<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- The Indianapolis Colts have designated tight end Dallas Clark their franchise player, retaining him through at least the upcoming season. Clark, the team's first-round pick in the 2003 draft, was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent. Clark caught a career-high 58 passes for 618 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. The move amounts to a one-year contract worth the average of the league's top five tight ends in 2007: $4.522 million. Clark still is able to sign an offer sheet with another team, but the Colts can match the offer or receive two first-round draft picks as compensation from his new team.</div> Source It is unfortunate a longer deal couldn't be reached, but maybe leading the league in drops (in only 15 games) this year, and the obnoxious nagging injuries made the Colts weary.
Actually, Clark just signed a 6 yr deal. Granted, Peyton is who gives the Colts their giddyup. But, It seems that the receiving TE & 3rd WR (Clark & Gonzales now... Pollard & Stokely then) are crucial to success via matchups & schemes.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (blackadder @ Feb 20 2008, 11:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Actually, Clark just signed a 6 yr deal. Granted, Peyton is who gives the Colts their giddyup. But, It seems that the receiving TE & 3rd WR (Clark & Gonzales now... Pollard & Stokely then) are crucial to success via matchups & schemes.</div> Still, we had to pay him as the top TE in the league? He's definitely getting more than he deserves.
The Colts are very top heavy salary cap wise with huge amounts of money devoted to Peyton, Harrison, Clark, Dwight Freeney, Bob Sanders and Reggie Wayne. All those players are the among the top 5 at their position salary wise. Just imagine how much money they are going to have to give Joseph Addai when he becomes a free agent. If they want to resign him in 2 years, they will have to give up one of those top players, probably Harrison to retirement.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (panthersare#1 @ Feb 21 2008, 02:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The Colts are very top heavy salary cap wise with huge amounts of money devoted to Peyton, Harrison, Clark, Dwight Freeney, Bob Sanders and Reggie Wayne. All those players are the among the top 5 at their position salary wise. Just imagine how much money they are going to have to give Joseph Addai when he becomes a free agent. If they want to resign him in 2 years, they will have to give up one of those top players, probably Harrison to retirement.</div> Harrison is a big question mark these days, I don't care what happens to him two years from now; we've already got a decent replacement for him. Running Backs aren't too hard to find either, whereas a Wideout and other players can take a while to come into their own. The Colts are the youngest team in the league (IIRC) because of their strong conviction in the draft.
