Never let it be said that the Colts believe in waiting around.
The Indianapolis Colts signed QB Matt Hasselbeck to a 2-year, $8 million contract. Hasselbeck was released from the Tennessee Titans for only five hours before the Colts swooped in and signed the 38-year-old.
Hasselbeck will be the backup to superstar rookie QB Andrew Luck. He'll be replacing Drew Stanton, who was signed by the Arizona Cardinals last week.
So, why would the Colts give a 38-year-old backup an $8 million contract?
Well, despite his age, he may be perfect to fill in for Luck, should an injury arise. According to National Football Post, the Colts Offensive Coordinator Pep Hamilton will be installing a "dink-and-dunk West Coast offense" that may just be up Hasselbeck's alley.
Colts GM Ryan Grigson was enthusiastic about the addition of the veteran quarterback, according to ESPN.
"His body of work, intangibles, and extensive league experience speak for themselves. Those factors, plus his familiarity with our offensive scheme, will make him a great asset to our team and its vision as we move forward," Grigson said in a statement.
Last season, Hasselbeck played in 8 games for Tennessee. He completed 62 percent of his passes for 1367 yards, 7 TDs and 5 INTs. Once he was released, he was rumored to have interest from several teams including the Cardinals, Bills, 49ers, Bears, Bucs, Browns, Saints, and the Colts. Had the Titans not cut him, he would've been owed $5.5 million.
Hasselbeck was replaced on Tennessee's roster by another veteran quarterback. Ryan Fitzpatrick of the Buffalo Bills was signed by the Tennessee Titans to a two-year contract on Monday.