The Big Cut Made

[LUVTHESHOE]

With what we are told about salaries and rebuilding, I believe the next almost has to be Freeney. There is no possible way to justify keeping and him the kind of money he is due after releasing PM.

With that being said there are others on this team that are making big money that we could probably do without. At this point we have proven that nobody is untouchable so why not keep making some other cuts. So are there any free agents that anyone feels we have to keep.

[BuildtheMonster1285]

I think we have to keep Garcon and Gonzalez. Although as of right now, it doesnt look like Pierre is very willing to return.

[chad72]

Freeney will be restructured, hands down. After releasing Peyton, it is obvious to everyone that if Peyton can be released, so can they. I am sure players will be willing to restructure, IMO. Wayne, Diem and Brackett will be the ones gone. Saturday might be brought back for a year at best but he may just hang it up or be let go as well.

Gonzo will be had for cheap, Garcon will also be re-signed, IMO.

[Slick_Rick]

I wonder what exactly happens with Freeney...I heard his buddy Keith Bulluck said that Freeney won't stand up and be a linebacker....

[oldunclemark]

I wonder what exactly happens with Freeney...I heard his buddy Keith Bulluck said that Freeney won't stand up and be a linebacker....

Freeney is about 290....he'll still be an end..Mathis is the one who will be an OLB

[LUVTHESHOE]

Freeney is about 290....he'll still be an end..Mathis is the one who will be an OLB

unc. Do you think Freeney is worth big money or can we live without that cap hit. In my opinion we can live without him if it is a huge number.

[HGRekks]

Freeney is about 290....he'll still be an end..Mathis is the one who will be an OLB

Where do you get that? I know Foster said he was about 280 a few years ago and Sorgi claimed to be around 220, but neither were updated on the roter listings. I don't doubt either of those, but I'm wondering where you got that weight.

[Indeee]

Freeney needs to be traded... Not restructured

[Superman]

Where do you get that? I know Foster said he was about 280 a few years ago and Sorgi claimed to be around 220, but neither were updated on the roter listings. I don't doubt either of those, but I'm wondering where you got that weight.

He's listed at 268 on Colts.com. Never seen him listed anywhere near 280 or 290.

[Superman]

Freeney will be restructured, hands down. After releasing Peyton, it is obvious to everyone that if Peyton can be released, so can they. I am sure players will be willing to restructure, IMO. Wayne, Diem and Brackett will be the ones gone. Saturday might be brought back for a year at best but he may just hang it up or be let go as well.

Gonzo will be had for cheap, Garcon will also be re-signed, IMO.

Freeney will either be extended or released. I'm assuming this will be done sometime after June.

Brackett, Addai, Clark and Bullitt all have to be released, if you ask me.

[chad72]

Freeney will either be extended or released. I'm assuming this will be done sometime after June.

Brackett, Addai, Clark and Bullitt all have to be released, if you ask me.

Addai, Brackett and Bullitt - yes. Clark - no

With the RBC, Addai is being paid too much. Bullitt - too many injuries and we can do better. Brackett - paid too much for a role he would be only situationally used for, which would be pass D LB.

Clark - unless we draft TEs heavily, which we do not have many draft picks to focus on TE, should stay, especially with Tamme being a free agent.

[Portage Coltfans]

I think we have to keep Garcon and Gonzalez. Although as of right now, it doesnt look like Pierre is very willing to return.

why? both are extremely replaceable

[ColtsPacersfan]

We need some familiar faces kept on the team. So far only Mathis. We need more familiar to be kept.

[IndyTrav]

We need some familiar faces kept on the team. So far only Mathis. We need more familiar to be kept.

Why?

[P-Money]

He's listed at 268 on Colts.com. Never seen him listed anywhere near 280 or 290.

He's always been around 265. He loses or gains weight depending on who there next opponent is. Saw that on a ESPN documentary.

