Simon to the Colts---13M SB

[Diomedes]

If they do, more than a few of us will lay bets today that it won't be on account of Corey's efforts.  But maybe we eat crow.  Who knows.  I'm still happy they paid him rather than the Eagles.

Time to move this thread to The Rest of the NFL, no?

[WEST is GOD]

Roob Frank on WIP said G Cobb called Simon and Simon said he had no idea where that rumor came from, and he never even had seen an offer from the Colts.

[Rome]

Roob Frank on WIP said G Cobb called Simon and Simon said he had no idea where that rumor came from, and he never even had seen an offer from the Colts.

Barnes & Parker, no doubt.

[SD_Eagle5]

Roob Frank on WIP said G Cobb called Simon and Simon said he had no idea where that rumor came from, and he never even had seen an offer from the Colts.

Fat Len says Simon is a Colt

Colts reach agreement with defensive tackle SimonBy Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com
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There remain a few incidental elements to be addressed, but ESPN.com confirmed Wednesday night through sources close to the negotiations that the Indianapolis Colts have reached agreement with defensive tackle Corey Simon on virtually all the major financial components of a contract, and that an agreement could be officially struck as early as Thursday morning.

Corey Simon
Defensive Tackle
Philadelphia Eagles 
Profile
 

2004 SEASON STATISTICS
Tot Ast Solo FF Sack Int
32 27 5 0 6 0



In fact, two Colts players told ESPN.com on Wednesday night that they were apprised by a member of the coaching staff earlier in the evening that the acquisition of Simon is now imminent.

At least two other franchises, the Cincinnati Bengals and Seattle Seahawks, until Wednesday night had remained in the hunt for Simon, who became a free agent on Sunday night when the Philadelphia Eagles rescinded the "franchise" designation placed on him six months ago. There were also a few teams that had stayed in contact with agent Roosevelt Barnes, but which did not get involved in substantive negotiations.

It was Indianapolis, however, which ratcheted up discussions and which is much further along in negotiations and poised to consummate what will likely be a five-year deal that could make Simon one of the NFL's highest paid defensive tackles.

Beyond conceding that his client was "very close" to making a decision on where he will resume his career, Barnes declined comment on Wednesday night.

Landing the five-year veteran would be a coup for the Colts, who have been criticized in some quarters for the perceived failure to upgrade a defense that statistically ranked No. 29 in the league in 2004. The Colts brass apparently feels that Simon could be the kind of interior force that defensive tackle Warren Sapp was in Tampa Bay when Indianapolis' Tony Dungy was the Bucs' head coach.

Certainly a player of Simon's caliber, a defender who can provide inside penetration and has the rare ability to collapse the pocket from the tackle spot, would only enhance the upfield rush skills of "edge" players such as star right end Dwight Freeney, the league's defending sack champion. Training camp injuries to veteran starter Montae Reagor and to third-round draft choice Vincent Burns have left the Colts thin at defensive tackle. But a trio of Simon, Reagor and Larry Tripplett, if everyone is healthy, would provide the team an excellent tackle rotation.

Simon, 28, has 32 career sacks and 105 quarterback hurries, numbers that illustrate his skills as a pass rusher. But the former Florida State star, who has one of the thickest lower bodies in the league, is also a solid defender against the run. And he figures to benefit from the one-gap style favored by Dungy and coordinator Ron Meeks.

While surprising, the Eagles' decision to rescind the franchise marker on Sunday was is not altogether stunning, given the depth that the Eagles possess at the position, and the frustration of some club officials at not being able to get the former first-round draft choice into training camp. Simon had declined to sign the one-year qualifying offer of $5.134 million for a defensive tackle. The Eagles, because of collective bargaining language governing franchise players, could not negotiate a long-term deal with Simon until he signed the one-year tender.

By rescinding the qualifying offer, the Eagles recouped the $5.134 million in salary cap space that was assigned to Simon. The characteristically cap-healthy Eagles, who usually have one of the best managed caps in the league, did not need the extra money to make any roster moves. Instead, the club simply decided it could survive without Simon, who has started every game in which he appeared for the team.

