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Indianapolis Colts C Jeff Saturday had incentive to stay in Indianapolis
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Peyton Manning (AP Photo/Ronen Zilberman)
As it turned out, Indianapolis Colts C Jeff Saturday had plenty of incentive to stay in Indianapolis.
First, there was the fact that quarterback Peyton Manning very much wanted Saturday -- the Colts' starting center since 2000 -- to stay. Manning stayed in touch with the three-time Pro Bowl selection throughout the latter's negotiations that ended late last week with a three-year contract extention.
This is Saturday from ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky's blog this week, as told to ESPN radio guy Colin Cowherd :
"We kept communication open. Especially up to the last portion, he would call and ask me where it was and what I thought. You know, I was very frank with him. We have that relationship where you just kind of put it all out there. And he made it very clear he wanted me to be here and he was going to do whatever he could do to try to push it. But there was only so much you could do. Really, kind of the saving grace of the whole thing came with the additional cap money. Cap space is what really kind of broke the thing loose."
But since we're being frank:
There has been a lot of talk in the media this week about Manning's role in keeping Saturday around, and Manning obviously wanted the player he has called his "security blanket" to remain with the team, but Saturday's right: because in the NFL, as everywhere, cash is king, it was the cap space and the contract that really kept Saturday in Indianapolis.
Which is where Mike Chappell's story this past Friday in the Indianapolis Star kicks in. Chappell reported that Saturday's deal could be worth $13.3 million, which rightfully keeps Saturday among the NFL's highest-paid centers. He deserved the contract. He has been a leader and a cornerstone of one of the most successful runs in recent NFL memory. The question was whether or not the Colts at this stage of the 33-year-old's career would be willing and able to invest in three more years.
Obviously, they could: $13.3 million worth.
For more Colts coverage, please visit www.Indyfootballreport.com.
For COLTS 2009 NFL Draft coverage, please visit my Colts draft coverage, which starts with a series on quarterbacks.
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