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Report: ‘No Real Progress’ Has Been Made on Coby Fleener’s Contract Negotiations

By Luke Schultheis

Nov 29, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts tight end Coby Fleener (80) is tackled by Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Danny Lansanah (51) at Lucas Oil Stadium. Indianapolis defeats Tampa Bay 25-12. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 29, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts tight end Coby Fleener (80) is tackled by Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Danny Lansanah (51) at Lucas Oil Stadium. Indianapolis defeats Tampa Bay 25-12. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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According to CBS Sports NFL Insider Jason La Canfora, the Indianapolis Colts have made “no real progress” on contract negotiations with soon-to-be free agent tight end Coby Fleener:

"“The Colts are another team trying to gauge the market for two players at the same position, with their tight ends, Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen, both set to hit the open market. Sources said there has been no real progress made with Fleener and while he has better numbers, Allen is a more complete player able to block and help in the run game, as well as someone who offers some explosion himself.”"

Right now, the Colts are going to be hard-pressed financially to re-sign both Fleener and Dwayne Allen, who’s also set to hit free agency:

It could ultimately be a blessing in disguise that Fleener’s contract talks aren’t going smoothly, as Allen is widely recognized as the better player of the two tight ends when push comes to shove.

Dec 6, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Indianapolis Colts tight end Coby Fleener (80) runs after a pass reception against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the fourth quarter at Heinz Field. The Steelers won 45-10. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 6, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Indianapolis Colts tight end Coby Fleener (80) runs after a pass reception against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the fourth quarter at Heinz Field. The Steelers won 45-10. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

Specifically, Allen is exceptional at both receiving and blocking, making him the more complete player and an incredibly dynamic weapon for the Colts offense when healthy.

When healthy is the key though, as Allen has been hampered by a number of injuries in recent seasons, and Fleener is clearly the more durable tight end of the two–having not missed a game in the past 3 seasons.

That being said, it’s not as though Fleener isn’t talented in his own right.

He’s arguably the better receiving option of the Colts tight end tandem and is coming off a season in which he recorded a career-high 54 receptions along with 491 receiving yards and 3 receiving touchdowns.

The 5th-year tight end is just one season removed from a year in which he caught 51 receptions for 774 receiving yards and 8 touchdowns in 2014.

As such, Fleener was recently named #46 on CBS Sports Pete Prisco’s Top 50 free agents list, ahead of Allen–so which Colts tight end one prefers ultimately may be a matter of preference.

As a result, it looks as though the Colts may have a serious decision on their hands of which tight end to keep relatively soon.

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