Freeney's last home game?

[Warhorse]

I know this has been talked about from many angles. I supported keeping him in the last offseason, but I thought it would be at a reduced contract. However, I think his veteran presence and style of no nonsense leadership by example was probably worth every penny that he was paid this season. However, this is a team that had some experience now, having had to dig deep into their roster and practice squad, so the grit and winning attitude has been installed.

 

Another thing I have been considering is the way he answers questions when approached by the media. He seems more aloof than he used to. Kind of like he doesn't need the whole rah rah thing because he always brings it anyway. Well, in truth he doesn't need it because he does always bring it. But that rah rah stuff as well as the motivational coaching that Pagano and Arians bring is exactly what this young team needed, even if Dwight didn't.

 

Now that the team has survived the maiden year of the switch towards a 3-4, and you couple that with the salary he can still (and will) command from a 4-3 team needing a pass rush, I believe this is his last game in the Luke wearing a Horseshoe upside his head.

 

If that is the case....thank you Dwight. You have exemplified class, hard work, and production through your entire career, including your incredibly challenging injury. You will always be a Colt in my mind and you will be in the Ring of Honor some day.

[ConBro]

Yeah I believe that it is his last game as well. He's definitely one of my all-time favorite Colts. I wish him the best in the future-- hopefully somebody will pick him up; he definitely has some left in the tank. Best of luck to you Dwight, and thank you!

[throwing BBZ]

It was fun watching him harass QB`s when we were ahead, but he was ALWAYS a DISASTER in the running game.

Now that he isn`t much of a pass rusher, i wouldn`t want him for the Vet Min.

[Coltswarriors]

Honestly hope he's back with us on a reasonable contract so he can retire a Colt.... but honestly I don't see it. I see us letting him walk. Hope I'm wrong though.

[#12]

Imagine those Polian defenses without him.  He was the only thing saving us. 

[a06cc]

I say we keep him. What was the one thing we've always needed on defense? And Anchor up front to free up our pass rushers so they can stop the run on their way to the QB. Or this player could know when he needs to make a play by stopping the run on his own.

[ReMeDy]

I don't see the leadership. We have Cory Redding for that, and both Redding and Mathis are also captains. For Redding to be named captain in his first season with the team says something.

 

All I see in Freeney is a guy who is struggling in the new system (only 4 sacks all this season?) and costs way too much money. About all he's good for is commanding the attention of double teams.

[Gavin]

I think he is back next year if he is willing to take a pay cut because he is just (and has always been) a situational pass rusher, a great one though. I dont think he has been the same since Webb fell on his leg in Chicago. If he was healthy I think he could give ya the sack numbers such as 8-10 but he still would be an obvious liability against the run. if we dont get the pass rusher we want in the draft I'd switch Mathis over to Freeneys role and slide Hughes into Mathis's role. I dont bring Freeney back after thinking about it some more, we need 2 OLB/DE's that can play the run and one that can rush pretty well. and Freeney is not one of them that can do both. Either way look for that pass rusher in the draft and let Freeney go to a 4-3 team

[ALuck>RG3]

I say we keep him. What was the one thing we've always needed on defense? And Anchor up front to free up our pass rushers so they can stop the run on their way to the QB. Or this player could know when he needs to make a play by stopping the run on his own.

Honestly, this is what we need. Look at ray Lewis his numbers shot up when ngata came on the scene

[SLILLINGTON10]

what if the playoffs come down to indy and cincy? he would get one more right?

[PrincetonTiger]

Good Luck Dwight

[TKnight24]

Imagine those Polian defenses without him. He was the only thing saving us.

Him & Robert. Seemed like everytime it was less than 2mins left in the game, 1 of them came up with a huge sack fumble then Peyton lead a GW Drive everytime

[TKnight24]

I think we should only let Freeney go if we don't find a Good OLB. But I want Freeney to retire a Colt honestly.

