Dwight Freeney and Austin Collie were not expected to be back with the Indianapolis Colts next season.
On Friday, the team made it official by issuing a statement saying it would not re-sign Freeney, the Colts' career sacks leader, or Collie, a key player in their second Super Bowl run since moving to Indy. Both will now become unrestricted free agents.
''Sadly, Dwight and Horseshoe parting ways,'' team owner Jim Irsay wrote on Twitter after the team confirmed the moves.
It's the second straight year Indy's offseason has started with the departure of some familiar faces and fan favorites.
Last year, the Colts released four-time MVP Peyton Manning in early March. A few days later, they cut running back Joseph Addai, linebacker Gary Brackett, safety Melvin Bullitt and tight end Dallas Clark. Right tackle Ryan Diem retired and a handful of players including receiver Pierre Garcon and center Jeff Saturday left in free agency. It looked like the Colts might also lose Pro Bowlers Robert Mathis and Reggie Wayne, too, but Indy re-signed both players and both again made the Pro Bowl team in 2012.
Indy then drafted Andrew Luck and two tight ends and a receiver in the first three rounds, signed free agents Donnie Avery, Winston Justice and Samson Satele and found enough replacements to post an 11-5 mark and return to the playoffs.
The moves left the Colts with little salary cap room last season. With the Colts projected to have more than $40 million available under the cap when free agency opens in a couple of weeks, the decisions this time had nothing to do with money.
On Friday, the team made it official by issuing a statement saying it would not re-sign Freeney, the Colts' career sacks leader, or Collie, a key player in their second Super Bowl run since moving to Indy. Both will now become unrestricted free agents.
''Sadly, Dwight and Horseshoe parting ways,'' team owner Jim Irsay wrote on Twitter after the team confirmed the moves.
It's the second straight year Indy's offseason has started with the departure of some familiar faces and fan favorites.
Last year, the Colts released four-time MVP Peyton Manning in early March. A few days later, they cut running back Joseph Addai, linebacker Gary Brackett, safety Melvin Bullitt and tight end Dallas Clark. Right tackle Ryan Diem retired and a handful of players including receiver Pierre Garcon and center Jeff Saturday left in free agency. It looked like the Colts might also lose Pro Bowlers Robert Mathis and Reggie Wayne, too, but Indy re-signed both players and both again made the Pro Bowl team in 2012.
Indy then drafted Andrew Luck and two tight ends and a receiver in the first three rounds, signed free agents Donnie Avery, Winston Justice and Samson Satele and found enough replacements to post an 11-5 mark and return to the playoffs.
The moves left the Colts with little salary cap room last season. With the Colts projected to have more than $40 million available under the cap when free agency opens in a couple of weeks, the decisions this time had nothing to do with money.