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Jim Irsay: ‘Look for Us to Keep Core Players Soon’

By Luke Schultheis

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According to ESPN’s Mike Wells, Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay said that his team is trying to work out extensions with its key players, specifically mentioning that certain deals could get done before Labor Day:

"“We have a little time with trying to work on a few extensions,” Irsay said via Wells. “There’s no reason Anthony Castonzo and T.Y. Hilton can’t get done. Look for us to keep core players and our top players. I don’t think it’ll be a distraction. I can’t see why we can’t get something done before Labor Day with T.Y. and Anthony.”"

While re-signing Andrew Luck remains the top priority going forward, the team is also faced with the tall task of negotiating long-term extensions with other members of their young core such as Anthony Castonzo and T.Y. Hilton, not to mention Dwayne Allen and Coby Fleener.

Previously, it’s been speculated that Hilton could command as much as $14 million annually on his next contract, but little has been reported about what Castonzo could be potentially seeking. What is clear though is that each will become among the highest paid players at their respective positions.

Either way, the Colts have known for a long time that they’ll be forced to hand out a number of lucrative long-term contracts regarding Castonzo and key members of their 2012 NFL Draft class.

It’s a big reason as to why the team signed a number of highly regarded veteran players, but did so on short-term deals with nothing more than a 2-year commitment at most.

While allowing themselves to contend now, it gives the team future financial flexibility in re-signing their young core, something that clearly is a high priority for Irsay and his team headed into the season. By all indications, it’s something that could get done relatively soon for certain players.

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