Birds do it. Bees do it. Lord knows bloggers all over the land do it. Let’s do it, too! Let’s predict whom the Colts will and won’t keep come cutdown tomorrow, Zippy and Chippy style. Here, is my projected 53-man roster based on preseason results, including the last game against the Bengals.
The Zippy – They Shall Be Colts
3 Quarterbacks: Peyton Manning, Kerry Collins, Curtis Painter
4 Running Backs: Joseph Addai, Delone Carter, Donald Brown, Chad Spann
5 Wide Receivers: Reggie Wayne, Pierre Garcon, Austin Collie, David Gilreath, Taj Smith
3 Tight Ends: Dallas Clark, Jacob Tamme, Brody Eldridge
4 Offensive Tackles: Anthony Castonzo, Jeff Linkenbach, Ben Ijalana, Michael Toudouze
4 Offensive Guards: Ryan Diem, Joe Reitz, Kyle DeVan, Jacque McClendon
2 Centers: Jeff Saturday, Mike Pollak
(Defense, special teams, and Chippy after the jump)
6 Linebackers: Gary Brackett, Pat Angerer, Kavell Conner, Ernie Sims, Adrian Moten, Philip Wheeler
5 Defensive Tackles: Antonio Johnson, Fili Moala, Tommie Harris, Drake Nevis, Ollie Ogbu
5 Defensive Ends: Dwight Freeney, Robert Mathis, John Chick, Jerry Hughes, Jamaal Anderson
5 Safeties: Antoine Bethea, Melvin Bullitt, Joe Lefeged, David Caldwell, Al Afalava
5 Cornerbacks: Jerraud Powers, Jacob Lacey, Kevin Thomas, Chris Rucker, Justin Tryon
1 Punter: Pat McAfee
1 Kicker: Adam Vinatieri
The Chippy – Cut Colts
Obviously, I’m predicting that everyone not on the list above will fall into this category, but a few deserve special mention.
Anthony Gonzalez couldn’t even get back on the field, and he’s a long-enough ago Number 1 that the Colts can jettison him.
Darren Evans would be my choice among the local backs to make the cut, but he’s too similar, though inferior, to Delone Carter, so I think Evans will be gone.
Dan Orlovsky probably deserves a better fate, but not by much. Put Orlovsky and Painter in a bag, and you’ll probably be arrested. But you’ll probably also have trouble telling them apart.
Jake Kirkpatrick is another of my picks, but the Colts seem set on keeping Pollak around somewhere. I think that Kirkpatrick has a future in the league, so I hope Indy can keep him on the practice squad.
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For what it’s worth, I don’t think that either Jerry Hughes or Donald Brown belong on the roster, but I’ll believe in their departure only when it’s official.