Do you want Bethea to stay?

[Naptown Lifer]

Mathis said on twitter why does everyone hatin on Bethea? I kind of agree. Bethea has been a loyal colt all these years (ik its a business still) and I wouldnt want him to leave. Yeah he had an off year in coverage but other than that hes pretty good. I'd rather sign him to a modest contract maybe 7 million two years and address our more pressing needs. I dont know why more people don't recognize that our d-line is garbage, if we could just get one impact player there (arthur jones/ ngata) we'd be set.

 

It is very difficult to run a 3-4 defense without a NT that is very dominant and commands double teams and wreaks havoc. Chapman aint bad. He MAY be that guy one day, but it aint one day today, and we need to go all in now though before we start paying luck 15 million a year plus. Therefore I think we should resign Bethea, because we have much more pressing needs in the trenches on both sides of ball, cbs, and lastly wr (which we can  probably push off another year)

[pgt_rob]

I think we should keep him. He's never injury prone which is great and I don't think he's that bad... Just my opinion and it doesn't matter.

[kjyb]

either draft one or free agency 

[IndyTrav]

I like AB, but my concern with him, and it has always been this, he's not an on the ball playmaker. He has frying pan hands.....I think this is what kept him from joining the Reed/Troy P conversation a few years back, when he had a legitimate shot to be the best safety in the league....that being said, his frying pan hands arent a bad thing, but when combo'd with Landry, who also is not an on the ball playmaker, it really doesn't bode well in a passing league....We need at least one safety to play center field. and I dont think either one of them are capable of doing that....

 

Between Laron/AB there is a combined 15yrs of experience......20Ints, 1 TD...between both of them.....

 

Earl Thomas has played 4 years, 15ints, 1 TD....Jarius Byrd has played 5 years,  22int, 2TD....Weddle has played 7yrs, 18INT 3Tds.... Goldson 7 years, 15INT, 1 TD.....

[bavanlan]

I would love to keep him if there's value in it.

 

I'm not sure you can honestly answer this question without knowing the cost.

[ColtJ82]

I would like to see him stay, but not with a big contract. Ideally (and I know it is logistically impossible), he would slide over to Landry's position and Laron would move on. I think Bethea is better suited for run support in this defense.

[jameszeigler834]

Well no I don't really most of the big plays that were given up this season he made big mistakes that caused it like the one against KC in the playoffs he got caught looking in the backfield.

[Gavin]

Im not against Bethea returning on a short term deal but I wouldn't want him for anything more then 4.6 mill for 3 years, i dont think he will accept that offer because thats 12.2 million dollars less then he made over the contract that he is finishing up but ya gotta pay him him what he is worth and he simply has not been very good arguably since 2009 especially when you line him up against many other Safeties

[adamthyst]

I'd like to see him stay, but for the right, low price.

[bertjones#1]

Actually would like to keep Bethea instead of Landry. Landry was supposed to come here and help with run support but Bethea is a better tackler than Landry. We need to find a safety that can cover somebody.

[MTC]

Yes. Bethea and Landry need to develop chemistry.

[OffensivelyPC]

This poll needs a third option such as "Undecided" or "Depends on contract and/or free agency."  Since we have several needs and Bethea is serviceable, we may need to keep him and use our cap space and/or limited available draft picks to address those needs.  I think Bethea's lost a step, but part of that could be because he was working with several new additions in the secondary (not to mention the injuries we sustained during the season).

[jmac_48]

Unfortunately he is probably going to be offered more in FA than what the Colts are willing to and/or should be paying him at this stage in his career. I like him and his game but it just might be time for him to be moving on.

 

It's one of the mistakes that the previous FO made, paying for what a player has done in the past and not for what they bring to the table NOW! It's not even what have you done for me lately, It's what can you do for me going forward.

[throwing BBZ]

I like AB, but my concern with him, and it has always been this, he's not an on the ball playmaker. He has frying pan hands.....I think this is what kept him from joining the Reed/Troy P conversation a few years back, when he had a legitimate shot to be the best safety in the league....that being said, his frying pan hands arent a bad thing, but when combo'd with Landry, who also is not an on the ball playmaker, it really doesn't bode well in a passing league....We need at least one safety to play center field. and I dont think either one of them are capable of doing that....

 

Between Laron/AB there is a combined 15yrs of experience......20Ints, 1 TD...between both of them.....

 

Earl Thomas has played 4 years, 15ints, 1 TD....Jarius Byrd has played 5 years,  22int, 2TD....Weddle has played 7yrs, 18INT 3Tds.... Goldson 7 years, 15INT, 1 TD.....

 

Can only laugh to the he had an off year in coverage. Clueless!

He is an Irsay Ring of Honor guy in the making so he will get a good contract. Give it a 90%.

A better pass rush could make him look better.

 He can play a pretty decent SS when Landry is out so that is nice depth.

