Quick Thoughts - Week 4

[Racehorse]

Originally Posted by Ironshaft

If the Colts decide to part ways with Leonard after the 2023 NFL season:

$20.124m = 2024 Cap Hit
$08.000m = Dead Money left on contract
=========
$11.876m = Cap Savings in 2024 if Leonard is cut.

His cap hit is why I just shake my head when people yell "Trade Leonard!" If he sucks, who would trade for him? This is not Madden.

[JAFF]

Originally Posted by Racehorse

His cap hit is why I just shake my head when people yell "Trade Leonard!" If he sucks, who would trade for him? This is not Madden.

He hasnt been game ready for over a year. Keep him, one of the LBs will get hurt, miss a game, land on the short term injury list. He is a solid vet who can step in and play.

He is a positive force on the field and in practice and in the locker room.

I do not understand why fans obsess about the cap. Its not their money, get over it. Has Ballard ever run out of cash during a season?

[ChoppedWood]

Originally Posted by JAFF

He hasnt been game ready for over a year. Keep him, one of the LBs will get hurt, miss a game, land on the short term injury list. He is a solid vet who can step in and play.

He is a positive force on the field and in practice and in the locker room.

I do not understand why fans obsess about the cap. Its not their money, get over it. Has Ballard ever run out of cash during a season?

Haven't seen it but talking about on radio, he is apparently skirmishing with fans over their criticism of him on X. Not good.

[ChaosTheory]

Leonard hasn't been bad like some people imply. He just hasn't returned to pre-surgery form, which is to say, his nearly $20m/yr worth.

If he only ever gets back to Starting-LB caliber, that's fine in a vacuum... you just can't pay a Starting-LB an All-Pro salary.

[JAFF]

Originally Posted by ChaosTheory

Leonard hasn't been bad like some people imply. He just hasn't returned to pre-surgery form, which is to say, his nearly $20m/yr worth.

If he only ever gets back to Starting-LB caliber, that's fine in a vacuum... you just can't pay a Starting-LB an All-Pro salary.

Sure you can, show Taylor the door. The team can do what ever they want.

[IndyNorm]

Originally Posted by JAFF

Sure you can, show Taylor the door. The team can do what ever they want.

Not if you want to field a competitive team. We already allowed someone who is currently better than Leonard walk b/c of Leonard's contract (Okereke). Franklin has played his way into getting paid. You going to not extend him and ultimately let him walk in order to keep Leonard? That might work out ok if Leonard is back to his old self. But if he remains JAG then that's a horrible decision.

Also, on top of JT (if he has indeed removed his head out of his agent's ass) Grover, MPJ, Moore, and Blackmon are all FAs at the end of the season. That $12M we'd save towards the cap will definitely come in handy when trying to re-sign some of those guys.

Give Leonard the season to see if he can turn the corner towards becoming his old self. Maybe even some of the offseason as well. But t if he doesn't progress then it's best for the team to let him go. Sucks if this happens, but would be best for the team. Just like it was in '08 when we let Marvin go.

[Racehorse]

Originally Posted by IndyNorm

Not if you want to field a competitive team. We already allowed someone who is currently better than Leonard walk b/c of Leonard's contract (Okereke). Franklin has played his way into getting paid. You going to not extend him and ultimately let him walk in order to keep Leonard? That might work out ok if Leonard is back to his old self. But if he remains JAG then that's a horrible decision.

Also, on top of JT (if he has indeed removed his head out of his agent's ass) Grover, MPJ, Moore, and Blackmon are all FAs at the end of the season. That $12M we'd save towards the cap will definitely come in handy when trying to re-sign some of those guys.

Give Leonard the season to see if he can turn the corner towards becoming his old self. Maybe even some of the offseason as well. But t if he doesn't progress then it's best for the team to let him go. Sucks if this happens, but would be best for the team. Just like it was in '08 when we let Marvin go.

If he can get back to creating turnovers, there is no way you release him.

[IndyNorm]

Originally Posted by Racehorse

If he can get back to creating turnovers, there is no way you release him.

Of course. Like I said. Give him the rest of the season and maybe part of the offseason to see if he starts getting back to being his old self.

[Butter]

Originally Posted by JAFF

He hasnt been game ready for over a year. Keep him, one of the LBs will get hurt, miss a game, land on the short term injury list. He is a solid vet who can step in and play.

He is a positive force on the field and in practice and in the locker room.

I do not understand why fans obsess about the cap. Its not their money, get over it. Has Ballard ever run out of cash during a season?

It is stupid to ignore cap implications, it is a huge aspect of team building. So far Leonard has not been a force at anything, what ever this locker room presence is I doubt it is worth 20 million. I don't think many are seriously implying we should cut him right now, but if by the end of the season he is not playing at an all-pro level it would be stupid to not release him, great locker room BS or not.

[JAFF]

Originally Posted by Butter

It is stupid to ignore cap implications, it is a huge aspect of team building. So far Leonard has not been a force at anything, what ever this locker room presence is I doubt it is worth 20 million. I don't think many are seriously implying we should cut him right now, but if by the end of the season he is not playing at an all-pro level it would be stupid to not release him, great locker room BS or not.

I dont ignore the cap. I dont really care. Thats Ballards problem. And I’m GUESSING that at the end of year three of the Richardson experiment, the team isnt in the playoffs, there will be a new coach and GM. 50-50.