Polian Says Wayne And Mathis Aren't Getting New Deals

[Token]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/06/05/polian-wayne-mathis-not-getting-new-deals/

This could be bad for the Colts

[Ed_Reed20]

Not surprising.

Indy has three young WRs who have proven themselves the past two seasons and with Peyton dropping back, you don't have to have a superstar WR.

As for Mathis, the team did the smart and drafted Jerry Hughes.

[JO_75]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' date='06 June 2010 - 12:11 PM' timestamp='1275840660' post='418487']
Not surprising.

Indy has three young WRs who have proven themselves the past two seasons and with Peyton dropping back, you don't have to have a superstar WR.

As for Mathis, the team did the smart and drafted Jerry Hughes.
[/quote]

Yeah plus we have to remember a guy named Anthony Gonzelez who was slated to take Harrison's spot on the team but got injured and was out for the year. He'll be back this year, and with Mathis, he has two years left on his contract and not only was Jerry Hughes BPA for the Colts but Mathis' replacement when his contract is up.

We also know Polian wants to give Peyton a new deal first, he is the primary player for a new contract right now. Polian has said Peyton is going to get a huge deal and be paid close to the highest paid QB in the league.

[H8R]

They need to save money for Mannings new contract....

[theFRANCHISE]

Still, Reggie Wayne's value can't be undermined just because of Peyton Manning's presence. Though a good QB can make a WR look good, the opposite of that can also hold true. Manning had the benefit of Marvin Harrison most of his career, and then had Reggie Wayne picking up the slack during Harrison's eventual decline. Now he also has Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie to potentially phase out Wayne as he feels the effects of age. Though I never want to take anything away from Manning since his accolades are well-deserved, this is a team sport and Manning needs Wayne just as Wayne needs Manning. Irrespective of how much more dependent one is over the other, there is a mutual need that exists and Bill Polian would be smart to do both of his offensive star players justice.

After all, Indianapolis doesn't want to find out what happens when you start subtracting weapons from Manning -- not while he's still playing at an all-world level.

[AwakenTheDemon]

I'm sure he'll change his tune soon enough. Wayne and Mathis are still valuable players to the Colts and still put up good numbers despite both men's ages. Although, I do kind of get the impression that perhaps the Colts are under the assumption that Wayne and Mathis will be replaceable in two years.

[JO_75]

[quote name='AwakenTheDemon' date='06 June 2010 - 06:11 PM' timestamp='1275862290' post='418551']
I'm sure he'll change his tune soon enough. Wayne and Mathis are still valuable players to the Colts and still put up good numbers despite both men's ages. Although, [b]I do kind of get the impression that perhaps the Colts are under the assumption that Wayne and Mathis will be replaceable in two years.[/b][/quote]

Yeah Me too. Jerry Hughes will be a suitable replacement 2 years from now for Mathis to play opposite of Dwight Freeney. Out of Freeney and Mathis, Freeney would be the only one I would make sure stayed a Colt for his whole career. As for Wayne, as long as Peyton Manning is under center any receiver will do good no matter who it is. Though when Mathis' contract is up in two years and Indy chooses not to re-sign him Jerry Hughes will step into the lineup and just keep the pressure on the opposing Quarterbacks and make Polian look smart for drafting him and make 30 other teams look dumb for passing on him.

[MKdave]

Don't blame Mathis in the slightest for his desire to re-up now. He knows as well as everyone else that when his contracts up they'll just give the job to Jerry Hughes, and he'll be a 31 year old without a contract. If he can get a four or five year deal now he'll be set until the very end of his career, where he can decide whether offers that are on the table are worth it and if they're not he can just hang them up. In two years time he won't be in that place yet and over 30s generally have to accept they're going to get paid less because of it.