Posts tagged Contracts
Indianapolis Colts 2011 First String Currently Features Painter, Swenson
Jan 11th
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Curtis Painter talks with a coach during the second quarter of an NFL preseason football game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Indianapolis, Thursday, Sept. 2, 2010. (AP Photo/Tom Strickland)
For all intents and purposes, the 2011 season has begun for the Indianapolis Colts. And if the team were preparing for their first game of the 2011 season, Curtis Painter would be lining up under center and Brett Swenson would be practicing tee shots.
OK, OK, it’s sensationalist and nobody expects that to actually happen. Owner Jim Irsay has gone on record as saying that the Colts will make Peyton Manning the highest-paid player in the NFL. And after Adam Vinatieri’s season, in which he went 29 of 31 (including the playoffs), and was perfect on 52 XPs, it is hard to imagine the Colts wouldn’t do what is necessary to re-sign him. Vinatieri has also expressed an interest in completing his career in Indy. But what does the roster currently look like to start 2011?
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Navigating the Colts 2011 Off-Season
Jan 7th
Quarterback Peyton Manning watches as running back Joseph Addai carries the football in Denver. (Doug Pensinger | Getty Images)
Although the Colts are heading into the playoffs and will not have to worry about new contracts, free agency, and draft planning until after their playoff run ends, once it does things will start happening fast. With all of the players who have contracts ending this season, it will be important to make good choices in order to keep a very talented football team intact.
One thing about any off-season is the chance that difficult decisions will have to be made about players for whom fans have a great deal of loyalty. That is the unfortunate nature of the business of football and those kinds of decisions and observations will be included in what this writer believes is the best direction for the Colts leading up to the 2011 season.
The most important thing to do to start this process is to identify which players require new contracts in order to play football in 2011, and which players currently have contracts that are not reflective of their value to the team.
The players who will need new contracts in order to return to the Colts in 2011 are listed below, by position. More >
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Why the Colts have Struggled in 2010
Dec 12th
Peyton Manning looks ahead during the Colts Thursday night game in Tennesee. (AJ Mast | AP Photo)
Colts fans have watched in horror as a team that entered the season as one of the most talented groups Indianapolis has put together in quarterback Peyton Manning’s career has fallen into mediocrity and failed to continue an NFL record streak of consecutive 12-win seasons. Many expected the stretch of games against the Eagles, Patriots, Chargers, and Cowboys would be difficult, but dropping all four games is not something Colts teams have done in the past.
This uncharacteristic run of losses has understandably caused Colts fans to panic. The blame game is in full force, and fans are scrambling to find answers to resolve the issues in Indianapolis before the 2011 season begins. More >
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Why the Colts Future is not in Doubt
Dec 2nd
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Peyton Manning speaking gealic to his offense in Super Bowl XLI. (Jed Jacobsohn | Getty Images)
With Indianapolis struggling recently, a lot of fans are questioning the team’s future. Many complain about recent drafts and believe the young talent will be incapable of replacing the perennial Pro Bowl and future Hall of Fame talent that is starting to age.
This negative perspective is premature. As long as Peyton Manning is healthy and playing at a very high level in the NFL, the Colts future is safe. With that in mind, it makes sense to focus on the players who represent the team’s future, consider their talent level, and where that talent can take the Colts moving forward. More >
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Colts Forward-Looking Observations
Sep 28th
Blair White's first NFL touchdown. - Justin Edmonds | Getty Images
The Colts are in a situation that has become all too familiar for fans each year. They have suffered a rash of season-ending injuries, starting in rookie mini-camp, with third-round cornerback Kevin Thomas. The Colts added four more defensive backs to that list: including veteran safety Jamie Silva, safety David Caldwell, safety Donye’ McCleskey, and cornerback Jordan Hemby — each were lost during training camp and preseason.
