Freeney to become richest D player ever? (1 Viewer)

[BigRed]

Freeney may get richest contract ever

Look for three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Dwight Freeney to become the highest-paid defensive player in league history. Preliminary talks have begun between the Colts and Gary Wichard, Freeney's agent. The key date is July 15, the deadline for a long-term contract to be reached.

I question whether the Colts can afford this or this makes sense. Freeney has never been good vs the run and last year couldn't buy a sack either.

 

[Iwannabeacowboybaby!]

Whether it ends up being the richest or not, it'll be a lot.

It's a tough sell but he's still a dominant player on defense even if his statistics don't show all the things he does or forces the offense to do.

The Colts made the right move when it came to managing their money with Reggie Wayne and Edgerin James. One would have to assume they'll do the same here.

 

[Yenrub]

I bet Peppers is hoping Freeney becomes the richest defensive player ever.

 

[Sigmund Bloom]

Mike Chappell of the Indy Star told us that Freeney's contract will get done, but it will go down to the wire. He expected it to be the biggest contract for a defender in NFL history.

 

[djcolts]

If they don't re-sign Freeney, who else are they going to ever re-sign on defense (besides Bob Sanders)? They don't re-sign their LBs. They don't re-sign their CBs. DEs are probably the most important positions on that defense (followed by S and DT (don't laugh)).

I don't think the Colts have much of a choice besides re-signing Freeney to a long-term deal. They have enough positions on that team that they recycle players with rookie contracts (LB, CB, OG, now RB - possibly TE (we'll see) - and it looks like Tarik Glenn may be replaced be Tony Ugoh in 2008) to make it work under the salary cap.

Which DE could the Colts get at a signficantly lesser cost than Freeney that wouldn't be a big dropoff in impact (not stats)? Certainly no one on the Colts roster right now.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

his numbers last year were pretty awful...amazing to me that he can still command that type of contract.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

Which DE could the Colts get at a signficantly lesser cost than Freeney that wouldn't be a big dropoff in impact (not stats)? Certainly no one on the Colts roster right now.

I would think they could easily slide Mathis over to Freeney's RDE spot and then bring in a better (and much cheaper) run defender at LDE.

 

[djcolts]

Which DE could the Colts get at a signficantly lesser cost than Freeney that wouldn't be a big dropoff in impact (not stats)? Certainly no one on the Colts roster right now.

I would think they could easily slide Mathis over to Freeney's RDE spot and then bring in a better (and much cheaper) run defender at LDE.

None of us know how good Mathis would be without Freeney on the other side. Could Mathis beat double and triple teams on a regular basis? I have my doubts.

 

[Sigmund Bloom]

his numbers last year were pretty awful...amazing to me that he can still command that type of contract.

He was hurt. Also, numbers arent everything. He still strikes fear in the heart of opposing QBs and OTs, and OCs. He can singlehandedly keep Indy in games (see IND/SD 2005). He's still one of the 3 or 5 best pass rushers in the league and the kind of defender that has to be double teamed on every passing down.

 

[Jene Bramel]

his numbers last year were pretty awful...amazing to me that he can still command that type of contract.

He was hurt. Also, numbers arent everything. He still strikes fear in the heart of opposing QBs and OTs, and OCs. He can singlehandedly keep Indy in games (see IND/SD 2005). He's still one of the 3 or 5 best pass rushers in the league and the kind of defender that has to be double teamed on every passing down.

I agree. And any run support the RDE provides in the Tampa-2 is probably gravy anyway. Since they don't blitz, the pass rush (or threat of one/command a double team) is much more important from the ends. It'd be nice to have a two way guy, but not essential. When teams (see CIN) try to block Freeney 1-on-1 or with a substandard double team (see KC), Freeney still changes games.ETA: I don't disagree that Mathis could potentially provide better bang for the buck, though.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

Which DE could the Colts get at a signficantly lesser cost than Freeney that wouldn't be a big dropoff in impact (not stats)? Certainly no one on the Colts roster right now.

I would think they could easily slide Mathis over to Freeney's RDE spot and then bring in a better (and much cheaper) run defender at LDE.