[Thewholefnshow28]

I am pretty sure this will his last game at LOS unless he takes a major pay cut with his next contract. You just do not pay a situational pass rusher the money he probably will want. I just do not see him being a great fit for our 3-4 and we will probably be better off finding a younger guy in the draft to play along side Mathis who has excelled in the 3-4.

I will always have the memories of Freeney terrorizing QBs for years. He did an amazing job here and all fans should appreciate what he did here. He was always the second most important player on this team behind Manning.

[chad72]

Imagine those Polian defenses without him.  He was the only thing saving us. 

 

No kidding!!! Freeney also helped Mathis with his pass rush moves and thus came about the Frathis combo that worked well when we had a lead. But then, I remember Dungy employing the run between the tackles against a Randy Moss rookie year 15-1 Vikings in 1998 knowing the weakness of the Tampa 2 was down the middle with Mike Alstott as FB while he was with the Bucs giving the Vikings their only loss. He never got the personnel he needed in the middle consistently thus reducing how much better Frathis could be because you could imagine where QBs would go if you pushed the pocket, IMO.

 

It is a new regime, new D, new approach and if we could make it work with 37 new guys on our roster, I am sure Grigson will make it work without Mr. Freeney if we have to.

 

Regardless, thank you Dwight, if this is your last game, thanks for all the memories as a Colts player!!!

 

P.S: Maybe you could talk with Reggie and see how good of a place Indy is to stick around, all that extra money ain't worth it (wink )

[Smonroe]

They could have cut him this year and saved a bundle, but chose not to. Let's say they offer him what he's worth at this stage of his career. We know other teams will offer more.

It would be interesting to see how he handles the choice if that difference isn't too great of an amount. I know it's a business and its in his best interest to make as much as possible. But unless he's made some really bad investments, he has to be set for life financially.

[Balzer40]

Freeney is as good as gone. IMO!

[TKnight24]

They could have cut him this year and saved a bundle, but chose not to. Let's say they offer him what he's worth at this stage of his career. We know other teams will offer more.

It would be interesting to see how he handles the choice if that difference isn't too great of an amount. I know it's a business and its in his best interest to make as much as possible. But unless he's made some really bad investments, he has to be set for life financially.

Maybe he'll be like Reggie & just stick around for the franchise. I hope he does. Him, Reggie, & Mathis are the only "original" Colts left that can retire as colts

[Gavin]

Maybe he'll be like Reggie & just stick around for the franchise. I hope he does. Him, Reggie, & Mathis are the only "original" Colts left that can retire as colts

Bethea although much younger

[No 1 Manning Fan]

I loved Freeney as a 4-3 DE pass rusher, but he is too one dimensional for a 3-4 OLB (based on my observations); therefore, he is not worth shovelling out large sums of cash. If he could defend in the flats and consistently stop the run, then it would be a different story. IMO he is not valuable enough to keep in the current Defensice scheme.

[theanarchist]

Freeney is gone. Some team will pay him huge $ to be their pass rushing DE in a 4-3. Thats where is belongs and he knows that. He doesn't want to spend the last 2 or 3 good years he has left playing in a 3-4. There will be plenty of teams wanting his services and the Colts will fall way down on his list because of the scheme.

[TKnight24]

Bethea although much younger

Yeah. I was only referring to the Vets I guess you could say Bethea too

[JoKeR]

Freeney's jersey shall hang from the rafters !

[Nostrils]

I know this has been talked about from many angles. I supported keeping him in the last offseason, but I thought it would be at a reduced contract. However, I think his veteran presence and style of no nonsense leadership by example was probably worth every penny that he was paid this season. However, this is a team that had some experience now, having had to dig deep into their roster and practice squad, so the grit and winning attitude has been installed.

 

Another thing I have been considering is the way he answers questions when approached by the media. He seems more aloof than he used to. Kind of like he doesn't need the whole rah rah thing because he always brings it anyway. Well, in truth he doesn't need it because he does always bring it. But that rah rah stuff as well as the motivational coaching that Pagano and Arians bring is exactly what this young team needed, even if Dwight didn't.

