TERRE HAUTE —
The news coming out of the Indianapolis Colts headquarters Friday afternoon was not totally unexpected.
Team officials have confirmed that two veteran players – former Pro Bowl defensive end/outside linebacker Dwight Freeney and wide receiver Austin Collie — will not be returning for the 2013 season. Both Freeney and Collie were at the end of their current contracts and will not be re-signed.
A drop in production over the last several seasons, along with a series of minor injuries and a position change necessitated by a new defensive scheme, played a large part to the decision to part ways with Freeney.
Collie, meanwhile, has battled concussion and knee issues for the last several seasons. He sustained three concussions in two years and missed last season with a knee injury. A fourth-round draft pick in 2009 out of Brigham Young, Collie ends his Colts career with 173 receptions for 1,845 yards and 16 touchdowns.
The 11th overall pick in the 2002 draft, Freeney ends his time in Indianapolis as the franchise's all-time sack leader (107.5). Along with Collie, he will now be able to sign with another NFL team when the free agency period opens on March 12.
“Few people have meant as much to the success of the Indianapolis Colts as Dwight Freeney,” Colts owner Jim Irsay said in a prepared statement. “He has been a dominant player, which is all the more impressive considering his size for his position, and he has won a lot of games for this franchise.
“Dwight was an artist, a joy to watch, and the dedication he put toward his craft was a rare quality. We will miss him, but look forward to his future induction into the Hall of Fame and Colts Ring of Honor.”
A seven-time Pro Bowl selection. Freeney recorded seven of the 17 double-digit sack seasons in franchise history. He had 13 sacks as a rookie along with 11 in 2003, 16 in 2004, 11 in 2005, 10.5 in 2008, 13.5 in 2009 and 10 in 2010. The former Syracuse standout became the first Colts player to top the NFL in sacks with his total in 2004.
Freeney had 25 career games with multiple sacks, including five three-plus sack games. He leveled 53 different opposing quarterbacks and had sacks against 27 of 31 teams. His statistics slipped the last two seasons with 13 tackles (8.5 sacks) in 2011 and 10 tackles (five sacks) last year.
In a text to ESPN reporter Ed Werder, the 11-year NFL veteran said that he was surprised by the team’s decision.
“I was very surprised to hear [the Colts] wanted to go in a different direction. Would have been nice to retire a Colt,” he wrote.
Freeney started 143-of-163 career games in Indianapolis. He totaled 378 tackles (313 solo), 107.5 sacks, 44 forced fumbles, 14 passes broken up and three fumble recoveries. He started 17 games in the postseason, recording 37 tackles (31 solo), nine sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one pass broken up.
Both players are expected to land with new teams. Collie could end up in Denver, where he would be reunited with former Colts quarterback Peyton Manning. San Francisco is another possibility, where his father played in the mid-1980s.
“Sad day for me and my fam[ily]. It was a g8 4 yrs. Can't thank u all enough 4 ur hospitality and support. Blessed to have been part of this organization,” Collie tweeted Friday afternoon.
Freeney, meanwhile, is sure to attract a lot of interest from 4-3 defensive teams around the league. Arizona and Minnesota, both with strong former Colts connections, are possibilities.
Former Indianapolis offensive coordinator/interim coach Bruce Arians is now the Cardinals head coach. Leslie Frazier, a former defensive assistant in Indianapolis, is the Vikings coach. Former Colts secondary coach Alan Williams is Minnesota's defensive coordinator.
Colts
Related Photos
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Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza Defensive muscle: Indianapolis Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney flexes his muscles as he acknowledges cheers from the crowd while he walks off the field after the team's AFC Championship win Jan. 23, 2010, over the New York Jets in Indianapolis. JOSEPH C. GARZA
Discussion
Former Pro Bowl selection Freeney won't return to Colts
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Colts' coordinators enjoying getting rookies acclimated
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Werner, 36 others open Colts’ mini camp
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Colts hoping for more high marks on draft picks
A year ago, the Indianapolis Colts received high marks for the impact players the team added through the NFL draft.
Of the 10 players selected, five ended up either starting or seeing extensive playing time (quarterback Andrew Luck, tight ends Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen, wide receiver T.Y. Hilton and running back Vick Ballard) during the Colts’ 11-5 season.
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Werner at top of game
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Colts select pass rusher Werner in first round
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Colts in wait-and-see mode for tonight’s NFL draft
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The draft begins at 8 p.m. — televised by the NFL Network and ESPN — with the Kansas City Chiefs making the night’s first selection. Teams will have 10 minutes to make their decisions during the first round. Indianapolis will have the 24th overall pick in the first round.
There will be only one round tonight. The second and third rounds are scheduled for Friday, beginning at 6:30 p.m. with seven minutes allotted per pick in the second round and five minutes allowed in the third. The final four rounds are slated to begin at noon Saturday with four minutes between selections.