None of us know how good Mathis would be without Freeney on the other side. Could Mathis beat double and triple teams on a regular basis? I have my doubts.

I'm sure he wouldn't be that good without Freeney but in a salary cap world you need to make tough decisions. A year ago I would have thought the Colts had to do whatever it took to keep Freeney...after last year, I'm not so sure anymore. I certainly wouldn't want to give him the largest defensive contract ever coming off his worst season as a pro either. Doesn't exactly set a great example for the rest of the team.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

FTR, I'm not disputing that he can be dominant at times and have an impact that doesn't always show up on the stat sheet. I'm just not sure he's worth a contract like what the 49ers just gave to Nate Clements, especially for a team that doesn't have much cap room to begin with.

 

[sholditch]

I hate things like this cause it always causes such major ripples throughout the NFL. If he gets it, there are suddenly going to be a lot of high-profile defenders that are unhappy with their contracts.

 

[BigRed]

FTR, I'm not disputing that he can be dominant at times and have an impact that doesn't always show up on the stat sheet. I'm just not sure he's worth a contract like what the 49ers just gave to Nate Clements, especially for a team that doesn't have much cap room to begin with.

Right, that's all I'm saying.And I don't care what scheme you're using, a DE should be at least decent vs the run. If not, he is at least in part a liability. So you give a one-dimensional player a truckload of $, possibly hindering your team in other ways? Who knows, maybe that's how they should go, despite being less than ideal - I just have my doubts.

 

[Sabertooth]

I hate things like this cause it always causes such major ripples throughout the NFL. If he gets it, there are suddenly going to be a lot of high-profile defenders that are unhappy with their contracts.

That's why you have to get the guys like Kampman. Better stats, lower number, better all around player. And he just resigned so he won't be holding out for a while.

 

[Iwannabeacowboybaby!]

FTR, I'm not disputing that he can be dominant at times and have an impact that doesn't always show up on the stat sheet. I'm just not sure he's worth a contract like what the 49ers just gave to Nate Clements, especially for a team that doesn't have much cap room to begin with.

I kind of think this way but in the end, for that team on offense they have to sign Peyton Manning and on defense they have to sign Freeney. From there, they basically have to fill in the gaps. If it were me, I'd try and not give the guy too many years just because I have a slight concern about the lack of overall stats last year

 

[SSOG]

his numbers last year were pretty awful...amazing to me that he can still command that type of contract.

He was hurt. Also, numbers arent everything. He still strikes fear in the heart of opposing QBs and OTs, and OCs. He can singlehandedly keep Indy in games (see IND/SD 2005). He's still one of the 3 or 5 best pass rushers in the league and the kind of defender that has to be double teamed on every passing down.

I agree with this. He's one of the best 3 or 5 PASSRUSHERS. And that's it. He's horrible against the run, not a complete defender at all... and he's not even the best player in the league at his specialty (I'd take Jason Taylor or Shawne Merriman over Freeney). Freeney becoming the highest paid defender in the league would be a joke if it were true, unless it was one of those "show money" deals that says 10 years for $300 million but is really just 4 years for $35 million.I understand that a lot of it is just being in the right place at the right time (i.e. Freeney is the first big-time defender to re-up since the massive salary cap boost), but Freeney's not one of the top-10 defensive players in the NFL.

 

[Jene Bramel]

FTR, I'm not disputing that he can be dominant at times and have an impact that doesn't always show up on the stat sheet. I'm just not sure he's worth a contract like what the 49ers just gave to Nate Clements, especially for a team that doesn't have much cap room to begin with.

Right, that's all I'm saying.And I don't care what scheme you're using, a DE should be at least decent vs the run. If not, he is at least in part a liability. So you give a one-dimensional player a truckload of $, possibly hindering your team in other ways? Who knows, maybe that's how they should go, despite being less than ideal - I just have my doubts.

