8:17am: The Colts’ decision to cut Rainey wasn’t performance-based, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link), who says the running back was waived for violating team rules.
8:05am: The Colts have parted ways with running back Chris Rainey, waiving him this morning, according to Craig Kelley of Colts.com (via Twitter). As several Indianapolis beat writers pointed out on Twitter, the timing of the move is unusual, since head coach Chuck Pagano raved about Rainey’s play just days ago.
Besides the fact that Rainey seemed to be impressing Pagano and the staff in the early stages of training camp, the Colts are also down a running back after losing Vick Ballard to a season-ending injury. As Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star tweets, the team intends to eventually place Ballard on injured reserve, but can’t do so until later in the summer due to a CBA technicality. Indianapolis recently signed Davin Meggett to help provide backfield depth, but it’s still surprising that the team would cut one of its incumbent backs at this point.
Rainey, 26, is a former Steelers fifth-round pick who joined the Colts last season and appeared in two games for the club, exclusively as a kick and punt returner. He’ll have to clear waivers before getting a chance to become an unrestricted free agent and sign with any team,