Indianapolis Colts MLB Gary Brackett (Mark Duncan/AP Photo)
Occasionally in each NFL offseason, there comes news that -- if not shocking -- reveals how much certain, previously-underrated players mean to organizations. Such was the case with Indianapolis Colts MLB Gary Brackett late this past week.
The Colts didn't tag Brackett this past week. Instead, they opted to do something a bit less salary cap-costly, a lot more expensive in real money and decidedly more permament.
Brackett likely won't be leaving Indianapolis.
Instead, according to Colts Owner and Chief Executive Officer Jim Irsay, he'll be staying and playing for an extended long-term contract that will make him one of the NFL's highest-paid linebackers.
The Colts are willing to make a financial commitment to Brackett that "will be competitive with some of the top-notch guys at his position," Irsay told the Indianapolis Star on Friday.
"I don't know what the final numbers are going to be," Irsay told the Star, "but it's going to be a sizable commitment in terms of getting it done in a multiyear way."
Brackett, 29, is scheduled to become a free agent Friday if the sides can't agree to a deal.
According to Mike Chappell of the Star, the NFL's "highest-paid middle linebackers include Chicago's Brian Urlacher, who's working under a five-year, $47.2 million contract; the New York Jets' Bart Scott (six years, $48 million); New Orleans' Jonathan Vilma (five years, $34.2 million); Seattle's Lofa Tatupu (six years, $40.79 million); and Green Bay's Nick Barnett (six years, $39.4 million)."
Chappell quoted Brackett from late in the season, "I think I've played good enough over my career to warrant a pretty decent deal. That's what we're looking for. We'd love for it to be here."
Irsay spoke to the Star a day after the Colts decided to not use the NFL's franchise or transiton tag on Brackett. He has been the team's starting middle linebacker since 2005, the defensive captain since 2007 and was important enough that Colts President Bill Polian said shortly after Super Bowl XLIV the team would do "anything within all reasonable" bounds to retain Brackett.
That made it pretty clear the Colts would retain Brackett, and once negotiations between the sides began, it was even more apparent that would be the case. The Colts in recent seasons have let more than a few prominent players -- particularly linebackers -- leave via free agency, but they typically don't lose players to free agency once negotiations begin.
Mike Peterson. David Thornton. Cato June. Marcus Washington. All were solid linebackers for the Colts, and all left via free agency, but the Colts made no serious play to get them to return.
And make no mistake:
This is in fact something of a departure for the Colts. While Brackett is a solid player, a capable player, and a leader, he plays a position the Colts have not always held at a premium. Defensive end, safety, cornerback, wide receiver, quarterback of course and center and offensive tackle. Those have been big pay-day positions on the Colts, while linebacker has been anything but. Until, that is, negotiations began with Brackett.
But while it was clear the Colts wanted Brackett, and clear he wanted to return, what wasn't clear until Friday was just how much the Colts wanted him to return:
More than a lot of people expected. A lot more.
When Brackett, who signed as a rookie free agent in 2003, originally re-signed with the Colts following the 2005 season, he did so for a relatively modest price -- four years at a little more than $10 million. Insane money in the real world'; modest in the NFL.
What the Colts likely will pay Brackett isn't insane in NFL terms, but it's more than anyone would have anticipated a year ago, and more than many anticipated heading into the negotiations. For six years, Brackett was not only a solid, underrated player, he was one of the best bargains in the NFL.
One thing's certain: he's a bargain no more.
When you play well as an undrafted, moderately paid guy you're a bargain, the guy whose descriptions always end, "He's an great player for an undrated free agent." Those days are over for Brackett.
With this contract, he officially becomes to the Colts not a bargain, but a franchise player expected to make the plays he has been making for the last several seasons. That's a different place than Brackett has been before. Almost certainly, he can handle it. He's a high-character, team-oriented guy, and motivation never have been an issue.
Whether or not the Colts are paying too much likely will be debated. And whether or not he is one of the league's top four or five linebackers likely will be debated, too, but the Colts historically have been a team that has believed that if you're going to spend big money, it's better to spend it on someone you know, who's familiar with your system and who you have spent time developing.
In most previous cases, they haven't felt that way about linebackers.
That they feel that way about Brackett shows just how how important they believe he has come to be.
DAILY DIGESTS:
WRAPPING UP POST-SUPER BOWL TALK: HERE
A REFRESHINGLY ACCURATE READ ON PEYTON MANNING. HERE
ON TEAM OF DECADE AND ED JOHNSON. HERE
A LOOK AT THE GARY BRACKETT NEGOTIATIONS. HERE.
ON THE DOUBLE-AGENT THEORY. HERE
TAG OR NO TAG, SIGNING BRACKETT RIGHT MOVE. HERE
THURSDAY SCOUTING COMBINE. HERE
CASSERLY: BEST DRAFT CLASS IN 30 YEARS. HERE
OFFSEASON PRIMERS:
THE QUARTERBACKS. HERE.
THE RUNNING BACKS. HERE.
THE WIDE RECEIVERS. HERE.
THE TIGHT ENDS. HERE.
THE OFFENSIVE TACKLES. HERE
THE OFFENSIVE GUARDS. HERE
THE CENTERS. HERE
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POLIAN: THE PAST IS PROLOGUE. HERE.
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