You should care a little about scheme. If you don't have an edge rusher in the Tampa-2, you've no chance against an average passing offense.Simeon Rice was nothing special against the run, the Bucs did fine with him for many seasons. They had the backers and corners to support the run within the system. An elite edge rushing 4-3 end is going to be paid, regardless of how good he is against the run. That player is as rare as any as other in the league. The only thing rarer is an elite edge rusher with above average run support skill.

 

[Aaronstory]

I hate things like this cause it always causes such major ripples throughout the NFL. If he gets it, there are suddenly going to be a lot of high-profile defenders that are unhappy with their contracts.

That's why you have to get the guys like Kampman. Better stats, lower number, better all around player. And he just resigned so he won't be holding out for a while.

 

[BigRed]

Simeon Rice was nothing special against the run, the Bucs did fine with him for many seasons. They had the backers and corners to support the run within the system.

Which is like the Colts how?

An elite edge rushing 4-3 end is going to be paid, regardless of how good he is against the run. That player is as rare as any as other in the league. The only thing rarer is an elite edge rusher with above average run support skill.

I'd settle for average. Freeney isn't even that.

 

[Workhorse]

Nearly every game the Patriots have played against the Colts, they've single-teamed Freeney with Matt Light and he's limited Freeney's pass rushing productivity quite effectively.

I've never been a big fan of Freeney. I think he's quite overrated.

 

[Jene Bramel]

Simeon Rice was nothing special against the run, the Bucs did fine with him for many seasons. They had the backers and corners to support the run within the system.

Which is like the Colts how?

It isn't like the Colts at all, which is part of my point. Their corners have been terrible run supporters and the linebackers are inconsistent tacklers and can't shed blocks. There's no reason Bob Sanders should be getting to the play before the MLB consistently from 11 yards deep.Booger Macfarland and Quinn Pitcock should help. Marlin Jackson and Daymeion Hughes (eventually) should really help. I'm guessing Keiaho is going to be much better at eluding blocks than Cato June. And a full year of Rob Morris, who was just as important to the late season improvement (marginal though it was at times) against the run as Sanders isn't going to hurt either. As you know, run defense is a total team effort. In this scheme, it's acceptable for the weak side end to be the weak link. Especially if he's a stud edge rusher. The problem is magnified when your major run defenders are marginal. Freeney is a small part of the problem.

At some point you have to address the defense. You can cycle corners and backers in this defense to some extent. I would have kept Peterson around myself, but I get that the offense drives the team. But it's really hard not to pay a stud RDE if you want this scheme to work.

If the argument is that Mathis can provide the same game changing potential in pass rush that Freeney does -- which some would argue but has merit -- and that the money spent on Freeney can be better used elsewhere, okay. But to argue that Freeney isn't worth the coin because he's not helpful in run support is a shaky argument to me because of the market for a good 4-3 end and the importance of that position in the current Colt scheme.

I'm not suggesting that it's not useful to have a run supporting weak side end. I'm arguing that the value of a stud edge rusher at that spot far outweighs the lack of run support in this scheme.

That's an argument we all agree with anyway. We're just saying it in different ways. I think.

 

[Workhorse]

his numbers last year were pretty awful...amazing to me that he can still command that type of contract.

He was hurt. Also, numbers arent everything. He still strikes fear in the heart of opposing QBs and OTs, and OCs. He can singlehandedly keep Indy in games (see IND/SD 2005). He's still one of the 3 or 5 best pass rushers in the league and the kind of defender that has to be double teamed on every passing down.

I agree with this. He's one of the best 3 or 5 PASSRUSHERS. And that's it. He's horrible against the run, not a complete defender at all... and he's not even the best player in the league at his specialty (I'd take Jason Taylor or Shawne Merriman over Freeney). Freeney becoming the highest paid defender in the league would be a joke if it were true, unless it was one of those "show money" deals that says 10 years for $300 million but is really just 4 years for $35 million.I understand that a lot of it is just being in the right place at the right time (i.e. Freeney is the first big-time defender to re-up since the massive salary cap boost), but Freeney's not one of the top-10 defensive players in the NFL.

Just in the AFC alone, I'd take Ty Warren, Luis Castillo, Terrell Suggs, Aaron Schobel, Jason Taylor, Derrick Burgess over Freeney right now. And that's off the top of my head.

