Dwight Freeney, who spent the first 10 seasons of his career as a defensive end in a 4-3 front, is in his first year as a linebacker in Indy’s 3-4. He’s also in the final year of his contract.
So what happens next year?
“Well I mean you never know what’s going to happen,” Freeney told Erik Kuselias of Pro Football Talk. “While I’m here my thoughts are really just being here and doing the best I can for this organization. At the end of the year they’ll decide what they want to do and I’ll decide what I want to do and hopefully I’m here.”
If he’s there, or anywhere, he hopes that it won’t entail Thursday games, even though every team is now playing one short-week game per season.
“I really do believe that the body needs a break,” Freeney said. “And 16 games are hard enough but now you cut that week short. Some guys really just can’t even run on Wednesday and if it wasn’t just for an amazing job the trainers do and what ever forces you’re calling in to get yourself playing on Thursday, it’s amazing, but to be honest it’s not good for your body.”
Regardless of the days of the week on which the games are played, Freeney has a specific number in mind for the balance of his career.
“I think 15 is a great number,” Freeney said. “It just really depends on how the body feels. And I really do take it one year at a time.”
This year is shaping up unexpectedly to be a very good one for Freeney and the Colts.