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The Indianapolis Colts began restocking their secondary with a third-round selection of USC cornerback Kevin Thomas, who could rank as high as fourth at corner after a purge of the guys at the tail end of the group.

Indy nabbed Thomas with the 94th pick overall, right in the same range it found Jerraud Powers last season. Powers stepped in when injuries cut into the availability of Marlin Jackson and Kelvin Hayden last year and was a key piece in a Super Bowl run.

With Jackson, Tim Jennings, T.J. Rushing and Aaron Francisco gone from the 2009 team, Thomas should get a chance to show he can function in the defensive backfield if one of the Colts top three -- Hayden, Powers or Jacob Lacey -- goes down.

Some write-ups like Thomas’s long arms, athleticism and instincts, while others see him as an underachiever lacking polish. A tough training camp working against Peyton Manning and a stacked crew of receivers could certainly help accelerate the growth process.

Upon seeing the news that Chicago cut cornerback Nathan Vasher quickly got the AFC South Blog thinking about his potential to fit in this division.

The Texans and Titans are cornerback needy, but it’s the Colts who rank as the best fit for him based on what the very smart Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. told me Thursday morning.

"Don't love him. He isn't real fast and he isn't real big. Two problems for a CB. The Bears didn't do a real good job of getting after the QB this past season, but Vasher also didn't play all that well either. He is more of a short-area quickness guy, which was a pretty good fit with the Cover 2, but not as much in Tennessee or Houston. He was much more productive early in his career -- on very good defenses -- and probably inflated his name value more than his true play now indicates. He also has missed a lot of time with injuries, which could have directly led to his overall play falling off."

The Colts do need secondary depth after a purge that saw Marlin Jackson, Tim Jennings, T.J. Rushing and Aaron Francisco all become free agents after Indy didn’t tender them as restricted. Jackson signed in Philly where he’s going to convert to safety. Jennings signed in Chicago, where he’s surely part of the reason the Bears felt OK about parting with Vasher.

NFC North kingpin Kevin Seifert says the release came a year too late and that Vasher, who was productive early in his career, was already an “inferior player” at the end of 2008.

It will be interesting to see where he lands.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day. Take the rest of the day off.

Houston Texans

The timing for drafting a running back could be tricky, says John McClain.

Chester Pitts will visit Detroit and San Francisco, reports Mark Berman.

Brian Cushing writes about his MMA training.

Indianapolis Colts

Ryan Lilja has circled back to the Chiefs.

A look at Indy’s linebackers, from John Oehser.

Tim Jennings signed with the Chicago Bears, says Oehser.

Jacksonville Jaguars

A look at some options at No. 10 for the Jaguars, from Jonathan Loesche. (Whose quote was it? He never says, does he?)

Tennessee Titans

Tennessee visitor Sean Jones signed in Tampa Bay.

All is quiet with Jason Babin and Kevin Mawae, says Bryan Mullen.

We’ve fielded some questions about the “final eight” rule that restricts what the last eight teams alive in the playoffs -- including the AFC champion Colts -- bringing in unrestricted free agents before they lose one.

Here’s an old post detailing the rule.

And here’s the clarification:

The Colts were able to sign guard Andy Alleman because he isn’t a six-year player who reached unrestricted free agency when March 4 turned into March 5. Alleman was a restricted free agent for the Chiefs, but Kansas City declined to tender him, the same way the Colts declined to tender Marlin Jackson, Tim Jennings, Aaron Francisco, T.J. Rushing, Daniel Federkeil, Tyjuan Hagler, Freddy Keiaho and Hank Baskett.

While all those guys become unrestricted in free agency in that they are allowed to sign anywhere, they aren’t the same sort of free agent that Gary Brackett was, briefly, or that any player with an expiring contract and six or more years of experience became.

And so the Colts were free to sign Alleman.

And if Jackson signs with Baltimore or Philadelphia this week, it won’t mean the Colts are then free to sign an unrestricted free agent.

Hope that clarifies things a bit.

And here’s what Scouts Inc. has to say about Alleman, who scored just a 53 in their free-agent grading. I presume he’ll get a chance to compete with Kyle DeVan at right guard or work as an interior backup.

