Colts will sign Kicker Matt Gay

[RollerColt]

Welcome Matt! This was a good signing. Hopefully this means we're good in terms of kicking for the foreseeable future!

[chad72]

8 hours ago, New Zealands #1 Colts Fan said:

Wow we have finally signed a free agent from another team on day 1. And it's a kicker 

The last time we signed a FA kicker was Adam Vinatieri, we then won the SB 

 

Chase should find a home pretty easily though.

[chad72]

9 minutes ago, RollerColt said:

Welcome Matt! This was a good signing. Hopefully this means we're good in terms of kicking for the foreseeable future!

We love signing Matts - Ryan, Haack, Pryor and now Gay.  
 

Not sure how I feel, given the Matts history.

[RollerColt]

Just now, chad72 said:

We love signing Matts - Ryan, Haack, Pryor and now Gay.  
 

Not sure how I feel, given the Matts history.

Someone has to break the streak! 

[pkbrux]

Love this signing.

 

Chase did a solid job, but he doesn't have as good accuracy or range as Gay. Will be nice to have a kicker with legit 60+ range indoors and 55+ outdoors.

[Dr. T]

Great kickers win games. Love the signing.

Everybody assumes Rigo will be back. I'm not as sure about that. A torn Achilles for a kicker ...   

[philba101]

Don't get me wrong here. I like Matt Gay and I am glad we locked up our kicker for the offseason, but every year we absolutely refuse to spend big money early in free agency. The one year we decide to break from that and we use the money to sign the largest contract for a kicker in free agency history? Thankfully we have no other pressing priorities on this team.

[bluephantom87]

5 hours ago, stitches said:

After giving the biggest money in NFL history for an OG, OC and LB Ballard has decided to up the ante and make records at even less important positions. Next stop - punter and long snapper!!!

 

On a more serious note - I don't really hate this one. If we are going to be spending on kicker this is a good one to spend on. For some reason I'm having memories of him being on the Colts before... Don't remember in camp or for a workout when we were having troubles with kicking or practice squad... No idea why he didn't stick at the time.

 

 

edit: Yeah, my memory didn't lie to me this time, here it is: 

The Rams took him off our practice squad to become their star kicker in their Super bowl run. 

 

 

Not a considered a PREMIUM position but this move addresses a IMPORTANT team need. The Colt's kicking situation (fg wise) has felt shakey for years now ESPECIALLY on long attempts. PATs were even an issue at times going back to Adam V's last couple of years. I never trusted Blanko aka Hot Rod. A good kid but with limited range and that's not good for a kicker. Chase has been a decent replacement but is not considered top tier by any means.

 

Ironic that we had to come full circle BACK to Gay after he spent time on our practice squad during Blankenship's rookie season by making him the highest paid kicker in FA history. I don't know how many teams were bidding for Gay's service but I'm just hoping that he continues to play at a high level unlike some on this roster whose production declined after getting paid. I love the move just not sure about the price. On a side note to @Dr. T I HOPE that Sanchez can return and resemble his former self but that's a tough injury to come back from as a punter.

[Myles]

Great signing.

[philba101]

24 minutes ago, philba101 said:

Don't get me wrong here. I like Matt Gay and I am glad we locked up our kicker for the offseason, but every year we absolutely refuse to spend big money early in free agency. The one year we decide to break from that and we use the money to sign the largest contract for a kicker in free agency history? Thankfully we have no other pressing priorities on this team.

Just as a reference. Chase McLaughlin made $965,000 last year.  Making $5.625/yr as a kicker is a great contract.

[Stephen]

31 minutes ago, philba101 said:

Just as a reference. Chase McLaughlin made $965,000 last year.  Making $5.625/yr as a kicker is a great contract.

Hopefully he is the greatest kicker of all time

[Indianapolis-Colts-Fan]

This makes me happy 

[ColtsLegacy]

Most money ever for a FA kicker and yet it'd be a cheap contract for any other position. People laugh at kickers but when you don't have one you aren't laughing, you're crying. This is a position that has lost the Colts many games since Vinny left.

 

I like Chase and he should get his shot elsewhere, but I love this signing. Gay has a cannon and is very accurate.

