Should we try acquiring Dwight Freeney?

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Originally Posted by short faced bear

If cheap and a short term solution Freeney could be a nice relief spot DE like Okoye at UT. Avril would be worth spending the $ on though. Avril could be the starting DE and Izzy would spot him and do his good ST.

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I'm afraid that Freeney has seen his best days, though. Yeah, he has over 100 sacks, (102.5), but remember that he was only part of the reason that Indianapolis' defense sucked this year. Robert Mathis wasn't much better either. Neither one reached the magical 10 sack plateau this year. It will be interesting to see whether the Lions choose to place the franchise tag on Cliff Avril or not. I'm hoping they don't and that he chooses to go elsewhere to win his daily bread.

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Originally Posted by short faced bear

If cheap and a short term solution Freeney could be a nice relief spot DE like Okoye at UT. Avril would be worth spending the $ on though. Avril could be the starting DE and Izzy would spot him and do his good ST.

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If u were Izzy would u like becoming a rotational player ? Might stick in his craw a bit ..... which is why I don't see him being resigned as the automatic some seem to think it is.

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Originally Posted by Blue Horse-shoe

If u were Izzy would u like becoming a rotational player ? Might stick in his craw a bit ..... which is why I don't see him being resigned as the automatic some seem to think it is.

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If he is re-signed, he will be stuck on ST probably. I think Izzy sees the writing on the wall and realizes that he will either accept whatever the Bears offer or he won't be here in 2012.

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Originally Posted by Jimmors

we need the defense to get younger, not older.

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Originally Posted by GSH Monsters

I see Robert Mathis before Freeney probably the cheaper of the two but agree the Bears could use either and would look good opposite Peppers and in rotation could make for a great edge rushers and defiantly make any Q.B. uncomfortable in the pocket especially on those third and long situations providing the corners don't give 5-8 yard cushions.

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Yep, Freeney isn't gonna do us much more good than the guys we have. He plays the same spot as Pep does and there's no way we tie up the money Freeney's getting in another RDE. Mathis is younger and plays LDE which is where we could use the help. I know we move Pep around but most of the time he's coming in from the blind side and if we had another strong rush coming from the left many of those QB escapes wouldn't be happening. There's be nowhere to go.

Remember guys, when you pick up a guy in trade you're bound by his existing contract and here it is;

• Indianapolis Colts

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http://www.spotrac.com/assets/images...dianapolis.png
Indianapolis Colts Dwight Freeney

Defensive End
Players: Drafted:Round 1 (#11 overall), 2002
College: Syracuse

Current Salary Information

Contract: 6 yr(s) / $72,000,000 Signing Bonus $15,000,000 Average Salary $12,000,000 End Year: 2012 Free Agent: 2013 / Unrestricted

Base Salary S. Bonus Misc. Bonus Cap Hit 2007 750,000 2,500,000 - 3,250,000 2008 750,000 2,500,000 2,500,000 5,750,000 2009 6,220,000 2,500,000 2,500,000 11,220,000 2010 8,825,000 2,500,000 2,500,000 13,825,000 2011 11,420,000 2,500,000 2,500,000 16,420,000 2012 14,035,000 2,500,000 2,500,000 19,035,000 2013 UFA

So if we were to pick him up in trade we pay him $16, 535, 000 for 2012 and he's a FA next year. Wait, Indy will more than likely cut him rather than pay that much money if he won't agree to restructure.

Mathis is already an UFA and he's a lot more likely to be signed for an affordable amount than Cliff Avril. His 2011 pay was only $3.4 mil. He's only a year younger than Freeney but he'd be a hell of a lot cheaper to sign for a one or two year deal and he's a LDE which is where we need some help on the pass rush and he's still averaging 10 sacks a year.


http://www.spotrac.com/assets/images...dianapolis.png
Indianapolis Colts Robert Mathis

Defensive End
Players: Drafted:Round 5 (#138 overall), 2003
College: Alabama A&M

Current Salary Information

Contract: 5 yr(s) / $30,000,000 Signing Bonus $8,100,000 Average Salary $6,000,000 End Year: 2011 Free Agent: 2012 / Unrestricted

