[Salary Cap Issues 2012]

Looking through salaries and players for next season I have a few questions.

1. Freeney has a last year cap of 19 million. If the Colts don't have Manning, will they cut bait? Can the Colts restructure to a new deal a lot more cap friendly? 3 year deal perhaps? They can't keep that for next season IMO

1. Good god I hope they don't "cut bait" with the most feared defender on our roster. If we don't lost 2 DT's to injury, he is having a year that might change your thinking. A restructure is possible, but the man did come all the way back from a serious foot injury and never....ever...takes a play off. There will be a line for his services if we were silly enough to let him go.

2. Brackett is at a 5 million cap hit, can't keep that with a replacement playing better that Brackett was before he got hurt. Paycut or be cut?

2. Brackett is one of the better LB's in the league at dropping into coverage and other than this year, has been pretty consistent. He would gain some interest out there and we do have a history of letting LB's walk. I see them possibly letting him walk if they plan on taking another LB in the top 3 picks next season. I don't see him taking a paycut.

3. Dallas Clark at 8 million cap hit, has his production warranted that continued pay scale? Do they again ask for a restructure/paycut on his part? Lot of money with his declined production IMO.

3. I am hoping that Clark will return to form next year, but as much as I love what he has done for this franchise, his production this season (some of it was his fault, some was the the quality of our QB play) does not warrant that kind of payday. I see him as extremely important to either a mending PM or a rookie QB. I see a definate restructure ofhis contract with a small bonus, and a backloaded deal that makes him earn the later years.

4. Addai, while I never seen his deal announced, he appears to have recieved a 3 year deal worth 4.7 million a year, wonder how much of that was guaranteed money vs bonus money? Is Addai playing worth his contract?

4. Addai is still the best total back on this roster...and it isn't close. But his health has been an issue. He is a major team player, tows the company line as it were, and works his butt off to please PM and the team. I met him here in Portland and you could not ask for a more grounded, respectful young man. Built like a rock too. I still say that if he plays a full season next year, he is a bargain, because one of the most important facets of our offense, hinges on the RB knowing the calls, knowing the blocking, and being able to catch passes out of the backfield. When healthy, he is still a bargain with those skills. I say he is worth another years bet.

5. Bullitt making 3.3 million a year I think will be retained unless they think he will have chronic issues and can;t take the pounding of a SS.

5. I agree

6. Resigning people-Mathis, Saturday,Wayne, Garcon, Lacey, Tamme, Wheeler, Pollak, Gonzo, Anderson and Foster.

6. Mathis, Wayne, Garcon, Tamme, and Foster are absolute musts in my opinion.

7. Garcon is a must to resign (youngest-star potential), Tamme (especially if we drop Clark), Saturday (because they haven't planned well enough or developed what they drafted), Wayne and Mathis would be really a nice thing to keep around but I would almost guess they can't (or at least their agents) get past what they are worth in the twighlight of a career. The rest are all replaceable or could be kept for around vet minimum.

I dont think that they are in the twilight of their careers. They might be on the down curve, but they still have quality football in them. Their play this season has been affected a great deal by other issues on this team. I'll take players any day that give their all. When have you seen Robert not go hard on a play? How important is Reggie to a healing PM or a rookie QB?

I wished I could see a site that shows the breakdowns of all our players contracts and years left. BAV used to have that but I don't think he has it anymore or least I haven't found it. I think the team dumps a lot of cap space if Manning can't play anymore and the team uses FA to build the team in another fashion. The one thing that really stands out is that cap hit of Dwight Freeney.

[Now What]

I think with the Sunday win, the strong performance in NE and signs that this team has not packed it in is what it will take for Polian and Irsay to have Caldwell stay on staff. If you ask Tony D, he will be back. At this point I see no reason to make a change, allow Caldwell his 4th season on his contract, hope you get Manning back healthy and see what happens. I think many have overreacted a bit this season.

I think if you look up the definition of fan in the dictionary, "over reaction" is one of the definitions. Seriously, though, most fans have to blame something, so they point their finger at the nearest and most obvious reason. It is never a popular opinion to say that it could be a combination of things. Say for instance.....Mudd retires, Moore moves on, Polian gambles on a thin QB roster, Clark gets a serious injury, Collie can't get healthy, injuries obliterate the online, injuries obliterate the secondary, and oh ya....Peyton is gone for the season. Could it be that Caldwell is to blame for 1- whatever? Or did the combination of the preceding list just create the perfect storm of failure?

Mea.......much easier to just point the finger at something. That is nice and simple...cut and dried. ;)

[We Win....now Torn...]

