Panthers Throw Crazy Money at Colclough

It's already been a money is no object free agency period with insane contracts flying left and right.

But as crazy as Bernard Berrian, Asante Samuel and Justin Smith's new deals may be, they have nothing on Ricardo Coclough's new contract.

It's one thing to overpay for a former Pro Bowler, or even a promising NFL starter hitting free agency for the first time, but Colclough's two-year, $4 million contract is insane because guys one step away from unemployment usually are lucky to get the veteran minimum. But in Colclough's case, he's managed to land a two-year deal despite the fact that he's played in a grand total of six games in the past two seasons. As the Associated Press story explains:

The move gives the Panthers an extra defensive back and perhaps some help with their struggling kickoff return unit.

At least it says kick return and not punt return unit, but as Steelers fans know, Colclough treats footballs like they are covered in razor blades, so the Panthers shouldn't be asking too much of their new fourth-string corner. Maybe the Panthers see something in Colclough that the Steelers and Browns missed--he does have some athletic ability--but the reality is that the Panthers likely overpaid for a guy who will struggle to stick on the roster come September.