 

[Jene Bramel]

Just in the AFC alone, I'd take Ty Warren, Luis Castillo, Terrell Suggs, Aaron Schobel, Jason Taylor, Derrick Burgess over Freeney right now. And that's off the top of my head.

I think the market will prove over time that a player of Freeney's elite pass rushing skills is way more valuable than a player the caliber of Warren or Castillo. Both very good players. Neither do as much for their defenses as Freeney. Again, there's a handful of ends that are better all-around players than Freeney. I'd add Julius Peppers, Jared Allen and Osi Umenyiora to the 4-3 guys above. And they'll get their chance at the money. The Colts don't have those guys rostered and don't have a chance at them for this season. They could put a rolling franchise tag on Freeney, risking that they'll be able to sign one of those types in the future, and deal with all the acrimony that usually goes with that. But it isn't clearly wrong IMO to lock an elite edge rusher up now. Every one of those guys is going to get bigger money than Freeney at some point.

 

[Bob Magaw]

you've got to think the colts have been planning their salary cap with the intent of signing freeney long term for a while now...

as was noted, they don't pay LBs, i think the other DL are cheap, & same with DBs (sanders will get a raise when he is up for a contract)...

with the balooning cap, IND will have more to work with going forward...

the colts may be thinking last year was an aberration & that he returns to form... & he does free up others for more plays by commanding extra attention...

there defense was abominable against the run in '06 (dead last, though they looked a lot better in playoffs when sanders returned), so they better be able to do something right, and at least they can get after the QB if freeney hasn't hit the wall...

* if freeney does sign & becomes highest paid defender ever, it could be short-lived distinction... peppers is coming up soon, too, and is younger, better & has higher upside...

 

[GRIDIRON ASSASSIN]

After 26 tackles and 5.5 sacks last year, I think he's earned it.

http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/313800/gamelogs/2006

 

[BigRed]

After 26 tackles and 5.5 sacks last year, I think he's earned it.

http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/313800/gamelogs/2006

that's what I'm talkin 'bout

 

[BigSteelThrill]

With the increasing cap... I see no problem with it whatsoever.

He wont be the highest paid for long, and will be in the 5-10 range by the time three or four years has passed.

 

[Sigmund Bloom]

* if freeney does sign & becomes highest paid defender ever, it could be short-lived distinction... peppers is coming up soon, too, and is younger, better & has higher upside...

He might not even be the highest paid Colts defender when Sanders comes up... the cap will have gone up, and maybe, just maybe, he'll stay healthy for a year and really show the NFL what he is capable of.

 

[bostonfred]

With the increasing cap... I see no problem with it whatsoever. He wont be the highest paid for long, and will be in the 5-10 range by the time three or four years has passed.

Exactly what I came here to say. As the salary cap increases over the next few years, we're going to hear a lot about players who are not the #1 at their position getting the biggest contract ever at their position. The teams that do best will be the ones who anticipate this and lock up their young players to contracts with escalating salaries that seem big now but will seem cheap five years from now. Plus, the Colts should be spending tomorrow's money today if they can. They have a brief window with Peyton Manning, and when you have a hall of fame quarterback, you have to be willing to sacrifice the future for the present.

 

[Jene Bramel]

With the increasing cap... I see no problem with it whatsoever.

He wont be the highest paid for long, and will be in the 5-10 range by the time three or four years has passed.

Exactly what I came here to say. As the salary cap increases over the next few years, we're going to hear a lot about players who are not the #1 at their position getting the biggest contract ever at their position. The teams that do best will be the ones who anticipate this and lock up their young players to contracts with escalating salaries that seem big now but will seem cheap five years from now. Plus, the Colts should be spending tomorrow's money today if they can. They have a brief window with Peyton Manning, and when you have a hall of fame quarterback, you have to be willing to sacrifice the future for the present.

