Players Should Help the Cause and Restructure Contracts

by Dann Giszewski on Jul 28, 2011 5:25 PM EDT

All the talk of late has been on, what the Colts have done in free agency. Which to say the least is almost nothing, and we the fans are disappointed. After being lied to yet again, the general management of the Colt state claims “This year we plan to be more active in free agency." Guess what? The doors opened up Monday and other than re-signing a couple of our own guys, we're left to wonder if they are even considering a move. The excuses are piling up, from Manning's contract situation to Kelvin Hayden's cap numbers saving him from being cut. To quote Jerry Maguire, “Show me the money!”

Frankly, I'm sick of the wool being pulled over my eyes. Considering you have months to configure contract scenarios prior to the lockout. A Manning deal should have been struck the day businesses opened as usual. Then, to have to read reports the Jets are willing to all take pay cuts if it can benefit the team in signing a key member to win a Super Bowl. When I hear that, it sounds to me like a collective group willing to do what it takes to win.

Here we are sitting with members of our club with the richest contracts at their times, not contributing to the cause. Yes, we're willing to sell the farm to keep Manning but, at what cost? Retaining the greatest quarterback in the game may force us to surround him with a mediocre supporting cast. Guys like Freeney, Clark, Bethea, Brackett, and especially Hayden need to be flexible about their contracts. Doing so, would give us the luxury of obtaining a premium additional to our squad. Farther more, shutting up ESPN broadcasters from making remarks like "The Colts are unable to contend without Peyton Manning."

The philosophies are all wrong in this organization, showing this isn't a sport but truly a business! You wish to tell me anyone of these guys can justify the largest contracts in the history of the NFL for their positions and not say it’s about the money? They may comfort themselves with these notions to sleep better at night. Yet, I personally have a different opinion on that and if you want to try to feed me that BS, you take your delusions to the Redskins.... I hear they pay top dollar for them. How about shaving a million or two off the top of your current deals? The endorsements should be enough to cover the losses or are you going to admit your skills don't warrant being endorsed?

The premise of signing your best player shouldn't be an issue. If I were Colts' President, Bill Polian, I'd approach the agreement like this... 'Look you and I both know the cap, Brady is at 18.1 million a year. I'll hit you at 18.5 and give you a supporting cast in free agency worthy of 3 championships! Whataya say?’ By the way if it’s really a presidency, than I wish for you as Colts fans to put me up for election. Vote for sanity in our organization. A vote for me is a vote for a Lombardi Trophy! (Two big thumbs up, :)

-Go Colts.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Stampede Blue's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Stampede Blue's writers or editors.

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Comments

How about Manning's salary requirements!

Irsay recently tweeted he cannot field a competitive team paying Manning 25 million. I can understand 20 million based off of top level salaries in the NFL. 25 million is too much. We will have to wait and see.
Eli was the highest paid qb in the low 17m range. Brady then got his contract, making him the highest paid qb at around 18.5. The next step would be logical, 19.5 to 20m per year for a contract.
Manning and his agent to not seem to care about the supporting cast.

by Team2 DaBears on Jul 28, 2011 6:22 PM EDT reply actions

Peyton’s contract will most likely be in the range of 5 years 100-106 million dollars. What the hold up is? That’s beyond me. If you figure 30 million in a signing bonus that averages out to 18 or 19 million a year. Still, making him the highest paid quarterback. Still, making everyone happy!

NeXt Man Up

by Dann Giszewski on Jul 28, 2011 7:12 PM EDT reply actions

Well for one.

An agent is never going to encourage a client to take a pay cut, so he should just be left out of the arguement entirely.(aside from the fact he has clients on other teams and no reason to care about this team specifically) . Manning also did take a paycut several years ago so the team could resign Freeney. Asking him to do it a second time with what will most likely be his final contract, seems slightly unrealistic. Guys like Hayden, who arent Hall of Famers and most likely wont get a job on Network telivision arent gonna cut pay either. They want all the money they can get before they retire in their mid 30s. Like any job players want all they can get for their work, and when you try to give them less money than was promised they tend to be unhappy. Sure, I understand we all want a league where a championship is the main goal of every player. I also understand why thats no the case.

by Segway11 on Jul 28, 2011 7:28 PM EDT reply actions

That’s all good and well but, I’m not singling out Peyton. Like mentioned above, the Jets whole team have no qualms about lowering their overall salary to sign a stud. We are all happy when the Colts lockup one of their own but, idiotic contract structuring keeps burning the team. Polian helped us with his ability to work a draft and set us back with his inability to work a contract. If Dallas Clark and Dwight Freeney restructured their payout, that alone would have gotten us Eric Weddle or a stud at DT. The problem I have is, no one wants to place the team above themselves. Until this changes don’t expect the glaring holes on this team to be filled.

NeXt Man Up

by Dann Giszewski on Jul 28, 2011 7:59 PM EDT up reply actions

wrong

manning has never taken a paycut so they could sign guys.

that never happened. he just restructured. he never gave back any money

by omahacolt on Jul 29, 2011 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions

He's also not a bust like Sanchez or JaFatAss.

He doesn’t need to give anything back, but it’s generally beneficial for a team to not have to pay the last 2, 3 years of a backloaded contract.

"Perhaps it was the Noid who should have avoided me." Mayor Adam West

by ISN on Jul 29, 2011 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions

ha ha. yeah right.

I’m sure the percentage of athletes in the NFL who would take a pay cut is very small.

by beckmania on Jul 28, 2011 10:32 PM EDT reply actions

Tell that to the Jets if they manage to reel in Nnamdi.

If a team believes their one piece shy of a Super Bowl, why not do what it takes to put yourself over the top. The Colts have already been reported to reducing the salary of Kelvin Hayden. If one other team member did the same, the option of hauling in Brandon Mebane or Carl Nicks is possible. Its time to stop putting a band-aid on the situation and show we have a backbone in free agency.

NeXt Man Up

by Dann Giszewski on Jul 28, 2011 11:07 PM EDT up reply actions