Examining the Choices of Indianapolis Colts GM – Ryan Grigson
Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Has GM – Ryan Grigson backed the Indianapolis Colts into a corner?
Grigson and the Colts swung for the fences in 2013. Even though Indianapolis put up 12 total wins and regained the AFC South title, they ultimately fell short of their goal. Not only did the Colts not reach Super Bowl XLVIII, they were blown away by a New England Patriots team that many people predicted them to beat. Although there’s no one direction in which to place blame for the loss, much of the fault can fall directly upon some of the additions that Grigson has made to this team.
Indianapolis spent the second-most money in NFL free agency this season, and several of those free agents were the defensive players who were getting ran all over in New England. Grigson brought in S- LaRon Landry, who was coming off of a Pro Bowl season, as his biggest splash in free agency. Landry had 62 solo tackles in the 2013 regular season, but only four against the Patriots. as good as the former Pro Bowler looked at times for the Colts, he did not show up much, when he was needed most.
On a much more egregious note, Grigson pulled the trigger in free agency to bring in beleaguered wideout, Darrius Heyward-Bey. Heyward-Bey had the chance to resuscitate his career with the Colts, but by the NFL Playoffs, had been reduced to kickoff coverage. When WR – Reggie Wayne went down, Heyward-Bey was in perfect position to step into the spotlight. Rather than that, he slid down the depth chart, finishing the season with only 29 catches and one touchdown.
Not only did Grigson’s decisions hamper the Colts in 2013, but they are also going to hurt them in the future. Indianapolis is now without a 1st or 2nd round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, do to trades that Grigson made. The Cleveland Browns may have pulled out the sneaky trade of the century, by swapping a 1st round draft pick for the rights to RB – Trent Richardson. Grigson also traded this year’s 2nd round draft pick last season to the Miami Dolphins, for CB – Vontae Davis. Davis had a decent season when healthy, however the Richardson trade has been a hot topic of debate all year long. The running back had a dismal 2013, and barely saw the field in the playoffs.
There’s no definite finality to some of the decisions that Ryan Grigson has made for the Colts, but closer inspection shows a few holes in the planning. There are choices and moves to be made this offseason for Indianapolis, and they don’t have much wiggle room to mess up much more.