Gregg Rosenthal of NBC Sports reports tonight that the Colts have signed former Atlanta Falcons first-round pick DE Jamaal Anderson to a free agent contract. The Colts have a very strong starting DE duo in Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney, but things get a little, well, less strong, beyond those two. For that reason, this pick-up makes some sense, assuming that Indy didn’t pay an arm and a leg for Anderson, and I’m inclined to think that he came on the cheap, relatively speaking. Anderson hasn’t shown much in the way of flashy sack numbers since being selected eighth overall in 2007, but he could probably swing between DT and DE.
And if that doesn’t work out, maybe he could resume his career as a star running back, also with the Falcons. Over eight NFL seasons, he amassed more than 5000 yards rushing and led Atlanta to Super Bowl XXXIII. Oh wait! That was Jamal Anderson? Very confusing. If there is ever a cornerback named Payton Manning who comes up in the NFL draft, I hope the Colts pass.