INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -The Colts would like to keep safeties Melvin Bullitt and Antoine Bethea around one more year, and they’re still hoping to work out a deal with defensive captain Gary Brackett.
Former first-round pick Marlin Jackson wasn’t as lucky Thursday.
As team officials raced against a midnight deadline to keep Brackett off the free agent market, they were busy meeting another deadline by extending official offers to other key contributors – or signaling their intentions by staying quiet.
Indy gave Bullitt a second-round tender, agent Leonard Roth confirmed in an e-mail to The Associated Press. Earlier in the day, ESPN.com reported that Bethea was given a first-round tender. Jackson’s agent, Mike Sullivan, confirmed in an e-mail that the Colts had not offered him a tender at all. That allows Jackson to become an unrestricted free agent Friday morning.
Team spokesman Craig Kelley said during the day that the Colts did not expect to make any comments about the moves.
Bullitt has become an increasingly important cog in the Colts’ defense, starting in place of the oft-injured Bob Sanders. In 2008, he had two interceptions to seal victories, and last year, with Sanders unable to play in 14 games, Bullitt wound up fifth on the team with 72 tackles. He also made the fourth-down stop against New England that gave Peyton Manning a chance to rally the Colts in the final two minutes.
Bethea has started since his rookie season in 2006 and has played in two Pro Bowls, including this season when he got the chance after being named an alternate.
But Jackson, Indy’s first-round pick in 2005, was not offered a tender. He finished the last two seasons on injured reserve, tearing the ACL in his left knee in early November and tearing the ACL in his right knee in 2008.
The other big question was Brackett, whom the Colts have been negotiating with for more than a week. Indy did not use the franchise or transition tags to virtually assure Brackett would stay in Indy, but team president Bill Polian said last week he hoped to reach a deal before free agency opened.
If no deal is reached before midnight, Brackett also would become an unrestricted free agent.
his final game with the Colts.
“It’s been real Indy,” Brock wrote.
But Brock’s agent, Kevin Pompey, could not confirm the Colts had made a move with Brock.
The Colts also decided not to offer contracts to cornerback Tim Jennings, safety Aaron Francisco and backup offensive linemen Dan Federkeil. The players’ agents all confirmed the decisions in e-mails to The Associated Press, and all three players will now become unrestricted free agents.
The Colts would not be compensated for losing those players to another team.
Jennings played primarily in nickel packages last season and was ninth on the team with 51 tackles. Francisco played primarily on special teams after being claimed off waivers from Arizona in September.
Indy still has eight other restricted free agents, including starting defensive tackles Dan Muir and Antonio Johnson and left tackle Charlie Johnson.
Kicker Matt Stover, who replaced the injured Adam Vinatieri, was not offered a contract, either. Stover was the only other Colts player expected to be a restricted free agent.
Add A Comment