Oehser says the hold outs aren’t a major concern
But teammates very much understand, and while team officials and coaches don’t like it, either, they do understand it, too. They plan for it. The Colts for the last month have prepared despite the absence prepared for this season knowing that Mathis, Wayne and Bethea are all professional enough to be prepared come training camp no matter how much time missed in the off-season.
The absences are unpleasant and irritating, perhaps, but they’re not something with significant in terms of on-field damage come August. Contract holdouts may create anxiety among fans, but handled correctly they needn’t be a chasm inside the building, and historically, the Colts have handled such things correctly.
The negotiations with each may be tedious, and they may be long. They may not be completed before the season. It may even eventually get ugly, or it may not, but however it plays out off the field, Mathis and Wayne are veteran, motivated guys and that once they’re in camp, they – like nearly every other NFL player – will leave the business off the field.
And that’s why it’s not something many people around the Colts likely will be worrying about in seven weeks.
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