The Eagles enjoy rare depth at defensive tackle, a position that is historically difficult to fill for any NFL club. In addition to starting veterans Darwin Walker and Hollis Thomas and key backups Sam Rayburn and Paul Grasmanis, the team used its first-round pick in this year's draft to grab former Southern California standout defensive tackle Mike Patterson, who has played well in camp and the preseason.

There had been rumors that Simon would report before the start of the season, and some teammates and even Philadelphia officials had remained in close contact with him, as he worked out at his home in Tallahassee, Fla. Clearly, though, the Eagles were not inclined to wait any longer on the five-year veteran.

Philadelphia nearly traded Simon to the Baltimore Ravens earlier in the spring. In fact, the two teams had agreed on compensation, believed to have been second- and third-round picks in the 2005 draft, but Simon could not reach agreement with the Ravens on a long-term contract and the discussions fell apart.

A Pro Bowl performer in 2003, Simon was the Eagles' first-round choice in the 2000 draft and he has missed only two regular-season games. In addition to his sack totals, he has 270 tackles, six forced fumbles, three recoveries and 15 pass deflections, and has appeared in 78 games.

[BigEd76]

hmmmmm....what's that on ESPNEWS' annoying Breaking News corner? 

[WEST is GOD]

WIP fails again!

They get so mad when someone else breaks the big scoop before them. Anyway I was just relaying what they said.

[PhillyGirl]

The Colts brass apparently feels that Simon could be the kind of interior force that defensive tackle Warren Sapp was in Tampa Bay when Indianapolis' Tony Dungy was the Bucs' head coach.

[Rome]

Desperate move from a desperate franchise.

If they signed him for the kind of money he was looking for with the Eagles, they're quite literally insane.

[Rome]

The Colts brass apparently feels that Simon could be the kind of interior force that defensive tackle Warren Sapp was in Tampa Bay when Indianapolis' Tony Dungy was the Bucs' head coach.

Well, they got the fat and lazy part anyway.

[jeffreyjpa]

Probably more like the Warren Sapp they got in Oakland.

[Purple_Hayz]

That's some pretty interesting cap gymnastics there to make that deal work but if it does, more power to the both of 'em.  The move would keep the Indy FO in cap hell and Simon can probably fit into a Tony Dungy defense pretty well.  The better question is can he still fit into a uniform.

edit:  Damn y'all are a bunch of fast typers!

As the article says, most of it will come in a 2nd year bonus. They won't have James' 6.2M to count and they probably will cut Marvin Harrison before he's due to collect his 10M roster bonus.

Yeah I caught that there.  Figure they're gonna play Corey the Hutt for a year and then decide who's more worth the phat cash next year-I know I certainly have an idea.   At any rate kudos to them for figuring out how to get him in there with a big-dollar-looking deal that lets them kick the can down the road a year when it comes to tough choices and shelling out real money.

[PhillyPhreak54]

WIP fails again!

They get so mad when someone else breaks the big scoop before them. Anyway I was just relaying what they said.

I just posted this in the big Simon thread...

GCobb got straight up lied to by Corey. I wonder how G feels knowing he called Corey and Corey told him he was nuts and then it turned out to be true. Hilarious.

[WEST is GOD]

WIP is sort of the same as the news stations. They get all their info from other stuff and whenever one of them thinks they have a bite on something they brag about it because it is rare. Half the time it turns out to be wrong. As much as you guys hate Howard he is the only one who breaks stories on that station, and the only one with inside. The Cuz tries to act like he has inside. He "broke" this Lamar Gordon rumor, or so he says. He also tried to pretend like he broke the TO story when we acquired him. Everyone knew that deal was 99% done, so there was no risk in saying your sources tell you it will be done.

So whenever people on WIP try to break stories, I never listen. The only other significant story that was broken was by Roob when he broke the info about the Eagles being screwed on the TO deal. G Cobb was probably so proud of himself for breaking that story, and 10 minutes later that got put right to rest by a real reporter(Len).

[Philly_Crew]

Well Corey got his money and the Colts got a good DT.  Hope the Colts can bring down the Pats this year.

[PhillyGirl]

The players like and trust Roob, that's why his info is usually dead on right.