[jvan1973]

10 hours ago, IndyEric07 said:

Id rather only carry 2 kickers instead of 3 though! Could use that roster spot in another needed area!

Why would the Colts carry 3 kickers?

[JColts72]

Spends money on kicker? Can get one in draft. Teams loaded on D and o line. Ballard gets a kicker. Going to playoffs now; jeez.

[Fluke_33]

4 hours ago, Mr. Irrelevant said:

We’re going to draft a QB who can’t finish in the end zone, confirmed! 
 

The first thought i had was this guarantees it is Richardson and we are going to use the Wing-T exclusively.

[Stephen]

15 minutes ago, jvan1973 said:

Why would the Colts carry 3 kickers?

We only carrying 2 chase is gone

[Restinpeacesweetchloe]

Wrong thread 

[Hawkeyecolt]

2 hours ago, philba101 said:

Don't get me wrong here. I like Matt Gay and I am glad we locked up our kicker for the offseason, but every year we absolutely refuse to spend big money early in free agency. The one year we decide to break from that and we use the money to sign the largest contract for a kicker in free agency history? Thankfully we have no other pressing priorities on this team.

Everyone screaming to sign Chandler Jones last year and he absolutely stunk. For the most part I’m glad Ballard sits out day 1 of free agency.  I’ve only seen a couple of guys signed in free agency that I thought the Colts might be in on.  Sutton and Powers, but it isn’t like there aren’t comparable corner and guards left on the market.  
 

So far he’s retained Lewis and Speed while addressing the kicker position which cost us 1-2 games last year.  Plenty of free-agents left.  

[JColts72]

11 minutes ago, Hawkeyecolt said:

Everyone screaming to sign Chandler Jones last year and he absolutely stunk. For the most part I’m glad Ballard sits out day 1 of free agency.  I’ve only seen a couple of guys signed in free agency that I thought the Colts might be in on.  Sutton and Powers, but it isn’t like there aren’t comparable corner and guards left on the market.  
 

So far he’s retained Lewis and Speed while addressing the kicker position which cost us 1-2 games last year.  Plenty of free-agents left.  

Wow! With those 2; set for playoffs now 

[CR91]

Not sure why Twitter is clowning this signing. Do they not get the colts can't do anything until they get rid of Matt Ryan and Ryan Kelly? I also brought up restructuring Braden's and Buck's contracts.

[Superman]

I was initially "meh" on this signing, mostly because I thought McLaughlin was pretty good and would have been easy to retain. But Matt Gay is still young, he's already proven in big time situations, he's a top five kicker right now, and should be rock solid for the life of his contract. He's also a good kickoff specialist, should that be needed. We've been shaky at kicker since 2019, and now we can (presumably) check that box off, not just in 2023, but for the foreseeable future.

 

This is a good signing, IMO. Not exactly earth shattering news for FA Day 1, but I like it. 

[chad72]

1 hour ago, CR91 said:

Not sure why Twitter is clowning this signing. Do they not get the colts can't do anything until they get rid of Matt Ryan and Ryan Kelly? I also brought up restructuring Braden's and Buck's contracts.

 

Whose fault is that? Unless the goal is to not go after any FA worth anything with the cap space, the releases should have happened by now. Maybe their only goal is to get Pittman and/or JT extended.

[Hawkeyecolt]

McGlaughlin’s best year is 83%. Gay’s career avg is around 90%.  It’s strange the success McGlaughlin has had 50+ yards while struggling at 40-49 yards over his career.  He had a nice year, but the way his kicks fade to the right every time never made me feel 100% confident.  It was like a golfer playing a fade on his drive. 

[CR91]

6 minutes ago, chad72 said:

 

Whose fault is that? Unless the goal is to not go after any FA worth anything with the cap space, the releases should have happened by now. Maybe their only goal is to get Pittman and/or JT extended.

 

This is just the tampering period. The league year doesn't start til tomorrow 

[JColts72]

1 hour ago, CR91 said:

Not sure why Twitter is clowning this signing. Do they not get the colts can't do anything until they get rid of Matt Ryan and Ryan Kelly? I also brought up restructuring Braden's and Buck's contracts.

Ballard not doing anything even after getting rid of those 2. Teams are loading up in top of the line shops. Ballard at outdoor flea markets.

