Way-too-early Offseason Glance

With a Super Bowl title on the line a week from Sunday, most of you Colts fans probably aren't thinking too much about the offseason.

But, since I'm always thinking one step ahead (like a carpenter that makes stairs), I thought it would be interesting to take a look at some of the personnel questions facing the Colts heading into the winter/spring of 2010.

The Anthony Gonzalez situation
You remember Gonzo right? The former first round pick out of Ohio State had productive 2007 and 2008 seasons and was poised for a breakout this year with the departure of Marvin Harrison. However, that never came to be thanks to a fluke non-contact injury in the early stages of the regular season opener against Jacksonville. The knee injury cost Gonzalez his 2009 season, and the "breakouts" instead came from Pierre Garcon and rookie Austin Collie. Gonzalez is still very talented and also has three years remaining on his deal, so there's no reason to think the Colts would part with him. But, it's not clear how Gonzalez exactly fits into their plans going into the 2010 season.

Peyton Manning's extension
Both parties so far have brushed this situation aside, saying that they'll take care of it when the time comes. Well, guess what? That time is almost here. The reigning back-to-back NFL MVP is about to enter the final year of the seven-year deal he signed before the 2004 campaign. Manning will turn 34 during the offseason, but given the performances of Brett Favre (40) and Kurt Warner (38), there's no reason to believe that Peyton couldn't be productive well into this decade. His little brother's contract extension netted him $97.5 million, and at the very least, Manning's final Colts' contract would probably match that or jump into the nine-figure range.

Key Free Agents
Is Gary Brackett the next great Colts linebacker to walk away? The defensive captain will be a free agent at the conclusion of the season, and Indianapolis doesn't exactly have a great track record when it comes to retaining star linebackers. The Colts let Mike Peterson, David Thornton, and Cato June all walk after their contracts were up. However, Brackett could be an exception to that rule because he is one of the clear locker room leaders, unlike any from that trio. Others on the free agent list include: Pro Bowl S Antonie Bethea, Marlin Jackson, Melvin Bullitt (restricted), Tim Jennings, and Charlie Johnson. Out of that group, the only two that are definitely gone are Jackson and Jennings.

We now return you to your regular Super Bowl programming...