INSTANT REACTION: AHMAD BRADSHAW AGREES TO TERMS WITH THE COLTS

It’s been a quiet few weeks for transactions and the Indianapolis Colts.

With minicamp beginning this afternoon, Colts GM Ryan Grigson added another major splash in the 2013 offseason as the Colts have agreed to terms with former New York Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw.

How does this acquisition impact the Colts?

The Colts are getting a bona fide 1,000-yard rusher who has been apart of a pair of Super Bowl winning teams with the Giants.

Bradshaw was the Giants leading rushing in both Super Bowl XLVI and Super Bowl XLII victories, including a 17-carry, 72-yard, one-touchdown (the game winner with less than a minute to play) performance at Lucas Oil Stadium in 2012.

Fans should not worry about the durability of Bradshaw as he has missed an average of less than two games per season since 2007.

Where Bradshaw, who has played all six of his NFL seasons with the Giants, exactly fits in the Colts backfield remains to be seen.

What we know about Bradshaw is he is a consistent threat in both the rushing and receiving departments, and is a physical runner at 214 pounds.

Pep Hamilton’s offensive system highlights backs that can run between the tackles and Bradshaw certainly fits that type of runner, along with being a more than adequate pass blocker.

How about Bradshaw against the AFC?

In 20 career games against his new conference, Bradshaw has averaged 5.4 yards per carry and gained over 1,300 yards.

Colts running backs coach David Walker said a few weeks back that although Vick Ballard ended the year as the starter, the team will undoubtedly have to rely on multiple backs in order to get through a 16-game regular season schedule.

I see Bradshaw and Ballard forming a very solid one-two punch (both getting ample carries) that is up there with some of the better ones in the AFC.

Throw in Donald Brown, Delone Carter and Kerwynn Williams and the Colts have significantly upgraded the depth at a position that needs more than one threat over the course of a season, one that has the potential to last into 2014.