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Sauce Gardner doesn't want ex-UC teammate Alec Pierce leaving Colts
Sauce Gardner, former college teammate, publicly supports wide receiver Alec Pierce amid free agency with multiple teams bidding, noting Pierce’s elite 21.3 yards-per-reception last season.
- On March 4, 2026, Colts cornerback Sauce Gardner urged teammate Alec Pierce to stay after the team declined to franchise-tag him, making Pierce a free agent.
- After a career-best year that included 1,003 receiving yards, Pierce averaged an elite 21.3 yards per reception and is projected a four-year, $102 million deal by The Athletic.
- Having been college teammates at the University of Cincinnati, Gardner and Pierce have been frequent offseason golf partners, and Gardner signed a $120.4 million contract last offseason but played only four games before injury.
- Cap and roster math complicate Indianapolis Colts' ability to retain Pierce, with Michael Pittman costing $29 million in 2026 and interest from the Patriots and Bills.
- With the league year opening March 11, 2026, Pierce told Kay Adams March 4 on 'Up and Adams Show' that he 'kind of earned the right to explore free agency,' and remains open to staying.
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Alec Pierce teases leaving Colts after career 2025 season
Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce is headed to free agency, a “right” that the 25-year-old told Kay Adams he’s “earned.” The Colts couldn’t come to an agreement with Pierce on a new long-term deal before Tuesday afternoon and opted to place the transaction tag on Daniel Jones, leaving Pierce headed to the open market.
·New York, United States
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Total News Sources13
Leaning Left1Leaning Right2Center8Last UpdatedBias Distribution73% Center
Bias Distribution
- 73% of the sources are Center
73% Center
C 73%
R 18%
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