i almost cried when i heard this.
One of the most influential members of the Colts defense now is one of its highest paid.
Pro Bowl safety Bob Sanders has signed a five-year, $37.5 million contract that includes approximately $20 million in guarantees, a person with knowledge of the situation said Friday. Neither Sanders nor his agent, Tom Condon, could be reached for comment. A Colts spokesman said the team had no comment.
Sanders, 26, would have been an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. Now, he is the highest-paid safety in
NFL history. Sanders' new deal surpasses the one Pittsburgh gave in July to Troy Polamalu: five years, $33 million, $15.375 million in guarantees.
Sanders is the latest defensive player the Colts have targeted as a "core'' player and invested in accordingly. During the offseason, the team made end Dwight Freeney the highest-paid defensive player in the league by signing him to a six-year, $72 million contract that included $30 million in bonuses.
Sanders was the Colts' second-round draft pick in 2004 who has emerged as one of the NFL's biggest defensive difference-makers. He earned his second Pro Bowl appearance this season and is a front-runner for NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors.
John Madden, NBC's expert analyst who is in town for Sunday night's Colts-Tennessee Titans game, considers Sanders the top defensive player in the league this season.
"I don't have a vote," he said. "But if I did have a vote, I would vote for Bob Sanders."