The Indianapolis Colts extinguished a massive fire by getting Alec Pierce a four-year deal worth $29 million per year that will keep him in town through the 2029 season. It was a steep price to pay, but something they needed to do to retain their big-play specialist.
Pierce sounded the alarms when he claimed that he had earned the right to test the free-agency waters. And with no shortage of suitors interested in his services, it made sense that even one of his teammates was worried about the situation.
That's why star cornerback Sauce Gardner took to social media to inquire about his Godfather-like offer for Pierce: "Should I lock Alec Pierce in my basement and force him to sign the contract papers?" Gardner asked his followers on March 4. Now that Pierce has put pen to paper, he doubled down on this hilarious joke.
Indianapolis Colts' Sauce Gardner has a hilarious reaction to Alec Pierce's contract news
Right after the news broke, Gardner tweeted "it worked chat," quoting his previous comment on the matter. It didn't take long before the post went nuclear on social media, amassing well over 26K likes in a matter of a couple of hours.
Pierce is as instrumental to the team's success as Gardner. As one of the prime cornerbacks in the game, he knows just how much of a playmaker and game-wrecker he can be with his big-play ability. Granted, losing Michael Pittman Jr. was a big blow, but with the Colts' struggling to get some money off their books, it was a necessary casualty to keep Pierce in town.
Gardner knows iron sharpens iron. Practicing against the best in the game will be the best way to get himself battle-tested to deliver every Sunday. Also, getting Pierce locked in for years to come should also make life easier in the talks with Daniel Jones.
The Colts made a huge gamble when they gave up valuable draft assets to get Gardner midway through last season. They clearly believe that they can make a Super Bowl run with this roster, and that includes having Daniel Jones on the field.
As such, maybe Gardner felt partially responsible for making sure that Pierce didn't leave in free agency. Now, whether Chris Ballard had to go to Gardner's basement to meet with a kidnapped Pierce is something we may never know. Gardner did spend years in New Jersey, so perhaps he got a little too into The Sopranos.
Whatever works!