[CR91]

29 minutes ago, JColts72 said:

Ballard not doing anything even after getting rid of those 2. Teams are loading up in top of the line shops. Ballard at outdoor flea markets.

 

How is that different then any other year? Guys want one of two things. To win or to get paid. Colts in QB purgatory isn't gonna attract FAs so that leaves money and Ballard himself said he's not paying what he thinks are B players A money

[Superman]

49 minutes ago, chad72 said:

 

Whose fault is that? Unless the goal is to not go after any FA worth anything with the cap space, the releases should have happened by now. Maybe their only goal is to get Pittman and/or JT extended.

 

The league year starts tomorrow. This isn't even really a consideration if they intend to move off of any of the big money guys.

[Blueblood23]

7 hours ago, ChuggaBeer said:

I like the signing.  Now we know we won't  take a kicker at #4

Looking at long snappers at #4 now.

[stitches]

1 hour ago, Superman said:

I was initially "meh" on this signing, mostly because I thought McLaughlin was pretty good and would have been easy to retain. But Matt Gay is still young, he's already proven in big time situations, he's a top five kicker right now, and should be rock solid for the life of his contract. He's also a good kickoff specialist, should that be needed. We've been shaky at kicker since 2019, and now we can (presumably) check that box off, not just in 2023, but for the foreseeable future.

 

This is a good signing, IMO. Not exactly earth shattering news for FA Day 1, but I like it. 

My thing is... you can look at a lot of Ballard signings and none of them seem outrageous. You can make the case for pretty much all of them individually. But the pattern continues and the impact piles up signing after signing... he continues giving premier resources for non-premier positions. And then you wake up one day and you have the highest paid OL(especially on the interior), Highest paid interior DLinemen, one of the highest paid LBs, highest paid kicker, we will soon have one of the highest paid RBs too I imagine... He just continues to accumulate those contracts, while being questionable at every premier position of football... 

 

Just an observation...  

[Superman]

13 minutes ago, stitches said:

My thing is... you can look at a lot of Ballard signings and none of them seem outrageous. You can make the case for pretty much all of them individually. But the pattern continues and the impact piles up signing after signing... he continues giving premier resources for non-premier positions. And then you wake up one day and you have the highest paid OL(especially on the interior), Highest paid interior DLinemen, one of the highest paid LBs, highest paid kicker, we will soon have one of the highest paid RBs too I imagine... He just continues to accumulate those contracts, while being questionable at every premier position of football... 

 

Just an observation...  

 

I get that. I think it's relevant at LG, ILB, if we pay JT it will be relevant there. It's an ongoing conversation, and there are several elements to consider there.

 

I don't think it's relevant at kicker. Spotrac says McLaughlin's value is $4.1m/year. Matt Gay signed for $5.625m/year. The difference doesn't affect anything else the team wants to do, and 'highest paid FA kicker' isn't a meaningful designation in any way, IMO. 

[masterlock]

6 minutes ago, stitches said:

My thing is... you can look at a lot of Ballard signings and none of them seem outrageous. You can make the case for pretty much all of them individually. But the pattern continues and the impact piles up signing after signing... he continues giving premier resources for non-premier positions. And then you wake up one day and you have the highest paid OL(especially on the interior), Highest paid interior DLinemen, one of the highest paid LBs, highest paid kicker, we will soon have one of the highest paid RBs too I imagine... He just continues to accumulate those contracts, while being questionable at every premier position of football... 

 

Just an observation...  

The most frequent margin of victory in the NFL is 3 points. "Premier" or not, kicker is one of the most impactful positions, as it directly contributes to scoring and wins/losses. What they gave him is in line with the market for elite kickers. Good signing. 

[Captain_Colts1317]

This team has a lot of holes that need filled. It’s not all going to happen in one off season. I for one like the signing and it fills a need / hole also. Fans like to complain regardless of what Ballard does, but at least he is spending money in a position of need. With a good kicker this team most likely makes the playoffs 2 years ago. 

[John Waylon]

“Colts make record free agency deal!”
 

I really thought they’d keep McLaughlin.
 

Kinda cold they didn’t, honestly. Guy made a buzz here to start his career before being cut, then came back here and honestly did earn the job and they just give record money to a FA instead. 
 

