Free agent Darrius Heyward-Bey will visit the Colts.

Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, Heyward-Bey could visit as early as Monday. It's DHB's first known looksee since getting cut loose by the Raiders. Heyward-Bey wouldn't be signed as a starter, but as a replacement for deep-threat Donnie Avery. DHB was always miscast as a starter in Oakland, but could thrive in a situational role where he's deployed to take the lid off of opposing defenses.

Raiders released WR Darrius Heyward-Bey.

Widely panned as a stretch when the Raiders took him seventh overall in the 2009 draft, Heyward-Bey proved the pundits right. Showing stones for hands and an inability to run anything besides a vertical route, he recorded a grand total of 11 touchdowns and averaged 37.8 yards per game in four seasons. The Raiders save $5.341 million by cutting him now, one year before his rookie deal was due to expire. They can comfortably move forward with Denarius Moore, Rod Streater, Juron Criner, and Jacoby Ford. Heyward-Bey will get a second chance thanks to his raw skills, but he's unlikely to ever emerge as a difference-maker.

Darrius Heyward-Bey is not expected back with the Raiders at his currently scheduled $7.721 million base salary.

"Pay cut or hit the road time," beat writer Steve Corkran quipped. After a promising 2011 season, Heyward-Bey took a big step back in 2012, failing to fit into Greg Knapp's West Coast offense. Perhaps new OC Greg Olson's system would be a better fit, but Heyward-Bey won't get a chance if he doesn't slash his salary.