Mike Hart, Michigan's all-time leading rusher, released by Indianapolis Colts
Mike Hart, the Michigan football program's all-time leading rusher, is a man without a team.
The Indianapolis Colts announced Tuesday they rescinded the rights to Hart and four other restricted free agents, according to The Associated Press.
A sixth-round draft choice in 2008, Hart carried the ball a total of 71 times in 21 games through three injury-plagued seasons as a Colt. He gained 185 yards in seven games last season.
As an unrestricted free agent, Hart can now sign with any team in the NFL.
Hart set school records for carries (1,015) and rushing yards (5,040) at Michigan between 2004-07. His 264 career rushing yards in the NFL are just 30 more than he gained against Illinois during his freshman season at Michigan in 2004.
The Colts drafted running back Delone Carter from Syracuse in the fourth round of April's NFL Draft.
Some other former Michigan players that are free agents and could find themselves with new homes now that the NFL lockout is over include wide receivers Braylon Edwards and Steve Breaston, offensive linemen David Baas and Jonathan Goodwin, defensive linemen Alan Branch and Gabe Watson, and linebacker Dhani Jones.
Linebackers LaMarr Woodley (Pittsburgh) and David Harris (New York Jets) are both unrestricted free agents with franchise tags from their respective teams. The tag binds the player to the team for one year if certain conditions are met.
Comments
Wally the Wolverine
Thu, Jul 28, 2011 : 4:38 p.m.
Not to worry, Mike, I think I got a job lined up for ya.
AANative
Wed, Jul 27, 2011 : 9:04 p.m.
Aww so sorry Big Brother!
Blu-dogg97
Wed, Jul 27, 2011 : 1:20 p.m.
It would be nice to see Stevie Breaston get pickup with the Lions! Teamed with Megatron would be very exciting to watch.. Speeds kills.. A huge dream would be David Harris signing with the Lions.. GO BLUE..
barnz378
Wed, Jul 27, 2011 : 2:41 a.m.
That is why eventually we have a back up plan. That is why we get an education. Business is fun also. we are just not on TV.
tim
Wed, Jul 27, 2011 : 1:39 a.m.
The life expectancy for a running back in the pros is 3-4 years.
Hailmary
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 10:25 p.m.
Mike Hart set records for yardage while at Mich., Mike also set records for carry's while at Mich. The latter probably set up Mike for an injury plagued pro career at Indy. Mike is not a big or especially fast back and Mike Hart took a pounding for 4 yrs. as the featured back at Mich. In this case 4 yrs of fame in college = 3 years of pain in the pros.