A Question about Dwight Freeney. - New England Patriots Forums

Digger44 · 03-25-2006, 04:46 PM

If he is in the final year of his rookie contract, it is my understanding that he is a RFA. Is this right thinking? If it is, does anyone know what his tender is? No matter what it is set at, why not make him an offer sheet? If the Colts do not match, we have a great OLB/DE and the $$$ to sign him right now. If they do match we just sent the Colts into cap problems because of an unexpected signing. Why the heck not?

Digger44 · 03-25-2006, 04:47 PM

I do not see him on the RFA list on NFL.com.

***pats1*** · 03-25-2006, 06:24 PM

A) Dwight Freeney is signed through 2008.

B) Whether a player is on their rookie contract or not doesn't matter. A player is a resticted free agent when he has 3 accredited seasons. If more than that, he's an unrestricted free agent. If less, he's an exclusive rights free agent.

Dwight Freeney signed a 7-year contract in 2002, when he was drafted:

Quote:

1. DE Dwight Freeney (Syracuse/No. 11 overall) -- Signing bonus: $3,000,000. Base salaries: $944,000 (2002); $1,180,000 (2003); $1,416,000 (2004); $1,652,000 (2005); $1,888,000 (2006); $2,124,000 (2007); and $2,360,000 (2008). Notes: Team can exercise option-buyout on 2008 season with $3,000,000 payment next spring. If exercised, base salaries are reduced to $300,000 (2003); $391,000 (2004); $600,000 (2005); and $765,000 (2006). The 2007-2008 seasons are voided with minimal playing time. Total: seven years, $14,564,000, or five years, $9,000,000. Cap value: $1,372,000.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/afc/draftsignings2002.html

Here's his more current base salary numbers:

Quote:

2006 5000000.00
2007 1001000.00
2008 1237000.00

http://nflpa.org/Members/playerProfile.asp?ID=32987

When the 2008 league year is up, he'll be an unrestricted free agent.

The only case where he would be a restricted free agent would be if he was a free agent after the 2004 league year and had been on the roster long enough in 2002-4 to get an accredited season (3 games, I believe, I.R. and PUP included). Obviously, that wasn't the case. Since he now has 4 accredited seasons under his belt, he's an unresticted free agent for life.

workhorse · 03-25-2006, 06:29 PM

I would not be surprised to see him signed to a long term deal before this season starts. The Colts aren't going to come close to letting him test the free agent market.

Phokus · 03-25-2006, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by workhorse

I would not be surprised to see him signed to a long term deal before this season starts. The Colts aren't going to come close to letting him test the free agent market.

Do you even have any cap room left? You guys are throwing money left and right.

ruacoltsnut · 03-25-2006, 07:22 PM

Thanks for you support of a great end in DWIGHT FREENEY and remember......

Remix 6 · 03-25-2006, 07:24 PM

its okay

we have seymour. btw hows James doing? how many yards is he gonna get? what about bracket? hows his defense next year? wait i forgot..they are gone. darn

ruacoltsnut · 03-25-2006, 07:31 PM

Is seems that the NFL is reporting your losses and gains. Wow, good to see that you signed all of these free agents:

Troy Brown, WR New England Unrestricted Undisclosed

Reche Caldwell, WR San Diego Unrestricted Undisclosed

Steve Neal, G New England Unrestricted Undisclosed

Chad Scott, DB New England Unrestricted Undisclosed

Departures Tom Ashworth, T (SEA); Andre' Davis, WR (BUF); Christian Fauria, TE (WAS); David Givens, WR (TEN); Willie McGinest, LB (CLE); Adam Vinatieri, K (IND) Way to go and remember.......

PatsFanInVa · 03-25-2006, 07:33 PM

Colts guys, thanks for stopping by. On your way through, you'll see various photos of assorted Lombardi Trophies. You'll have to do some work in Photoshop, but you'll probably be able to drop Peyton into one of them.

Back to how this one started... even if this were Freeney's last year, even if the Colts are cash-strapped, we have issues with depth/injuries. And we could get better in a few places. Obviously, Freeney is a great DE in a 4/3 - but where do you project him in the 3/4? The Pats aren't in real trouble at OLB, except for the youth issue. Their D line is one of their stronger units, with Seymour healthy, and they're only getting better.

Now if you tell me Freeney will be available cheap, that's another matter. But the likelihood of that compares unfavorably with, say, the moon turning blood red, dogs lying down with cats, or Nazis riding dinosaurs. For the Pats to make all that cap room and use it on Freeney just seems silly. We all identify big CB expenditures as foolish, and that's more a position of need for NE than a new emphasis on the pass rush.

All that said, watch them trade for him next week.

PFnV

Remix 6 · 03-25-2006, 07:52 PM

hey ... wasnt there a talk about 16-0? Well that turned into 14-2. Didnt the Colt fans get all excited about the SB prematurly? What happened? Oh yeah..Steelers beat you..Manning choked..that that "best kicker in history" of yours missed a chance..a defensive player couldnt run away from Ben Roethlisberger..tried running near him and gets tackled. Nice talkin..hey remember..we got Harrison in FA, Vrabel, Bruschi wasnt supposed to be this good..Seymour is 1 of the best DE...Brady was a 6th round pick..Givens was a 7th rounder..when Law went out..we played through it and won SB against Eagles..managed a 10-6 after so many injuries. You guys had no injuries really but made it as far as we did. Sucks. By the way..your best player is gone in the desert sun and 1 of your better D players went to Tennessee. Its alright that we lost them..we lost Law, Milloy in the past. We made it..both were pro bowlers. We did it..and we expect nothing less.