[HeavyC]

I think we have to keep Garcon and Gonzalez. Although as of right now, it doesnt look like Pierre is very willing to return.

Since we are rebuilding both of those chumps need to hit the road...both are 3rd stringers at best.

[LUVTHESHOE]

Since we are rebuilding both of those chumps need to hit the road...both are 3rd stringers at best.

LOL, I think we know where you stand!

[MR. Blueblood]

Granted Gonzalez hasn't gotten anywhere close to Sanders type money, but people couldn't wait to run Sanders out of town because he was always injured and Gonzalez spends the last three years basically riding pine from injuries and people want to keep him around?????

Makes perfect sense to me.

I don't care if you can get him for cheap, you can get a rookie for cheaper and maybe the rook stands a better chance at actually seeing the playing field.

[Fx Stryker]

I don't think Freeney is going to be cut. Pagano sounded like he wanted him and Mathis.

[schwamm]

I was totally confused by Gonzo this past season. I didn't understand why he was kept on the team, but never got off the bench. Someone obviously felt he could contribute, especially with the holes the team showed on offense, so why wasn't he ever given a shot on the field? And with all the constant roster shuffles, why wasn't he axed in favor of filling some more pressing hole if he wasn't going to be used?

I'd still like to see him given a chance. He has shown so much promise at times, but I certainly understand the frustration about past injuries.

[shakedownstreet]

isn't gonzalez still under his rookie deal? if so, there's no point in cutting him

remember what polian said about donald brown, it would cost as much to cut him as play him

[Slick_Rick]

Freeney is about 290....he'll still be an end..Mathis is the one who will be an OLB

Freeny is 268 http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/313800/dwight-freeney

[JWF]

Id rather the team attempt to trade Freeney than cut him. Im fine if he stays but I think resigning him to a new longterm deal is a mistake given his age and the fact we already gave Mathis a new deal.

Im sure there is a team willing to trade for a mid to lower 3rd rounder assuming he would agree to renegotiate his deal once traded.

Id like to see Clark and Brackett cut personally. Im sure Clark can still play but he wont be the same player after 2 seasons with major injuries. I also think Tamme wont be much of a downgrade at this point.

Brackett is just old and coming off major injuries and more than likely doesnt fit at all into the new scheme.

The team needs to focus on infusing itself with youth and not retaining veterans on the downward slope of their careers or coming off major injuries (Bullitt comes to mind).

I understand a few guys with experience will be good to have around but not at a high price tag.

[HGRekks]

He's listed at 268 on Colts.com. Never seen him listed anywhere near 280 or 290.

That's what I got too. I know some people gain or lose weight and stay in a range, but a 22 lb. difference would be too big to ignore (unless you're Ted Washington).

[Superman]

Addai, Brackett and Bullitt - yes. Clark - no

With the RBC, Addai is being paid too much. Bullitt - too many injuries and we can do better. Brackett - paid too much for a role he would be only situationally used for, which would be pass D LB.

Clark - unless we draft TEs heavily, which we do not have many draft picks to focus on TE, should stay, especially with Tamme being a free agent.

I say resign Tamme and cut Clark.

[chad72]

I say resign Tamme and cut Clark.

Tamme would never demand a double team the way Clark does, he can catch but is not as shifty as Dallas is to get open consistently, IMO. Tamme is good but people forget how good Clark is.

[jwilli69]

Addai, Brackett and Bullitt - yes. Clark - no

With the RBC, Addai is being paid too much. Bullitt - too many injuries and we can do better. Brackett - paid too much for a role he would be only situationally used for, which would be pass D LB.

Clark - unless we draft TEs heavily, which we do not have many draft picks to focus on TE, should stay, especially with Tamme being a free agent.

So we bring in Luck and then cut our best blocking RB, yeah thats pretty smart cause Donald can block like an all star

[presto123]

Tamme would never demand a double team the way Clark does, he can catch but is not as shifty as Dallas is to get open consistently, IMO. Tamme is good but people forget how good Clark is.

