Good-bye Gardner

[PR07]

The Colts released former one time starting LB:

Colts released linebackers Gilbert Gardner and Mike Labinjo.

Gardner, who was tendered at the minimum level as a restricted free agent, began last season as a starter before being overtaken by Rob Morris. He's only 25 but will likely need to carve out a career on special teams if he hopes to stick in the league. Labinjo was a camp body. May. 7 - 8:13 pm et

This must mean that the Colts are impressed with the rookie 'backers we have in the rookie mini-camp. Gardner was a decent special teams guy and made some plays from time to time, but he didn't have the instincts to be an impact LB in the Cover 2 system consistently. Good luck in his future endeavors, and hopefully, the former Boilermaker will be able to catch a job somewhere.

[Scoot McGroot]

I think this may just mean that the Colts wanted to use the $850,000 tender offer elsewhere. I think they made the offer, but it was never signed, at least that's kind of how it reads to me.


On a sadder note, Brandon Hoyte was released as well. Can someone play taps for my fallen ND hero?

[PR07]

Titans claimed LB Gilbert Gardner off waivers from the Colts.

Tennessee has a depth issue behind strong-side starter David Thornton, so Gardner will have a chance to make the ballclub. He'll need to show a willingness to perform on special teams and beat out Rob Reynolds.

That was quick.

[magik9113]

first Thornton, then Harper, now Gardner. Tennessee gotta stop taking our defenders. Doesn't matter all that much though

[A-Town Connection]

Yeah i think we have other plans in the works...or we need money.

[ajizzle]

Good riddance, Gil... Not to be to harsh, but anybody who can be replaced 3/4s into the season by one ROBERT SAMUEL MORRIS needs to be jettisoned.

[count55]

I'm pretty sure they're slotting Keiaho at starter...plus Gardner was easily the worst starter on the team last year.

And...ROBERT SAMUEL MORRIS was fantastic in that role last year. His biggest problem...the inability to drop back fast enough to cover the middle of the zone...was negated by the move, and he, along with Sanders, were the reason that the run defense suddenly became effective come playoff time.

Gardner deserved to go because he was terrible. I was never a huge Rob Morris fan, but he deserves better than a backhanded slap like that after the contribution he made to a Super Bowl Champion.

[ajizzle]

I definitely appreciate all that Rob did for the team, and I hope he continues to be effective if teams try to run on us... but I still remember Slob Rob from a few years back, and 8 games does not a career make!

I mean, Stephen Jackson made very important contributions to a title team, but I'll never hold him a high regard. Rob isn't nearly as bad, but you get my drift...

[PR07]

I think the Colts feel Morris can he a short-term solution, but it will be interesting to see what kind of competition Tyjuan Hagler and Clint Session can bring to this position battle.

[A-Town Connection]

I have heard good things about Hagler. I assume Sessions will be 2 years down the line.

[count55]

I'm not offering Morris up for a spot in Canton. What I'm saying is that he proved to be a very effective outside linebacker in this system.

At MLB, he was always effective against the run, but was awful in coverage. This was primarily because he lacked the ability to get good depth in the zone.

In his new role, he is very good at filling the hole in run defense, and the coverage deficiencies are mitigated by the fact that he has fewer responsibilities and less ground to cover. What the coaches have discovered, much to their surprise, is that they were playing him out of position.

I believe the Colts see him as a fixture at his outside role for the next two or three years. If he gets beaten out by Hagler or Sessions, then that will be very good news for the Colts. In my mind, he's proven himself to be a solid-to-good starter. If one of those guys wins the job, it will be because they will have proven themselves to be a very good starter. Win-win for the Colts.

[PR07]

I agree with you Count, I think Morris is a solid OLB...could we do better? Yeah probably, but we're fine with him on the outside. He just wasn't a good fit for a MLB in the Cover 2, but he's been a real pleasant surprise at OLB. I think there is a chance though that Hagler could give him a run for his money though for the starting spot. He was a big hitter on special teams, and it will be interesting to see how that translates to playing on defense.

[ajizzle]

I definitely feel he's our best hole-plugger at LB, and he did make some memorable stops at MLB for us (vs. Jags in 2004?... it was on consecutive downs, I think 3rd & 3 AND 4th & 1)..

The only question I have is why he wasn't put at the Sam earlier t/y... I mean, we'd been getting run over by teams for the entire 2006 campaign, and we knew Rob's ability to stop the run over anything else. Plus, in Tampa, the Sam did much of the same in just playing downhill 65% of the time.

All that being said, I think Rob will hold his job as Sam for a while. Teams know the best way to keep Peyton off the field is run down the pipe, and there aren't many QBs who can just carve up a Dungy Deuce D anytime they want. Plus, we play in a division w/ run-oriented teams, so I don't see Rob getting bumped.

[pacerman06]

I hope that Freddy will be good. I think that Rob should have a good season.