Agent: Colts won't deal with Saturday

[Erik]

The Indianapolis Colts won't attempt to re-sign Jeff Saturday, their starting center the past nine seasons, before the start of the league's free agent signing period, according to his agent.

In an e-mail to The Indianapolis Star late Saturday, Ralph Cindrich said "discussions and events this past week'' confirmed the team will allow Saturday to "test the free agent market,'' which opens Friday.


Saturday, 33 and a three-time Pro Bowl selection, is one of eight Colts who will become unrestricted free agents at the end of the week.

Depending upon interest shown by other teams, "there is a possibility he could return to the Colts,'' Cindrich added.

Saturday has been the cornerstone of the Colts' offensive line and quarterback Peyton Manning's center since 2000.

With Saturday starting 138 regular-season games the past nine seasons -- he missed six games with injuries, including four last season -- Manning has worked behind one of the league's most efficient offensive lines. The unit allowed a league-low 178 sacks during that stretch, tying a club record by yielding only 14 last season.

The decision not to attempt to re-sign Saturday isn't a surprise, especially on the heels of the Colts locking up cornerback Kelvin Hayden with a five-year, $43 million contract last week.

http://www.indystar.com/article/2009...TS03/902220373 Does this suprise or scare anyone? Does this make anyone think that we're more likely to land one of the big name WR or Defensive free agents?

[SoupIsGood]

Re: Agent: Colts won't deal with Saturday

Probably a good move.

[Trader Joe]

Re: Agent: Colts won't deal with Saturday

I think it's probably going to be a long season for Peyton next year if we let Saturday walk.

[Pacersfan46]

Re: Agent: Colts won't deal with Saturday

Long term it's probably good, but short term it's scary. The difference in our offensive line when he was injured and healthy was extremely obvious.

Damn.

-- Steve --

[jeffg-body]

Re: Agent: Colts won't deal with Saturday

Honestly it's the last time he'll be able to test the waters in his prime at 33. If he gets the big dog contract like he deserves then good for him and we should show no annomocity. The rest of our core of young linemen are talented to say the least, but Saturday is the leader of the gang there. I think Polian knew this time was coming and he has drafted a young center last year with tons of talent. There will be more miscues on the line and Peyton will eat more turf, but this is a business and long term this is the good move.

I feel bad that he may be going, but there is not cheating father time and everyone moves on or retires.

[SoupIsGood]

Re: Agent: Colts won't deal with Saturday

Long term it's probably good, but short term it's scary. The difference in our offensive line when he was injured and healthy was extremely obvious.

Damn.

-- Steve --

True, but they still weren't very good either way. Since we're trying to reconstruct the line, I don't think it makes sense to throw much dough at Saturday... I hope he looks around and then resigns at a low price.

[pizza guy]

Re: Agent: Colts won't deal with Saturday

I'm surprised and worried. I see the point behind it, but there's a reason our O-line has been so consistently good, and his name is Jeff Saturday. I'm a little disappointed, because Saturday seems like a good ol' boy and the kind of guy you'd like to keep around. But, I suppose, at 33 and deserving of a good-sized contract, he'll take up residence in a new locale next season.

I'm just a little nervous... Richie better eat his Wheaties, cuz everyone's going to test the middle of the line.

[Erik]

Re: Agent: Colts won't deal with Saturday

Jeff Saturday was succinct, and disappointed.

"In a perfect world, I would have stayed here for good,'' he said Sunday afternoon.


A perfect world it's not.

Saturday, a mainstay on the the Indianapolis Colts' offensive line for 10 years, is eligible for free agency and will test the market when it opens Friday. He'd like to remain a Colt, but the team's offer, at least in its present form, is unacceptable to him.

So, come Friday, he'll shop around.

"I had expectations on what the offer would be,'' he said. "It just wasn't there.''The Colts haven't closed the door on Saturday returning, but the veteran center wants to see what's out there. That doesn't mean he's gone for good. He has loved his time here.

"I love the city, man. I love the fans here. I still have people coming up to me every day saying, 'Please stay.' That's very flattering.''

Still . . .

"I'm fully expecting to go to free agency and see what's going on out there,'' he said. "The Colts have made me an offer, but I owe it to my family to explore all the options before we make a final decision.''

Saturday, who will turn 34 before the start of the 2009 season, declined to address the parameters of the Colts' offer. In 2003, he signed a six-year, $19.2 million deal. It included a $5 million signing bonus and a base salary of $3 million in 2008.