It's like needing surgery. No way do I want it, but if I had it, it would make my future better.

Hmmm. actually, to use your analogy, it would be like needing a surgery to fail, because you wanted to be reincarnated, and you are expecting the doctors who have trained all of their life to heal.....to fail on purpose. It still makes absolutely no sense.

[Now What]

I cannot wait until we know whether or not Caldwell is staying or leaving, and I cannot wait until we know who Indy drafts, and Manning's status for next year. So tired of having the same three conversations all the time... I know there isn't much positive to discuss right now, but I think we have considered all of the possibilities with these three topics about a million times over. I have no other suggestions on what to talk about, I'm just sayin...

I would agree. However, there is always the changes that are happening in our division to discuss, their likely FA losses, and any possible coaching changes in our division......because whether it's our great QB returning, or we are fielding a rookie, it's still all about the division first. Is our pass to set up the run going to change? Is our cushion defense going to change? Are we going to see a 21 personnel package more? Just a few.............

[Sunday's Impact..]

Before Sunday's win, there were close to 3000 tix available on Stub Hub for this Thursday's night game...now there is less then 800. So either alot of those people who had their tix's up for sale pulled them off, or a big tix buy has happened since our win....could be a near full house on Thursday...surprising what 1 win will do...

Which is why wins at any time, against anyone, are always paramount with the exception of one thing......staying healthy for a playoff run.

[What's Worse Than 1-13]

Can anybody think of any

Well, we were 1-15 in the past...as well as 2-14. Fans weren't as spoiled by all the success that we have had for the last decade, so it felt different then. In addition, there was no internet so the discussions were more face to face and thus, less flaming. But that win yesterday would have been appreciated a whole lot more then, I do remember that quite clearly.

[How Many Wish The Colts To Be 0-16?]

If we are truly considering the comparisons, let us remember what was done before PM was drafted. In the 2 years preceding the drafting of Peyton, I believe we drafted Marvin Harrison, Tarik Glenn, and Adam Meadows. That was huge for the development of PM in his early years. Do we really believe that this team holds that kind of strength for a rookie QB?

[How Many Wish The Colts To Be 0-16?]

I want the Colts to win every game..

There do seem to be many of you who wish the Colts to go 0-16 .

..and eagerly anticipate that possibility.

IS there a method to your 'madness'?

If you fall into that category....please explain.

I'd like to hear your complete reasoning ...... :hmm:

I'll do my best to share my thought on it, hope it helps with your understanding. I don't know how to rate a fan as to whether they are a "real fan" or not as you mentioned in a later post. Fans are fans of so many different things. We use the term "fan of the team", but it is often something more or different than that. I love to root for my team. Winning is always paramount in my fan world, so when I read your question, I felt a bit of camaraderie. But you are asking the question of a large group of individuals who are fans of many things. This description isn't iron clad, but it is my opinion that it works in a general sense. If one has the chance of becoming a fan of a team, yet joins after the team becomes successful. It appears they are simply a fan of "winning" and they receive whatever joy or benefits when their team wins. But it doesn't end there. That team could go through tough times....and the fan keeps rooting for wins even though they are losing. That .....and I say this with reminder that this is my opinion...is evidence that they are a fan of the team, not just of winning.

There are fans like myself who follow a team for decades, through the worst seasons imaginable, and just seek the joy of winning, but tempered with reality that there will always be ups and downs, and believing through the down times makes the wins so much sweeter. There are fans who want to go to the games to get liquored up and get in arguments with opposing fans.....or fans who like watching the cheerleaders and half time stuff. There are even fans who care so much about winning, that they would rather see the team lose so that "they" can experience more wins in the future. It would be my guess that these types of fans likely dont understand just how hard it is to prepare and play every day in the NFL and just how much punishment the mind and the body takes....and how it is completely opposite a players work/effort/heart or mindset to lose a game. They just want more wins. It would be my hope that you dont take it personal because a large proportion of any successful teams fanbase are selfish and want to experience wins above all else. That doesn't make them wrong...just different than perhaps you.

For what it's worth, I play in one fantasy league, and three other leagues where we pick games each week. I can honestly say that I have picked the Colts to win every week, every league, even though my team was likely to lose. It is simple for me, I could never pick my team to lose.....ever. I also could care less about whether my fantasy teams wins, as long as my team wins. I know that I am in a small percentile where this is concerned, but I don't want to change anyone else.

[5 Worst Players On The Indianapolis Colts Roster]

What purpose does this thread serve?

To make oneself feel better by making others look bad.

[What's Worse Than 1-13]

Nice win.

[We Win....now Torn...]

I cannot understand wanting your team to lose..........ever