Indianapolis Colts: Dan Muir Returns, a Few Other Re-Runs and a Lament for 2011

Big defensive tackle Daniel Muir is back with the Colts after a brief stint with the St. Louis Rams. While never a dominating force on the interior of the line, he can be effective in spot situations and helped to fill in for Drake Nevis sidelined with a lingering injury.

Muir always worked well alongside Anthony Johnson. Mookie is no doubt glad to have his buddy back with the Colts.

What other Colts players tested the waters with other teams, only to find themselves back with the horseshoe on their helmets?

Below is a quick overview of three other well-known Colts re-runs. I don't know about you, but I gladly welcome a break from thinking about the utter wretchedness of the Colts in their Peyton Manning-less form.

The Colts are still trying to find a kick returner as effective as Terrence Wilkins.

Terrence Wilkins' last year in the league was 2006. The Colts still haven't found a decent replacement for him at the kick returner spot.

An undrafted free agent out of the University of Virginia, Wilkins showed good vision and speed as a rookie returner in 1999 with the Colts. He stayed with the team until 2001, when he signed a contract with the St. Louis Rams.

After an uninspiring year with the Rams, he ended up back with the Colts in 2003. He was cut at the end of that season, however, and ended up in the CFL for a year before reemerging with the Colts in 2006 for their run to the Super Bowl.

Dominic Rhodes was a hard-nosed runner in his three non-consecutive stints with the Colts.

The return of Dominic Rhodes at the end of last year was exciting for Colts fans. A fan favorite, Rhodes was known as a hard runner who made the most of the holes he was given.

His first stint with the Colts began in 2001, when he made the team as an undrafted free agent and then stepped in for Edgerrin James when he went down with an injury just a few games into the season. He still holds the record for the most rushing yards by an undrafted rookie ever (1,104 yards in nine games).

When James returned the next season, Rhodes provided a great change of pace from the dynamic Edge. 

Rhodes' all-time best moment came in the Super Bowl against the Bears after the 2006 season. He split time with then-rookie Joseph Addai and punched in a touchdown and ran for over 100 yards. In the wake of that effort, many folks thought that he should have been the Super Bowl MVP instead of Manning!

Rhodes then signed a big contract with the Oakland Raiders in the offseason. He never gained traction there, however, and ended up back with the Colts in 2008 for a one year, $605,000 contract.

After a short run with the Buffalo Bills in the preseason of 2009, he ended up with the Florida Tuskers. He lit up the UFL that year and then towards the end of 2010, as injuries piled up for the Colts, he signed for the third time with Indy.

Despite his recent problems with the law, Rhodes is still thought of fondly by Colts fans. He always gave his best as a member of the Colts. 

Tyjuan Hagler has flitted on and off the Colts roster for the past three years.

Much like the red garden vegetable of the same name (different spelling) Tyjuan Hagler always seems to turn up. 

Although never very good against the run as a linebacker, Hagler is decent in coverage and typically played well on special teams. A fifth round pick out of the University of Cincinnati in 2005, Hagler was an on-again, off-again starter at weakside linebacker for the Colts.

In 2010, Hagler signed with the Seattle Seahawks prior to training camp. He was waived before the season started. The Colts came knocking after injuries started to pile up later that year.

He didn't get a contract with the Colts this year, but it isn't out of the question for the Colts to try to sign him in the coming months if more injuries plague their linebacking corps. Hagler is the boomerang of the Colts' roster, after all.

In other news, the Colts are awful.

Yesterday, I solicited new adjectives to describe the deplorable nature of the Colts from my friends on Facebook. My favorites are "ugh-erific" from Joyce and "raunch-tastic" from Shane.

It's getting difficult to come up with new ways to explore how bad the Colts are this year. Just like they find new ways to lose each week, it's getting difficult to come up with new ways to explore how bad the Colts are this year. Even though they've kept most games close, they seem to fade down the stretch.

What do they need to do to actually win a game this year and avoid equaling ignominious 2008 Detroit Lions? Below are a couple quick pills that the Colts need to swallow to get a win between now and December.

-The Colts need to cover receivers downfield with a modicum of effort toward staying tight on them. Jacob Lacey has been killed this season. He's just not a very good cornerback.

Jim Caldwell wisely yanked Lacey in the fourth quarter. Terrence Johnson performed much better than Lacey did against Cincinnati Bengals receiver Jerome Simpson in his place. 

Jerraud Powers and Johnson are the best options at cornerback at this point. Lacey should be a nickel guy only.

-The Colts special teams need to give the offense more room to work. Joe Lefeged couldn't get any room for Curtis Painter on punt returns. He needs better blocking and needs to get upfield more quickly. A blocked field goal is also inexcusable.

-The Colts offense is the least of the teams concerns right now. They have performed more than adequately since Painter took the reins from the ineffective Kerry Collins. I would like to see more trickery and bold play-calling, though.

A desperate team needs to shake things up to get points. A pitch to Joe Addai for a passing play from a guy who played quarterback in high school would be a welcome sight. He's one for one with a touchdown for his NFL passing career!

-This is thoroughly tongue-in-cheek, but the Colts need Peyton Manning back. He covered a multitude of short-comings on this team. If he were under center, the team would be respectable and competing for another AFC South division title.

Get ready for another ugh-erific game this week against the Saints. At least Daniel Muir is back.