The Future of Bob Sanders

by shake n bake on Jun 10, 2009 9:15 PM EDT in Colts Analysis

I love Bob Sanders, as you could probably guess by my avatar, hometown and college, but that doesn't mean that looking into the implications his contract has for his long term future with the team is too painful for me. Bob has played 45 regular season games in his career, he's missed 35 regular season games due to injury (though the only postseason game, of 11, he's ever missed is the 2007 Pro Bowl, so I guess he's "clutch"). He doesn't stay healthy very well. The Colts showed they were willing to pay him as much as the league's top safeties to play an average of 9 games+playoffs a year, with a 5 year 37.5 million dollar contract with 19 million guaranteed. But what if the unthinkable happens and Sanders injury struggles become worse, or the Colts cap or finances tighten? People have wondered so after the jump is how his contract structure will effect any kind of move.

The deal was built pretty well for the Colts. 14 of the 19 million dollars guaranteed in his contract was set to go against the cap in the first two seasons. At the end of the deal where the salary is high they wouldn’t have big cap costs to cut or trade him. BUT, this offseason they reworked the deal (converting some roster bonus to signing bonus) to clear some extra cap space, which bumps up his signing bonus charges to 2.2 million a year.

Year	Cap Cost	Cut or Traded Charge	Non-Sunk Cost*
2009	6.1mil	9.8mil	-3.7mil
2010	4.5mil	6.6mil	-2.1mil
2011	7.7mil	4.4mil	3.3mil
2012	9.2mil	2.2mil	7mil

*=I talked about sunk costs here

So barring disaster Sanders looks to be solidly locked in with Indy for two more years, 2011 has a cost that is reasonable, but 2012 is the big question. 9.2million (or more accurately, 7mil looking at the difference between keeping and cutting him), is a lot for a player who will be on the wrong side of 30 with a (so far) troubling injury history. Sanders ability to stay healthy will key in deciding how the Colts deal with Sanders' future.

These numbers will also depend on the CBA status, since by 2011 the league could be capped, uncapped or in a lockout/strike. If the cap stays then the Cut or Trade charge could be split between two seasons like it could be before this year making the one-to-one comparison invalid. If the cap goes then it's just a matter of salary remaining, which makes the cost column cheaper, but removes any penalty for cutting or trading him. If there's a work stoppage I'll be too busy crying to care about this.

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Bob..........Peyton prays for your health

OH NO WE SUCK AGAIN!

by colts9318rock on Jun 10, 2009 9:50 PM EDT reply actions

Ha!

"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007

by peytonsthebest on Jun 11, 2009 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions

+100000000000000000

"Peyton Manning flow, I just go no huddle."
- Lil' Wayne, Put Some Keys on That

by KMR24 on Jun 10, 2009 10:53 PM EDT reply actions

If Sanders keeps the every other year

thing going, then 2011 will have to be a really, really big year.

by the_iowa_hawkeye on Jun 11, 2009 10:14 AM EDT reply actions

My Humble Opinion

I love seeing Bobzilla on the field. He plays with great intensity, is a solid run defender, and is an ever improving pass defender. He has shown the ability to give the rest of the defense confidence that it lacks (for some unknown reason) without him on the field.

However, if he continues to play 5 games a year and then tries to strap one on for the playoffs, I don’t see how he is worth the investment i he can’t be on the field on a consistent basis. I don’t think Bullitt is good enough to be the starter at this point, but the team is going to have huge decision to make the next couple years if Bob continues to get injured the way he has to date.

Everyone would love to see Ed Reed running around in centerfield, making plays, big hits and INTs….and I think Sanders can be almost, if not just as good as Reed as an all around player if he stays healthy.

It’s just too bad that he can’t stay healthy. My hope is that with a bigger D line and (hopefully) more tackles made from the LB corps, Bob won’t be counted on to do so much this year so he can stay healthy. I can only imagine how good he can be if he is just running around with the ability to pick off some passes instead of stacking the box on most plays.

"Rule #76: No excuses. Play like a champion!"

by AceOfSpades on Jun 11, 2009 5:05 PM EDT reply actions

I've always thought Sanders is at his most useful

locking down a deep 1/2-1/3, and flying up to play the run. He’s amazing in how fast he can read run and get up into run support.

Change these hundreds for me cashier, Cuz I ain't made it yet, but I'm better off than last year
And what it look like hun', I ain't never made it rain but it look like fun
-Drake, Still Drake

by shake n bake on Jun 11, 2009 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions