Colts Cut Morris, McFarland for Cap Space

It's a tough business, this National Football League. One year, you're kissing the Lombardi Trophy. The next year, you end up on injured reserve, can't pass a physical and end up on the scrap heap.

That's what happened to Indianapolis Colts linebacker Rob Morris and defensive lineman Anthony "Booger" McFarland today. Both of them suffered nasty injuries last season that put them on IR, and after failing their most recent physicals, the Colts released them.

That's a tough break for Morris, who did so much to strengthen the Colts' run defense when he moved to the strong side in 2006. He suffered a knee injury last September that required surgery, and it appeared he wasn't going to be ready for training camp this year. That was also the case for McFarland, who tore his patella tendon in the preseason and didn't play all year.

The Colts freed up $8 million in cap space with those two cuts, though I suspect the guys that end up replacing Morris and McFarland won't be quite as good as they were in Tony Dungy's defense. Then again, Bill Polian has surprised us before with his moves. Maybe he has another ace up his sleeve.