GoColts8818

Which is why I said I am not saying they won’t.

Especially not for a defensives system that doesn’t put a priority on corners. The whole point of the defense Ballard believes in is that you can get by with solid to good corners and you don’t need an elite one to run it.

Dan Patrick was talking this morning about buyer beware of what you hear at the combine. A LOT gets said at the combine and it turns into a giant game of telephone where a lot doesn’t end up being close to what is really going on. Not saying the Colts won’t go after a safety or two just be cautious with taking it as absolute fact not that you are saying it is absolute fact.

The Colts agree to trade him to another team before he signs an offer sheet from another team. There is no incentive for the Colts to entertain this since they want to keep Pittman.

No because once tagged the team who tagged them has to agree to a trade. If they don’t the player is stuck facing either sitting it out and not getting paid or signing and making a boat load of money.

What others are talking about is you can trade him without him signing a new offer while he’s on the tag. That can be for anything you deem acceptable to make a trade. That’s what the Chiefs are reportedly doing with Sneed so they don’t lose him for nothing. this doesn’t really apply to the Colts as they want to keep Pittman and aren’t looking to trade him so they have incentive to take less than two first round picks. Even then I don’t think it’s going to come close to that. Pittman wants to be here. The Colts want him. They will get a deal done.

They also had that guy Patrick Mahomes that makes guys better than they really are, much like Peyton did when he was here with the likes of Wilkins, Blair White, Fletcher, and others. I know the KC WRs had a lot of drops even with Mahomes but you are right you can’t ignore what they had in Kielce and Mahomes when comparing their offense to the Colts.

They still like him more than fans do here and see him as a factor in their offense which is why aren’t in a rush to release him.

Yeah that’s why I hope people don’t freak out if a long term deal isn’t reached right away. Even if they are close the franchise tag buys Ballard time with Pittman to focus on guys who will hit the open market without a new deal and then focus on free agency and the draft. There is a reason the deadline isn’t until July to get something done long term with Pittman.

Read the story that’s coming out today. The legal system is pretty much saying he didn’t do what he was accessed of.

Calvin Ridley is probably the biggest name on the truly open market if that’s what you are asking.

Why? If he truly didn’t do anything wrong why wouldn’t the Colts bring him back?

Yep that’s the key. Pittman has said from day one he wanted to test the market, again smart on his part because he knew it would lead to this, to make sure he gets as big of a contract as he can.

and Taylor has been nothing but happy since he got that contract. That’s what he wanted. The requesting a trade was a tactic on his part.

Super Bowl here the Colts come!

Zero exclusive tags because teams know they don’t have too because teams aren’t giving up two first round picks to sign a player and if you put the exclusive tag on a player it really ups the cost for the player you are trying to sign and no NFL team wants to pay more than they have too. There is also zero incentive once you’ve tagged a player to take less than two first round picks for a player even if they want out and are trying to force a trade. If another team wants him you just say then sign him and we’ll take your two first round picks please.

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/agents-take-how-to-keep-nfl-players-out-of-free-agency-everything-to-know-about-franchise-transition-tags/ good write up of how the tag situation works. Yes Pittman can talk to other teams but if someone signs him the Colts have five days to match or they get two first round picks. Reminder teams could have done this with Lamar Jackson last year and didn’t because giving up two first round picks was deemed too high of a cost. No one is paying that for a WR in today’s NFL. Also, no one has successfully done this since 2000 for any franchised player. It doesn’t happen. The Colts know this which is why they didn’t use the exclusive tag because that would have upped Pittman’s value even more and why pay more than they have too? Pittman is going to be a Colt. This is a negotiation tactic on his part to get as much money as he can from the Colts by saying hey you thought I was worth franchise tagging so my long term contract needs to reflect that. He’s been laying the ground work for this back to when he said he wanted to test the market officially but if you listen to anything else he says he talks about how much he loves playing for the Colts and the city of Indianapolis. He knows he’s going to be a Colt and wants to be a Colt he also just wants to get paid to do it. Ballard knows this too and knew it last week when he said the franchise tag is a tool. He knows this part of the game. There was at least one report they were close. This is going to get done. It might not happen right away because this does buy Ballard time to focus on guys like Grover if they want to keep him but this is going to happen sooner or later.

1. The Colts match the contract. 2. They don’t and get two first round picks which no one is giving up for a WR if no one would give that up for a MVP level QB a year ago. 3. Pittman had dropped several hints he wants to be here. That’s not the issue here. It’s all about him getting paid as much as he can. you are worked up over nothing. Like Ballard has said this is a tool. Pittman is using it too to insure he gets every dime he can out of the Colts. Things will be fine.

The whole point of the franchise tag is to prevent him from leaving. He’s not going anywhere.

the Colts aren’t going to trade him. Ballard has made it known he’s going to be on the opening day roster next year.

They aren’t letting him walk. He’s tagged. No one is giving up two firsts for him, reminder that was the cost to get Lamar Jackson last year and no one was willing to pay that. If they aren’t paying that for a league MVP QB they aren’t paying that for a WR. He’s going to be here. Check the over reaction at the door.

Uh what? This isn’t shocking news or disheartening at all. It’s going to get done. Like Ballard has said the franchise tag is a tool. It’s buys more time for both sides to get a deal done with there not being a realistic fear of the Colts losing Pittman. Like I told you yesterday this was the way things were heading because it was a smart move by Pittman to insure he gets every penny out of the Colts he can because now he has the leverage to say you felt I was worth the tag so I deserve a contract that reflects that. Pittman knows he’s going to be a Colt long term, and just as importantly wants to be a Colt long term, and has known that since he made the comment about wanting to test the market. This was all about getting the biggest contract he could from the Colts which is why so many then said this is how it would go. There is nothing disheartening here. It’s negotiation tactic for a contract that’s ultimately going to get done.

reminder it’s a tool. A long term deal will get done.

Because the Colts like him more than we do.

He’s not going to, he’s already confirmed he would tag him if he has too. Put the Ballard hating pitchforks away for now.