Report: Colts, Linebacker Brackett Agree To Five-Year Pact
March 5, 2010 at 2:32 PM by AHN · Leave a Comment
Indianapolis, IN, United States (AHN) – Linebacker Gary Brackett agreed to a five-year deal with the Indianapolis Colts, it was reported Friday morning.
Colts owner Jim Irsay said last week that the organization was going to keep Brackett because he’s “competitive with some of the top guys at his position.”
Brackett, 29, will collect $33 million including a $12 million signing bonus. He had 99 tackles with one sack and an interception for the Colts last season.
Brackett was signed by the Colts in 2003 and became the starter in the 2005.
If both parties did not come to an agreement, the seven-year veteran would have become a free agent after Thursday night. It was something Brackett wanted to avoid for both him and his family.
“This was my heart’s content the whole season. I wanted to stay here obviously with my family, what I’ve been able to do in the community,” Brackett said at a press conference Friday. “I really feel like we have some unfinished business: we went to the Super Bowl this year and we kind of didn’t get the job done. So I feel like we’re right there.”
Colts vice president and general manager Chris Polian needed to make a move to anchor Brackett’s future with the team.
“As we stated going into the offseason, Gary was our No. 1 priority and our hope was to retain him,” Chris Polian told reporters. “We look forward to seeing [No.] 58.”