Many pocket passers have been effective into their mid-30s and beyond. Montana, Moon, Marino, Elway and plenty of old school quarterbacks. Manning is 31. Unless you think 3-4 years is a brief window or Harrison is finished in two seasons while a core that includes Addai and Wayne is weak (which may be but didn't sound like the argument you were making), the window is likely still wide open from the perspective of Manning's expected career length.I completely agree with the larger point, however, the Colts should absolutely take advantage of the higher future cap to surround Manning with talent on both sides of the ball whereever possible.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

6 years/$72 million. $30 Million guaranteed.

Grateful Freeney signs $72 million deal with Colts

By John Clayton

ESPN.com

Freeney, the Indianapolis Colts' franchise player, signed a six-year, $72 million contract with the team Friday that includes a $30 million signing bonus. He becomes the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history.

"To have me paid among the top players in the league -- not just as a defensive players -- means a lot of me," said Freeney, who flew to Indianapolis on Thursday night in anticipation of accepting the deal. "[Colts general manager] Bill Polian is the one who drafted me. I was hand-picked by him. He was going to do the right thing for the organization."

Polian drafted Freeney in the first round in 2002 and watched him develop into one of the game's most disruptive defensive players. Freeney registered 56½ sacks during his first five seasons with the Colts and has forced 27 fumbles during his career.

Freeney and the Colts had until Monday to hammer out a long-term deal. Had that not happened, Freeney and the Colts would have been forced to settle for the one-year tender at $9.43 million, which would have left Freeney to decide whether or not to hold out.

Neither Polian nor Freeney wanted that to happen. Freeney expressed throughout the offseason that he wanted to remain a Colt. He attended most of the team's offeseason activities while Polian and Freeney's agent, Gary Wichard, worked on an agreement.

Freeney will receive $37.72 million over the first three years of the contract. In doing the deal, the Colts will save $3.68 million of salary-cap room that they can use to keep other players whose contracts are expiring. The Colts had $3.4 million of cap room before reaching agreement with Freeney.

"This really shows a commitment," Freeney said. "I have to thank [Colts owner] Jim Irsay and Bill Polian. They have done most of their big deals with the offense prior to this. Now, they've gotten to the defense and the guys who can go out and make some big plays on defense."

Depending on the way insiders view contracts, Patriots defensive end Richard Seymour had been the league's highest-paid defensive player if you consider the new money in a three-year, $28 million contract he signed in 2006. The Patriots view that deal as a $7.5 million-a-year contract if you include Seymour's salary in 2006.

Freeney's contract takes the top defensive pay scale to the $12 million-a-year range.

"I feel great about this because no one usually gets paid for the impact they have on the team," Freeney said. "To have a contract that pays me among the top players in the league and not just for being a defensive player means a lot. Normally, tight ends get paid with other tight ends and offensive linemen get paid with other offensive linemen."

This deal will have a significant impact on other top pass-rushers who are in negotiations to re-sign with their teams. New Orleans Saints defensive end Will Smith, Carolina Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers and Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs are pass-rushers who were waiting to see how Freeney's negotiations turned out.

"It's great to see the Colts are paying a guy who stops a quarterback like a quarterback," Freeney said.

Senior writer John Clayton covers the NFL for ESPN.com.

Wow!

 

[AhrnCityPahnder]

terrible move by the colts.

$72M?!?!

 

[BigRed]

"This really shows a commitment," Freeney said. "I have to thank [Colts owner] Jim Irsay and Bill Polian. They have done most of their big deals with the offense prior to this. Now, they've gotten to the defense and the guys who can go out and make some big plays on defense."

Exactly.Polian: super genius



I'm glad but still amazed they are champs.

 

[djcolts]

The Colts don't spend much money on LBs, CBs and OGs. That is how they can spend big bucks on about 5 or so players (Manning, Wayne, Harrison, Freeney, Tarik Glenn for another year - probably Bob Sanders in 2008) and get away with it. I'm fine with this signing.

 

[GRIDIRON ASSASSIN]

Man alive, you've got to love it when a player posts 26 tackles and 3.5 sacks in a contract year and can parlay that into the 'richest contract paid to a defender evah!!!!'

 

[BigRed]

fn grid

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

Nate Clements signed an $80 million contract. Why is everyone saying that the $72 million contract signed by Freeney is the highest ever? B/c of the signing bonus?

