Tom Brady Rumors: Colts Haven't 'Engaged in Any Discussions' with QB at Combine

Indianapolis fans may want to ease up before they start rushing to get Tom Brady Colts jerseys. 

In the wake of NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport's scoop that the quarterback-needy team is meeting with Brady's camp at the NFL combine, Stephen Holder of The Athletic is rebuffing the notion the Colts have begun any such conversation with the Patriots' free-agent-to-be:

Regarding New England quarterback Tom Brady, a report from NFL.com said the Colts were among several teams to meet with Brady’s representatives here in Indianapolis. But a league source strongly denied the Colts have engaged in any discussions with Brady’s camp. The source said such a story was "made up." Does that mean the Colts would be disinterested if Brady does, in fact, hit the open market? That’s a very different question, one with an unclear answer.

Colts general manager Chris Ballard would hardly even discuss the quarterback earlier this week when meeting with the media.

"I'm not gonna comment on Brady," Ballard said. "But great career, though."

If it's at all possible to understate the accomplishments of a six-time Super Bowl champion and three-time league MVP, that may be it. Of course, a large portion of those accolades have come at the detriment of the Colts, who took their lumps against Brady with both Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck leading the way.

There's also the whole Deflategate saga, which originated with Indianapolis filing a complaint with the league after losing the 2014 AFC Championship Game to Brady and the Patriots. Should things end up with Brady playing for the Colts, it would create one of the wildest final chapters to a career in the NFL's recent history. 

That doesn't mean leadership in Indianapolis wouldn't want him to sign there should he hit free agency.

"We're open-minded," Colts owner Jim Irsay said of the team's options at quarterback. "I think there's multiple choices on a solution you [can] pick. But it's also hard because you have to pick one of them and you know you're going to be held accountable if you don't pick the right one."

From a financial standpoint, the Colts have the money to spend if they want to take a run at Brady. Spotrac.com projects Indianapolis will enter free agency with $80 million in salary-cap room, with Brady projected to earn at least $33.8 million per season on the open market. 

The Colts have also been linked to former Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers this offseason, though nothing is imminent on that front either. 

Indianapolis head coach Frank Reich worked as Rivers' quarterbacks coach, and later offensive coordinator, from 2013 to 2015. A reunion would certainly make sense. 

Free agency opens on March 18, and the Colts are expected to play a big role when it does.