When it comes to the Colts and free agency, here's the question: If not now, when?

Chris Ballard's teams have gone seven years without winning the division. Now it's time to throw caution to the wind. You never know: This could be his last chance.

For the better part of seven years, we’ve been waiting for Chris Ballard to take a mighty swing in free agency. And then the free agency period comes around and passes without much in the way of fanfare and Colts fans are left deflated like they always are.

Which inspires this question:

If not now, when?

This is Ballard’s eighth year as the Colts’ general manager, seven years without winning a division that has been historically soft, seven years with just one playoff victory. Unless he’s got a lifetime pass from having lived through the Andrew Luck retirement, when is he going to be held accountable by ownership (to the degree ownership is currently involved given Jim Irsay’s health situation)?

If not now, when?

The salary cap has exploded, increasing significantly to a $255,400,000, giving smart teams with financial freedom all kinds of room to operate.

If not now, when?

According to OverTheCap.com, the Colts have the league’s fifth-most money available under the salary cap, specifically $72,075,573, enough to purchase some help at wide receiver…or secondary…or tight end…or any one of several positions the Colts could use after a surprising 9-8 season.

If not now, when?