The Detroit Lions could learn a thing or two from the Indianapolis Colts.
While the Lions have forced stars like Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson to pay back sizable portions of their signing bonuses after they abruptly announced their retirements prior to the conclusion of their contracts, the Colts have agreed not to go down that same road with Andrew Luck.
After the four-time Pro Bowl quarterback announced his retirement on Saturday night, the Colts had every right to demand that he pay back $24.8-million, but instead, they’ve chosen to allow Luck to keep the money.
Here’s how ESPN broke it down:
Luck could have owed the Colts $12.8 million as a pro-rated portion of the $32 million signing bonus the Colts gave him when he signed his five-year extension in 2016, and another $12 million in roster bonuses he was paid in March. But Indianapolis waived its right to recoup the money and is allowing Luck to keep it all, after the poundings he’s taken and all he’s given to the franchise. It is, in an official way, his parting gift.
That’s quite the parting gift if you ask me. But if there’s anyone who’s deserving of it, it’s Andrew Luck. And besides, we all saw how ugly things got after the Lions made Sanders and Johnson pay back their money.
Good on the Colts organization for showing some class (unlike their fanbase).
