Andre Johnson Cut: Indianapolis Colts Release Receiver Johnson [Breaking]
Andre Johnson was cut by the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday morning (March 4). The Colts cut Johnson to save money and have a better chance to sign key players in free agency. A report from NFL analyst Adam Schefter reveals that the Colts have told Johnson that they are releasing him, stating that it’s “one more high-profile unemployed veteran.”
Andre Johnson played just one season with the Indianapolis Colts, following 12 years with the Houston Texans. Johnson had been named to the Pro Bowl seven times before he decided to switch teams in free agency. During a season where Colts starting quarterback Andrew Luck missed most of the games due to injuries, Johnson failed to make a large impact. He would finish with 503 yards and four touchdowns on 41 catches.
This would have been the second season of a three-year contract Johnson signed with the Colts. It was originally a three-year, $21 million deal, but it was not guaranteed heading into the 2016 NFL season. The Colts were able to clear $5 million in salary cap space by releasing Johnson, but the team will still have to deal with a dead cap hit of $2.5 million.
Johnson immediately becomes available to sign with any other NFL franchise, but it’s also possible that he could decide that it is time to consider retirement. While NFL rumors may suggest that as a scenario, there has been no indication or statement from people close to Johnson that states he is ready to make that announcement. What Johnson now could offer is a veteran third-option to another NFL franchise looking for an additional receiver.
Andre Johnson had several great seasons with the Houston Texans, three of which resulted in 1,575 receiving yards or more. In those 12 years he spent with the Texans, Johnson caught 1,053 passing for 14,100 yards and 68 touchdowns. He ranks eight all-time in career receptions and ninth all-time in career receiving yards. Johnson also has the second-most receptions and receiving yards of all active NFL players.
The University of Miami product and first-round pick of the 2003 NFL Draft will likely have to take a pay cut during the NFL offseason if he wants to sign with a contender. There aren’t a lot of contending teams with salary cap space to spend right now, but a team like the Seattle Seahawks could certainly use some help in the receiving corps. As previously reported by the Inquisitr, the Seahawks are about to lose Ricardo Lockette and Jermaine Kearse to free agency.
By the Indianapolis Colts cutting Andre Johnson, the team now has an estimated $28.6 million to spend during the NFL offseason. This will allow the Colts to address several in-house free agents from the team as well as some holes that the team could fill through free agency. It will also cover any contracts that the team needs to hand out following the 2016 NFL Draft. After a disappointing finish to the 2015 NFL season where the Colts finished 8-8, the team will have the No. 18 selection in the draft.
One player that keeps getting linked to the Colts through the draft is Michigan State offensive tackle Jack Conklin. Conklin could help protect the biggest asset on the Colts (quarterback Andrew Luck) and give the team a chance to improve upon its running game. Conklin has been called a great run-blocker in the past, so it could be the perfect pick for the Colts. Despite saving money by cutting Andre Johnson, the Colts will still have to replace him on the active roster. That could be done through the draft or through an inexpensive signing in free agency.
[Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images]
