Should the Colts Pursue?

Ladainian Tomlinson and Brian Westbrook have recently been released from their respective teams, and many around the NFL aren’t willing to take a risk on these two because of what little they may have left in the tank. The Colts appear to be set at running back with Donald Brown and Joseph Addai both already cementing themselves into this high-powered offense. However, should the Colts still sneak a peek at these two once great backs?

With either of these backs you obtain phenomenal pass catchers who are very comfortable coming out of the backfield. You will also receive two proven leaders who, when in their prime, could change a game with one single touch. However, as of late these two have had their fair share of injuries, and neither has the explosion and big play ability they once had. So why pursue either? Because if either one can return to a shell of their once dominant form, then you gain an impact player at a very cheap price. Neither is as explosive as they once were, however, both are still capable of shaking a defender out of his shoes. 

It is very unlikely that the Colts will go after either one of these players, especially looking at how the Colts have dealt with aging running backs in the past. However, it may be worth signing someone like Tomlinson, who has been rumored to have interest coming from the Houston Texans, just to prevent him from going to a divisional rival. Signing someone like Tomlinson would also give you assurance should Addai and/or Brown go down with an injury, an area where neither Brown nor Addai has been able to stay away from. 

Whichever teams end up signing these two guys will be doing so with the hopes that they still have something left in the tank. It will certainly be a gamble, and if we learned anything from the Colts this season, it is that they do not like to gamble.