No playoffs for the colts next season

[rtunstal]

The colts like every team that wins it will lose not only players but also Coordinators. Every successful team loses them, just look at Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, the Ravens, because everyone wants to raid the cupboards for that super bowl experienced player or coach. This happens even if you make the play offs look at SD. I know people will say that know one has taken a coach from them before, but that is because they never made it to the big dance. so things change just mark my words and watch what happens. And the players will get ****y and thing they are deserving of the big bucks (Deion, Givens) and other teams will pay them even if they are not that good.

What many fans of other teams will realize is that the patriots are not cheap they are smart, you cant pay everyone the big bucks, but a select few and have a bunch of mid tier players and pay them well and you will have a good team to compete every year. I would like to say the colts might fall into the categories of not making the play offs the fallowing year just like the ravens of 00, pats of 01, Tampa of 02 and steelers of 05 that would be sweet.

 

[Rob0729]

The colts like every team that wins it will lose not only players but also Coordinators. Every successful team loses them, just look at Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, the Ravens, because everyone wants to raid the cupboards for that super bowl experienced player or coach. This happens even if you make the play offs look at SD. I know people will say that know one has taken a coach from them before, but that is because they never made it to the big dance. so things change just mark my words and watch what happens. And the players will get ****y and thing they are deserving of the big bucks (Deion, Givens) and other teams will pay them even if they are not that good.

What many fans of other teams will realize is that the patriots are not cheap they are smart, you cant pay everyone the big bucks, but a select few and have a bunch of mid tier players and pay them well and you will have a good team to compete every year. I would like to say the colts might fall into the categories of not making the play offs the fallowing year just like the ravens of 00, pats of 01, Tampa of 02 and steelers of 05 that would be sweet.

They won't lose coordinators. Tom Moore is like 900. Besides, he does the least amount for an OC in the NFL. He described his job as giving Manning a general concept of the play to call and then Manning makes the play call himself. I don't see him wanting to get another job or anyone actually pursuing him.

As for their defensive coordinator, they had one of the worst run defenses in league history. He won't be actively sought after either.

As for players, they will get hit there. They are one of the few teams close to the cap. Freeney is going to demand a huge contract assuming he voids the last years of his contract which would be crazy if he didn't. Cato June, Rob Morris, and Nick Harper are starters who are UFAs and Ryan Lilja is a a starter who is an RFA. Ben Utecht, Jason David, Gilbert Gardner, Dominic Rhodes, Terrance Willkens, and a few other solid contributors are either UFAs or RFAs. With not a lot of cap space, they are going to have to allow some these guys go and Indy is rarely a player in free agency.

 

[patsfaninpa]

I'd be curious if someone offers Freeney a poison-pill type of contract.
Like Minny with Hutchingson. And, Parcell to us when he signed C.Martin.
Something like he has to be the 2nd highest player on a team. And, no farther
than 10% from the top guy. Would make it impossible for Indy to sign him.
I've been impressed with D.Rhodes the last two weeks. He's made himself some money. I think their losses will be more personnel than coaches.

 

[everlong]

I've been impressed with D.Rhodes the last two weeks. He's made himself some money. I think their losses will be more personnel than coaches.

If Dillon retires maybe we'll take a run at Rhodes. I like how he ran with power and Maroney and Rhodes would be a good combo.

 

[SECTION 214]

No doubt the colts have issues : 1. 17 Free agents 2. No Cap Space 3. Super Bowl Hang Over. However, they play in a cream puff division and have the second best QB in the league . That sould be just enough to get them to a divisional playoff game @ Foxborough next year!

 

[Rob0729]

No doubt the colts have issues : 1. 17 Free agents 2. No Cap Space 3. Super Bowl Hang Over. However, they play in a cream puff division and have the second best QB in the league . That sould be just enough to get them to a divisional playoff game @ Foxborough next year!

Their division isn't so cream puff. Both Tennessee and Jacksonville were playoff contenders up to the week. Indy was 3-3 in the division this year. There is a very good chance that both Tennessee and Jacksonville will be significantly better. Jacksonville lost a lot of key players on defense and Tennessee is a young team who finally emerged from cap hell. I can see the AFC South being a tougher division than the AFC East next year depending on how teams make their moves in the off season.

 

[patsfaninpa]

Their division isn't so cream puff. Both Tennessee and Jacksonville were playoff contenders up to the week. Indy was 3-3 in the division this year. There is a very good chance that both Tennessee and Jacksonville will be significantly better. Jacksonville lost a lot of key players on defense and Tennessee is a young team who finally emerged from cap hell. I can see the AFC South being a tougher division than the AFC East next year depending on how teams make their moves in the off season.

I agree. Colts couldn't stop either team from running the ball. With any type of play from qb. Both will give Colts D fits. If I was Jax, I'd consider a veteran qb. They have a tough defense and a strong running game. Wr's have a case of the dropsies. But, a good qb would really help them. Plummer will probably end up at Houston with Kubiak. That should help them also.

