INDIANAPOLIS (Oct. 17, 2006) -- The Indianapolis Colts
' leaky run defense got some much-needed help when it acquired defensive
tackle Anthony McFarland for a 2007
second-round draft pick in a rare midseason deal.
The Colts announced the deal about one hour after the Oct. 17 trading
deadline. Tampa Bay officials were expected to hold a news conference
later in the evening.
McFarland, a 6-foot, 300-pound defensive tackle, should help shore up
the middle of the Colts' run defense that ranks near the bottom of the
league.
It also should help offset the loss of former Pro Bowl defensive tackle Corey Simon, who will miss the rest of this season with a mysterious
illness that team officials call unrelated to the arthroscopic knee
surgery he had in mid-August.
McFarland is familiar with both the Colts' defense and coach Tony Dungy,
whom he played under for three seasons. The Bucs took him with the 15th
overall pick in the 1999 draft.