Alleman has bounced around between three teams during the three years he has been in the NFL since being drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the third round of the 2007 draft. He played in nine games, starting three, for the Chiefs in 2009. He is a good sized lineman with above average initial quickness and agility but is not a natural knee bender and will overextend into blocks. He tends to play with a narrow base and can struggle to react and right himself against good counter moves by the pass rusher. He is a decent backup that can step in to start for a game or two but is not the kind of athlete you want to start all 16 games.

The first move of the free agency period in the AFC South was hardly earth-shattering: Houston punter Matt Turk re-signed with the Texans for a year.

Agent David Canter revealed the news in a tweet and did not share financial terms.

Also, the league sent out the official list of RFA tenders so we have info on the guys who were missing.

Jacksonville put a third-round tender on linebacker Clint Ingram and did not tender defensive lineman Greg Peterson.

The Colts put second-round tenders on Charlie Johnson, Melvin Bullitt, Antonio Johnson and Daniel Muir. The did not tender Hank Baskett, Tyjuan Hagler, Freddy Keiaho, or T.J. Rushing.

That makes for four defensive backs the Colts passes on retaining -- Marlin Jackson, Tim Jennings and Aaron Francisco were also not tendered.

The RFA tender lists of the Texans and Titans were previously complete.

Aaron Wilson reports that former Titans coordinator Jim Schwartz is at Kyle Vanden Bosch's Nashville home trying to recruit the unrestricted defensive end.

ESPN’s John Clayton reports that Gary Brackett’s plans to dip his toe in free agent waters Friday have been scrubbed and that a new deal with the Colts is close.

Brackett may have been on the wish list of the New York Giants.

But perhaps no prominent unrestricted free-agent-to-be is a better fit with his original team than Brackett, a fireplug who’s size doesn’t bother Indy a bit so long as his speed and instincts help him consistently find his way to the guy with the ball and get him to the ground.

Once the Colts lock up their middle linebacker, they can move forward without any major departures from the team that won the AFC. Raheem Brock, a versatile defensive lineman in recent years, indicated via Twitter Thursday afternoon that he was being let go.

The draft will likely focus, then, on offensive tackle, a defensive end to grow up behind Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, restocking depth in the secondary after not tendering three players who were in line to be restricted free agents (Marlin Jackson, Tim Jennings and Aaron Francisco) and perhaps the return games.

A few updates on developments in the division as the clock ticks toward the start of the new league year:

The Colts have reportedly declined to offer restricted free-agent tenders to Marlin Jackson, Tim Jennings and Aaron Francisco. Jackson is the surprise. He tore up a knee for the second time in two years this season. But in time -- if his rehab goes well -- I’m certain someone will jump at him and could get a good player with a cheap incentive-laden contract.

No word yet on tenders for nine other Colts who are slated to become restricted free agents.

The Jaguars, meanwhile, signed defensive tackle Atiyyah Ellison to a contract, preventing him from becoming a restricted free agent. They also signed reserve guard Kynan Forney, who was set to become an unrestricted free agent. No word on tender offers for Clint Ingram, the linebacker, or defensive lineman Greg Peterson, the teams’ only other restricted free agents to-be.

Houston Texans

Potential unrestricted free agents: CB Dunta Robinson, WR Kevin Walter, RB Chris Brown, DT Jeff Zgonina, G Chester Pitts, S Brian Russell, S Nick Ferguson, LS Bryan Pittman, LB Chaun Thompson, QB Rex Grossman, LB Khary Campbell, G Tutan Reyes, T Ephraim Salaam, P Matt Turk.

Potential restricted free agents: DL Tim Bulman, S John Busing, OT Rashad Butler, TE Owen Daniels, RB Ryan Moats, S Bernard Pollard, LB DeMeco Ryans, G Chris White.

Franchise player: None.

What to expect: I don’t think the Texans will jump out and make any monumental moves. But by deciding not to tag Robinson they created another hole and saved themselves big dollars. With needs at corner, running back, free safety, interior offensive line and defensive tackle they may have more than they can address in one draft. That means they could jump out for one significant free agent – like they did last year with defensive lineman Antonio Smith -- and maybe another less expensive one or two.

