FanHouse FreddieKeiaho

Despite likely losing his role as a starter, Freddie Keiaho has signed an apparent one-year contract to remain with the Indianapolis Colts, ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli reports. The 26 year-old outside linebacker had been non-tendered by Indianapolis, but it appears circumstances have brought him back to the team for whom he has played his only three NFL seasons.

Those circumstances might include limited interest on the free agent market, in addition to the fact the Colts didn't add any linebackers during the draft this past weekend. Keiaho still won't be starting, but the depth at linebacker is a little thin, so the move makes sense for both sides.

Because the NFL season never ends, we present our 2009 Offseason Roadmaps for front offices to navigate through the summer.

The Indianapolis Colts are one of the league's marquee franchises in the present tense. In 2008, they won 12 games -- their baseline figure for the past six seasons. No one else in the NFL can stake that claim. In fact, they've made the playoffs in nine of the last 10 seasons overall, another league-high in that span.

The problem, as has been the case far too many times for these Colts, was that they came away empty-handed in the postseason.

For years we've seen different Colts myths exploded.

First it was that Peyton Manning couldn't win the big game, but now that he's wearing a Super Bowl ring, it's hard to say that.

Along the way, we also found that the undersized Colts defense could stop the run. And we've discovered that Reggie Wayne can fill the No. 1 wide receiver role that used to be Marvin Harrison's domain.

But even now, there is a general understanding that the key to the Colts defense is safety Bob Sanders. When Sanders is out, the Colts defense is soft, but Sanders' tackling and his ability to play in the box gives the Colts a toughness that otherwise is lacking.

It sounds great, but this year, it just hasn't been true, at least statistically.