As it stands now, Indianapolis does not have a second-round pick. It was traded to Miami last fall in exchange for veteran cornerback Vontae Davis. But second-year general manager Ryan Grigson has nut ruled out the possibility of trading down from the first round if the Colts aren’t satisfied with the players available. -
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Heyward-Bey feeling fortunate to hook up with Luck
Add one more player to the list of veteran free agents signed by the Indianapolis Colts this offseason.
Former Oakland Raiders wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey agreed to a a deal with the Colts late Monday evening. Bey, who played collegiately at Maryland, was the seventh player selected in the first round of the 2009 National Football League draft. -
Colts sign nose tackle
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Colts sign Matt Hasselbeck to back up Luck
The Indianapolis Colts’ roster moves just keep coming.
While the Colts haven’t yet added that big-name wide receiver that team owner Jim Irsay hinted at in tweets over the weekend, Indianapolis has addressed one area on offense.
Former Tennessee Titans quarterback Matt Hasselbeck had agreed Monday night to be the Colts’ primary back-up to second-year starter Andrew Luck. He officially signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the team Tuesday morning.
“We are very pleased to announce the signing of Matt Hasselbeck,” general manager Ryan Grigson said in a prepared statement. “His body of work, intangibles, and extensive league experience speak for themselves. Those factors, plus his familiarity with our offensive scheme, will make him a great asset to our team and its vision as we move forward.” -
Colts likely done signing free agents, for now
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Landry, Jean Francois join Colts defensive unit
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New York Jets safety LaRon Landry and San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Ricky Jean-Francois both signed contracts with the Colts. Landry, a strong safety who appears to be a bigger version of former Indianapolis Pro Bowler Bob Sanders, and the versatile Jean-Francois are expected to make immediate impacts on the Colts’ defensive unit. -
Colts introduce free-agent signees
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That was especially true for the five veteran free agents who were added to the Colts’ roster Tuesday. Offensive tackle Gosder Cherilus (Detroit), cornerback Greg Toler (Arizona), outside linebacker Erik Walden (Green Bay), offensive guard Donald Thomas (New England) and linebacker Lawrence Sidbury (Atlanta) admitted as much Wednesday.
“I felt like this would be the best fit for me at this point in my career. I really liked what I saw was happening with the program here and the way things have taken shape. I feel like we have a really great team here and it’s on the rise. I really wanted to be a part of that,” Thomas said during a teleconference interview with the Colts’ media. -
Colts sign five free agents, filling needs at offensive line, cornerback
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Jeff Saturday retires as a Colt
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The 14-year veteran center in the NFL put an official stamp on a career Thursday that began in Baltimore in 1998 and ended in Green Bay in 2012. But it was those 13 seasons in between — from 1999 to 2011 in which he played for Indianapolis — when Saturday earned his greatest rewards. -
Saturday thrilled to retire as a Colt
The 14-year veteran center in the National Football League put an official stamp on a career Thursday that began in Baltimore in 1998 and ended in Green Bay in 2012. But it was those 13 seasons in-between — from 1999 to 2011 in which he played for Indianapolis — that Saturday earned his greatest rewards.
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Saturday to retire as Colt on Thursday
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Colts GM enjoying time at combine
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Colts keeping eye on large crop of talented linemen in NFL Draft
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Among the offensive line candidates who have been showcasing their talents at the National Football Scouting Combine, which began in earnest Thursday and wraps up on Tuesday, the spotlight has been on the offensive tackles. Offensive left tackles in particular. -
Colts' Pagano back to full work schedule at combine
Back and ready to go.
That’s the attitude Indianapolis Colts coach Chuck Pagano is taking during the National Football Scouting Combine, which completed its second day of operations Friday at Lucas Oil Stadium. During a wide-ranging press conference at the combine, Pagano confirmed that he is back to a full work regimen after missing 12 games last fall as he battled a rare form of leukemia.
After undergoing cancer treatments that featured heavy doses of chemotherapy, the second-year head coach was able to return to the sidelines for Indianapolis’ final regular-season home game against Houston and for the team’s AFC wild-card matchup with eventual Super Bowl champion Baltimore. -
Colts looking forward to different approach to draft in 2013
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The team will have the 24th overall pick in the first round, which is a double-edged sword. Indianapolis picks lower in the round due to a successful season. But the pool of available can’t-miss talent isn’t quite as plentiful as drafting earlier in the round. -
Former Pro Bowl selection Freeney won't return to Colts
The news coming out of the Indianapolis Colts headquarters Friday afternoon was not totally unexpected. Team officials have confirmed that two veteran players – former Pro Bowl defensive end/outside linebacker Dwight Freeney and wide receiver Austin Collie — will not be returning for the 2013 season.
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Colts moving on to the off season
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Baltimore ends Indy’s playoff run early
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Pagano prepares Colts for tough crowd in Baltimore
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Pagano marvels at Colt’s progress
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