Keeping him for a couple more years with his replacement developing would be sound enough.

 But, if there were a couple worthy guys to choose from that Should be available say in the 3rd, I would be fine to let him go and use the $$$ to upgrade the D-Line, LB positions. That would be VERY SOUND also!

[Guest TeamLoloJones]

Im not against Bethea returning on a short term deal but I wouldn't want him for anything more then 4.6 mill for 3 years, i dont think he will accept that offer because thats 12.2 million dollars less then he made over the contract that he is finishing up but ya gotta pay him him what he is worth and he simply has not been very good arguably since 2009 especially when you line him up against many other Safeties

Thats the camp I'm in.  I think the best case scenario for the Colts, is Bethea stays for a cheap deal (probably cheaper than he would accept) and that way we can focus on other needs. Bethea's play has regressed but he is still an extremely valuable team leader and locker room presence, but we can't pay a premium for that.  We also have Howell coming back, who I have high hopes for.(probably higher than most)

[Colts_Fan12]

Only if the FO can't get someone better

[IndyTrav]

Can only laugh to the he had an off year in coverage. Clueless!

He is an Irsay Ring of Honor guy in the making so he will get a good contract. Give it a 90%.

A better pass rush could make him look better.

 He can play a pretty decent SS when Landry is out so that is nice depth.

Keeping him for a couple more years with his replacement developing would be sound enough.

 But, if there were a couple worthy guys to choose from that Should be available say in the 3rd, I would be fine to let him go and use the $$$ to upgrade the D-Line, LB positions. That would be VERY SOUND also!

 

huh?  Did you mean to quote me?

[lollygagger8]

I think Bethea is looking for a pay day that Grigson isn't willing to pay unfortunately. 

 

I love what he done for the Colts, but he's lost a step or 3. He's still good against the run, but his coverage skills have declined. The poor guy can't play clean up for Landry all the time, AND make plays constantly. 

[Balzer40]

I said no. He isn't getting any younger and certainly isn't getting any better. He seems to be declining pretty rapidly IMO and will probably be seeking much more money than it would be wise to pay. Just believe it would be much smarter to move on to someone younger.

[Slick_Rick]

I don't know anymore. IMO he has gotten so used to his role as a tackler that he forgot the coverage ability he had as a younger player. I love the guy, but if one of our corners lose their man, I'm not sure that I want Bethea to be the last line of defense anymore.

[Gavin]

Thats the camp I'm in.  I think the best case scenario for the Colts, is Bethea stays for a cheap deal (probably cheaper than he would accept) and that way we can focus on other needs. Bethea's play has regressed but he is still an extremely valuable team leader and locker room presence, but we can't pay a premium for that.  We also have Howell coming back, who I have high hopes for.(probably higher than most)

I saw alot of good from Howell as far as aggressiveness and pretty good instincts(plenty of improvement can be made with instincts with him though)...which I absolutely loved but I also saw him miss some tackles, I like him alot as a solid backup but Im not convinced he is good enough to start and be a long term solution.....But Im also not against finding out...He cant be much worse then what we saw from Bethea alot last year(if at all)

[Horse Shoe Heaven]

I love Bethea he has been good and he is still good. Neither of our safeties are great at coverage but they are addaquite. Both would be better if we had a better pass rush, & if the front 7 where stronger & tackled more. Other than Freeman Landry & Bethea make a LOT of tackles. Bethea is a class act hammer type safety who plays well. Can't break the bank but he is a good safety. Honestly he is one of my favorite Colts!

[Guest TeamLoloJones]

I saw alot of good rom Howell as far as aggressiveness...which I absolutely loved but I also saw him miss some tackles, I like him alot as a solid backup but Im not convinced he is good enough to start and be a long term solution.....But Im also not against finding out...He cant be much worse then what we saw from Bethea alot last year(if at all)

That's why I think a year of Howell being behind Bethea again could be a perfect solution.  We get every ounce of football we can squeeze out of Bethea, and at the same see if Howell is a real talent.  That way we can put our resources elsewhere to improve the team, and then worry about the safety position in 2015.  I'm not against drafting a safety late in the draft though.  A guy like Hakeem Smith in the 5th round could be a really good value.

[Guest TeamLoloJones]

I love Bethea he has been good and he is still good. Neither of our safeties are great at coverage but they are addaquite. Both would be better if we had a better pass rush, & if the front 7 where stronger & tackled more. Other than Freeman Landry & Bethea make a LOT of tackles. Bethea is a class act hammer type safety who plays well. Can't break the bank but he is a good safety. Honestly he is one of my favorite Colts!

I think Bethea is well loved by a vast majority of Colts fans.  Myself included.  It's just a matter of whether or not it's time to move on.  It will be interesting to see what Grigson plans to do.  Just like with Freeney.  I will always love Dwight, but sometimes you just have to move on.

