Colts Work to Sign Freeney

[PR07]

Indy Star - Look for Dwight Freeney to become the highest-paid defensive player in league history. Preliminary talks have begun between the team and Gary Wichard, Freeney's agent. The key date is July 15, the deadline for a long-term contract to be reached.

Failing that, Freeney must play under the one-year, $9.43 million "franchise" tag for '07. If that happens, he figures to be a no-show throughout the preseason. The absolute earliest Freeney would sign the one-year tender is the week before the start of the regular season.

A long-term deal is in the best interest of both sides. It will afford the Colts room under the salary cap and allow them to lock up one of the NFL's most disruptive players (on the field) for the foreseeable future. It would also give Freeney long-term security. [READ]

Good to see that talks have resumed.

[pacerman06]

Hopefully we sign Dwight without having to break the bank. I think though that the sooner we sign him the better.

[bravesatl]

highest paid defensive player ever? i hope not, don't get me wrong i like freeney a lot and he's a good player but not that good....he's not even the best defensive player in the league, not even close actually....

[pacerman06]

I agree. Dwight shouldn't become the highest paid defensive player ever. This year he only had 5 1/2 sacks. I don't think that is deserving of that much money. I also that he will need some of that money to sign Bob Sanders when he becomes a free agent. I think that if anybody on the Colts is to be the highest paid defensive player ever it should be Bob.

[PR07]

I wouldn't mind that because safeties generally don't break the bank the way DE's and CB's do.

[BillyBongThorton]

I wouldn't mind that because safeties generally don't break the bank the way DE's and CB's do.

agreed.