Indianapolis Colts

Potential unrestricted free agents: MLB Gary Brackett, K Matt Stover.

Potential restricted free agents: WR Hank Baskett, S Antoine Bethea, S Melvin Bullitt, OL Dan Federkeil, CB Aaron Francisco, LB Tyjuan Hagler, CB Marlin Jackson, CB Tim Jennings, DT Antonio Johnson, OT Charlie Johnson, LB Freddy Keiaho, DT Dan Muir, CBPR T.J. Rushing.

Franchise player: None.

What to expect: Brackett is priority one and the team has indicated a plan to pay him as an upper-echelon guy. The restricted list includes a lot of key guys who will remain big factors next year. Indy is not a team that looks to bring in many outsiders for big roles and it won’t start now. Bill Polian’s said the Colts will sit back and see how things unfold in the new capless landscape.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Potential unrestricted free agents: DE Reggie Hayward, G Kynan Forney.

Potential restricted free agents: DT Atiyyah Ellison, LB Clint Ingram, DL Greg Peterson.

Franchise player: None.

What to expect: The Jaguars are draft-reliant, but will also shop for bargains in free agency, hoping to plug a couple holes with high-character guys with upside who fit what they are doing. As for a big splash, it’s unlikely based on their recent busts with big-name free agents like Jerry Porter and Drayton Florence and the direction they’ve moved since.

Tennessee Titans

Potential unrestricted free agents: DE Kyle Vanden Bosch, C Kevin Mawae, LB Keith Bulluck, TE Alge Crumpler, CB Nick Harper, CB Rod Hood, DE Jevon Kearse, S Kevin Kaesviharn.

Potential restricted free agents: DE Dave Ball, DT Tony Brown, TE Bo Scaife, LB Stephen Tulloch, DT Kevin Vickerson, RB LenDale White.

Franchise player: None.

What to expect: The Titans will undergo a youth movement, especially on defense where Vanden Bosch and Bulluck, who’s recovering from ACL repair, are going to be allowed to walk. Mawae been told his only chance to return is as a backup at a backup price. Brown, Scaife and Tulloch are important guys they’ll want to retain. Beyond that, expect mostly bargain shopping.

Restricted free-agent tenders have to be done before midnight ET. Here's what's out so far:

Houston

• DL Tim Bulman – Right of first refusal.
• S John Busing – Not tendered.
• OT Rashad Butler -- Third.
• TE Owen Daniels – First and third.
• RB Ryan Moats – Third.
• S Bernard Pollard – First.
• LB DeMeco Ryans – First and third.
• G Chris White – Right of first refusal.

From John McClain of the Houston Chronicle.

Indianapolis

• WR Hank Baskett
• S Antoine Bethea – First.
• S Melvin Bullitt
• OL Dan Federkeil
• CB Aaron Francisco
• LB Tyjuan Hagler
• CB Marlin Jackson
• CB Tim Jennings
• DT Antonio Johnson
• OT Charlie Johnson
• LB Freddy Keiaho
• DT Dan Muir
• CB/PR T.J. Rushing

Bethea info from Adam Schefter.

Jacksonville

• DT Atiyyah Ellison
• LB Clint Ingram
• DL Greg Peterson

Tennessee

• DE Dave Ball – Second.
• DT Tony Brown – First.
• TE Bo Scaife – First at 110% or nearly $4.9 million.
• LB Stephen Tulloch –First.
• DT Kevin Vickerson –Second.
• RB LenDale White –Second.

From Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean.

It’s a whole new offseason world starting March 5, and we have no experience from which to predict what happens in an uncapped year. There are enough restrictions on the players’ side to offset the Wild West so many initially projected.

One area I am really curious to see is restricted free agency. Because there are fewer unrestricted free agents (it takes six years to get there now, not four), will teams be more protective of their RFAs and more aggressive in terms of signing RFAs from outside to offer sheets?

I certainly think a creative front office that can go after the right guys can lure them away or at least get a trade conversation going.