 

Now that the team has survived the maiden year of the switch towards a 3-4, and you couple that with the salary he can still (and will) command from a 4-3 team needing a pass rush, I believe this is his last game in the Luke wearing a Horseshoe upside his head.

 

If that is the case....thank you Dwight. You have exemplified class, hard work, and production through your entire career, including your incredibly challenging injury. You will always be a Colt in my mind and you will be in the Ring of Honor some day.

 

 

Love it... and I might add: His #'s DO NOT reflect the presence he has had for this defense this year, when he has played.... he played the run a lot better than I had expected him to!  If (and I think it definitely will be) this is the last game, thanks for everything Dwight!

[Bubba]

I agree, Freeney will be one of my top favorite Colts but unfortunately this defense just isn't for him. I think we were forced to keep him this year due to his contract, which for his production this year we grossly over paid. I mean I think I could have gotten to the passer just as much and I'm only 175 pounds and would have only charged the Colts a quarter of his salary. Hopefully he is picked up by another contender next year and has another shot or two at another ring. Definitely will see him in the ring of honor though and maybe the HOF.

[CR91]

its gonna come down to two things. rather the front office believes we can get apply pressure without freeney and at what price would freeney agree to come back

[GoColts8818]

Imagine those Polian defenses without him.  He was the only thing saving us. 

well that Mathis guy isn't bad either

[GoColts8818]

It will be sad to see Dwight go but it's time. He doesn't fit the three four and he's only going to get older. Now the hard part replacing him because even with his lack of production he is still the guy other teams game plan first. We need another player on defense that other teams fear besides Mathis.

[TKnight24]

its gonna come down to two things. rather the front office believes we can get apply pressure without freeney and at what price would freeney agree to come back

Only if we get a Elite Pass Rusher. It's gonna take someone special to replace Freeney. And even then no one can Replace Freeney

[Freenyfan102]

I can see Freeney Go and then giving hughes his chance

[braveheartcolt]

Thde 2nd half of the 2009 SB showed us just how valuable he was to us. Go well Mr Freeney.

 

Anyoe thinking we can just slide Hughes in to replace him (irrespective of what side), and improe our D is living in cloud cukkoo land.

[Gavin]

Thde 2nd half of the 2009 SB showed us just how valuable he was to us. Go well Mr Freeney.

 

Anyoe thinking we can just slide Hughes in to replace him (irrespective of what side), and improe our D is living in cloud cukkoo land.

lol

[braveheartcolt]

lol

 

Thought you'd like that one Gav!

[ar1888]

^{Freeney is gone, Im sure he wants to play in a 4-3 defense. I cant blame hum its what he does best.}

[Steagles]

I want him back at close to minimum, but thats about it. We have enough linebackers to compensate. Freeman, Angerer, Mathis and Connor have all played very well this year.

[GoColts8818]

I want him back at close to minimum, but thats about it. We have enough linebackers to compensate. Freeman, Angerer, Mathis and Connor have all played very well this year.

Yes but those are all MLB that's different from OLB in a 3/4.  Behind Freeney right now we have Hughes who frankly you seem to hear his name called more often for doing something dumb than you do for doing something good.  That's been my biggest complaint about Hughes he gets flagged way too often and it's normally for something really dumb like a personal foul. 

 

If we lose Freeney we need another game changing player on defense other wise you are going to see everyone just shift all their attention to Mathis as he'll really be the only player on our defense that other teams fear.  People can say what they want about Freeney's lack of stats this year but other teams still show him more respect than any other player on our defense and that does help free up other players to make plays.  It doesn't make Freeney worth a huge pay day but that is something that will be difficult to replace if we let Freeney leave. 

[Coltsman1788]

Yeah...I also think this one will be it for DFree in front of the home fans.  Thanks DFree for all that you have given to this franchise. I enjoyed your spin moves, chasing down QB's, strip fumble sacks, salutes and overall professionalism.   Freeney was a pass rushing force for many years that had to be accounted for by opposing offenses.