Call me crazy, but I'm a bit more optimistic about the signing than most. I know the downside (injuries: missed five games last year and lost a season five years ago; and age: will be turning 31 early next season) but I think that Colvin still has the potential to be a good player, if not the really good player he was as recently as last season.
When healthy, Colvin was pretty much a guarantee for at seven sacks from the strong-side linebacker position, which is one of our biggest question marks right now. Between 2001 and 2006, Colvin played five complete seasons in six years. In those years, he averaged 8.3 sacks, and thats counting 2004 when he wasn't yet full speed after recovering from a hip injury that wiped out the previous season.
Last year he may have only had four sacks in his eleven games, but I've closely followed Colvin's career and I kept reading things (mostly on Football Outsiders) about how well Colvin was doing on that Pats defense and how he was one of the keys to their defense last season before he went down (and how much they declined after he did).
For any of those who forgot, Colvin also made his reputation in a 4-3 defense, the Bears excellent early 90's D, so he shouldn't have any trouble fitting in. And 30, turning 31, isn't ancient. Barring further injury, he's probably got a few more solid years left in him, and possibly a few more as a role player.
I'm not expecting the Colvin of 2001 to step on the field for us, but I think he's got a lot more potential to contribute than most and could really surprise. Worst case scenario, we've got an experienced player whose achieved a considerable amount that can mentor some of our younger linebackers.
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