With the Indianapolis Colts' 2010 organized team activities sessions ongoing at the team's practice facility, Indy Football Report Editor John Oehser takes a daily look at the team's most-pressing issues . . .
The relative quiet of the Indianapolis Colts' 2010 organized team activities ended Wednesday with the somewhat surprising news that DE Robert Mathis has a reason beyond his recent college graduation for not attending.
The reason is this:
He wants to renegotiate his contract.
Mathis, an eight-year veteran and the Colts' second all-time sacks leaders, graduated from Alabama A&M two Sundays ago. He didn't attend OTAs the following week. He isn't there this week, either, and the Indianapolis Star Wednesday reported his absence is because he wants to “enhance” his contract.
We say this is somewhat” surprising because while it's uncharacteristic for Mathis to not to be involved in the Colts' off-season program, it's not a shock he would want a new deal.
He is scheduled to make a little more than $2 million each of the next seasons.
And while that's good money by normal citizen standards, and even by some NFL standards, it's not great money by the standards of Pro Bowl defensive ends, which Mathis has been the last two seasons.
And certainly, of the three veterans not in the voluntary OTAs, Mathis' absence qualifies as the most surprising. S Antoine Bethea, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, has yet to sign a tender offer, but it seems likely some sort of short- or long-term deal will be reached before training camp, and WR Reggie Wayne – a four-time Pro Bowl selection – has trained in Miami throughout most of his NFL career.
But what, exactly, does' Mathis' absence mean?
And what affect will it have on the 2010 season?
The answer to each question is not much, which we'll address in a moment, but first, it should be made clear that Mathis likely faces a couple of obvious major problems in the coming weeks seeking a new deal:
1.The Colts almost never renegotiate with veterans with two years remaining on a contract.
2.There's another priority this off-season.
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