There is one big body missing on the defense of the Indianapolis Colts, Dwight Freeney. After spending the last decade with the team, Freeney was not re-signed and forced to join the San Diego Chargers to continue his career. As the Colts get underway, their defense is beginning to transition to life post Freeney, and some players are struggling with it.
Robert Mathis and Freeney have spent 10 seasons as one of the NFL's best defensive tandems. Together they helped Indianapolis with a Super Bowl. They went to four Pro Bowls together. They combined for nearly 200 tackles during their time as teammates. They learned the art of the sack and the spin move, each serving as the other's mentor. But now, for the first time they are on separate teams and forced to adjust to live without each other.
"It's weird. It's really, really weird," Mathis said. "It's something you have to get used to because for a decade, we've been talking together at camp."
Freeney is now doing business on the West Coast while Mathis remains in Indianapolis. Their friendship has survived injuries and a roster purge when the Colts dropped Joseph Addai, Gary Brackett, Dallas Clark, Peyton Manning and Jeff Sturday while the two defensive stars remained the only familiar faces left. Now, Mathis is left to emerge as the leader of the Colts defense, a role that head coach Chuck Pagano is confident he can take on despite the absence of Freeney.
"They built, as Robert said, a friendship, a brotherhood if you will," Pagano said. "There's a certain comfort zone. One knew the other one was always going to be there. That relationship, this game, we always talk about this game will fade at some point for all of us, but the relationships will never fade. I know Robert and Dwight's relationship will never fade and that's something that they'll have for the rest of their lives."
Freeney is also recognizing how hard the split is. He recently made headlines saying how betrayed he felt by the Colts for opting to let him walk away this past season. He admitted that he intended on finishing out his career in Indianapolis and when his contract was up, the team did not even care to give him a second look. He understands this is just part of the business, but that does not make it any easier.
Both Freeney and Mathis will now look to jump-start their careers without one another. Mathis will begin his pursuit of Freeney's franchise sack record of 107.5. Freeney will fight for a starting spot with the Chargers. One thing they both have in common, a shot at sacking Manning this upcoming season.
