Melvin Bullitt

Melvin Bullitt has had a very low impact on Colts fans, and the national media.  He is not a big name guy. Now Peyton Manning, Dwight Freeney, Dallas Clark, Robert Mathis, and Reggie Wayne are the guys that take up the spot light on the Colts and get talked about by those "experts" in Bristol.  Insert Melvin Bullitt, the safety net for oft injured, and now former Indianapolis Colt Bob Sanders (the [former] star of the secondary) and you have a guy who is often overlooked.  Bullitt is crucial to the success of this franchise moving forward, for the simple reason that there is no one behind him with more success or experience.  Sanders always had Bullitt waiting in the wings in case of emergency, Bullitt doesn't have that same luxury.

In the 2010 season Melvin Bullitt went down week 4 while facing the Jaguars in Jacksonville with a season ending shoulder injury.  This came 3 weeks after the aforementioned Sanders got hurt with what would eventually be a season (and Indianapolis career) ending bicep tear.  Bullitt filled in for Sanders for those three weeks, and for the previous seasons. The question in most Colts fans heads at the moment Melvin was hurt was this, "Who will fill in for Bullitt?" The answer? Aaron Francisco, the unemployed ex-Colts trotted back into the Colts facility to suit up and serve as a poster child for the Colts motto of "Next Man Up."

However this season the Colts have cut their ties with the former Defensive player of the year, and left the job for the "Next Man Up." That man is Melvin Bullitt, however, that man needs to be resigned.  This is why I find the re-signing of Melvin Bullitt to be a must for the Indianapolis Colts this offseason.

Antione Bethea is under a long term contract, and was the most consistent defensive player on the field last season.  Francisco was arguably the Colts most inconsistent player on the defensive side of the ball, and Bethea was forced to come in and play clean up.  Bullitt would be in Francisco's role, and I have faith in him to fill that role, and make a difference in the secondary this season for the Colts.

In 2008 and 2009 Bulllitt recorded career bests with 72 tackles and 79 tackles respectively. Bullitt however was only on pace for 52 tackles last season, which would have been a career low by far.

If Melvin can come into camp (or whatever there is depending on a lockout) with the assurance that he is the full time starter, I'm confident that information alone will influence his numbers drastically in a positive way.  He has been forced to prepare for the worst.  Only as a backup. Only as a plan b.  Expect this member of the Colts, if resigned, to make an impact, and team up with the Bethea to form one the most underrated saftey tandems in the league.

I firmly believe that had the Colts had a concern with the resigning of Bullitt or his productivity level at the safety position, then they would have addressed that issue in the draft.  The fact that they did not makes it seem like this position is Bullitt's to lose.

Some have questioned Bullitt's ability to be a full time starter.  I honestly never have.  Either way, he is going to have to be that starter considering there is no one behind him that can start at the NFL level.  I like Melvin Bullitt, and I think he is a crucial component for the Indianapolis Colts to make a strong Super Bowl push next season.

How important is the resigning of Melvin Bullitt in your mind?

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