Teams must tender their RFAs by the end of March 4. Here are the levels of tags:

With no CBA by March 5, and we aren’t expecting one, here are the RFAs for each team in the AFC South, according to the NFLPA.

Houston

• DL Tim Bulman
• S John Busing
• OT Rashad Butler
• TE Owen Daniels
• RB Ryan Moats
• S Bernard Pollard
• LB DeMeco Ryans
• G Chris White

Indianapolis

• WR Hank Baskett
• S Antoine Bethea
• S Melvin Bullitt
• OL Dan Federkeil
• CB Aaron Francisco
• LB Tyjuan Hagler
• CB Marlin Jackson
• CB Tim Jennings
• DT Antonio Johnson
• OT Charlie Johnson
• LB Freddy Keiaho
• DT Dan Muir
• CB/PR T.J. Rushing

Jacksonville

• DT Atiyyah Ellison
• LB Clint Ingram
• DL Greg Peterson
• DT Montavious Stanley

Tennessee

• DE Dave Ball
• DT Tony Brown
• TE Bo Scaife
• LB Stephen Tulloch
• DT Kevin Vickerson
• RB LenDale White

Some best bets and best buys in pending free agency, from The Sporting News.

A good list of free-agents to be from The Sporting News.

Pete Prisco’s got new power rankings.

Chris Burke looks at the 14 title-less teams and the likelihood they break through next year.

Houston Texans

Touching on the big Texans questions with John McClain.

Indianapolis Colts

Colts fan David Letterman had Drew Brees as a guest. Scott Thien takes a look at the interview.

Mike Chappell takes questions, addressing Tom Moore, Super Bowl tickets and Tim Jennings.

Peyton Manning's non-handshake has been overblown, says David Whitley.

A year later, Tony Dungy says he still feels good about his retirement decision.

The media has the attention span of a gnat, which cheapens all of their proclamations, says Deshawn Zombie. I think a lot of media bashing is overly emotional. Zombie’s is generally well reasoned. Here is a good fan appreciation for a great season.

Looking at some good numbers from the Super Bowl with Stampede Blue.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Maurice Jones-Drew and Tim Tebow will be grand marshals of qualifying races at Daytona, says Don Coble.

Focus on the human confrontation in football, urges Vic Ketchman.

Tennessee Titans

Looking at the offensive line with August West.

» Super Bowl Final Word: Colts | Saints

MIAMI -- Five nuggets of knowledge about Super Bowl XLIV between the New Orleans Saints (15-3) and Indianapolis Colts (16-2):

1. Peyton Manning should expect to see a defensive Plan A, B and C. In the AFC Championship Game, the Jets brought some early blitzes that were unfamiliar and confused the Colts. But once Manning and offensive coordinator Tom Moore had some time on the sidelines to sort things out, they solved the puzzle. Once they did, they seemed to deflate New York, which failed to make any major countermoves.

Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams should have multiple plans and when he senses the Colts have figured something out, he’ll flip the switch on some major alterations and be prepared to do so multiple times. If Manning wins on smarts, odds are he will be challenged more than he was two weeks ago.

2. Indianapolis doesn’t run it well, but watch how it runs once it’s inside the 20. The Colts finished last in the league in rushing the ball this year with 1,294 yards. However, they did score 16 rushing touchdowns and ESPN Stats & Information says they had a nice balance of rush-to-pass play calls down in the red zone (74-78). Their predictability on offense before reaching the red zone may have caused Manning’s numbers to suffer on play-action passes.

In red-zone play-action he had six touchdowns and no interceptions in 12 pass attempts this season, posting a 124.3 passer rating. Outside of the red zone his rating on play-action was only 79.7 and his five touchdowns are measured against nine interceptions. His completion percentage is 63.3 outside the red zone on play-action, 20 points lower than inside it.

3. The Colts' secondary depth is their weak spot. Even if Jerraud Powers is fine to play after recent foot surgery, if the Saints can force the Colts to use six defensive backs, that last man is a shaky piece of the defense. Kelvin Hayden and Powers are quality starters, and although Jacob Lacey got torched on an 80-yard touchdown against the Jets, he’s a capable player too.

