A league source tells Profootballtalk.com that Colts RE Dwight Freeney's 2012 salary cap number is a whopping $19.035 million. Writes PFT's Mike Florio, "Freeney, as a result, may be out." On Monday, the Colts forked over a four-year, $36 million contract to LE Robert Mathis. The deal includes $17 million in first-year payments, bringing the total 2012 cost of Mathis and Freeney to over $30 million. Both defensive ends are on the wrong side of 30. We suspect the Colts will try to trade Freeney leading up to April's draft. There are already strong indications that he's not open to playing linebacker in Chuck Pagano's new 3-4 based defense.

Colts coach Chuck Pagano expects RE Dwight Freeney to remain with the club in 2012 and beyond. After locking up 31-year-old Robert Mathis long term on Monday, the Colts do seem more interested in being competitive right away than undertaking a full-on rebuild. Freeney's salary is a cumbersome $14.035 million and he turned 32 last month. "Those guys are Colts, through and through," Pagano said. "And we fully expect to have them here as long as we can."

Former Titans LB Keith Bulluck, a long-time friend of Dwight Freeney, says the veteran Colts star has no intention of converting to outside linebacker in the new coach Chuck Pagano's 3-4 defense. "Dwight's thinking is, he ain't standing up," Bulluck said. "Dwight's had his hand in the (ground) for 11 years." The Colts can save $14 million of Freeney's more than $19 million against the cap by releasing him, but Freeney doesn't expect that to happen. Keeping the Pro Bowl pass rusher on the roster at that rate would be like decking out a jalopy with a Rolls Royce hood ornament.

Dwight Freeney (ankle) is questionable heading into Monday night's game against the Bucs. He practiced in full on Thursday and Friday, so he should be able to play unless he suffers a setback. Other defensive starters on the injury report included DT Fili Moala (ankle) and FS Antoine Bethea (ankle), who are both questionable. The smallish front seven of the Colts already has its hands full with power-back LeGarrette Blount, who is staring down one of his best matchups of the year.