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NFL Network's Adam Schefter reports the Colts intend to sign one of Bob Sanders and Dallas Clark to a long-term extension during the season.
The other will be franchise tagged in the offseason. Both are finishing out the final year of their rookie contracts. One will be a rich man soon.

Makes sense.

I love both, If I had to choose I'd go with Dallas Clark, Bob is too frequently injured and his style of play makes him even more prone to future injury..So its a safer bet to lock Dallas long term than Bob IMO. Both are absolutely integral right now for us..Bob Sanders is the absolutely the leader of our D..and Clark is one of the best red-zone threats in the league.

you don't use a franchise tag on a player for whon you don't intend to work out a long term contract. odds are we'll try to work out an extension with one of them during the season to leave the tag available if we can't make a deal with the other. however, if Gonzo has a big year, an option would be to let Clark go. I can't see paying him Reggie Wayne money even if he's worth it. Sanders might be offered big bucks with a lot of it in incentives to cover the injury risk.

i'd pick Bob personally. He is 70% of our D according to a recent study

Right now, I'd go w/ Dallas... Just b/c, he's a mismatch every time he's in the game, and w/ the complex O we run, it's hard to find a TE like Dallas. I also want to see if Giordano can continue his amaze us as a safety. He's not as dynamic as Bob, but he has a Lynch-like steadiness and consistency. Plus, this team's M.O. is to pay on offense, develop on D. Polian got burned the last time he put a lot of money into a defender who didn't work out in Simon, and he wants to keep as many weapons around Peyton as possible.

Especially after how good Dallas looked vs. Denver... he basically saved us when Marv went down and became Manning's No. 1 target. That comfort level is hard to come by.

Tough call. Bob's injury history has to be a concern.

I suspect Clark will get the contract first, then Sanders will be franchise tagged, if nothing can be worked out in the off season. The idea of offering Sanders big money which includes huge incentives is good, but the question will be how much guaranteed money Bob's agent will demand.

Obviously, let's hope Bill P. can find a way to keep both for a long time.