Will the Colts Keep Joseph Addai for Next Season?

Joseph Addai’s first two seasons in the league were fantastic. He ran for 1,081 rushing yards in his rookie season, along with two very big games for his career. He had a career-day against the Philadelphia Eagles in the regular season, rushing for over 175 yards with four touchdowns in a 45-24 victory. Addai would also have a great game, rushing for great yards in the Super Bowl along with leading the team in catches for a 29-17 victory over the Chicago Bears.

Addai would play much better entering the 2007-08 season, as he ran for 1,072 rushing yards. The Colts excelled that season, finishing 13-3, but wound up losing in the playoffs to the San Diego Chargers, 28-24. In the 2008-09 season, Addai’s production plummeted. It was a slump year, as he had many injuries. He only had 544 rushing yards that season.

As the 2009-10 season came by, Addai was close to reaching the 1,000-yard-mark, but he had some injuries that season as well. But Addai played great that year, as he was a premier passing target and showed he is one of the top five receiving backs in the league. He also improved a lot better in blocking skills as well.

This season, Addai was much better. When you can rush for 100 yards in games with one of the top five worst offensive lines in the league, that’s saying something. Addai has so far 406 rushing yards this season. But that also goes along with over four yards per carry, something he hasn’t gotten since 2007. But still, Addai got struck by injuries.

Now the Colts enter a big question entering the off-season: Do they keep Addai? He is on the last season of his contract. With the great game by Donald Brown against the Jacksonville Jaguars yesterday, the Colts could make Addai end up like what happened with Edgerrin James. With the latest emergence of Javarris James and the veteran presence of Dominic Rhodes, the Colts could make Addai the odd man out.

But I don’t think they will. Addai is the only great all-around back the Colts got and his last game, in which he ran for 128 yards against the Washington Redskins in a 27-24 victory, proved he is one of the top ten backs in the league.

I think the Colts will most likely franchise-tag him. If Addai does well in the 2011-12 season, then they will keep him and re-sign for a few more years. However, if he gets struck by injuries or does not produce, they will stick with Donald Brown and maybe get another running back in free agency or the NFL Draft.

But if Addai comes back early and shows up, Addai could maybe agree to a deal worth about 2-4 years. But time will tell. But most likely, no matter what, the Colts will in fact re-sign Addai.

Plus, there should be no excuse for the Colts’ running game next season. I am pretty sure they will be getting a whole new cast of offensive-lineman for next season. The O-Line is terrible this season. Bill Polian agrees even. I expect them to get a new one in the off-season and the draft.

But Addai will stay, in my opinion.

What do you think?