Gerald Cadogan has signed to become a part of the Indianapolis Colts roster next season. Cadogan signed a contract earlier this week that will make him a part of the Colts after their postseason run ends.

The Portsmouth High School and Penn State graduate will join his fifth NFL team in less than a year when the Colts gather for their first offseason workout.

After being signed by the Carolina Panthers, following the 2009 NFL Draft, Cadogan had stints on the practice squads for the Bengals, Chargers and Eagles last season. He became a free agent after the Eagles lost their playoff game in Dallas and began the search for a new home.

Cadogan's first call this offseason came from the Pittsburgh Steelers. He traveled to the Steel City on Monday to talk with the team, but left without a contract. Less than 48 hours later, he was joining the winningest team of the last decade.

Cadogan signed a three-year contract worth the league minimum, but has already had a priceless moment when he bumped into the Colts' hundred-million dollar man.

"I did bump into Peyton Manning during lunch," Cadogan said. "We didn't really talk but I did introduce myself... From the first reaction, he seems like a great guy. I was star-struck a little bit."

There won't be as many moments of awe for Cadogan like last year — his first in an NFL camp. With a year of experience under his belt, Cadogan will look to improve his chances on sticking on the roster in 2010.

"This is my fifth (NFL) home and I'm trying to make it permanent," Cadogan said. "Sitting out those six weeks when I got cut from Carolina is a big motivation not to be so apprehensive when you go in the locker room. You come in with that chip on your shoulder and you're hungry for it. You know it's not going to be easy, but the payoff is big so you've got to put your nose to the grindstone and go to work."

CHRIS DUNHAM can be reached at cdunham@heartlandpublications.com.