Tight end Tom Santi and kicker Brett Swenson also failed to make it to the regular season. Since the season’s start, linebacker Ramon Humber has been waived due to injury and starters Bob Sanders, Clint Session, Pierre Garçon, Charlie Johnson, and Anthony Gonzalez have all suffered injuries that have kept them out of games. Starting linebacker Clint Session’s replacement, rookie Kavell Conner, suffered a broken bone in his left foot in Denver that will keep him out for weeks as well. Even 2007 second-round pick Tony Ugoh suffered a toe injury that led to his release from the club. More >
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Colts’ Manning Unaffected by Contract Questions
Aug 2nd
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Colts fans should be prepared to deal with a steady dose of questions surrounding Peyton Manning’s contract uncertainties. The temptation is too great for mainstream media to pass up questions suggesting that not only will Manning’s play on the field be impacted by unanswered contract questions, but that his contract will fundamentally affect the balance and status of all other players seeking new contracts.
While some teams may use Manning’s unsettled contract as ammunition when responding to disgruntled players who are seeking new contracts or extensions, there is no reason to believe that Manning will allow the contract concerns to affect him in any way. One need look no further than Manning’s comments, reported by Paul Kuharsky on Sunday, to realize that he truly is the preeminent professional in the National Football League.
Michael Conroy | AP Photo
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Sam Bradford Signs Record Contract with Rams; Sets Up Manning Deal?
Jul 30th
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Earlier this evening, number one overall draft choice, Sam Bradford agreed to a record contract with the Rams worth $78 million with $50 million in guaranteed money.
Given the substantial amount of cash Bradford received, and given the position he plays, one has to wonder how big the Brady or Manning contracts will be.
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Will Kevin Thomas be the Last Colts Rookie to Sign?
Jul 29th
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There are only two rookies left to sign contracts after Pat Angerer’s signing today and of the two (Jerry Hughes and Kevin Thomas), I feel that Thomas will be the last to sign a deal. Because of the injury he sustained during rookie mini camp, the Colts can take their time to work something out with Thomas.
Though no one has yet to clarify how much time Thomas will miss due to this injury, early reports seem to suggest that the injury is severe enough to knock him out for the entire season. If that is the case I would suspect the Colts are focusing all their efforts on getting Hughes in on time before they even bother to deal with Thomas.
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Colts: Manning Contract Discussions Delayed by Bradford?
Jul 18th
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Throughout the summer, the biggest contract story has been Peyton Manning’s new deal. It has been argued that Tom Brady and the New England Patriots are waiting on Manning’s deal before reaching an agreement of their own. It has also been argued that the Manning contract will set the tone for many of the contract issues that are occurring while the future of the NFL collective bargaining agreement is uncertain.
Colts fans have been waiting to hear news about Manning’s deal and have been disappointed that there seems to be more news about the obstacles to reaching an agreement, than there is about making progress. Albert Breer, a writer for “Extra Points” at Boston.com, has an important insight that could go a long way to paint the Manning contract situation — and those associated with his deal — more accurately.
The key to Manning’s contract could be this guy:
G. Newman Lowrance | Getty Images
EARTH CITY, MO - JUNE 11: Sam Bradford #8 of the St. Louis Rams throws a pass during a mini camp at the Russell Training Center on June 11, 2010 in Earth City, Missouri.
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Count On Colts’ Mathis and Wayne to Attend Training Camp
Jul 2nd
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Much has been made this year of veteran contract disputes, particularly those of Reggie Wayne and Robert Mathis for the Colts. As has been discussed ad nauseum by many who cover the team, the likelihood that players with the reputations and integrity of Wayne and Mathis would actually hold out during training camp, and risk hurting the club’s development, is very slim. However, those opinions are based solely upon each players reputation as stand-up guys and team players, and maybe by the threat of minor fines for failing to attend camp.
What makes veteran holdouts even less likely, in Indianapolis or elsewhere, is something The Sports Exchange discusses in a story that was posted at ColtPower.com earlier today.
“Failing to report for the start of training camp on Aug. 1 exposes each player to a $14,000-per-day fine. If a veteran under contract fails to report by Aug. 10, he has another year tacked onto his existing contract under rules in place during an uncapped year.”
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