But if the Colts need to rely much on Tim Jennings or go deeper than that to someone like Aaron Francisco or T.J. Rushing, I expect Sean Payton and Drew Brees will target them as quickly and as often as possible. They should.

4. For all the grief about his postseason failures, Manning’s got some good numbers. Break down the top five players in postseason passing yardage by the game, and Manning’s the best of them with an average of 284 to Joe Montana (251), Dan Marino (251), Brett Favre (244) and John Elway (226). No one has more playoff 300-yard passing games than Manning’s seven.

But his counterpart’s got an amazing number going this season when it comes to facing top postseason quarterbacks. The Super Bowl will mark the fourth time this season Brees has faced a former Super Bowl MVP. The three quarterbacks he faced before Peyton Manning were Eli Manning, Tom Brady and Kurt Warner. Brees has been unreal in those games, posting a combined passer rating of 152.8 with three wins, 12 touchdowns and no interceptions.

5. With or without Dwight Freeney, the Colts might be wise to blitz. This defense is far different than the one on the 2006 championship Colts. That was a Cover 2 team that rushed four almost every snap. This is a group that is willing to blitz.

The Cardinals and Vikings rarely tested Brees with an additional pass rush in New Orleans’ first two postseason games, ESPN Stats & Info says. Against four or fewer rushers, he’s thrown five touchdown and no interceptions, averaged 8.2 yards an attempt and posted a passer rating of 127.3. Against five or more rushers he’s thrown one touchdown and no interceptions, averaged 4.3 yards an attempt and posted a rating of 90.2.

Aaron Hurley from parts unknown writes: We talk about Peyton Manning's greatness, but we do our best to forget that he has always been surrounded by first round picks - sometimes high ones - and Pro Bowlers like Marshall Faulk, Edgerrin James, Marvin Harrison, Ken Dilger, Marcus Pollard, Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark, Joseph Addai, Donald Brown and Anthony Gonzalez. We also forget that Manning didn't win a playoff game until his 5th year AND has lost in the first round in 6 of his 9 trips DESPITE all that talent around him. Yet we want to act all shocked that David Garrard can't get it done with Mike Sims-Walker, Maurice Jones-Drew, and nothing else, including a terrible offensive line and a bad defense? Where would Jacksonville be with Manning at QB? The same place they are now: a non-playoff team. (What if Mark Sanchez played for the Jags instead of a team with a great running game, outstanding defense and good WRs? They don't even go 7-9 with 4 losses by a TD or less.) Why don't we get to see Manning play with a terrible team on offense, and THEN see how great he is. As if Manning would have transformed that bunch in Jacksonville into Pro Bowlers with his brilliant play or something. And yes, the same goes for Drew Brees: it took the guy 10 years to get his first playoff victory despite all the talent that he had around him in New Orleans AND San Diego.

Paul Kuharsky: I’ll grant you there is a chicken and egg argument. Does the quarterback make the cast better or does the cast make the quarterback?

But swap Garrard and Manning right now. The Jaguars get significantly better and the Colts get significantly worse.

I don’t buy grading QBs down for having good people around them. Am I supposed to blame Manning for being on a team smart enough to judge talent and surround him with it? No. Am I supposed to grade Garrard up because he doesn’t have offensive personnel to match? No.

How much time does Garrard get?

The big issue here is that they jumped the gun to give him the big contract.

Craig Montgomery in Seymour, IN writes: With both Tom Brady and Peyton Manning up for new contracts, the discussion about who should be the higher-paid player has popped up. Ron Jaworski says, because of the "jewelry", Brady should be the highest paid player. While I agree that Brady is an outstanding QB, I think Jaws is off his rocker (not the first time, by the way). If the number of rings determines the amount of money a player should be paid, and, by proxy, the level of value a player has on the team, Doug Williams should have made more money than Dan Marino. The amount of money paid to a player should be based upon how easily he could be replaced. Not to lessen the importance of TB to the Pats, but Matt Cassel lead them to an 11-5 season when TB was hurt. Does anyone think Curtis Painter could lead the team to such a record? Agree or disagree?

