Veteran RB Ahmad Bradshaw added to Colts’ backfield
By PAUL SIEGFRIED
ISL Correspondent
The Indianapolis Colts added to a crowded backfield with the signing of veteran running back Ahmad Bradshaw to a one-year contract.
The question for the Colts will be whether Bradshaw was signed as a backup, a complementary back, or as competition for returning starter Vick Ballard.
The Colts are expected to put more emphasis on the running game this season under new offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton. Indianapolis only ran the ball 40 percent of the time a year ago, the second-lowest amount of all playoff teams from 2012.
Bradshaw’s signing points to the need for a capable second back over a 16-game regular season, and that the Colts aren’t particularly sold on either of the other returning backups Donald Brown or Delone Carter.
Ballard ran for 814 yards a year ago, with 747 of those yards coming in the final 11 games of the season. While Ballard was productive, the Colts don’t seem to be convinced he could carry the whole load over the course of the season.
Bradshaw rushed for 1,015 yards on 221 carries with 6 touchdowns last season with the New York Giants. Since coming into the league in 2007 as a seventh-round draft pick of the Giants, Bradshaw has accumulated 4,232 yards and 32 TDs. He has also caught 132 passes for 1,087 yards. He is known as a three-down back who can catch the ball out of the backfield and is also a solid blocking back.
Bradshaw has had some injury problems in the past, missing time in 2009 and 2011 with a broken foot.
