Colts Torpedo the Market on Defensive Linemen
By signing DE Dwight Freeney to a record six-year, $72 million contract on Friday (that included a jaw-dropping $30 million signing bonus), the Colts not only solved their biggest off-season problem, but created multiple issues for their fiercest rivals in the not so distant future.
Since this deal dwarfs those of comparable Pro-Bowlers Jason Taylor (six-years, $45 million) and Richard Seymour ($24 million in bonuses), the bar has officially been reset for defensive lineman. So guys like Julius Peppers in Carolina and Will Smith in New Orleans are sending thank you cards (or strippers; if it were me, I’d prefer strippers) to Freeney, because come this time next year, it will be their turn to cash in.
Past that, look at the situation for the Patriots, who currently have one of the best defensive lines in football. Ty Warren had a breakthrough year in ‘06, and will be a free agent after the ‘08 season. One year later, both nose tackle Vince Wilfork and defensive end Seymour will be free agents as well. Freeney’s stratospheric contract (which averages out to over $1 million per sack, just so you know) all but guarantees that New England will have to choose between who stays and who goes via free agency.
A deal that strengthens your team and potentially weakens your toughest competitor? Well, played Mr. Polian, well played. Dickhead.
Dwight Freeney, Indianapolis Colts, new contract, boatload o cash, nope I’m not bitter at all
November 4th, 2007 at 11:29 pm
[...] Dwight Freeney showed a national audience exactly why Indianapolis ponied up $72 million for him in the off-season. At one point, I thought I could hear Matt Light yelling, “thank you sir, may I have [...]