Base Salary S. Bonus Misc. Bonus Cap Hit 2007 1,430,000 1,620,000 - 3,050,000 2008 2,250,000 1,620,000 3,900,000 7,770,000 2009 2,300,000 1,620,000 - 3,920,000 2010 2,310,000 1,620,000 - 3,930,000 2011 2,410,000 1,620,000 1,000,000 5,030,000 2012 UFA

Select Player:









http://prod.static.colts.clubs.nfl.c...his_Robert.jpg
Robert Mathis
DE #98

Height:6-2Weight:245Age:30College:Alabama A&MExperience:9 Quick Stats (2011):

TCKL43 SCK9.5 FF3 INT--

• Summary
• Career
• Logs
• Splits
• Situational

TOTAL				395	301	94	83.0	0	12	--	--	--	--	--	39	14
2011	IND	16	15	43	29	14	9.5	--	1	--	--	--	--	--	3	3
2010	IND	16	16	60	44	16	11.0	--	1	--	--	--	--	--	1	1
2009	IND	14	9	37	24	13	9.5	--	2	--	--	--	--	--	5	--
2008	IND	15	2	48	36	12	11.5	0	3	--	--	--	--	--	5	3
2007	IND	13	12	32	26	6	7.0	--	0	--	--	--	--	--	4	1
2006	IND	16	16	65	50	15	9.5	--	3	--	--	--	--	--	4	2
2005	IND	13	0	54	43	11	11.5	--	1	--	--	--	--	--	8	--
2004	IND	16	1	36	32	4	10.5	--	0	--	--	--	--	--	6	3
2003	IND	16	0	20	17	3	3.5	--	1	--	--	--	--	--	3	1

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jimmors

we need the defense to get younger, not older.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by GSH Monsters

I see Robert Mathis before Freeney probably the cheaper of the two but agree the Bears could use either and would look good opposite Peppers and in rotation could make for a great edge rushers and defiantly make any Q.B. uncomfortable in the pocket especially on those third and long situations providing the corners don't give 5-8 yard cushions.

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Yep, Freeney isn't gonna do us much more good than the guys we have. He plays the same spot as Pep does and there's no way we tie up the money Freeney's getting in another RDE. Mathis is younger and plays LDE which is where we could use the help. I know we move Pep around but most of the time he's coming in from the blind side and if we had another strong rush coming from the left many of those QB escapes wouldn't be happening. There's be nowhere to go.

Remember guys, when you pick up a guy in trade you're bound by his existing contract and here it is;

• Indianapolis Colts

Search a NFL player, team, position…



http://www.spotrac.com/assets/images...dianapolis.png
Indianapolis Colts Dwight Freeney

Defensive End
Players: Drafted:Round 1 (#11 overall), 2002
College: Syracuse

Current Salary Information

Contract: 6 yr(s) / $72,000,000 Signing Bonus $15,000,000 Average Salary $12,000,000 End Year: 2012 Free Agent: 2013 / Unrestricted

Base Salary S. Bonus Misc. Bonus Cap Hit 2007 750,000 2,500,000 - 3,250,000 2008 750,000 2,500,000 2,500,000 5,750,000 2009 6,220,000 2,500,000 2,500,000 11,220,000 2010 8,825,000 2,500,000 2,500,000 13,825,000 2011 11,420,000 2,500,000 2,500,000 16,420,000 2012 14,035,000 2,500,000 2,500,000 19,035,000 2013 UFA

So if we were to pick him up in trade we pay him $16, 535, 000 for 2012 and he's a FA next year. Wait, Indy will more than likely cut him rather than pay that much money if he won't agree to restructure.

Mathis is already an UFA and he's a lot more likely to be signed for an affordable amount than Cliff Avril. His 2011 pay was only $3.4 mil. He's only a year younger than Freeney but he'd be a hell of a lot cheaper to sign for a one or two year deal and he's a LDE which is where we need some help on the pass rush and he's still averaging 10 sacks a year.


http://www.spotrac.com/assets/images...dianapolis.png
Indianapolis Colts Robert Mathis

Defensive End
Players: Drafted:Round 5 (#138 overall), 2003
College: Alabama A&M

Current Salary Information

Contract: 5 yr(s) / $30,000,000 Signing Bonus $8,100,000 Average Salary $6,000,000 End Year: 2011 Free Agent: 2012 / Unrestricted

