Colts Release TE Brody Eldridge
The Colts have cut TE Brody Eldridge, a 2010 fifth round draft choice. Eldridge was largely a blocking tight end, catching only 14 receptions for 84 yards in 27 games. Nevertheless, it seemed like his role as a depth blocking tight end was fairly assured during the 2012 season.
Eldridge was replaced by QB David Legree, a free agent quarterback out of Hampton University.
This move is a little puzzling to me. Losing Eldridge is not a huge loss, and with the signing of Andre Smith earlier this week, the Colts were a little crowded at the tight end position. And, of course, the Colts could use another camp arm with Chandler Harnish being hurt. S
Still, Eldridge does have value as a blocking tight end, and while he would definitely be behind Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen, he's actually played in games, unlike Smith, Kyle Miller, or Dominique Jones (all UDFAs or waiver pick ups). Apparently the coaches didn't see that him, however, or were possibly concerned about his injury history. Eldridge has had hand and rib injuries in the past, as well as knee surgery last summer, which Indy Star's Phil Wilson thinks he may never have fully recovered from.
The Colts are now carrying five tight ends, with a combined zero snaps of experience.
Did not see it coming, but hopefully this means that one of the guys we brought in as is showing some early promise. I thought Eldrige would make the team because of his blocking ability, but I guess not, oh well, he will find work elsewhere.
Just after I say that he ends up getting grabbed by the Rams, you can bet Bradford had something to do with that...
I really liked the pick when he was drafted.... then he was hurt for most of his rookie season, and we all know how well Collins, Painter and Orlovsky utilized their tight ends last year, and then he was hurt again. If was any good, it would still be speculation at this point. We cut Eldridge and still have TE's out the ass, so I'm not losing any sleep.
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Kyle, I am disappoint. You're missing the *real* story about how Grigson is a lying fire-pants for not announcing that Eldridge would be cut immediately after the Fleener and Allen picks. Clearly Eldridge was owed better treatment than this after his long and storied record as a stopgap starting TE for a declining Colts offense. This kind of disrespect and mendacity (did I spell that right?) from the Colts brass is shameful and we should all petition Jim Irsay to clean house. It's time.
This sure does seem to fly in the face of the "being able to run and stop the run".
I feel like the Gene Wilder character in "Blazing Saddles" waking up in jail and seeing the new Sheriff for the first time. "I'm very confused."
I'm not surprised by this, with the move towards using the FB more often there is less need for the H-back which is more Brody's position then TE. Plus as you mentioned Harnish is injured and Luck can't practice until finals are over so they need another camp arm.
