When he's healthy, Indianapolis Colts safety Bob Sanders is, in my opinion, the best defensive player in the NFL.But he's healthy so rarely that he has played just 41 of the Colts' 67 games in his five-year career, and he'll miss even more with an ankle injury and arthroscopic knee surgery. So does that mean the Colts regret giving him a big contract extension? Colts owner Jim Irsay says no:
"I knew when we did the contract that he's such a rare talent that you have to live a little bit with the possible injuries that come up,'' Irsay said. "Bob is so combustible, so physical. He's so dynamic and such a rare individual.I don't necessarily disagree with the Colts' decision to give Sanders a five-year, $37.5 million contract with more than $20 million in guarantees last year, just because Sanders is so great when he's at 100 percent. But when the owner refers to going a year or two without an injury as "a lucky streak," the team has to be feeling nervous that its defensive star is never going to have a healthy season."It's something you knew (was possible), but you know he might get on a lucky streak and go a year or two without having anything.''
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-26-2008 @ 9:20AM
Jen said...
When a player like Bob Sanders plays as physical as he does, you have to sort of expect that injuries are going to come with it. He is, also in my opinion, the best defensive player when he is healty. But like Isray says, that team takes that chance with him. His return from an injury in 2006 led the Colts to a Super Bowl win. I believe he was the driving force that the team needed to win the big game. For Colts fans, it sucks that he isn't healthy right now, because we need him on that field. I think the way he plays the game has an effect on the whole team. But, it just makes his return that much more anticipated and worth the wait when he comes back!!!
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11-01-2008 @ 8:49AM
larry said...
I have to agree with the owner on this, Bob has been a tremendous athlete all his life. He has always given a 150% no matter what, I have watched Bob grow into a hell of a man, every since he played pee wee football !! And what I love about him most is that he's never lost sight of where he comes from, treats everyone with respect. This is why I feel indy has caught a great big fish from little Erie Pa.