Irsay says it's possible to have new deals for AC and Hilton by Labor Day

[NewColtsFan]

Does anybody know what we are paying Johnson per year? Just want to gauge on what we

are paying him vs what Hilton may get.

 

Johnson got a 3 year deal for a total of $21mill.   Reportedly San Diego offered same or more.

 

The last year of the deal has no guaranteed money.    So, if AJ doesn't pan out,  he'd be gone in two years.

[NewColtsFan]

Andre is second on the list at 7.5 mil cap hit, right behind Vontae Davis at 11.something mil.

The head scratcher is that we have a kicker at #14 on the list. I really like Patty Mac, but

should a kicker be making more than the next 38 players on the roster???

 

I think Vonte is at 9mill.    He signed a deal for 4-years and $36 mill.

[Grigs build the lines plz.]

I think Vonte is at 9mill.    He signed a deal for 4-years and $36 mill.

Spotrac has him at 11.25 mil cap hit but he is earning his money with his play.

[Superman]

Spotrac has him at 11.25 mil cap hit but he is earning his money with his play.

 

That's his 2015 cap hit, not his yearly average.

[Grigs build the lines plz.]

???

 

He makes $2.9m/year, which is about 2% of the cap, so it doesn't matter. Even if it did, he's the 11th highest paid punter, plus there are 11 kickers paid more than him, so he's #23 on the list of specialists. Slightly above average pay for one of the best punters in the league. 

 

By the time final cuts are made, about 30 of those 38 players who are beneath him will be on rookie contracts. McAfee obviously isn't worth more than Hilton and Allen and the rest. But he's on a veteran contract, and they're on rookie contracts. Steven Hauschka and Jon Ryan make more than Russell Wilson. It's a function of the system.

Ya got me, ya got the tater. Good post

[CanuckColt]

Irsay is being optimistic.

A reasonable Hilton deal would probably get done except for TY having an attack of Stupid and hiring Rosenhaus. Rosenhaus will squeeze the Colts for extra millions and put TY out of reach unless we overpay by a lot.

[Coltfreak]

I don't see what the hold up is . . .

Just do what I do in Madden. Give them 7 year contracts and back end it all. 60% of the time, it works every time.

NICE!!

[masterlock]

You mean 3 out of 3 years of production? And even if I give you only 2 years of production, which I don't, it's still 2 out of 3 years, plus, a top statistical season for a rookie WR.

The size "argument" is so tiresome and off base.

It's 2 years of significant production, and I think you knew what I meant. Anyway, read the latest IndyStar article on this for some other good points. I just don't believe in tying up so much resources when football is a TEAM sport and the Colts need to build a balanced TEAM. Paying ONE player 10 percent of the cap is just foolish.

[GoColts8818]

I fully expect deals to get done with both.  Irsay has always shown he's not afraid to write the check to keep his own stars.  I think both guys, Hilton in particular is going to have a dollar figure attached to it that is going to make people scream but I would say remember the following.

 

1.  Hilton is a very productive young WR who hasn't even hit his prime yet.  There is no reason to think he can't be a top WR in this league as he should keep getting better.

 

2.  It's much more important in terms of how the contract is set up than the dollar amount.  You can get creative with how a contract is set up to absorb a hit more in years where you can afford to take those hits.  This is where the people who handle your cap are very important and frankly where Polian was a master for a lot of years.

 

3.  He's going to sign for close to what his market value is.  Just because people her might not think he's worth that kind of money doesn't mean another team wouldn't gladly pay him that kind of money if he hit the open market so if the Colts are going to keep him they have to pay him his market value and I don't think the Colts are willing to let him hit the open market.

 

4.  When the new TV deal kicks in the cap is going to go up and whatever his figure is isn't going to look as bad.

 

5. It's not your money.  I know people are worried about the Colts spending all their money on a handful of players in terms of long term success but you aren't paying for it.  Be glad you are going to get to have an exciting young player on your roster and get to watch him for years to come. 

 

6.  The Colts know they other players to sign including Andrew Luck they aren't going to sign Hilton and others and go oh no we don't have money for Andrew!  They probably have a ball park figure in terms of how to keep Andrew.  They might have to make some hard choices on other players but that's the down side to having good young players.  You get them for cheap up front but then you have to pay them but to keep them.  I think that's part of the reason the Colts are going all in on this year they know this is their last chance to win a super bowl before these young guys contracts come up and they have to start making choices on who to keep.  For better or worst it appears that right now the Colts have decided Hilton and Castonzo are must keeps.  Time will tell on Fleener and Allen. I will say having Hilton and Castonzo back in the fold will make it easier to keep one of them or both of them if there is away to do that as they will be focusing on two free agents rather than four. 

 

7.  Most of the guys signed in the past couple of years or even the last couple of guys left from 2013 are designed to pretty much have their deals be done over the next couple of years.  That's going to free up their money that can be used to keep these young guys. 

[RockThatBlue]

It really blows my mind that you think this. It really does.

Same here. Pretty stupid honestly. That's the only person I've ever seen say Castonzo is mediocore.