INDIANAPOLIS — Marvin Harrison’s reluctance to take a pay cut could mark the end of his career in Indianapolis.
Colts president Bill Polian told reporters Sunday at the NFL’s annual scouting combine that the team was trying to rework Harrison’s deal to lower the receiver’s salary cap number from approximately $13.4 million, the highest number of any wide out in the NFL.
But a person familiar with the negotiations, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the team has not made an announcement, later told The Associated Press that Harrison “probably would not be interested in” reducing his base salary.
If Harrison decides against a redoing his contract, the only other options for the Colts would be to keep Harrison at his cap number or to release him.
Harrison has been one of the Colts’ most identifiable players since their move to Indianapolis. He ranks No. 2 in the NFL in career receptions (1,102) and holds all of the franchise’s major career and season receiving records.
He is also 36 years old, coming off one of the least productive seasons of his career — he missed all but five games in 2007 — and with the Colts in a salary cap crunch, Polian may not be able to keep Harrison at his current price.
Next year’s cap is expected to be $123 million.
“The new cap rules, that’s not something we planned for,” Polian said. “As a result, we have some issues with veterans, including Marvin. Hopefully, we’ll find a way to work through that. I don’t know if we will, but we hope to.”
Since being drafted by the Colts in 1996, Harrison has been a model of consistency.
He’s made eight Pro Bowls and won a Super Bowl ring. His 14,550 yards rank fourth on the NFL’s career list and he’s No. 5 with 128 TD catches. Harrison and Peyton Manning also teamed to produce the most proficient passing tandem in league history.
But Manning has increasingly thrown more passes to Reggie Wayne, who has made the last three Pro Bowls, while Anthony Gonzalez, Indy’s first-round draft pick in 2007, has made a push for more playing time.
Polian and coach Jim Caldwell have repeatedly said they do not believe Harrison’s skills are deteriorating.
“What I saw is a guy who is as quick as he’s been, with the same hands and he has the ability he’s always had,” Caldwell said Thursday.
Philadelphia police also believe one of Harrison’s guns was used in a shooting in his hometown last summer. No charges were filed against Harrison, and the man who made the accusation is now headed to trial for lying to police.
Harrison isn’t the only veteran the Colts could lose this week.
Three-time Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday will become an unrestricted free agent Friday if the Colts cannot work out a deal before then.
Saturday has started 138 games in nine seasons and is responsible for making blocking calls along the line.
Those two, along with Manning, are the longest-tenured players on the Colts roster, and Polian would like to get deals done with both even though it seems increasingly unlikely in Harrison’s case.
Saturday’s agent, Ralph Cindrich said Sunday night, that Saturday is preparing to test free agency although Polian has made an offer to the center.
“We’ve not made any decisions yet, we’re still talking and we’ve made an offer,” Polian said. “He’s mulling that over, and we’ll see where that goes.”
The problem for Indianapolis is salary cap space.
On Thursday, the Colts signed cornerback Kelvin Hayden to a new five-year, $43 million deal, the team’s latest jackpot winner. Since 2004, Manning, Harrison, Wayne, Dwight Freeney, Robert Mathis, Ryan Diem, Bob Sanders, Dallas Clark and Ryan Lilja have all signed contracts worth at least $19 million.
Polian does not believe those deals have put Indy in the money pinch; the new salary cap rules have.
Clearly, though, Harrison’s six-year $66 million deal, with $22 million in bonuses, signed in December 2004 is now proving too costly and if Harrison doesn’t accept a pay cut, he may be looking for work in another city.
“I don’t want to characterize the discussions,” Polian said of the negotiations with Harrison. “But we are impacted by the salary cap for the first time in 11 years.”
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