Colts choose quality over flash in free agency

Nick Laham

One of the Colts' newest additions, LaRon Landry, smashes Colts quarterback Andrew Luck in 2012.

I've been kicking around some free agency articles over the last few weeks and hopefully you have a) learned something about the business side of the NFL, and b) aren't tired of them quite yet because I need to get one more free agency article off of my chest.

This time, I'd like to discuss the nature of the signings made by a certain team that I blog about frequently. Yeah, you already know who I'm talking about -- the lovely Indianapolis Colts.

With roughly $46 million in cap space available for the Colts to dish out this year, many were expecting them to spend freely and they did.

Much was made of the contracts handed out by Colts general manager Ryan Grigson in his first year of managing the team with a juicy amount of cap space. Some called the moves confusing. Some called them smart. Me? I call them necessary.

Despite a surprisingly successful playoff season, the holes in the Colts roster were, well, glaring. Their secondary (defensive backs) was one of the league's worst, while the offensive line relied on depth chart fillers. The Colts also undoubtedly suffered when it came to attacking the quarterback.

Free agency market takes a slide in 2013

USA Today Sports

In a down year for free agents, defensive end Cliff Avril cost himself a few million by testing the market.

If you're a football fan, there's a good chance you were surprised by the somewhat bland week of free agency that commenced on Tuesday, March 12 at 4 PM ET. If you're not a football fan (Shame on you!), you may still find these numbers interesting.

Each year, there's always a team that overpays for typically one player. Every. Year. However, this year, the dollar amounts were down across the board and teams only seemed to be overpaying players by production standards.

Paul Kruger, who was arguably the crown jewel of the 2013 free agency class, was expected to ask for roughly $11-12 million annually in his new contract search – try $8 million. And this winning price came during a supposed "bidding war" between the Indianapolis Colts and Cleveland Browns to secure Kruger's services. I noted in last week's column that Kruger would choose the Browns if he wanted more money, and the Colts if he wanted a competitive advantage.

Was I right or was I right?

Cliff Avril, another stellar free agent pass rusher, ultimately bet on himself and lost.

Last year, the Detroit Lions reportedly offered the defensive end a three-year, $30 million contract. Instead of taking the deal, Avril chose to play in 2012 under the franchise tag, netting him $10.5 million for one year. Not a bad haul for 16 games, eh? If you're unfamiliar with the franchise tag, it's basically a one-year deal worth a lot of money, which guarantees the player can't test the market.

Anyway, rewind to last Thursday, and Avril signed a two-year, $15 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks. In his new deal, Avril will pocket $25.5 million over three years, or $4.5 million less than what he would have earned if he took the Lions initial offer.

For those of you keeping score – Seahawks 1. Cliff Avril 0.

Free agency feeding frenzy begins on Tuesday

Ronald Martinez

One of the crown jewels of free agency, OLB Paul Kruger, celebrates after winning his first Super Bowl.

Every year, teams spend big money to find pieces that will hopefully solve their Super Bowl puzzle, and 2013 will be no different.

On Tuesday at 4 PM ET, those pieces will officially be able to fall in to place. However, if I may, I'd like to express an annoyance before jumping into the free agency goodies.

In previous years, teams were allowed to reach an "agreement in principle" with a player's agent well before the beginning of the official league year. This agreement would also usually be leaked to the media during the three-day negotiating period, creating a huge wave of exciting news story over the weekend and telling other teams to stay away from their prize.

Friday, Mar. 8 at 12 AM ET, technically Saturday, was supposed to be the start of this negotiating period in 2013, but then something happened...

Just before the negotiating period opened on Friday night, the league released a memo to all 32 NFL teams warning that if any agreements (expressed or implied, oral, or whatever) had been reached before the league year's opening on Tuesday, there would be investigations for tampering.

Ridiculous.

Unfortunately for the fans, and the many sports writers around the country, the league's memo worked. Friday night's news came and went with a whimper, as did Saturday and Sunday's. The team's were scared and the three-day excitement-filled news stream was effectively snuffed out.

Funny enough, the rules of free agency, according to the league, actually state that it's perfectly acceptable for teams to enter into negotiations with a player's agent. No "agreement in principle" is prohibited, only the execution of an actual contract.

“Beginning at 12:00 midnight ET on Saturday, March 9 (i.e., after 11:59:59 p.m. ET, on Friday, March 8) and ending at 3:59:59 p.m. ET on Tuesday, March 12, clubs are permitted to contact, and enter into negotiations with, the certified agents of players who will become Unrestricted Free Agents upon the expiration of their 2012 Player Contracts at 4:00 p.m. ET on March 12.  However, a contract cannot be executed with a new club until 4:00 p.m. ET on March 12.”

I'd be confused, but I then remember that we're talking about the NFL—one of the most powerful corporations in the entire world. The commissioner is the most powerful man in sports. If he wants to make up some rules, he will.