Thanks for coming, Chase we’ll be seeing you. 
 

[TomDiggs]

Also posted this in the big FA thread, but for those looking for Matt Gay contract numbers here they are:

 

 

Gay got $13M of the $22.5M guaranteed, but $8M of it is in a signing bonus spread over the 4 years, $1.08M is is 2023 salary guaranteed and $3.92M is guaranteed in 2024.

 

So basically no guaranteed money after 2024 and if he were cut in 2025 he would have a $4M dead cap hit compared to his $6.75M charge if on the roster. And if cut heading into 2026 he would have a $2M dead cap hit compared to $6.75M if on the roster. 

 

2023 cash: $9.08M

 

Cap numbers:

 

2023: $3.08M (guaranteed)

2024: $5.92M (guaranteed)

2025: $6.75M (no guarantees, $4M cap charge if cut)

2026: $6.75M  (no guarantees, $2M cap charge if cut)

[philba101]

17 hours ago, stitches said:

My thing is... you can look at a lot of Ballard signings and none of them seem outrageous. You can make the case for pretty much all of them individually. But the pattern continues and the impact piles up signing after signing... he continues giving premier resources for non-premier positions. And then you wake up one day and you have the highest paid OL(especially on the interior), Highest paid interior DLinemen, one of the highest paid LBs, highest paid kicker, we will soon have one of the highest paid RBs too I imagine... He just continues to accumulate those contracts, while being questionable at every premier position of football... 

 

Just an observation...  

You are right. Right now our kicker makes more per year than Jonathan Taylor (Likely to change soon). Ballard won't spend big on premier positions and then he does this. I realize it is early but his methods are puzzling to say the least. I am just waiting for the Ballard lovers to convince me that this is part of his fiscally shrewd plan to outsmart and outmaneuver the other 31 GM's. He has a covert plan which when executed will make all those aggressive, big-spending teams look like fools. Let me ask, how is that working out for the Colts after six years? 

[Caffrey]

At least we have one of the best kicker is the NFL according the many.  Place kicking was the Genesis of our terrible season when Blankenship missed the potential winning 43 yd FG at the end of our 1st game against the Texans and had to settle for a tie.  A good kicker can make a 1-3 game difference from losses to a win. So for those who scoff at this move, If Matt Gay performs up to expectations, many will be glad we signed him.

 

After the 1st game FG miss loss fiasco, the accountability or lack there of (did not want to use the word "Blame"), was due to Matt Ryan, the O-Line, Jonathan Taylor (fumbles, miss pass protection blocks, injury), Pittman (who I'm a big fan off, had a couple drops), also the defense who seemed to be carrying the team with our inept offense, then started giving plays later in the season.  So overall it was a team breakdown from one thing to another for our terrible season, but it started with Blankenships miss in the 1st game.

 

[GoColts8818]

On 3/15/2023 at 8:32 AM, philba101 said:

You are right. Right now our kicker makes more per year than Jonathan Taylor (Likely to change soon). Ballard won't spend big on premier positions and then he does this. I realize it is early but his methods are puzzling to say the least. I am just waiting for the Ballard lovers to convince me that this is part of his fiscally shrewd plan to outsmart and outmaneuver the other 31 GM's. He has a covert plan which when executed will make all those aggressive, big-spending teams look like fools. Let me ask, how is that working out for the Colts after six years? 

I know you don’t like this but it’s because one is on a rookie contract and one is not.  As you even acknowledged here, once Taylor gets off his rookie contract his contract is going to blow Gay’s contract away.  If you want to criticize Ballard that’s fair but criticizing him because a dude on his rookie contract is making less than someone who isn’t doesn’t hold up.  Most people know that has nothing to do with the GM.  That has to do with how the CBA is setup to handle rookie contracts vs free agency.

[sb41champs]

ABSOLUTELY THE BEST SIGNING OF THE FIRST ROUND OF FREE AGENCY!!

 

Congratulations to Chris Ballard and staff!!

 

Welcome to Indianapolis Mr Gay - we're looking forward to cheering for you for years to come!!

[Boondoggle]

Looks like a good signing as Gay's been money of late.  But kickers are weird so you never know.  This is the same guy who lost his nerve with the Bucs and ended up on a PS in the first place.