Posts tagged Contract
The Colts Mold: Free Agent Safety Market Values
Jun 28th
Yesterday, we discussed the proposed salary cap increase and how it will affect the Indianapolis Colts as they enter the free agent signing frenzy that will likely begin in early July. Although official salary numbers are hard to determine, we loosely projected that the Colts should be able to retain most of their own priority free agents — even if Peyton Manning plays at the $23 million franchise tag level in 2011.
With so many players set to enter unrestricted free agency though, there is a possibility that teams like the Colts will sign an uncharacteristically high number of outsiders. The best way to determine who Indianapolis is likely to take a close look at is to determine which players fit the team’s greatest areas of need, which players are most likely to fit in the Colts scheme, and which players are within the team’s budget. More >
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Implications of New Salary Cap on 2011 Colts Roster
Jun 27th
ESPN recently reported that the players and owners may agree on a proposal to increase the NFL salary cap to around $120 million. If this is the case, it is important to know exactly how far under the cap Indianapolis sits, as it has also been released that the tenders issued by the Colts to players who were formerly restricted free agents are no longer valid. Coltzilla just added a salary cap feature in order to help readers identify where the team stands financially.
Although Peyton Manning is currently on the books under an exclusive franchise tag, and is slated to make $23 million in 2011, Coltzilla predicts that Indianapolis will reach a permanent long-term contract with Manning shortly after the new collective bargaining agreement has been finalized. If no long-term agreement is reached, Indianapolis is set to have $14.5 million in cap space. If he does sign a new deal, the cap may increase by approximately $7-9 million — based upon the approximate $14.7 million yearly average of his 2004 deal (leaving $21.5-23.5 million in cap space). More >
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Colts Priority Free Agents: External Options
Jun 23rd
Although Indianapolis does not have a history of signing numerous outside free agents in the off-season, this year could be different. With the very real possibility that veterans like safety Melvin Bullitt, tackle/guard Charlie Johnson, defensive tackles Daniel Muir, Eric Foster, and Antonio Johnson, and running back Joseph Addai could all depart via free agency, uncharacteristic off-season choices may become the rule.
Although rumors have been relatively meaningless during the lockout they may take a step closer to reality in the coming weeks. More >
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Indianapolis Priority Veteran Free Agents: Current Colts
Jun 22nd
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Since it was reported that the players and owners are close to reaching a new CBA agreement, and details have started to spill out into the media, NFL teams have had to get into high gear in order to prepare for a free agency free for all. It has been reported that free agency rules would push back the unrestricted free agency eligibility to four years from five.
The result is that dozens of players who were previously tendered offers by their current teams will be free to negotiate with and sign with the highest bidding team. There is no doubt that this is a win for the players side in the negotiations but it could be a loss for team’s who were previously protected.
The Indianapolis Colts will have to compete with all other team’s if they hope to re-sign veterans like Joseph Addai, Melvin Bullitt, Antonio Johnson, Charlie Johnson, Daniel Muir, and Clint Session. More >
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Why It’s Easy to be an Indianapolis Colts Fan: Perpetual Underdogs
Jun 15th
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Professional sports is a religion for a lot of people, and while they have a variety of reasons for following their favorite players or teams — raised to be a fan, proximity, winning, etc. — being a fan is not always easy.
Consider how frustrating it must be for fans who have to deal with ongoing public relations nightmares from players who get into considerable trouble — or front offices who regularly sign players with troubled histories. Being a fan can also be difficult when a team has built a reputation for failure or mediocrity — Colts fans who have been around for awhile should be very familiar. No time can be more difficult for a fan base than when an elite player retires — a situation the Colts will face when Peyton Manning decides to hang it up.
But there are things about the Indianapolis Colts that will not go away, even when the wins do. It is what makes it relatively easy to remain a Colts fan, and is part of what will hold the fan base together when (arguably) the greatest quarterback to ever play football moves on. More >
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In the Training Room: Colts’ QB Peyton Manning
Jun 2nd
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Last off-season, Colts fans held their breath at news that their ever-durable QB Peyton Manning had neck surgery to address what was described as intermittent discomfort. After he proceeded to throw 761 times in the next 22 games (including pre-season, post-season and all 5 attempts in the Pro Bowl), it could easily be assumed that his neck was healthy and the issue resolved. But questions lingered – a rumor surfaced early in the season that Manning was still injured (or re-injured), eyebrows were raised when he wore compression sleeves on his elbows, and TV analysts commented that he didn’t look to have the same strength or precision as usual.
It appears that questions were answered a couple weeks ago when Manning announced that he had undergone a second neck surgery in as many years. The issue is… what were the right questions? Paul Kuharsky posted a great analysis pointing to what we should be asking. With answers to these questions, we’d understand better whether it was one particular disc that was a recurring issue, whether this is a broader issue with Peyton’s health, and whether his contract (whenever it comes) will represent a smart investment by the Colts. More >
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Coltzilla’s Ultimate Colts Mock Draft
Apr 28th
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As NFL Draft crazed football fans already know, one of the biggest problems with mock drafts is that they are extremely unlikely to be accurate. Knowing how each team will pick, let alone the teams writers are most familiar with, is a shot in the dark scenario. Accordingly, Coltzilla has put together the “Ultimate Colts Mock Draft” which will list those players who may be available when the Colts make each of their six selections.
The Ultimate Colts Mock Draft will include prospects from nearly all positions in each round, and will attempt to rate the players in order in each round based upon our assessment of the raw best player available standard. Each of the players listed should be in contention for the most valuable player on the draft board specifically for the Colts, so this delineation hopes be useful following the draft to subjectively determine how team needs may affect Indy’s draft room. More >
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Assessing Positional Value for the Colts 2011 NFL Draft: Defensive End
Apr 26th
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The Indianapolis Colts sport the best pass rushing defensive end tandem in the league — multi-time Pro Bowl selections Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis. The team also added a first round prospect in the 2010 NFL Draft — Jerry Hughes — who projects to be the same kind of speedy edge rusher as his predecessors. While he did not have a meaningful impact last year, his development will play a major role in how the team will address the position in the near future.
Another player who could push for a roster spot in 2011 is practice squad veteran John Chick. The former Canadian Football League standout has had an entire season to get comfortable with the Colts, and showed enough in preseason to suggest that system familiarity could allow him to take over for departing free agent Keyunta Dawson. Chick may be joined by hybrid run down defensive ends like free agent Eric Foster — if his tender is honored by the new CBA — 2010 seventh round pick Ricardo Mathews, and starting under tackle Fili Moala. More >
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Assessing Positional Value for the Colts 2011 NFL Draft: Cornerback
Apr 21st
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Earlier in the off-season, Coltzilla wrote about how well Colts Vice Chairman Bill Polian has handled turnover at the cornerback position. Exiting training camp, the 2010 team had only Kelvin Hayden, Jerraud Powers, and Jacob Lacey with experience in the Colts defense on the roster. The position was widely considered one of the team’s weakest and most susceptible to injuries.
Entering the draft this year, the situation has changed drastically. While it is widely accepted that Hayden is not playing up to his contract and has annual struggles to stay healthy, he is a legitimate NFL cornerback and would likely start for a lot of teams. The question is – will he start for the Colts in 2011? Polian traded a seventh round pick to the Washington Redskins for Justin Tryon before Week 1. Tryon had a considerable impact on defense and improved in the Colts system throughout the year. He may be good enough to push Hayden for his starting spot across from Powers. More >
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