FanHouse EdJohnson

Training camps have wrapped up, the NFL season is right around the corner, and it's still hot as sin outside. But instead of cooling you off with a warm island song, FanHouse break out ye old heat check for our 2009 NFL Season Previews. " We'll rate each club in 5 categories on a scale of 1 to 10, high score wins.

For most franchises, 12 wins is a banner year; one they can hang their proverbial hats upon. For the Colts, 12 wins is a certainly. They have won at least 12 games in each of the last six seasons. They have also had Tony Dungy as their head coach for the past seven years, but now he's gone. In 2009, the Colts will look for some continuity. Can it be provided by the Jim Caldwell administration?

Indianapolis Colts defensive end Ed Johnson was arrested for marijuana possession today, and as a result he'll be out of work tomorrow.

The Colts have decided to waive Johnson, who had been warned that he was already on a short leash because of off-field trouble when he was at Penn State, where Joe Paterno suspended him three different times. Colts President Bill Polian spelled it out in a statement that the team gave to the Indianapolis Star:

"We consider every violation of a team rule or NFL policy on an individual case-by-case basis. If club discipline is appropriate, we consider the past record of the individual involved and the extent to which team rules were violated when imposing penalties.

"In this particular case, Ed was well aware that his past history required him to be in complete compliance with club rules. He was repeatedly told this during the off-season. Along with his teammates, he was reminded as recently as yesterday of coach Dungy's rules of behavior. Unfortunately, he chose to violate those rules.

"Given the circumstances surrounding Ed's original employment with the Colts, we feel in this case that we have no choice but to take this action."

Johnson was a pleasant surprise for the Colts, starting all 17 games as an undrafted rookie last season, and it wouldn't be surprising if a team in need of a defensive tackle claims him off waivers. But for now, he doesn't have a home in the NFL.

So let's say you're the Colts defense.

You just allowed a rookie named Matt Forte -- fresh off destroying the all-powerful Conference USA in college -- to gash you for 123 yards on 23 carries, including a 50-yard touchdown jaunt.

This week you get the pleasure of facing a better offensive line ... and Adrian Peterson. The same Adrian Peterson that took the league by storm in 2007 and just ran for 103 yards on 19 carries against a stout Packers' defensive front.

And now ... there's this: Ed Johnson, the starting right defensive tackle, has been arrested for possessing the Ricky Williams herb.

"Those charges have been filed, it is my understanding, and we are in the process right now of determining what course of action to take with respect to discipline," Polian said. "There will be discipline, the question is what is it."

Well, Head Coach Tony Dungy already decided upon an immediate punishment:

Dungy said he would not play Sunday when the Colts face Minnesota in Minneapolis.

Peterson has to be licking his chops. Even if the Colts can win the game -- I think they can -- it will be because they stopped the pass. Peterson is going to run wild.

So let's say you're the Colts defense.

You just allowed a rookie named Matt Forte -- fresh off destroying the all-powerful Conference USA in college -- to gash you for 123 yards on 23 carries, including a 50-yard touchdown jaunt.

This week you get the pleasure of facing a better offensive line ... and Adrian Peterson. The same Adrian Peterson that took the league by storm in 2007 and just ran for 103 yards on 19 carries against a stout Packers' defensive front.

And now ... there's this: Ed Johnson, the starting right defensive tackle, has been arrested for possessing the Ricky Williams herb.

"Those charges have been filed, it is my understanding, and we are in the process right now of determining what course of action to take with respect to discipline," Polian said. "There will be discipline, the question is what is it."

Well, Head Coach Tony Dungy already decided upon an immediate punishment:

Dungy said he would not play Sunday when the Colts face Minnesota in Minneapolis.

Peterson has to be licking his chops. Even if the Colts can win the game -- I think they can -- it will be because they stopped the pass. Peterson is going to run wild.