AFC South Friday Tweetbag: Trade Winds Blowing for the Colts

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AFC South Friday Tweetbag: Trade Winds Blowing for the Colts
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Colts fans would like to MJD running for instead of over Indy.

Welcome to the Tweetbag! As always, you can tweetemail or send your questions to me in the comments section of the articles. Be sure to use the hashtag #tweetbag!


A: With all the noise over Jim Irsay's Twitter account, addressing Maurice Jones-Drew has to be done.

There are really two separate questions. First, what is MJD's market value? I can't imagine any team giving up more than a third-round pick for him. I think a fourth is more likely the price.

The second question is: what would it take to get him out of Jacksonville? I don't think the Jaguars can deal him for any less than a first- or second-round pick. That's because of the leverage they would lose in the long run for giving him what he wants.

For a fourth-round pick, any team should deal for Jones-Drew, simply because the likely return on two good years of him is better than the potential value of the pick.

At the higher price, i.e. what it would actually cost to get him out of Jacksonville, I can't see it as a good investment for the Colts or anyone else.

Jones-Drew stays put.



A: Let's broaden this question about the Colts and trades. Any trade for Indianapolis would have to involve a player who was young and played a position of need.

I can see Indy dealing for a player like Mike Wallace who is still in his prime, or for an elite corner with good years left. Any team ought to be willing to give up draft picks if those picks go to solve long-term roster issues.

The Colts desperately need a cornerback to field a credible defense. They need an answer at wideout long-term. Getting those players a year early, even at the expense of a pick can be beneficial.

Trading for a running back or any player over 27 doesn't make sense at this stage of the rebuild.



A: Aaron Berry is a player with great talent and a troubled off-field history. Frankly, despite his obvious tools and the fact that he fits a position of need for Indianapolis, he's more trouble than he's worth.

He was cut from the Lions and suspended from the NFL for three games (hat tip to Adam Schefter). For a young, rebuilding team without a lot of solid veteran leadership, inviting a trouble-maker in could be a recipe for disaster.

Any time that signs him is going to have to keep a close watch on him. If I'm were an NFL coach, I'd rather he be someone else's headache.



A: The penalty for 12 men on the field was switched to a dead-ball foul this offseason in response to the penalty the Giants incurred in the Super Bowl. The Patriots' final drive was not affected by the play, but the thought was that teams shouldn't be able to employ the famous "Buddy Ryan Polish Goalline" at the end of games.

The idea behind it was that in a situation where time mattered more than yards, a defense could intentionally put too many men on the field, forcing the offense to waste time on a play with little chance of success.

To prevent that tactic, the NFL made the penalty a dead-ball foul, like a false start.



A: Jake Locker and Blaine Gabbert have similar weaknesses. Neither is particularly accurate. Locker, however, has better athleticism and appears to throw a superior deep ball.

Locker's ceiling is Donovan McNabb. I see Gabbert as more of an Eli Manning-style player at his absolutely best. He has shown the ability to endure criticism and work hard. Both are elements necessary to a successful quarterback.

Right now, I like Locker's chances of becoming a good NFL starter better than I like Gabbert's, but I'm not sure the gap in fundamentals is that great.

As for this year, I think Locker is further along than Gabbert right now, and I like the Titans' personnel better. I expect Locker to finish with a higher YPA, but for Gabbert to beat him in completion percentage.



A: I was critical of the selection of Delone Carter at the time, and in fact that entire draft. Brown and Ballard are more talented backs than Carter, and I expect him to find his carries diminished and limited to goal-line situations.

There's not much analysis to it. I just don't think he's as good at running, receiving or blocking as the guys ahead of him.

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