Colts sign free agent DT Aubrayo Franklin, re-sign guard Joe Reitz
The Indianapolis Colts on Wednesday announced they signed unrestricted free agent defensive tackle Aubrayo Franklin.
The team also said that exclusive rights free agent guard Joe Reitz has signed the tender offered by the team.
The 6-1, 315 pound Franklin has played in 126 NFL games (including 79 starts) over his 10-year professional career. He has 431 total tackles (including 230 solo), eight passes defended, 4.0 sacks, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one interception.
Franklin comes to the Colts from the San Diego Chargers, where he played 12 games (including nine starts) last season. He amassed 23 tackles (19 solo) last season.
Franklin was a 2003 fifth round (146th overall) draft pick by the Baltimore Ravens and stayed with the team for four seasons, appearing in 36 games (one start), 65 tackles (35 solo), two passes defensed and 1.0 sack.
After his tenure with the Ravens, Franklin spent four seasons (2007-10) with the San Francisco 49ers, appearing in 62 games, all but two were starts. He recorded 312 tackles (163 solo), 3.0 sacks, six passes defensed, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one interception. His best season as a pro was in 2009, when he had a career-high 88 tackles (49 solo) and 2.0 sacks and one interception.
He moved to the New Orleans Saints in 2011, appearing in all 16 games and recorded 31 tackles (13 solo).
"Aubrayo is a great fit for our team on many fronts," said General Manager Ryan Grigson. "He's an excellent run defender that plays with great technique and has played in the scheme for Greg Manusky in the past. We feel he is a veteran ‘pillar' type addition that will bring a strong intangible package to the field and our locker room. We are all glad he is now a Colt and part of our team."
As for Reitz, he will continue his career with the Colts. Originally signed off waivers in 2010, he's played in 20 games (including 17 starts) during his time in Indianapolis.
Last season, he played in nine games, including eight starts. He was part of two significant games by rookie quarterback Andrew Luck: the NFL rookie record for most passing yards in a single game in Week 9 against Miami (433), and also was on the line when Luck threw for 205 yards in Week 16 at Kansas City, which set a new NFL rookie record for passing yards in a season (4,374).
In 2011, he made 11 appearances, including nine starts.
