INDIANAPOLIS – What he brings is versatility.
What the Colts hope to provide him is continuity.
This offseason, the lone free agent move the Colts made on the offensive line came in Todd Herremans, a 10-year veteran, coming over after a decade in Philadelphia.
Herremans, who Andy Reid (his head coach in Philadelphia) calls "dirty tough", is expected to compete with Hugh Thornton for the Colts starting right guard spot.
By starting at four different offensive line spots in at least six career games, Herremans' flexibility is something former offensive lineman Ryan Grigson is very familiar with.
|
Todd Herremans' NFL Career | |
|
Position |
Career Starts |
|
Left Guard |
71 |
|
Right Tackle |
24 |
|
Right Guard |
23 |
|
Left Tackle |
6 |
"There's a lot of things with Todd that made him attractive when he got released," Grigson said back at the League Meetings. "He's big. He's athletic. He's versatile. He's a guy that it wasn't too big for him. I recognize things like this as a former lineman.
"You respect someone that comes from a small school (Saginaw Valley State) that doesn't even go to the combine that's able to hold down left tackle, six starts as a rookie, for a pretty solid Eagles team. He's been just kind of an iron man that's played all along that line. He did a good job at San Francisco (last season) when (Philadelphia) threw him outside at right tackle. It's just nice to be able to have a guy with his mental aptitude, too, to play with some younger guys and kind of be a stabilizing force in there, too."
With the Colts returning nine linemen with starting experience in the NFL, Herremans brought that number to 10. He has the most starting experience of anyone on the Colts line with 124 career starts.
Herremans became the first Colts free agent signee back on March 9, greeting Chuck Pagano fresh off the head coach's USO Tour.
"Just in the conversation that I had with (Herremans) after he signed, I just feel like we are getting a pro's pro and a man's man," Pagano said.
"Another guy that you add into the room that is going to bring great football IQ and toughness and intelligence to that room and kind of be a tone setter in that room."
Despite not being invited to the NFL Combine back in 2005, Herremans was still a fourth-round draft pick out of Division II Saginaw Valley State.
One would think a decade in the NFL would be enough to call it a career.
Yet, after 127 career games played, and after being released from the Eagles, the 32-year old Herremans was left wanting more.
"I haven't really reached the goals that I've planned on reaching yet," Herremans said.
"My body just isn't telling me to shut it down yet. I still feel like I've got good football left in me. It's a good situation here, so I'm running with it as long as I can."
