INDIANAPOLIS — Dwight Freeney and Austin Collie were not
expected to be back with the Indianapolis Colts next season.
On Friday, the team made it official by issuing a statement
saying it would not re-sign Freeney, the Colts’ career sacks leader, or Collie,
a key player in their second Super Bowl run since moving to Indy.
“Sadly, Dwight and Horseshoe parting ways,” team owner Jim
Irsay wrote on Twitter after the team confirmed the moves.
It’s the second straight year Indy’s off-season has started
with the departure of some familiar faces and fan favorites.
Last year, the Colts released Peyton Manning in early
March. A few days later, they cut running back Joseph Addai, linebacker Gary
Brackett, safety Melvin Bullitt and tight end Dallas Clark. Right tackle Ryan
Diem retired and a handful of players including receiver Pierre Garcon and
center Jeff Saturday left in free agency.
It looked like the Colts might also lose Pro Bowlers Robert
Mathis and Reggie Wayne, too, but Indy re-signed both players and both again
made the Pro Bowl team in 2012.
Indy then drafted Andrew Luck and two tight ends and a
receiver in the first three rounds, signed free agents Donnie Avery, Winston
Justice and Samson Satele and found enough replacements to post an 11-5 mark
and return to the playoffs.
The moves left the Colts with little salary cap room last
season. With the Colts projected to have more than $40 million available under
the cap when free agency opens in a couple of weeks, the decisions this time
had nothing to do with money.
Freeney turns 33 next week, has seen his sacks totals
decline each of the past three years, counted more than $17 million against the
cap last season and never seemed comfortable after moving from a 4-3 defensive
end, where he spent his first 10 NFL seasons, to a 3-4 outside linebacker.
He was the 11th overall selection in the 2002 draft, the
first with former coach Tony Dungy on board, and some critics considered the
selection a reach. All Freeney did, though, was make 378 tackles, set Indy’s career
record with 107 1/2 sacks, forced 44 fumbles and combined with Mathis to form
one of the most fearsome pass-rush tandems in the league. The forced fumbles
were the most by any NFL player since 2002 and he’s one of 13 players in Colts’
history to participate in more than 100 wins.
“Few people have meant as much to the success of the
Indianapolis Colts as Dwight Freeney,” Irsay said in a statement. “He has been
a dominant player, which is all the more impressive considering his size for
his position, and he has won a lot of games for this franchise. Dwight was an
artist, a joy to watch, and the dedication he put toward his craft was a rare
quality. We will miss him, but look forward to his future induction into the
Hall of Fame and Colts Ring of Honor.”
Collie’s problem was injuries.
Despite being a reliable slot receiver during his first two
seasons, he wound up on season-ending injured reserve in September with a
ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee. And there was even more concern
over a series of concussions that ended his 2011 season and plagued the early
part of the 2012 season, too. Some even debated whether the Colts should cut
Collie to keep him safe.
He thanked the fans on his Twitter page.
“Sad day for me and my fam. It was a g8 4 yrs,” Collie
wrote. “Can’t thnk u all enough 4 ur hospitality and support. Blessed to have
been a part of this org.”
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