Paul Kuharsky: Agreed with you for a while, but you lost me at the end.

Yes, Manning is nearly impossible to replace and that adds to his value. But Jim Sorgi getting hurt or the Colts’ failure to have an adequate backup isn’t one of the 100s of reasons I would pay Manning. What's he have to do with that except that by being durable he makes it a non-concern? And that the Pats were able to win with Cassel shouldn’t make Brady, who's won three Super Bowl, less valuable in my eyes.

Derek from Mitchell, IN writes: You look like Anthony Gonzales' dad, in the two photos on your article about him. Go Colts.

Paul Kuharsky: So what I am hearing you say is that Mr. Gonzalez is a very handsome fellow?

Jason in Philadelphia writes: Injuries can ruin a team and it's chance to make a serious playoff/ Super Bowl run, but I think injuries can also benefit a team. If Bledsoe wasn't hurt in '01 Tom Brady may have never broken out like he did. If Gonzo, Sanders, Jackson, and Hayden weren't hurt this year it may have taken much longer to find out how valuable Garcon, Collie, Bullitt, Powers, and Lacey actually are. Indy was the 2nd most injured team this season (so i've heard) and they are in the Super Bowl. If that doesn't preach the importance of solid scouting and coaching, I don't know what does. Must be nice to have all that depth at WR and DB.

Paul Kuharsky: Absolutely it is, though I am not sure they think their corner depth extends beyond Tim Jennings, and I know a lot of people aren’t high on him. If Aaron Francisco or T.J. Rushing is on the field, I would think the Saints have a mismatch to exploit.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- We spoke to Jerraud Powers earlier this week and he expressed no doubt about playing Sunday.

But I asked Jim Caldwell this morning if Powers had surgery and he confirmed Powers had.

Here’s the news story.

If Powers can’t play or is not effective, I think it might be a bigger concern than a limited or missing Dwight Freeney.

The depth at defensive end is better than at corner, where the Saints would surely look to target Tim Jennings if he’s the nickel and go after whoever is at dime -- Aaron Francisco (who needs surgery on both his pinkies, by the way), T.J. Rushing or Jamie Silva.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Highlights and notes from Wednesday’s media session with the Colts.

Peyton Manning understands what a Super Bowl win would mean to New Orleans, so he understands that to many fans the Colts are wearing the black hat.

“We certainly understand we may not be the team that everybody is cheering for in this game,” he said. “We’re OK with that… I think as far as non-New Orleans Saints fans, non-Colts fans, somebody is going to pick a team to follow and they will probably pick the Saints. That’s fine.

“We talk about all the stories this week, when it comes down the game though, it gets down to the X's and O's and I think the more you can block out from the outside, the better off you’re going to be.”

Cornerback Jerraud Powers, who missed the AFC Championship Game and did not practice last week with a left foot injury, said he doesn’t know how much he’s going to practice but has no doubt he will play against the Saints.

That’s big. With Dwight Freeney expected to be limited, the Colts can’t afford a big hit in the secondary. With Kelvin Hayden, Powers and Jacob Lacey as the top three corners, Indy is in good shape. Pull Tim Jennings further up the pecking order and it could be trouble.

Players on IR have the option of attending media sessions, a team official told me. I saw Anthony Gonzalez and Jim Sorgi Tuesday and I chatted with Marlin Jackson Wednesday at the availability at the team hotel. Jackson told me he didn’t have a choice -- that he was told to attend.

Bob Sanders has been invisible so far. A player told me he’s with the team but was not part of the team photo taken on media day.

While Howard Mudd is preparing for the last game of his career, Tom Moore has no idea what the future holds.

“My plans go up to Sunday,” he said. “I don’t like to complicate my life.”

My frienemy Tim Graham told me this stat from Tuesday's Mudd column (link above, you need to read it) is too good not to mention a second time: Ryan McCrystal of EPSN Stats & Information tells me since sacks became an official stat in 1982, no one has been sacked more than John Elway (516). At his current pace Manning would break that record at some point during his 29th season in the league, just before his 50th birthday.

How crazy is that?