INDIANAPOLIS – Center Ryan Kelly hasn’t told a lot of people outside of his loved ones that he never wants to play for a team other than the Colts.
A place like Seattle was too far away for his family to travel to watch him play. Indianapolis is perfect as it is just a two hour drive from Kelly’s hometown of Cincinnati.
Kelly won’t have to worry about playing elsewhere soon after signing a four-year, $ 50 million extension that includes $ 34 million guaranteed with the Colts, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
“It feels good to be rewarded,” Kelly said. “I want to live up to the contract I signed. Get out everyday, be the leader on the offensive line that they know I can be. Play with the consistency I can play with and stay healthy. . These are the things that motivate. Me every day. “
The deal makes Kelly the highest-paid center in the league and ties him to Indianapolis for the next five seasons. Kelly admitted that there had been difficult negotiations between his agent and the Colts. His goal was to close the deal before opening Season 1 in Jacksonville.
“One thing I’ve learned in this industry is that even when you’re the highest paid you will be the highest paid for a week, a year someone will eventually skip you,” Kelly said. “… It’s not something you want to deal with in the middle of the season. I’m glad it’s done.”
Kelly, the 18th pick overall in 2016, has started all 51 games he’s played in during his career. He has a Pro Bowl appearance.
The Colts were the only NFL team to have a starting offensive line in every game last season.
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