Dwight Freeney becomes highest paid defensive player...ever | NFL

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7/13/07

Dwight Freeney becomes highest paid defensive player...ever

NFL, Indianapolis Colts

MrNFL

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After using the franchise tag on him to prevent him from going elsewhere, the Colts have locked the defensive end up.

Freeney, the Indianapolis Colts' franchise player, signed a six-year, $72 million contract with the team Friday that includes a $30 million signing bonus. He becomes the highest paid defensive player in NFL history.

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.

That's quite a bit of money, even more than Nate Clements, who signed what is now the 2nd biggest defensive contract ever with the 49ers earlier this offseason. But considering Freeney has been the Colts ~~only~~ best defensive player, it's good to know he's staying for the long term. The pass rushing threat he brings is huge. Now all he has to do is learn to stop the run...

What are your thoughts on this signing?

Source (ESPN)

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7/13/07

Avengersfan19

0	Dont get me wrong I love sports but if their is something that ruins it, its the prices that the athletes are paid, I am a extremely poor person and know its possible to live off so much less then they are making, I mean yeah they should make enough to support their family and incase of injury but not as much as some of them are making. like Manning, A-Rod etc..

7/13/07

MrNFL

Avengersfan19 wrote:

Dont get me wrong I love sports but if their is something that ruins it, its the prices that the athletes are paid, I am a extremely poor person and know its possible to live off so much less then they are making, I mean yeah they should make enough to support their family and incase of injury but not as much as some of them are making. like Manning, A-Rod etc..

As long as we keep watching, they will continue to get paid. We pay their salaries by watching the games, buying the tickets, etc.

7/13/07

Avengersfan19

0	MrNFL wrote: As long as we keep watching, they will continue to get paid. We pay their salaries by watching the games, buying the tickets, etc. a double edged sword my friend, and I think Freeney will have a good season this year though, he better after getting paid like that

7/13/07

MrNFL

0	Last year, teams ran on the defense as a whole so much, that Freeney was unable often to rush the passer often. And when he did, he was often double teamed.

7/13/07

CMAC

0	If anything, Freeney was the cause of teams running all over the Colts D. He runs so far upfield he doesn't even have a chance to tackle the RB. And IMO, that's more important to opening doors for sacking the QB. I really wish they would've spent that money keeping June and Co. around.

7/13/07

Indydave

I'd like to hear more about the long-term deal specifics-- a 6yr/$72 mil with $30 signing bonus-- and being that the Colts save about $3 million by signing him long-term, (he was due $8 mil+ with the franchise tag), the remaining portion of the deal is 5 years at $37 million from my calculations-- which ain't quite as bad.

The $30 million is not counted towards the salary cap, just for FYI.

Yeah, he sure could've saved the horseshoes some cash if they didn't sign him, but I am still a believer of Polian & Co's policy of paying the players big money that are special players at their position, instead of having a free agency shopping spree.