Okay, we know that the Indianapolis Colts will pay for offense and now we know that they will award great “D� also. Defensive end and franchise player Dwight Freeney has inked a $72 million contract that includes a $30 million signing bonus! Holy Cow!
Freeney has played his entire career, five seasons, with the Colts. He was the 11th pick in the first round of the 2002 draft. The former Syracuse standout has a total of 178 tackles with 163 of those solo! His sack total over that time is 56.5, an average of 11.3 sacks per season. He has forced 27 fumbles over that same time.
In naming Freeney their franchise man, the Colts had until Monday to make a deal or else be forced to give him a one-year contract $9.43 million. After that, the DE would have been a free agent.
Freeney is not just one of the top earning defensive players in the league, he one of the NFL’s top paid guys on either side of the ball! The Colts have made a huge commitment to Freeney, with $37.72 million going to him over the first three years.
So, what is a primo defensive end worth? According to the Colts about $12 million per year.
The big question now is what does this do to the NFL marketplace as far as guys who specialize in rushing QBs and tackling RBs? Big name and big stat guys who are negotiating right now include Will Smith (DE for the Saints), Julius Peppers (DE for the Panthers) and Terell Suggs (LB for the Ravens).
Smith has four years with New Orleans with 154 tackles, 115 solo, 26.5 sacks and 11 forced fumbles. In six years with Carolina, Peppers has 255 tackles, 214 solos, 53.3 sacks and 17 forced fumbles. In five years with Baltimore, Suggs has amassed 220 tackles, 159 solo, 40 sacks and 13 forced fumbles. These are all young guys who now have great negotiating power.
Up to this point Richard Seymour, the Pats’ premiere DT, has been paid a total of $28 million for three years, or a little over $9 million per season. In seven years with New England, Seymour has 285 tackles, 184 solo, 29.5 sacks and 3 forced fumbles. He’s also had two interceptions.
Well, this certainly opens up the pocketbooks, doesn’t it?
Technorati Tags: Dwight Freeney, Will Smith, Julius Peppers, Terell Suggs, Richard Seymour, NFL
