The Indianapolis Colts will need to rely on Andrew Luck’s arm even more this season. The team placed Ahmad Bradshaw on season-ending injured-reserve. He broke his fibula late in Sunday night’s loss to New England.

This leaves the Colts quite thin at running back. Trent Richardson and Daniel ‘Boom’ Herron are the only two running backs on the roster. Bradshaw is the second running back Indy lost to IR this season. Vick Ballard blew out his Achilles in training camp back in July.

The Colts are in need of an establishing running back. Richardson hasn’t been the back they thought they were getting from Cleveland and Herron doesn’t have the track record to prove they could rely on him in the playoffs.

We can already strike one name off the free agent running back list. The Colts said they are not interested in Ray Rice. He would need to be reinstated for Indy to even have the option of signing him.

The two names that popped up today are LeGarrette Blount and Ben Tate. Both came available on the market and have the ability to help Indianapolis fill their need.

Which running back is best suited for the Colts?

Before we tackle Indy’s need, let’s discuss why each running back is available. Blount was released by Pittsburgh after walking off the field before the end of Monday’s night’s win at Tennessee. Tate was cut by Cleveland after the emergence of a pair of rookie running backs outperformed him. It was also a financial move, since Tate makes more than twice the money Terrance West & Isaiah Crowell makes, combined.

Colts fans know both Blount and Tate rather well. Blount torched the Colts in the postseason last year and Tate had some nice games against Indy as a member of the Texans.

Bradshaw is the best receiving back on the Colts. Richardson isn’t bad, but the Colts might focus to fill that need. Tate is better receiver of the two. Blount has only one double-digit receiving season in his career. Tate hasn’t exactly been Larry Centers, but he’s been much better with less time on the field.

If the Colts want to duplicate what they are missing with Bradshaw, they should sign Tate.

Even though I advocate signing Tate, I don’t think signing Blount is a bad idea either. They need a player with some ‘eff you’ in him. The Colts’ offense is loaded with nice guys. Andrew Luck, T.Y. Hilton & Reggie Wayne might as well be the clan from ‘Happy Day’s. BLOUNT WOULD BE THE FONZ! He’s a big back and could be the x-factor Indy needs in the playoffs.

I’m the Larry Bird of MS Paint. Don’t be jealous of my skills.

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About the Author…

Bobby Roberts (otherwise known as Sweetbob) is the creator of ‘America’s White Boy’ and contributor at Project Shanks. His writing has been featured on ESPN’s ‘SportsNation’, Sports Illustrated’s Hot Clicks, Guyspeed, and various other sites. You can follow him on Twitter at @Sweetbob.