INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indianapolis Colts released Matt Gay on Thursday, a surprising move that came just two years after he became the NFL's highest-paid kicker.
He had two years remaining on his $22.5 million contract and while the move will save the Colts $2.75 million on this year's salary cap, Indy already was below the cap figure.
The bigger problem was Gay not meeting the lofty expectations after making more than 98% of his field goals in 2021-22 when he played for Los Angeles Rams.
He battled injuries throughout his Indy tenure but in the Colts' retractable roof dome, Gay managed to make only 80.5% of his field goal attempts in 2023. His percentage slightly improved to 83.8% last season, and he went 11 of 22 on attempts from 50 or more yards over those two seasons.
Gay now becomes an unrestricted free agent.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL
FILE - Indianapolis Colts kicker Matt Gay watches his 45-yard field goal during the second half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Jan. 5, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, file)
TALLADEGA, Ala. (AP) — Brad Keselowski felt the utmost confidence entering Talladega Superspeedway this weekend — even while knowing his car doesn’t have the speed to keep up with the Cup Series leaders.
Keselowski has six wins at the 2.66-mile tri-oval, tying him with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon for second in NASCAR history. Only Dale Earnhardt Sr., who won a record 10 times at the Alabama track, has more victories there.
Keselowski will try to move into sole possession of second place Sunday in the first of two ‘Dega races this season. It’s far from a sure thing, especially given Toyota’s dominance through the first nine races.
“Just need a little bit of luck," he said. “I had two great races at Talladega in ’24 and two just OK or bad races in ’25. I guess that means I’m probably on the other side of the cycle. So I’m hopeful to make it count and hope we’re on the positive side of that cycle.”
Keselowski was the runner-up in both events in 2024. He wrecked out of the April race a year ago and then notched a 10th-place finish in October. His last win at NASCAR's longest track came in 2021.
“Racers tend to count their losses more than they count their wins,” Keselowski said. “I don’t know why that is, probably because you have more losses than you have wins. But I feel like there’s probably a few races at Talladega that I should have won and I didn’t. And then there’s probably a few I shouldn’t have won that I did.
“So maybe it all kind of works out in the wash.”
Cup Series points leader Tyler Reddick, who drives for 23XI Racing and NBA great Michael Jordan, has five wins through the first two months. Toyota has claimed seven of the nine events, with Denny Hamlin and Ty Gibbs picking up two for Joe Gibbs Racing.
Reddick’s pace has been matched four times previously in NASCAR’s top series and not since Earnhardt Sr. started off the 1987 season that way. The Intimidator went on to win six more times while claiming the third of his seven championships, and there’s little to make it seem that Reddick can’t do the same thing.
“None of the Fords have any chance of beating the Toyotas right now until they get a new car or rules concessions,” Keselowski said. “The only opportunity we have to beat them is in areas where aerodynamics aren’t as important on the car.”
That could be Talladega, where pack racing in a draft negates aerodynamic advantages. Keselowski pointed to superspeedways and short tracks as the best shot at upsetting anyone in a Toyota.
Then again, Reddick won the season-opening Daytona 500 and the following week at Atlanta.
“The other tracks, they just have so much more speed,” said Keselowski, who is ranked 10th in points through nine events. “Even when they don’t execute very well and we execute at a high degree, the speed differential makes up for it.”
NASCAR canceled qualifying for the Jack Links 500 because of rain. The sanctioning body pulled the plug early Saturday after overnight rain continued into the early morning hours.
The weather is expected to improve throughout the day, but scattered thunderstorms are in the forecast.
Reddick will start from the pole based on NASCAR’s qualifying metrics. Kyle Larson will start second, followed by Denny Hamlin, Bubba Wallace and Chase Briscoe. Keselowski will start sixth.
Casey Mears was the lone driver to not qualify.
Despite Toyota’s dominance, oddsmakers installed Ford drivers Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano as the prerace favorites. Blaney is plus-1000 to win, following by Logano (plus-1200) and William Byron (plus-1400).
Reddick is the next choice at plus-1500. Keselowski is plus-1600.
AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
Denny Hamlin (11) and Tyler Reddick (45) head down the front straightaway during the third stage of a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., Sunday, April 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
FILE - William Byron (24) and Kyle Larson (5) lead the pack during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Talladega Superspeedway, Oct. 19, 2025, in Talladega, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill, File)
FILE - Brad Keselowski prepares to run during NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, in Daytona, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart, File)
