Ahmad Bradshaw has gone from having no plans to having a Plan A and a Plan B for the upcoming 2013 season. After going virtually unnoticed during free agency, the veteran running back has his phone ringing again from multiple teams. After a successful workout with the Indianapolis Colts, Bradshaw could be signing with the team by the end of the week. However, if a deal is not done, the New England Patriots are Bradshaw's fallback.
Sources report that Bradshaw will likely take a visit to New England if a deal is not done with the Indianapolis Colts. Coming from the New York Giants, the Patriots are very familiar with Bradshaw and what he can do on the field. He was a main contributor during both New York Super Bowl victories over the New England Patriots. He rushing for 45 yards in their first meeting and 72 yards in the second, including a key touchdown last in the game. The Patriots are pretty stacked at running backs already, but a veteran presence with championship experience is never a bad thing to take on.
Bradshaw has certainly proved that he can be productive when given the chance. At 27, he is still very young for an NFL player. The pending issue for Bradshaw is his health. He is recently coming off yet another surgery to fix his troubled foot, the main reason he has yet to sign anywhere. Both the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers were very interested in Bradshaw when free agency first began, but deemed him not healthy enough to be a productive starter and decided to address the ground game in the NFL Draft.
Bradshaw is still in heavy negotiations with the Colts. The likely holdup is the size and amount of the contract. The running back will likely get offered the veteran's minimum on a one-year deal. Bradshaw has continued to be a 1,000-yard rusher, believing he deserves a little more than just the low-balled veteran's minimum.
If a deal gets done with Bradshaw, it could mean the end of the road for one of three running backs currently under contract in Indianapolis. The team is looking to bump Vick Ballard up the depth chart, meaning either Donald Brown or Delone Carter is pumped off. In his rookie year, Ballard played all 16 games, rushing for 814 yards and two touchdowns. Brown will be entering into his fifth year with the Colts. Last season he produced 417 yards and one touchdown. Carter will be in his third season with the Colts where he racked up 499 yards and five touchdowns in two seasons.
The New England Patriots are continuing to prove that they are not afraid to make moves at this point in the upcoming season. If the Colts deal falls through, Bradshaw can expect a visit on the books soon.
