When the Colts cut safety Bob Sanders last week, most assumed that the 2007 defensive player of the year had played his last down as a member of the Colts.
There’s a chance that he’ll be back.
Former Colts coach Tony Dungy believes that the team is trying to negotiate a new deal with Sanders, and that the goal is to come up with an agreement for something less than what Sanders was due to make.
“Now they’re going to let Bob test the market and see what the market will pay,” Dungy said.
Thus, to the extent that other teams are offering contracts to Sanders, there’s a chance those offers will be shopped back to the Colts, with the Colts getting a chance to match whatever offer Sanders is able to finagle, given his injury.
To date, Sanders has visited the Jaguars and the Bills. He’s free to sign with any team through March 3. As of March 4, his status hinges on the labor agreement. If there’s a lockout, he can do nothing. If there’s a new deal, he’ll be a free agent. If the current deal is extended by a couple of weeks as negotiations continue, he’ll still be a free agent.
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