Should the Colts Cut Dwight Freeney?
No.
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Wait, I'm contractually obligated to write more? Fine.
On Friday, during their annual shedding of beloved veteran players, the Colts announced that they would not be retaining the services of WR Austin Collie and DE (let's stop pretending) Dwight Freeney. If anyone was surprised by either of these moves, they've likely been in a coma. Or they are Dwight Freeney.
Before a series of concussions began the end of his career in 2010, Collie appeared ready to become the Colts long-term solution to the WR position, and his stats had put him among the game's best at the position. My biggest hope for Collie is that he can get healthy and live a long, happy life with his family.
From a football perspective, the Colts are simply not a team that can use a roster spot on someone who may not be able to contribute - they have to get the maximum production out of every player if they are going to come close to replicating last year's success. Collie should sign with a team that is already deep, poised to make a Super Bowl run, and can take a flier on Collie. Think Denver Broncos.
In Freeney's case, it's just a matter of a player's age and skill-set not meshing with the new direction of the team. I believe that Freeney is still a capable pass rusher, and he'll remind people of just how good he is when he signs with a 4-3 team that better fits his talents.
But we're not here to discuss Collie or Freeney's skills or futures. No, we're here to discuss honor and, well, drama. Because why not? After the announcements, Mike Florio of PFTMZ wrote, "...But if the Colts and Irsay truly want to honor Freeney, they’ll do the honorable thing and cut him..."
How does this press release go?
"In the name of Honor, the Colts have announced the totally pointless release of Dwight Freeney. Vaya con dios, Dwight, and thanks for all the fish."
How do we tackle this? Let's start with the easy part: the Colts have treated Freeney honorably. Since drafting him in 2002, the Colts showed Freeney the ultimate respect - from a player's perspective: they paid him. In 2007, Freeney signed a then record-setting contract for a defensive player. There was never a hold out. There was never an ugly contract dispute. Bill Polian never passive-aggressively eviscerated Freeney on his Monday night radio show. And when the Colts torched their roster and switched to a 3-4 defense, they paid Dwight Freeney $14,000,000.00 - far more than he would have received on the open market - despite the fact that Freeney was clearly a bad fit for this scheme from the start.
But let's ignore all of that for a minute and focus on something even more important: cutting Freeney would be a bad business decision. If you read the bottom of Florio's post, you'll notice an UPDATE where a reader points out the flaw in Florio's logic. (That reader was me...) Here's the gist of it: by cutting Freeney, the Colts lost any and all hope of getting a compensatory draft pick for him.
Based on how compensatory picks work - your compensatory picks are based on a formula that not only accounts for free agents lost, but free agents signed - there's a good chance that the Colts receive no compensation for him. But that's not really the point. Despite their 11-5 record in 2012, the Colts are still in the midst of a rebuild. They need all of the picks they can get. Unless Grigson is 100% certain he's not going to miss out on any of his free agent targets, unless there's no scenario where he's not forced to go shopping in the Bill Polian Memorial Bargain Bin, then he should absolutely, positively do what's best for him and his football team, while still honoring his contractual obligation to Dwight Freeney.
Dwight Freeney is one of the best players in Indianapolis Colts' history. He was their defensive MVP for much of the Manning-Polian Era. His name will eventually go into the Colts Ring of Honor, and, if he can put together a few more great seasons with his next team, the Hall of Fame. The Colts - and their fans - have honored and respected Freeney since he entered the league and will continue to do so long after he's left the team. But cutting him now, when his contract is set to expire in 3 weeks wouldn't be honorable, it would be foolish.
He was not cut, because he was no longer under contract. Peyton Manning was cut. Freeney was not re-signed.
Not to mention it's not certain that cutting Freeney early actually gives him any advantage. There are plenty of high-profile D linemen set to hit the market and several cash-heavy teams counting their pennies in anticipation of a bidding war. Who will jump to offer Freeney big money without waiting to check out the action on Cliff Avril or Michael Bennett?
TL;DR - Florio gonna Florio. Nothing to see here, move along.
Couldn't agree more that #93 is going to go somewhere that will properly utilize his skill set, and have several more productive years. (And hopefully earn his way into the HoF.) And part of me will be left wondering, we had an asset like Freeney, and we changed our defensive scheme because...?
I also know there is no other reasonable way the Colts could have done it... but I see a time in 2013 where #18 will be playing at his MVP level and #93 will be racking up sacks, both for other teams... with the Colts having gotten nothing for them.
That's the smartest argument for letting Collie go I've heard. I, of course, understand people not wanting him to play, but if he's going to play no matter what, no reason he shouldn't play for the Colts (except the one you gave perhaps).
That being said, I'm surprised someone so smart would take the bait of a known troll like Florio. Hell, just last week he was calling for RGIII to force the Redskins to change their name...
@Heracleitus Not really "taking the bait", so-to-speak, I just thought I'd counter the stupidity, and it's the off-season. They can't all be home runs :(
Does qualifying for a compensatory draft pick also apply in Collie's case coming off a rookie contract? If possible please briefly explain the current formula for receive compensatory picks.
I don't know the specific formula - I don't think anyone does. It's kind of a mystery, wrapped in an enigma, blanketed in whipped cream.
Basically, FAs you lose, based on the contract they sign, plus their production, minus the FAs you sign, based on their contracts, plus production.