EDIT: nevermind. I see it was later corrected that Clements contract was 7 years for $64 million. I like Freeney a lot but I think the Colts overpaid here.

 

[GRIDIRON ASSASSIN]

fn grid

facts are facts Mr hater of Hall of Fame bound Bill Polian.

 

[Kip Dynamite]

Yeah he is well worth the money.

Last season stats:

29 tackles

5.5 sacks

3 Pass Deflections

 

[Jene Bramel]

I'm not interested in rehashing the arguments made earlier in the thread, but I think this contract is going to look pretty good when guys like Justin Smith are gettting similar contracts next offseason, not to mention what could happen with Julius Peppers and Jared Allen. If Freeney shows that last season's decline in pass rush stats was an aberration, it's going to look ridiculously good.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

The lack of interior linemen of any worth at all curtailed Freeney's numbers.

His disruptiveness cannot be measured simply by statistics alone. I can think of 31 other teams that most likely would be interested in acquiring Mr. Freeney's services at roughly the same price.

 

[Phurfur]

The Colts have $90 million in guaranteed money tied up in 4 payers. (Manning, Harrison, Wayne, and Freeney) It is obvious they are using the path of Dallas and SF in the past rather than NE. Eventually this will hurt them.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Last night was a great example of how numbers don't tell the whole story. Freeney was very disruptive last night and Jamaal Brown is no slouch.

He's worth the money and last night proved it. (For one game, at least)

 

[Anthony Borbely]

Last night was a great example of how numbers don't tell the whole story. Freeney was very disruptive last night and Jamaal Brown is no slouch.He's worth the money and last night proved it. (For one game, at least)

 

[Jene Bramel]

Last night was a great example of how numbers don't tell the whole story. Freeney was very disruptive last night and Jamaal Brown is no slouch.He's worth the money and last night proved it. (For one game, at least)

The metric wasn't available when I was making my original arguments in this post, but Football Outsiders published a metric in the Pro Football Prospectus that ranked Freeney as the most disruptive defensive end last year. They totaled sacks, hits and hurries. Freeney finished first, in large part due to 30 plus hurries in addition to his "meager" sack stats.As AD points out, last night is another great example of this. Freeney's stat line reads 1-0-0. He was much more active and disruptive than that. And, FWIW, Freeney was better in backside pursuit last night than he'd been since his first season in the league, when he made 33 tackles (less sacks) in 14 games. Last year's final stat line looks like it could become an aberration if Freeney can finish more often in the pocket.

 

[Michael Fox Fan]

Last night was a great example of how numbers don't tell the whole story. Freeney was very disruptive last night and Jamaal Brown is no slouch.He's worth the money and last night proved it. (For one game, at least)

The metric wasn't available when I was making my original arguments in this post, but Football Outsiders published a metric in the Pro Football Prospectus that ranked Freeney as the most disruptive defensive end last year. They totaled sacks, hits and hurries. Freeney finished first, in large part due to 30 plus hurries in addition to his "meager" sack stats.As AD points out, last night is another great example of this. Freeney's stat line reads 1-0-0. He was much more active and disruptive than that. And, FWIW, Freeney was better in backside pursuit last night than he'd been since his first season in the league, when he made 33 tackles (less sacks) in 14 games. Last year's final stat line looks like it could become an aberration if Freeney can finish more often in the pocket.

Additionally, Freeney had Brees wrapped up in his grasp, but Brees flipped the ball to his O-lineman. A few years ago, that would have been counted as an "in the grasp" sack, but the refs didn't blow the whistle.Freeney was a beast the other night, consistently pressuring Brees and blowing up the O-line. As usual, this allowed Robert Mathis to pick up a sack....he pretty much always faces a single blocker, vs. Freeney's double and triple-teams.

 

[jpapadub]

Not to mention the (at least) 3 no-calls when Freeney was obviously being held. I was beginning to think they were playing in the Superdome. If flags were thrown, NO had a couple of drives that would have stalled even earlier than they did.

Dude is sick-quick to the QB.