little weak. Turay, Lewis, Braden Smith, Julien Blackmon, Michael Pittman, Jonathan Taylor, Khari Willis, Okereke, Anthony Walker, and Grover Stewart are all quality starters drafted in the 2nd round or later just in the past 3 years.

Ballard is a really good gm who got sucker punched when Luck retired. But overall, he’s done a fantastic job.

Uhh... you're REALLY stretching it when you say all of those guys are "quality" starters. What you have are starters. Not all of them are quality.

I mean, is he going to play (effectively or otherwise), this season?!? That's a pile of cash.

It will be interesting to see when he actually starts playing and then how well he can play after the injury.

Nah, all of those guys are quality starters, with the possible exception of Turay and Lewis, because they haven’t really been starters yet. Turay because of injury and Lewis because of Denico Autrys presence.

But they’ve done well when they’ve played and both of them will get a chance to start this season.

I'd bet not even by then.

The Colts make some weird moves.

I hope Fisher does well and can earn some more cash.

This is a great post. I live in Indy and the reactions to him are baffling. "Amazing GM". Colts have exactly one playoff win against the Texas in his time there. They play in one of the worst, most incompetent divisions and aren't even winning the division consistently. At best they might be the fourth best team in the AFC this year if everything breaks right. At worst it's another year of not being in the playoffs. He made great picks in leonard and nelson but wasted their rookie deals and hoarded cap space for...? Now all that cap space will be gone once they are extended and they have wentz on the books. To me it seems like people label him good because he doesn't make many bad free agent signings, but that isn't really "good", just more "not terrible".

I think if you gave Ballard truth serum, he’d admit he screwed up not getting a tackle in the draft. I think there were several that they really liked, but not more than Paye at 21. They thought at least one would be left at 56 and they were wrong.

Broke dick Fisher protecting broke dick Carson Wentz... what could go wrong.

With one guy standing in the middle of the crowd, with his arms crossed in anger.

No

Ballard has ****ed up so many times that it's ridiculous to say that he's a "fine" GM.

Since being hired in January 2017, the Colts are 32-32 with a 1-2 playoff record. He whiffed on hiring his first choice as Head Coach and did absolutely nothing, outside of spending the #6 overall draft pick on a MOTHER****ING GUARD, to help out Andrew Luck or prepare to move forward without him due to constant and nagging injuries.

They might win the South this season because they play in maybe the weakest division in all of football but if Trevor Lawrence is as good as many believe, the Colts will be finishing 2nd-4th for the foreseeable future because they don't have a quarterback and are stuck with a GM that's content with going 9-7 every season.

I hate the ****ing Colts almost as much as I hate the ****ing Broncos.

He's dead to me now.

Ballard is similar to Fat Scott... sit on a bunch of salary cap space by continuously making incremental moves that never really push the franchise to legit contender status.

That's a bit harsh. Fat Scott status should be reserved for the very, very bottom of the NFL GM pool. Never have I seen someone squander having the third pick in the draft like Scott did in 2009. Want to feel nauseated? Take a look at that absolutely abysmal draft. Mr. Irrelevant was literally the only pick of consequence in that entire year for us.

Lol. No? That’s it?

Which one of those guys aren’t quality starters?

Also, a quibble-Stewart and Walker were both drafted in 18, I believe. 4 years ago, not 3. Stewart in the 4th, Walker in the 5th.

Stewart resigned with the Colts and Walker signed with Minnesota in free agency.

Before signing LT Eric Fisher for $9.4M, the Colts had around $20M of cap space.

In March they signed LT Sam Tevi for $3,170,000.

Also in March the Colts signed LT Julie'n Davenport for a little under $1M.

Colts know they have a need, but they aren't sure how to resolve the problem.

To help with LT until Fisher is ready, maybe they now go after Russell Okung or Charles Leno with some of that cap money.

Seeing this makes me happy the Chiefs took the route that they did at LT.

He drafted Nelson and Braden Smith in 18. Luck went from one of the most sacked qb’s to the least sacked qb in one year, thanks to Ballards draft and Reichs offense.

To say he did nothing to help Luck is hilariously wrong.

Yep, but I'm sure the Colts medical team checked him out and they think he will be ready sooner rather than later. Mid Aug. will be nearly 7 months. I don't think they would pay him 9.5 mil if they didn't think he would be ready. JMO

Not true - Pioli had a weird fascination with utter garbage TEs and trash Safeties :

Rashard Langford, Steve Menari, Shabby Piscatelli, Jon McGraw, Kendrick Lewis, and Leonard Pope all say "whassup!?"

Don't you dare disrespect washed up Mike Brown like that. Very worthy addition to that list.