Indianapolis Colts stay on top by spending big, spending wisely

There have been many reasons for the Indianapolis Colts' success during the last decade, with a Sports Illustrated list this week vividly illustrating one:

When the Colts spend, they spend wisely.

Sports Illustrated this week published its Fortunate 50 -- a list of the Top 50 highest-earning American athletes -- and that quarterback Peyton Manning and defensive end Dwight Freeney each made the list speaks volumes about the approach to and reason for the Colts' recent success.

The Colts since the arrival of President Bill Polian in 1998 have focused on building through the draft, then re-signing core players at critical positions to long-term contracts. Part of that philosophy has been allowing non-franchise players at non-core positions such as linebacker, offensive guard, etc., to leave as free agents, and another part of the philosophy has been to mostly ignore free agents from other teams.

That often has drawn the ire of fans. I got a comment this week from a reader on my website, the Indy Football Report, encouraging the Colts to sign free-agent wide receiver Plaxico Burress.

There are many reasons why this won't happen. One, of course, is the potential off-field distraction, but a more basic one is  the Colts simply don't build that way. The reason is so they can build the franchise with big-time, franchise players who -- as evidenced by Sports Illustrated's list -- are by definition expensive.

Manning according to Sports Ilustrated will be the 10th highest-earning American athlete this year, making $14,500,000 in salary/winnings and $13 million in endorsements. Freeney will be the 40th highest earner, making $16,220,000 from the Colts in bonuses and base salary.

That's big-time money for two players, but consider the effectiveness of the purchase:

While many franchises spend, the Colts have spent their biggest money on arguably their two most-important, most-effective players. Few would argue Manning's worth or that he has produced on a level that exceeds his pay, three times being named Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player and making the last seven Pro Bowls. Freeney has made the Pro Bowl four times, the second highest total on the Colts behind Manning, and even in years he hasn't made Pro Bowls he has been effective. Freeney at times in recent years has had dips in sacks totals, but his quarterback pressures are consistently high and he consistely performs in the most crucial defensive job: disrupting the passing game.

The Colts' success in this approach goes beyond Freeney and Manning. Colts Owner and Chief Executive Officer Jim Irsay earlier this offseason talked of how he liked the team's chances this season because of the quality of the team's "blue chip" players, and mentioned Manning, Freeney, defensive end Robert Mathis, safety Bob Sanders, wide receiver Reggie Wayne, center Jeff Saturday, wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez and tight end Dallas Clark.

Said Irsay: We've got a lot of guys on this roster, and we have a lot of leaders, too. Our team is pretty close, but it comes down to: Do you have a quarterback and do you have those eight blue [chip] players? People feel you probably need eight, and I'm talking about Pro Bowlers in their primes who can contribute.

I'd mention cornerback Kelvin Hayden, too, but the point is the Colts not only drafted those players, they have developed them and targeted them for re-signing. Then, they paid them in some cases -- as evidenced by Sports Illustrated's list -- as well as any players in the NFL.

And in nearly every case, once paid, the players have performed, which is really the biggest thing I took from SI's list -- that while anyone can spend, it's spending wisely that for a decade now has kept the Colts among the NFL's elite.

THE POSITION-BY-POSITION PRE-TRAINING CAMP SERIES: 

• The QUARTERBACKS
• The RUNNING BACKS
• The TIGHT ENDS
• The WIDE RECEIVERS
• The OFFENSIVE TACKLES
• The OFFENSIVE GUARDS
• The CENTERS
• The DEFENSIVE ENDS

OTHER EXAMINER COLTS TOPICS . . .

• QB Peyton Manning nominated for ESPY
• QB Peyton Manning omitted from ESPN.com's All-Decade team
• The best of the Indianapolis Colts blogosphere . . .
• 2009 Colts training camp schedule
• SERIES: Top Five reasons to worry about Colts in 2009 
• SERIES: Top Five reasons to feel good about the Colts in 2009
• Manning: Influence of Tony Dungy still felt around Colts
• A look back at 2009 Colts minicamp
• Mudd, Moore return inevitable, happy end to long story
• Colts to allow sponsors on practice uniforms
• QB Peyton Manning willing to be patient regarding assistants
• A look at the defense entering 2009 minicamp
• A look at the offense entering 2009 minicamp
• QB Peyton Manning among three Colts players ranked highly in Madden 2010
• Hints Emerging about potential Colts defensive changes
• QB Peyton Manning must let assistant coaching situation play out
• Top Five Real Issues Facing Colts Entering 2009
• Top Five Myths Surrounding the Colts Entering 2009
• Top Five Underrated Players on Colts Entering 2009
• Top Five Breakout Players for Colts Entering 2009
• Top Five Nonissues facing Colts Entering 2009
• Why Frank Winters and Ron Johnson fit the Colts' philosophical approach
• Why Colts QB Peyton Manning is primed for another big season
• Preseason dates and times
• Former Colts Head Coach Tony Dungy essays on Michael Vick
• On Loss of Dom Anile
• Re-signing DT Ed Johnson makes DT situation even better
• SERIES: Peyton Manning Top 10 underrated moments.
• Breaking Down the 2009 Colts Schedule
• Colts Rookie Minicamp
• Top 10 rookie free agents in the Polian era
• Too early to quit on Addai
• A recap of the Colts' 2009 NFL Draft