Saturday has talked with other NFL players since the end of the season. He got the sense there is interest in a player who has started 154 games (including playoffs), worked with quarterback Peyton Manning since 2000 and been voted to three Pro Bowls.

"I would expect there to be a better offer (than Indy's),'' Saturday said. "That's the only reason I'm going to free agency. Otherwise I would have just taken the deal now.

"I fully expect there to be teams that step up and match the things I want and we'll have a future together.''

The Colts have given Saturday a deadline to accept their offer, which he wouldn't disclose. He's still trying to come to grips with a probable move.

"I feel I've given everything I could to the Colts,'' he said. "I've played as well as I could, and that's all you can ask.

"Now, they've got to decide what to do, and I do as well.''

While Saturday weighs his options, the Colts must brace for yet another major change on their offensive line. Since the team defeated the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI after the 2006 season, left tackle Tarik Glenn retired and right guard Jake Scott was allowed to sign with Tennessee as an unrestricted free agent. Left guard Ryan Lilja missed the '08 season -- he has had three procedures on his right knee in the past 12 months -- and his status for next season won't be known for a couple of months.

And now, Saturday.

Team president Bill Polian remains hopeful Saturday returns, but said the team is prepared for the alternative.

"The club that we have coming back, specifically on the offensive line absent Jeff, we feel very good about,'' he said Sunday during a break at the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium.

The Colts addressed the position during the 2008 draft, selecting three interior line prospects: Mike Pollak in the second round, Steve Justice in the sixth and Jamey Richard in the seventh. When knee and calf injuries forced Saturday to miss four games, Richard started.

"We had to play without Jeff for (four) games,'' Polian said, "and did well.''

Saturday paused as he considered the massive changes the offensive line has experienced over the past 24 months."It's an ever-evolving thing, man,'' he said.

http://www.indystar.com/article/2009...TS03/902230353

[Shade]

Re: Agent: Colts won't deal with Saturday

I'm both surprised and scared.

[ABADays]

Re: Agent: Colts won't deal with Saturday

It's the nature of the business. I don't think there is going to be a big demand for a 33 year old center who mised time last year and I don't think Jeff is really interested in starting over someplace else. That said, I love Saturday and if he can get a big payday somewhere then great for him but I think he will be back with the Colts.

This news doesn't bode well for Harrison.

[Moses]

Re: Agent: Colts won't deal with Saturday

Do the Colts have a replacement for him? He still has at least 3 years left in the tank IMO. I read that the Bengals were going to try and sign him to a 3-5 year contract.

[Sollozzo]

Re: Agent: Colts won't deal with Saturday

There is no way Saturday is coming back. All you have to do is read his comments in the article that Erik posted. You can tell by his tone that he knows his Indy career is over and that he's bummed about it.

Some team will sign him. Good veterans are snatched up like flies, so a team will sign him and revel in the fact that they took Peyton Manning's center away. Sure the economy is down but all it takes is one team.

At the end of the day it's ALWAYS about money. I don't blame Jeff and I would sure as hell go for the money if I were him too. You gotta get the max out of the 3-4 years that you have left. Even a guy as loyal to the team and city to him is lured by $ first and foremost. That just further shows that sports, like everything else, is driven by money first.

We are rapidly moving into a new era with this franchise. It's the era where Peyton Manning is the oldest guy on the team and is surrounded by a bunch of guys who haven't been there very long.

We are going to lose Harrison, Saturday, and most likely Hunter Smith (Colts are letting him test the market). Combine that with the Tarik Glenn retirement 2 years ago and the letting go of Edge a year before that and you're left with all of the "old school" guys gone except Manning. Smith doesn't affect Manning much, but with Harrison and Saturday gone he's pretty much started over on the guys surrounding him. Has to be a weird feeling.

[Jonathan]

Re: Agent: Colts won't deal with Saturday

Is this the end of the Saturday Special @ Penn Station?

[indygeezer]

Re: Agent: Colts won't deal with Saturday

Couldn't he still be franchised if we disired to do so?


I wish my 9-5 had made me one of the top 5 paid at my position (grabbing ankles position)

[Pacersfan46]

Re: Agent: Colts won't deal with Saturday

Couldn't he still be franchised if we disired to do so?

I wish my 9-5 had made me one of the top 5 paid at my position (grabbing ankles position)

There's always the Bunny Ranch if you'd like to test your value .....

-- Steve --