COLTS EXTEND BOB SANDERS

[packers11]

pft.com

POSTED 4:02 p.m. EST, December 28, 2007

COLTS EXTEND SANDERS by Michael David Smith

Chris Mortensen of ESPN reports that the Colts and safety Bob Sanders have agreed to a contract extension that makes Sanders the highest-paid safety in the NFL.

Per Mortensen, the deal is a five-year, $37.5 million contract with $20 million guaranteed.

Sanders' return from an injury was a huge part of the postseason defensive turnaround that led Indianapolis to a Super Bowl title a year ago, and he was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent after this season.

Still, this is a risky move for the Colts. Injuries have limited Sanders to just 38 games in his four-year career, and the Colts already have a lot of money tied up in a few high-priced players.

With Sanders under contract, the Colts can now focus on a new deal for tight end Dallas Clark, who becomes a free agent after the season. Clark is likely to get the franchise tag if he and the team can't reach an agreement on a contract extension.

[packers11]

so the colts have the highest paid...

QB
DE
FS

They better watch out, they might fall into the Sherman way and have no depth whats so ever...

[The Leaper]

All the more reason to make your bets now that Peyton Manning won't break Favre's records. The Colts will implode at some point in the future, likely for cap reasons...and Manning will take the first train to retirement and the TV booth.

[Zool]

The cap did raise $20mil last season, and will likely raise again this season. Probably not that much, but they will definitely have some flexibility.

[RashanGary]

The cap did raise $20mil last season, and will likely raise again this season. Probably not that much, but they will definitely have some flexibility.

Yep, the Pats got bailed out too.

[The Leaper]

The cap did raise $20mil last season, and will likely raise again this season. Probably not that much, but they will definitely have some flexibility.

It rose a lot last year because of the new TV deals. It won't go up that much again for another 5-6 years...maybe a couple million, but not $20M.

[RashanGary]

That gives the Pats and Colts another 3-4 years of pushing things forward and winning while their QB's are in their primes. It will catch up, but not next year or the year after.

[MJZiggy]

That gives the Pats and Colts another 3-4 years of pushing things forward and winning while their QB's are in their primes. It will catch up, but not next year or the year after.

I hate to say it, but it also depends a lot on which players get injured during the course of the season.

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

Thats the one free agent I really wanted. Good move by the Colts.