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The Indianapolis Colts have a deep history of legendary quarterbacks. From Johnny Unitas in the years in Baltimore to Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck, there are plenty of all-world players who have been under center for Indy. In 2020, they will have another top quarterback taking snaps.
Philip Rivers signed a one-year deal with the Colts in March. The 38-year old will earn about $25 million in 2020 and it is likely that he remains in Indianapolis for more than just one season.
The Colts are hoping that Rivers does not end up on this list. He is an all-time great for the San Diego and Los Angeles Chargers and Indianapolis hopes to win a Super Bowl with the veteran. For these five players, their fates were different. Here are the five worst free agent signings in Colts history.
5. Laron Landry
Landry was a safety who was known for landing huge hits on anyone with the ball, unless his name was Brandon Jacobs. He was the Washington Redskins' first round draft pick in 2007 and spent five years in the nation's capital.
In his final two seasons as a Redskin, Landry struggled with injuries. He missed 15 games over those two seasons before leaving the team. He rebounded in 2012 during his one season with the New York Jets, starting 15 games, and had two interceptions, one touchdown and four forced fumbles. This Pro Bowl season was enough to land him a four-year, $24 million deal with the Colts.
Landry lasted 11 games and made six starts in Indy. He dealt with injuries that sidelined him along with suspensions. Pictures of Landry in the gym began going viral because he was the size of a bodybuilder. However, this drew the league's attention and Landry was suspended for violating the league's performance-enhancing drug policy.
4. Shawn King
King was never a groundbreaking player in the league but he was a solid NFL talent for three years with the Carolina Panthers. The reason King ends up on this list is because of the unnecessary risk that the Colts took on him after the 1998 season.
King did not play in the 1998 season. After playing 39 games in three years for Carolina, he was suspended for the duration of the season for violating the league's substance-abuse policy. This came after a six-game suspension in 1997 for similar reasons. The Colts still decided that bringing King in would be a good idea. He signed a three-year, $6 million deal with the Colts following his suspension.
It was nothing but the same in Indy. King started eight games in 1999 before being suspended for four games for showing up late to a team meeting. He landed another suspension for violating the league's drug and alcohol policy. That was enough for the Colts to release him
3. Corey Simon
Simon burst onto the scene with the Philadelphia Eagles, compiling 9.5 sacks in his rookie season. He spent five years with Philly and had 32 sacks and eight forced fumbles in that time. The 27-year old hit free agency in 2005 and was looking for a lucrative new contract.
The Colts landed Simon on a five-year, $30 million deal. They thought they had their premiere pass rusher but it turned out to be quite the opposite. In 2005, Simon started 13 games and did not record a sack. He would suffer a knee injury that forced him to miss the 2006 season. Simon never played another snap as a Colt and would have to end his career early.
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Simon received the longest and most expensive contract on this list. At the time, this deal had Colts fans rejoicing but Simon quickly changed that attitude. Then-Colts team president Bill Polian said in 2007 that signing Simon was “just a bad mistake” and that “it has cost us a lot of money for not a lot of production.”
2. Todd Herremans
Herremans is one of the most recent debacles for the Colts. In 10 years with the Eagles, Herremans started 124 games. His versatility was his best attribute. Herremans started at every offensive line position except for center during his time in Philly.
After being released by the Eagles in 2015, the Colts quickly scooped him up. They were in desperate need of help on the offensive line. They saw Herremans as a player they could get great use out of at any position along the line. This was not the case. Herremans started just two games before losing his job and being benched. He was a healthy scratch for five games before returning to the field on special teams.
Herremans played in just eight games for the Colts, two on the offensive line, before being released in the middle of December. Herremans was 33 years old when Indianapolis signed him. Once again, the Colts took a chance on a player and it did not work out.
1. Antonio Cromartie
To continue the trend of the Colts signing aging players, we go to Cromartie for the top spot on the list. Cromartie began his career with the San Diego Chargers. He was an All-Pro in 2007 when he led the NFL with 10 interceptions. He would then spend four years with the Jets and continue to make a name for himself as a shutdown corner.
Cromartie was a Pro Bowler with the Arizona Cardinals in 2014 then returned to the Jets for one year in 2015. During his final year with the Jets, Cromartie did not record an interception for the first time since his rookie year. This did not keep the Colts from signing him to a one-year deal in 2016.
When looking at Cromartie's career, it's clear that he was durable. He missed just two games in his career before arriving in Indianapolis. His performance was visibly decreasing in quality but the Colts had just lost Vontae Davis to an ankle injury and needed help in the secondary.
Cromartie lasted just four games before being released. In those four games, he did not have an interception and made 14 tackles. Cromartie believes he was cut by the Colts because of his decision to kneel for the national anthem. Whatever the reason, the fall of Cromartie's career was sudden and it ended in Indianapolis.
