Dwight Freeney signs; becomes highest paid defensive player in NFL history

by Brad Wells on Jul 13, 2007 2:51 PM EDT in Colts News

On the way to the bank, Dwight swims through this Bronco lineman.
Photo: SI

We all pretty much expected that Dwight Freeney would sign a new contract with the Colts prior to the July 15th deadline. Instead of playing under a one year franchise tag, Freeney now has a 6 year contract worth $72 million, with a $30 million dollar signing bonus. This makes Dwight the highest paid defensive player in league history. According to ESPN:

Freeney will receive $37.72 million over the first three years of the contract. In doing the deal, the Colts will save $3.68 million of salary-cap room that they can use to keep other players whose contracts are expiring. The Colts had $3.4 million of cap room before reaching agreement with Freeney.

So now, as a result of Freeney signing, the Colts are about $7 million under the cap prior to signing rookies and other new additions.

Obviously, it's great Dwight is signed long term. He acted a like a true professional throughout the entire process, attending mini-camp and other training sessions when he was not obligated to do so. This is in stark contrast to Asante Samuel in New England or Larry Johnson in KC, and says a lot about the atmosphere Bill Polian has created with his players.

It's also fitting that Dwight is now paid the most, and not Nate Clements. Dwight is the best DE in football. Yes, that means he's better than Jason Taylor (last year's defensive MVP). Dwight is the most disruptive player on defense in this league. He makes mince meat out of great LTs like Ogden and Jones, and makes QBs run for their life. He's also very good against the run, despite what wannabe pundits think or say.

So, congrats to Dwight for getting paid. While you look at those figures and think My God, that's a lot of bread! it's important to remember that Freeney is as much responsible for the re-vitalization of Indianapolis as Manning is. His electric play brings money and influence into the city, and both the team and the community are different as a result. When you look at the kinds of profits Dwight brings to the Colts, $72 million over 6 years is chump change. It's easy to take the PFT way and bash these guys that sign big contracts. I personally have no problem with players like Freeney getting paid big money. It's when guys like Adam Archuleta and Willis McGahee get big deals that I have a problem. I don't think it was a coinsidence that this happened the day Corey Simon was re-activated. We'll see if anything happens there. Now, it's a matter of getting the rooks signed in time for camp. Go Colts!

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Comments

Holy balls

A $30 million signing bonus. I think it's a good move, but it has to hurt writing that check. Or several checks. Or whatever.

by BSanders37 on Jul 13, 2007 3:00 PM EDT reply actions

Impact!

I've never really been able to gauge Freeney's impact. Certainly his production is much more than his sack totals; does he really disrupt that much? Does anyone know of any good examples of how he disrupts when he doesn't get to the QB?

As an aside, my favorite Freeney motion is when he swoops way outside, then does kindof a windmill/swimming/angry werewolf motion with his arms while gunning for the QB. He nailed Trent Green with one of these in the playoffs.

by clownsaw on Jul 13, 2007 3:06 PM EDT reply actions

Freeney's run D

"He's also very good against the run, despite what wannabe pundits think or say."

When he plays the run.

by shake n bake on Jul 13, 2007 3:23 PM EDT reply actions

to clarify

I think every once and a while he needs someone to tell him, "There's a time and a place for sprinting around the outside or spin moves and that's in clear (or at least very likely) passing situations."

by shake n bake on Jul 13, 2007 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions

I like the deal

The Colts need to keep him and it's better for the cap and keeping him happy than the franchise tag.
It doesn't look like the deal is heavily backloaded, ($37.72 million over the first three years) so the Colts can just wait until the deals up or nearly up to make a decision on how much to pay a 32-33 year old Freeney.
It looks good for now, good for later and good for Freeney.

by shake n bake on Jul 13, 2007 3:32 PM EDT reply actions

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!

Freeney isnt even one of the top ten defensive players in the NFL. Richard Seymour, Marcus Stroud, Luis Castillo, Ty Warren, Julius Peppers, and Vince Wilfork are all better all-around defensive lineman than Freeney. Since I thought of this list in about 30 seconds there are probably many more. Besides Peyton needs more money and more players on offense.

by ArchieManning on Jul 13, 2007 4:33 PM EDT reply actions

The whole Patriots line is better than Freeney?

I wonder which team you're a fan of? At least you went through the effort to separate the names so your bias is a little less obvious.

by shake n bake on Jul 13, 2007 5:01 PM EDT up reply actions

I am a fan of

Peyton and Eli. The Colts need more receivers.

by ArchieManning on Jul 13, 2007 5:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Awww, ok c'mon the joke's over Terry!

We know it's you!

by PaytonMenning on Jul 13, 2007 10:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Sacks

It's not like Freeney averages more sacks than the 3 Pats linemen put together, 11.3 to 9.6. Or that Freeney's best season had twice the sacks of the any of the Pats linemens best years, 16 to 8 to 7.5 to 2.
A 4-3 DE is going to more sacks than a 3-4 D lineman but Freeney dominates the sack numbers while being the opposing teams primary concern and facing a constant double team.
Freeney is at the very least average in run support. The playoffs showed what Freeney and the rest of the Colts D can do in run defence when he has a little run support from LBs that aren't horrible tacklers/Bob Sanders.

by shake n bake on Jul 13, 2007 5:16 PM EDT up reply actions

I know Peyton would rather see Freeney

rushing him than Peppers, Stroud, Seymour, or Castillo.

by ArchieManning on Jul 13, 2007 5:22 PM EDT up reply actions

I wonder why?