[Gavin]

That's why I think a year of Howell being behind Bethea again could be a perfect solution.  We get every ounce of football we can squeeze out of Bethea, and at the same see if Howell is a real talent.  That way we can put our resources elsewhere to improve the team, and then worry about the safety position in 2015.  I'm not against drafting a safety late in the draft though.  A guy like Hakeem Smith in the 5th round could be a really good value.

Ill have to get back to ya on Smith, I watched a little of him but have not read any scouting reports on him (I read scouting reports on players and watch the tape to for signs of what scouting reports say...Thas how I judge....along with a few other things)

[Gavin]

I think Bethea is well loved by a vast majority of Colts fans.  Myself included.  It's just a matter of whether or not it's time to move on.  It will be interesting to see what Grigson plans to do.  Just like with Freeney.  I will always love Dwight, but sometimes you just have to move on.

Ya know...I think if Freeney would have been in his mid or even late 20's I think he could have learned to play very well in our defense and not just as a pass rush specialist...He did have the flexibility and agility

[Guest TeamLoloJones]

Ill have to get back to ya on Smith, I watched a little of him but have not read any scouting reports on him (I read scouting reports on players and watch the tape to for signs of what scouting reports say...Thas how I judge....along with a few other things)

I've tried to watch every snap I could from Teddy Bridgewater this season, and in doing so I managed to see a lot of Smith.  I honestly think he's a real gem.  He actually reminds me a lot of Bethea.  He's not the best at anything he does, but he does everything well.

[open window]

I would love to keep him if there's value in it.

 

I'm not sure you can honestly answer this question without knowing the cost.

I voted NO but it really does depend on the price.

[coltsfanatic24]

Bethea shouldn't be resigned. He's a good tackler but he can't cover and doesn't have the awareness when the ball is in the air. Out of all of the defensive positions, safety is the easiest to find in the draft. We could find a good replacement in the 5th or 6th round.

[Indygal1218]

He played much better in the last 3 or 4 games of the season IMO.  If he can bring that and at the right price, then I'm all for it.

[The Fish]

Heart says yes

Head says maybe ish. I think Banvananalalalanalan is on the point (did I get that right?) if the price is right.

[JoKeR]

IMO your asking about the wrong safety. Keep Bethea at SS and get a FS that's more of a coverage specialist. I'm not hating on Landry either, it just seems like we have 2 SS and no FS, plus Bethea seems to be a better SS than Landry.

[Gavin]

IMO your asking about the wrong safety. Keep Bethea at SS and get a FS that's more of a coverage specialist. I'm not hating on Landry either, it just seems like we have 2 SS and no FS, plus Bethea seems to be a better SS than Landry.

Yeah I think your right, Still the price would have to be right on Bethea...If not then just move Landry to SS and pick up a FS in Free Agency  or in the draft

[JoKeR]

Yeah I think your right, Still the price would have to be right on Bethea...If not then just move Landry to SS and pick up a FS in Free Agency or in the draft

With all the cap space available(about 30 million), I think they could find a decent middle ground. They could slightly over pay and it won't hurt. I just hope he doesn't want some long term contract with a lot of guaranteed money.

[PrincetonTiger]

yes and no

[Rebelknight]

If Bethea wants to be a Colt he will be. This happens every year...Freeney, Garcon, David Thorton...these guys follow the money or have their agents let the FO know what they are looking for pay wise..there is always someone willing to pay a crazy amount for the players second contract. That was the Colts during the Polian era..

[Naptown Lifer]

If Bethea wants to be a Colt he will be. This happens every year...Freeney, Garcon, David Thorton...these guys follow the money or have their agents let the FO know what they are looking for pay wise..there is always someone willing to pay a crazy amount for the players second contract. That was the Colts during the Polian era..

to be fair, freeney said he wouldve stayed for even a small amount to retire a colt, and they didnt even give him an offer

[Kyle]

Actually would like to keep Bethea instead of Landry. Landry was supposed to come here and help with run support but Bethea is a better tackler than Landry. We need to find a safety that can cover somebody.

 

 

IMO your asking about the wrong safety. Keep Bethea at SS and get a FS that's more of a coverage specialist. I'm not hating on Landry either, it just seems like we have 2 SS and no FS, plus Bethea seems to be a better SS than Landry.

 

Bethea is set to hit the FA market unless resigned.  Landry was just signed to like a 3 year contract and will cost A LOT of cap if we cut him.  

[Rebelknight]

to be fair, freeney said he wouldve stayed for even a small amount to retire a colt, and they didnt even give him an offer

Only after the fact he let them know he was looking for crazy money..I didnt hear him say that before the Colts didnt resign him..if he said I will stay and retire a Colt for 2 mil a year the FO would do it in a heart beat...

[Devildog]

He can stay as a back-up.