He sure didn't step up last year. He was pretty bad at times. He looks gun shy going across the middle from all the times he's been lit up. Who knows. Maybe the old Dallas can return again?

[Cynjin]

If the Colts are going to cut any of the vets I would just as soon see if they could trade them first, especially Freeney.

[FireJimCaldwell]

The NFL takes the height and weight at the combine or during a players rookie year.

It rarely changes, whether they gain or lose weight.

I don't think Freeney has seen 268 in a number of years. I'd say he's over 3 before he's under 275. The man has some very thick hips/legs.

He'll sign an extension or but traded or cut if we do not find a trade partner.

[bellboys]

Freeney will get an extension on his contract. If we cut him it will be 14 mil in dead money against this years cap.

[UndecidedFrog]

Freeney will get an extension on his contract. If we cut him it will be 14 mil in dead money against this years cap.

No, if we cut him, it will be $5MM dead cap space against 2012 cap.

[Malakai432]

No, if we cut him, it will be $5MM dead cap space against 2012 cap.

Frog so would the best bet just simply be to renegotiate? Trading him unless we get some kind of epic trade would still hurt the Colts right?

[FireJimCaldwell]

Frog so would the best bet just simply be to renegotiate? Trading him unless we get some kind of epic trade would still hurt the Colts right?

It would have to be an extension to "renegotiate".

Trade or cut he's a 5 million dead cap hit.

That 5 million is still there if we extend him as well.

I think it depends on the direction of the defense. If it's 60% 4-3, I'd extend him. If it's 60% 3-4 I would more likely trade him. I don't think he's as versatile a Mathis.

[UndecidedFrog]

Frog so would the best bet just simply be to renegotiate? Trading him unless we get some kind of epic trade would still hurt the Colts right?

I would recommend to extend him if the team thinks he can contribute with the new defensive scheme. In that extension should be a new 4-year deal that reworks his base salary of $14.035MM to something way less, and to offset that with a signing bonus.

The next alternative would be to trade him.

[Malakai432]

Ah I see. So would a contract extension technically cut the amount of cost per/yr that we would have to pay him thus saving the Colts some cap room?

Thanks Frog & Jim

[Superman]

Tamme would never demand a double team the way Clark does, he can catch but is not as shifty as Dallas is to get open consistently, IMO. Tamme is good but people forget how good Clark is.

I don't forget how good Clark is. I'm a DC fan. But he's getting paid like a top five tight end, and he's missed 15 games in the last two years. And he's 33. If he's tradeable, that would be better, but I don't think we can keep paying him that kind of money, considering where we are and where we're going. It's not cost-effective in this case.

Tamme is no DC. But he's cheaper, and he's performed at a good level when given the chance.

[Superman]

So we bring in Luck and then cut our best blocking RB, yeah thats pretty smart cause Donald can block like an all star

What does our running back have to do with blocking? Improve the offensive line, come up with some different schemes to keep your quarterback clean, and let him use his athleticism to stay out of trouble. But you don't pay a veteran running back $10 million over the next two seasons just because he's a good pass blocker. Smart money is on cutting Addai. We should have let him walk last season and used that money to sign Donte Whitner.

[Evan]

I hope not!! im wearing Dwight Freeney jersey right now at college [=

[UndecidedFrog]

Ah I see. So would a contract extension technically cut the amount of cost per/yr that we would have to pay him thus saving the Colts some cap room?

Thanks Frog & Jim

$5MM of the projected $19.035MM cap hit in 2012 is unavoidable.

The extension could significantly reduce the remaining $14.035MM to something more manageable in a new deal (pro-rated SB + lower base). All that, of course is dependent on if we can come to agreement on terms with Freeney versus how our coaches and FO view his continuing contribution moving forward.

So an extension has the potential to cut some of that $14.035MM cap hit if structured correctly and agreeable to both the team and to Freeney.