DEF - IND - Colts DE Freeney Signs Six-Year Deal

Source: John Clayton, ESPN.com

Indianapolis Colts DE Dwight Freeney signed a six-year, $72 million contract with the team Friday that includes a $30 million signing bonus. He becomes the highest paid defensive player in NFL history. Freeney was designated as the team's franchise player and had only a few days remaining to get a long-term deal done. "To have me paid among the top players in the league -- not just as a defensive players -- means a lot of me," said Freeney, who flew to Indianapolis on Thursday night in anticipation of accepting the deal. "[Colts general manager] Bill Polian is the one who drafted me. I was hand-picked by him. He was going to do the right thing for the organization."