THE DAILY DIGEST | Indy Football Report Editor John Oehser takes a look at what they’re saying about and what’s going on around the AFC Champion Indianapolis Colts . . .
The story is a familiar late-February refrain for the Indianapolis Colts. The start of free agency draws near, and focus has narrowed to one critical player, with this year’s player being middle linebacker/defensive captain Gary Brackett.
On schedule late last week, the first inkling of news . . .
“March 5 is slipping nearer and with it impending unrestricted free agency for Gary Brackett, but the Indianapolis Colts linebacker’s agent, Brian Mackler, and Colts president Bill Polian are speaking,” Indianapolis Star writer Phil Richards writes, quoting Mackler as saying on Friday:
“Gary has expressed his great desire to retire a Colt. I’m going to do my best to honor his wishes and Bill and I are going to continue to talk.”
Richards writes, “Brackett is a seven-year veteran and the Colts’ defensive captain and signal caller, but the Colts historically haven’t paid top money to keep their linebackers. Mike Peterson, Marcus Washington, David Thornton and Cato June have left as free agents since 2003. Brackett signed a four-year, $10.1 million contract in 2006 that included $3.5 million in bonuses.
Mackler pointed out the factors leading the Colts to negotiate with Brackett.
