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If I am discounting the possibility that the Colts may franchise Freeney at a cost of $8.644 million, then I am also discounting the possibilities that there are other ways for the Colts to free up cap space. They could extend Glenn. They could extend McFarland. They could redo Wayne's deal. They could redo Brock's deal. They could redo Diem's deal. They could release Stokley. They could get Stokley to lower his cap number. I am not discounting the fact that a SB appearance and a possible SB victory will help the Colts in the cash-flow department. I think that those who are predicting doom for the Colts in 2007 are. I am not discounting the fact that making to the Super Bowl and maybe winning the Super Bowl will make the Colts a more attractive destination for free agents, especially those who fit the Cover-2 system. I think that those who are predicting doom for the Colts in 2007 are. I am not discounting the fact that making to the Super Bowl and maybe winning the Super Bowl will make it easier for the Colts to retain their free agents as they will have to decide do they want to be like Edge who left for $$$ and is now seeing his former teammates in the Super Bow or do they want to win. I am not discounting the fact that the Colts have been one of the 3 youngest teams in the NFL the past two years so the Colts have been coaching up young players in their system for awhile now and some of those young players may be ready to step in and replace any lost UFAs. I am not discounting the fact that the Colts are going to get very good comp picks for the losses of David Thorton, Tripplett, and Edge. I think that those who are predicting doom for the Colts in 2007 are. I am not discounting the fact that the Colts had 22 players on reserve lists this year and that some (Reagor, Pope, Doss) are probably expected to replace lost UFAs in 2007. I think that those who are predicting doom for the Colts in 2007 are.
I ask once again - how much cap space do the Colts need to have in order to be considered capable of fielding a playoff team in 2007?? As soon as someone tells me that number and how they come up with that number, I will list to the best of my ability the myriad of ways that the Colts can get to that number. IMO, if no one can provide that number, then all of this talk of the Colts facing an implosion is just wishful thinking just like all of the talk of the Colts imploding in 2006 around the same time last year has been proven to be wishful thinking.
I was just pointing out a major factor to consider in the Colts' free agency. You were throwing around a $15 million number and I was pointing out that if they franchise Freeney, that number is not nearly as big.
I am not predicting doom for the Colts in 2007, but I think their enormous deals for Manning, Harrison (who still have a lot of dead money and is already 34), Wayne, and a few others will pick apart this team over the next few years.
I think the Patriots comparison is not accurate because the Colts have given out big money contract to more players than the Pats did when they pushed money back. Besides, that practice nearly bit us in the butt when we were forced to cut Lawyer Milloy a week before the season because we were over the cap and it was either cut Milloy or several other players because Milloy refused to make a deal. And they eventually had to cut Ty Law because his cap value got way too high for his value.
I am not worried about the Colts being active players in free agency. Polian's history is to let solid defensive players go (Thornton, Mike Peterson, etc.) to the detriment of the team rather than paying them. He is also not an active player in free agency ever. He has a few free agent acquistions over the years like Vinatieri and Corey Simon, but he likes to build through the draft. I fully expect Polian not to restructure a lot of contracts just to get flushed with money and let some of his players go.
As for winning the Super Bowl making Indy attractive to potential free agents, but probably not this year with so many teams with tons of money especially since a lot of them are cover 2 defenses. Even if the Colts free up money, how are they going to compete with teams that already have $30 million before they make any roster moves or restructures.
As for winning a Super Bowl making free agents wanting to stay, I point to Damien Woody, Ty Law, Lawyer Milloy, Tebuckey Jones, etc. who all left the Pats rather than take less to try to continue a Super Bowl run because they already had their rings.
As for compensation picks, they don't offset the second rounder they lost for the trade of Booger McFarland. Only Edge got a contract that was exorbtent, but he was the 12th leading rusher. Also, with Vinatieri being the highest paid player at his position, he will offset some of those guys for picks. So in the league's clandestine way of determining what type of compensation each team gets, the Colts will probably get a fourth and a sixth all together.
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