Dwight Freeney had a difficult time as a free agent. After the Indianapolis Colts failed to offer the veteran a contract extension, the defensive end sat around on the market for months. He took several visits to teams, but none ended up with a contract. It was only after the San Diego Chargers lost Melvin Ingram that they began to look Freeney's way. Now in San Diego, all Freeney can talk about is how disappointed he is to not be in Indianapolis.
Freeney struggled in his final seasons with the Colts. Hit with injuries and forced to change defensive schemes, Freeney just did not look like the same player he once was. Freeney's last 10-sack season was in 2010. Last year, he only registered five sacks in 14 games. It also did not help that is 33-years-old and considered ancient by NFL standards.
All of this led to Freeney signing a contract with the Chargers, not even getting a second look by the Colts. The defensive end told SI.com that he was really offended the Colts did not want him back. He had plans to retire in Indianapolis and a part of that organization and they did not even consider the option of re-signing him.
"That cut me deep because it was kind of like, if it's a money issue talk to me about it and maybe I'll say it's fine just so I'll be able to stay and not move and all that stuff. But the fact of the matter is, they didn't offer me anything," Freeney said. "They just said, Bye bye, which made me feel like, You think I'm done and I'm washed up; or, You're playing for the future and this is the perfect opportunity to make the change because there's a young guy you really feel can play now, so let's groom him because, really, how many years does Dwight have left? It's the same thing they did with Peyton [Manning]."
Freeney is of course referencing the fact that the Colts decided to let Manning walk away after a neck injury kept him out of the league for an entire season. The fact that Freeney was demanding more money than any team was willing to give him also did not help the situation. He wants the kind of money that an every-down player received and Freeney is not considered to be that anymore.
Freeney is now playing with a chip on his shoulder, something no one wants to face. The defensive end, when healthy, can still be a game changer. The Colts and the Chargers will play each other come October 14. It can be expected Freeney will be out for some revenge.