Base Salary S. Bonus Misc. Bonus Cap Hit 2007 1,430,000 1,620,000 - 3,050,000 2008 2,250,000 1,620,000 3,900,000 7,770,000 2009 2,300,000 1,620,000 - 3,920,000 2010 2,310,000 1,620,000 - 3,930,000 2011 2,410,000 1,620,000 1,000,000 5,030,000 2012 UFA

http://prod.static.colts.clubs.nfl.c...his_Robert.jpg
Robert Mathis
DE #98

Height:6-2Weight:245Age:30College:Alabama A&MExperience:9 Quick Stats (2011):

TCKL43 SCK9.5 FF3 INT--

• Summary
• Career
• Logs
• Splits
• Situational

Sacks

TOTAL				395	301	94	83.0	0	12	--	--	--	--	--	39	14
2011	IND	16	15	43	29	14	9.5	--	1	--	--	--	--	--	3	3
2010	IND	16	16	60	44	16	11.0	--	1	--	--	--	--	--	1	1
2009	IND	14	9	37	24	13	9.5	--	2	--	--	--	--	--	5	--
2008	IND	15	2	48	36	12	11.5	0	3	--	--	--	--	--	5	3
2007	IND	13	12	32	26	6	7.0	--	0	--	--	--	--	--	4	1
2006	IND	16	16	65	50	15	9.5	--	3	--	--	--	--	--	4	2
2005	IND	13	0	54	43	11	11.5	--	1	--	--	--	--	--	8	--
2004	IND	16	1	36	32	4	10.5	--	0	--	--	--	--	--	6	3
2003	IND	16	0	20	17	3	3.5	--	1	--	--	--	--	--	3	1

Robert Mathis is a little old for my liking. We need to go younger and get a monster DE in the draft. I still believe that there is a way that we could possibly get two picks in the first round without giving up the farm unlike some people here do. If you traded Briggs by himself, you might get a couple of second rounders, but if you traded him along with one or hell, both of our third round picks, you could most assuredly get a second first round pick. At least I think so. I don't know for sure, but I think we could do no worse than additional picks in the second and third rounds.

Just as long as we can get somebody who is a great tackler. Urlacher also will not be happy.

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Originally Posted by Zelezo Vlk

Just as long as we can get somebody who is a great tackler. Urlacher also will not be happy.

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Everyone is expendible. Even #54. If he doesn't like it, he can be packaged into a deal and shipped away too. Pro football is a business, and like any business, things happen, players move from team to team, etc.

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Originally Posted by Dagan81

Robert Mathis is a little old for my liking. We need to go younger and get a monster DE in the draft. I still believe that there is a way that we could possibly get two picks in the first round without giving up the farm unlike some people here do. If you traded Briggs by himself, you might get a couple of second rounders, but if you traded him along with one or hell, both of our third round picks, you could most assuredly get a second first round pick. At least I think so. I don't know for sure, but I think we could do no worse than additional picks in the second and third rounds.

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Briggs and two 3rd round picks for a first????? Maybe for a top ten pick that gets you THE guy above all others you just have to have. Remember that if you trade Briggs you'll need a pick to replace him. You're giving up a player and two 2nd day picks for one first round pick? I wouldn't do it.

Robert Mathis is a year or two younger than our current DE's. You're looking at an undersized guy who might be had for a reasonable amount to rotate with Izzy at LDE. I don't care how old he is he's still been averaging 10 sacks a year for the past 4 years coming from the LDE spot. That's equivalent to or greater than what Pep has been able to get the last two years. The guy only made $3.4 mil in the lasy year of his contract. If we signed him for one year for the same that's what we gave Meriweather for one year and I guarantee we'll get more for out money with Mathis.

Signing a guy like Mathis doesn't negate the need to draft younger talent but you can never have too many good pass rushers and we need to reduce the number of snaps both Izzy and Pep play. They wear down as the season progresses. Mathis is a role player in the rotation. A guy who can get at the QB and cause some problems.

Well dropping 54 means a complete rebuild and a revolt from a lot of fans who still see it as Urlacher and his bunch. Briggs can be traded away, but we'd have to find somebody to replace him immediately, and don't forget that Briggs and Urlacher work as a tandem, so even if we get a great tackler to replace Briggs, the chemistry won't be there. Briggs, although very annoying, is still a leader on the team. Trading two thirds and Briggs for a first rounder is dumb, especially if we want to draft for this next year's (hopefully) championship run.