 

[AzPatsFan]

I agree with your assessment. This was the final year of the Colt's window. If they didn't do it this year they don't do it.

The core of the Colts are all over thirty. Their Stars next year will be Peyton 33, Harrison 36, Wayne 31, Glenn 34, Saturday 31, Stokley 31, Diem 30, and Booger 33.

The good younger players have injury problems too. Sanders is a midget and his body can't stand the beating; it is already breaking down. Freeney is undersized and got by on rare quickness; he's losing that and he's too small to play otherwise. Corey Simon is out of football for health reasons and I don't even know if he is Colt property anymore. Not paying him while he's hurt, sure won't engender any loyalty.

So hail and farewell to the Colts. Beat the bears.

 

[Miguel]

I agree with your assessment. This was the final year of the Colt's window. If they didn't do it this year they don't do it.

What a surprise. Did you not predict that 2006 would be the year that the Colts implode?? Are you going to predict each year that the Colts will not make the playoffs until they actually do??

The core of the Colts are all over thirty. Their Stars next year will be Peyton 33, Harrison 36, Wayne 31, Glenn 34, Saturday 31, Stokley 31, Diem 30, and Booger 33.

Manning will not turn 33 until 3/24/2009. Manning is among the league's best QBs. How much of a dropoff in his game do you expect in 2007??
Harrison will not turn 36 until 8/25/2008.
Wayne will not turn 31 until 11/17/2009
Glenn will not turn 34 until 5/25/2010
Diem will not turn 30 until 7/1/2009
McFarland will not turn 33 until 12/18/2010

 

[Miguel]

The colts like every team that wins it will lose not only players but also Coordinators.

Where will the coordinators go???

 

[BelichickFan]

It's silly to think they won't make the playoffs. That said, we all know that non Patriot teams have struggled the year after being in the SB and the AFCS seems to be getting stronger with Jacksonville good, Tennessee improving and even Houston getting a little better.

 

[Miguel]

On January 9 a Panthers beat reporter reported that there were only 2 teams over the 2009 cap and the Colts were not one of them.
http://blogs.charlotte.com/panthers/

Here is the list of the Colts free agents.
Keiaho, Freddy ERFA Colts LB
Ulrich, Matt ERFA Colts G
David, Jason RFA Colts CB
Gardner, Gilbert RFA Colts LB
Lilja, Ryan RFA Colts G
Schobel, Bo RFA Colts DE
Scott, Jake RFA Colts G
Sorgi, Jim RFA Colts QB
Thomas, Josh RFA Colts DE
Utecht, Ben RFA Colts TE
Boiman, Rocky UFA Colts LB
Freeney, Dwight UFA Colts DE
Harper, Nick UFA Colts CB
June, Cato UFA Colts LB
Klecko, Dan UFA Colts DT
Moorehead, Aaron UFA Colts WR
Morris, Rob UFA Colts LB
Mungro, James UFA Colts RB
Proehl, Ricky UFA Colts WR
Rhodes, Dominic UFA Colts RB
Wilkins, Terrence UFA Colts WR

I see four starters (Freeney, June, Harper, Morris) on the list. Here's how the Colts can keep all of them.
Convert the roster bonuses of Manning and Mathis into signing bonuses freeing up over $11 million.
Either release Stokely or have him take a pay cut. Cap savings of over a million.
Go after Simon's signing bonus if he does not want to play football anymore. Cap savings - yet to be determined.
Extend Glenn/McFarland. Cap savings - a couple of millions.

Can someone please tell me how much cap space the Colts need to have in order to have a team capable of making the playoffs next year???

The Colts started the 2005 AND the 2006 seasons as the 3rd youngest team - that is not a characteristic of a team entering cap hell. That is a characteristic of a team getting out of cap hell. The Colts will get high comp picks for Edge, Thorton, and Hope so they will enter the draft with 9 picks. I just do not see the case for a Colts' implosion in 2007.

IMO, anyone who thinks that the Colts will implode in 2007 is undergoing wishful thinking, just like they were in 2004, in 2005, AND in 2006.

 

[patsfaninpa]

I thought I read somewhere that they are 4.9 under. But, they have a lot of roster spots to fill if they lose all of the ufa's. Freeney will command most of that 11m they can save. Still need to sign draft picks and fill out the roster. I don't think they are in any danger of missing the playoffs. But, signing Freeney will hurt the depth on that team.

 

[Miguel]

I thought I read somewhere that they are 4.9 under. But, they have a lot of roster spots to fill if they lose all of the ufa's.

The Colts had 22 players on reserve lists this year so they will probably use some of them to replace any lost UFAs

Freeney will command most of that 11m they can save.

The Colts can save more than 11m. I do not know the exact number since I do not know how much they can save with Simon. Freeney will command most of the 11M only if he is tagged. If the Colts and Freeney reach a long-term deal, his 2007 cap number will be in the $2 to 3 million range.

signing Freeney will hurt the depth on that team.

in what way???