More Money for Mathis?

The dynamic duo of Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney has plagued opposing quarterbacks at the highest level for several years now. However, Robert Mathis appears to be feeling like he is worth more to this team than his $2.31 million dollar salary would suggest. Mathis is slated to receive $2.31 million this season and $2.4 million next season, fairly low numbers for one of the better pass rushers in the NFL. However, with the Colts currently trying to make Peyton Manning the highest paid player in the NFL, and with Antoine Bethea’s contract also weighing heavily on the mind’s of the front office, Mathis’ plea for more money may fall on deaf ears. 

Robert Mathis is currently sitting out from organized team activities, and although it is still early, it is a bit worrying to see someone as dedicated as Mathis skipping out on team activities. The combined $4.71 million that Mathis is set to make over the next two seasons is quite low, but keep in mind that he had a heavily front-loaded $30 million contract that he signed in 2006. NFL players will often front-load their contract to ensure that they will still be in their prime in the “big dollar” years, and thus they will not be cut and left with money still sitting on their contracts. Although Mathis is still playing at a high level, it should not mean that he gets a pay raise after he already cashed in with the Colts. 

Although Mathis is certainly a key part of this team, he should not be asking for additional money. The purpose of front-loading a contract is not so that you can cash in early in the contract, and then demand to be paid a large amount again after you were already overpaid for in the first years of the contract. The addition of Jerry Hughes may also be weighing heavily on the mind of Mathis, and because of this he may want to receive an extension or a salary raise to ensure that he will be safe even if the rookie proves to be starting worthy. In the end, Mathis should drop this and get into team activities. With Bethea and Manning already on the mind of the Colts, Mathis is not the main concern. If he wants to renegotiate his contract, then he should wait until next season when he is in his final year of his contract. That certainly makes more sense for both sides.