Because when Freeney is coming at him he has a red jersey on and Freeney can't hit him

by shake n bake on Jul 13, 2007 5:27 PM EDT up reply actions

I do not think Dwight Freeney

is as good as Jason Taylor. Nor do I think he is the most "disruptive" player in the NFL.

Hogs Haven

by Skin Patrol @ Stampede Blue on Jul 13, 2007 5:00 PM EDT reply actions

No problem

I have no problem with someone thinking/saying Taylor or Peppers are better DEs. There is a definite argument for them and if I wasn't a Colts fan it's possible I'd think they are.

by shake n bake on Jul 13, 2007 5:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Situational

In the situation the Colts are trying to put the opposing offense in, forced to pass while running out of time, there isn't any D lineman I'd think about taking over Freeney. He's the perfect DE for what they want to do.

by shake n bake on Jul 13, 2007 5:22 PM EDT reply actions

Looking at Freeney's stats

he seems to be headed down fast. Sacks the last three years 16, 11, 5.5. And this is what he does best.

by ArchieManning on Jul 13, 2007 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions

why?

Might be the 119 more rushing and 94 less passing attempts less he faced this year compared to last. That and a shoulder injury he played the whole year with.

by shake n bake on Jul 13, 2007 5:44 PM EDT up reply actions

Dwight

He looked pretty good pressuring Brady in the fourth quarter of the AFCCG, forcing him to throw a horrible pick to Marlin Jackson, ending New England's season.

Sorry, you were saying something, Archie?

;)

Please make an account and post a diary, add some comments, and make some noise. Accounts are free, and only require an email address.

by Brad Wells on Jul 13, 2007 5:48 PM EDT up reply actions

But BBS,

Pats fans are only interested in the really big, important games that count. Believe me, Freeney would choke in a big game.

(You can tell which games those are, because the Pats fans will tell you after the game is over whether it was important based on the outcome.)

by SteveW on Jul 14, 2007 1:21 AM EDT up reply actions

Mr. Freeney is important....

to the defense. He disrupts by pressuring the qb into bad deciscions, just like the one tom terrific made that sent the colts to the Super Bowl.

Your Super Bowl XLI Champions, the Indianapolis Colts

by ABQ Colts Fan on Jul 13, 2007 7:04 PM EDT reply actions

physical fitness

Too bad Corey Simon isn't as concerned about his diet as Freeney. Really impressive how mentally focused Dwight Freeney is about how he takes care of his body.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/colts/2007-02-02-freeney-feature_x.htm

Hope Dwight is sticking to his eating right during the offseason.

by coltsfan on Jul 14, 2007 8:04 AM EDT reply actions

yeah, BigBlue

5.5 sacks is really disruptive. Freeney isn't even the best pass rusher in the league, let alone DE. Ill take D Ware over him any day.

Can you say OVERRATED?

by Terry @ Stampede Blue on Jul 14, 2007 2:19 PM EDT reply actions

Terry ...

Admit it. You love the Colts - you can't get enough Colts. Fact is, the evidence is all over the place - You post here all the time. Time to come out of the closet and admit your man love for Vinateri.

by PaytonMenning on Jul 14, 2007 11:33 PM EDT up reply actions

It's business....

That's what it cost to keep him. Without him, the budget defense doesn't work. With him, it works well enough for the offense to beat anyone. Whether there are or aren't better DEs isn't part of the equation. Maybe the Colts would trade straight up for Peppers. Doesn't mean anything though.

Freeney is worth it. He plays hard: every down, every live second of the game--he's after the ball. He's extremely powerful. He's trying to pop free of the lineman, obviously--but he can straight overpower a lineman and throw him into the quarterback. Even when he doesn't get a sack, he often gets a hit on the quarterback. The lineman is almost always laying on the ground. 50% of his sacks result in a fumble. He puts the pressure on the quarterback needed to make the quarterback come up with bad decisions. It doesn't always work, but more often then not it does. He turns no-name cornerbacks into play makers. He turns the rest of the D-Line into play makers. Robert Mathis isn't a millionaire without Dwight Freeney. Brock isn't a DT without Freeney.

He's worth the money to the Colts. Maybe not to anyone else, I don't know. But he's the first guy Tony Dungy drafted and he's certainly done the job of allowing a cheap defense to support the expensive offense. He's been the only defensive player to play in their position throughout the last 4 seasons--and they've been successful ones. The Colts win with this formula.

by will on Jul 15, 2007 12:38 AM EDT up reply actions

extra man

He turns no-name cornerbacks into play makers. He turns the rest of the D-Line into play makers

If the opposing offense is forced to think, "How we gonna stop this Freeney guy?" and have to put two linemen on him, he's like having an extra guy on the field.

by coltsfan on Jul 15, 2007 9:53 AM EDT up reply actions