Mathis Agrees to Long Term Deal With Colts [Merge]

[BuildtheMonster1285]

According to Adam Schefter, not sure how accurate it is, but apparently the Colts and Mathis are trying to get a new contract worked out, but if they cant, the Colts will use a franchise tag. If this is true, the announcement should come shortly because the franchise tag deadline is 4:00 p.m.

[oldunclemark]

This sounds better..because there was a report last week that no one had talked to him.

[ruksak]

Jeeeez that's gonna be expensive.

I'm seeing that Welker just got tagged by NE. Not much time left for us to tag a guy.

[Colts#1fan]

Tag him Irsay!!!

[bayone]

@AdamSchefter

Colts trying to sign DE Robert Mathis to a new deal but if they can't, they told him they will use franchise tag on him by today's deadline.

1:36 PM

https://twitter.com/...#!/AdamSchefter

CBS

Amid reports that negotiations between the

Indianapolis Colts and pending unrestricted free agent Robert Mathishave "warmed up considerably," this dose of cold reality: the talks couldn't even be characterized as tepid as of Thursday night, because there hadn't been any negotiations, substantive or otherwise, to that point, The Sports Xchange has learned.

That might have changed later on Thursday night -- neither side could be reached as of this writing -- but even that might have been a big stretch, and would have required a major escalation of the dialogue.

Beyond a couple casual, get-acquainted conversations between new Indianapolis general manager Ryan Grigson and Mathis' camp, there had been no serious talks about a potential contract extension.

No proposals had been exchanged. Mathis earned $30 million on the five-year extension he signed in 2007, the bulk of the money in the first three seasons of the deal.

At age 31, any extension would have to be similarly structured, with big-time, front-loaded payouts.

There is still some chance the Colts might apply the franchise designation,

but Mathis is dead-set against being tagged, and the marker could result in some acrimony.

The nine-year veteran has averaged 10.0 sacks over the past eight seasons, has notched more than seven sacks in each of the eight years, and had 9.5 sacks or more in all but one of the campaigns. In addition to his 83.5 career sacks, Mathis, like teammate Dwight Freeney, is adept at the sack-and-strip move, as evidenced by his 39 career forced fumbles.

Even at his age, Mathis figures to have a good many suitors if he gets to the open market.

On the subject of Mathis, even though he has played in a 4-3 his entire career, the veteran rushman, whom some teams feel had his best season in 2011, certainly will consider a switch to a 3-4. That could come, of course, in Indianapolis, where new coach Chuck Pagano has historically been a 3-4 devotee. Or it could be elsewhere as well. Even with his 4-3 background, and a lack of empirical evidence that Mathis can drop and cover and play in space, several defenses with a 3-4 "base" front have him rated as a possible free agent target a rush linebacker.

http://www.cbssports...ound-league/rss

[MTC]

The clock keeps ticking..

[JoKeR]

18 minutes remaining ... .....

[Blackhawk4]

Well looks like the restructuring of contracts will happen if Mathis is franchised.

[ruksak]

KC just tagged Bowe..........c'mon Irsay. We saw enough inaction on 2011.

[Phil J]

8 minutes. tag the guy.

updates?

[Larry Horseman]

Bob Kravitz ‏ @bkravitzJust in: Colts and Robert Mathis have reached a tentative agreement on a long-term contract. He will not be franchised.

I'll be interested to hear the terms of the deal...but this is good news!

[Malakai432]

6 very long minutes to work out a muti million $ contract. We have an eternity left.

[Grav]

Just in: Colts and Robert Mathis have reached a tentative agreement on a long-term contract. He will not be franchised.

[Malakai432]

Bob Kravitz ‏ @bkravitzJust in: Colts and Robert Mathis have reached a tentative agreement on a long-term contract. He will not be franchised.

I'll be interested to hear the terms of the deal...but this is good news!

Epic of epicness, the holiest of holys and the moliest of moleys.

[Phil J]

amazing news! no tag!

[MTC]

Just in: Colts and Robert Mathis have reached a tentative agreement on a long-term contract. He will not be franchised.

:dancing:

[ruksak]

WTH? No tags this season? All the high end vets on FA and we aren't using a valuable resource?

[Fx Stryker]

What do they have, 3 minutes?

[Restored]

Mathis has just signed a long term deal.

Close the thread.

[Happy2BeHere]

Maybe at the last second they tag Wayne...lol

[Fireman818]

At least they got the Mathis deal done that was the right thing to do in my opinion. Other than Wayne, there really wasn't anyone worthy of a franchise tag.

[FireJimCaldwell]

Albert Breer ‏ @AlbertBreer

• Can confirm Robert Mathis and Colts have agreed to terms on a deal. Club will tag him to provide time to work out the final details
  

[Thewholefnshow28]

Hopefully it does not lock us in to long with him just in case this transfer to OLB does not work out. I just hope we didn't give him to much money.

[JoKeR]

WTH? No tags this season? All the high end vets on FA and we aren't using a valuable resource?

It doesn't seem to be that valuable since tagged players make top money.

[ruksak]

Albert Breer ‏ @AlbertBreer

• Can confirm Robert Mathis and Colts have agreed to terms on a deal. Club will tag him to provide time to work out the final details
  

Waste of a tag.

What a dubious start to the new regime.

[FireJimCaldwell]

Waste of a tag.

What a dubious start to the new regime.

It locks Mathis up so the details can't hit a snag. Wayne or Garcon simply aren't worth 9 million.

[Coltswarriors]

Good news that Mathis will definitely be coming back next year!!!

[ruksak]

It doesn't seem to be that valuable since tagged players make top money.

It's a valuable tool to prevent the escape of a player that you want to retain but cannot agree on terms. Mathis is gonna cost us soooo much to tag. The tag should've been used on someone else and Mathis either released or signed some time ago.

[LaughingAtIrsay]

Mathis has just signed a long term deal.

Close the thread.

Via Adam Schefter

Colts and Robert Mathis trying to finalize a long-term deal but as a precaution, Colts used their franchise tag on him. Not going anywhere.

https://twitter.com/#!/AdamSchefter

[UndecidedFrog]

Waste of a tag.

What a dubious start to the new regime.

Actually, I am liking the use of the tag here for this exact purpose. I am now curious to see what the contract looks like.

[Coltswarriors]

Robert Mathis on twitter:

Still Bleedin BLUE!!! #YaDigg

[ruksak]

It locks Mathis up so the details can't hit a snag. Wayne or Garcon simply aren't worth 9 million.

I disagree on Wayne. Garcon, I agree. Isn't it $10.6mm to tag Mathis?

[UndecidedFrog]

I disagree on Wayne. Garcon, I agree. Isn't it $10.6mm to tag Mathis?

It's only $10.6 if the contract falls through.

[JoKeR]

Does the new contract void the terms of the tag?

[ruksak]

Actually, I am liking the use of the tag here for this exact purpose. I am now curious to see what the contract looks like.

I'll have to contemplate this for some time. Perhaps you're right but I really wanted to keep Wayne and not tie up our tag on a guy that will probably be signed in a few weeks.

[Coltswarriors]

Does the new contract void the terms of the tag?

I'd assume so. Not sure exactly, though.

[Andy]

It's 4:00 and no tag. They better get this deal done. Either way it's good they didn't use the tag, because he'd be making around 5.8M more than he is making right now. Figure out a longterm good contract for about 7.5M each year.

[UndecidedFrog]

Does the new contract void the terms of the tag?

yes.

[southwest1]

Good move Grigson & Pagano!!! Lockdown Freeney now as your next move please.

[FireJimCaldwell]

I disagree on Wayne. Garcon, I agree. Isn't it $10.6mm to tag Mathis?

The 10.6 will be part of a 15-20 million signing bonus and his cap # will be lower likely around 7-8 million a year.

9.4 for even Wayne seems extreme.