Looking ahead to 2007 for the Bears and Colts

MIAMI -- Peyton Manning finally has his ring. So does Tony Dungy and the rest of the Colts, the NFL's winningest team since 1999. But with Super Bowl XLI in the books, the next logical question is whether Indianapolis can build on its big-game breakthrough and add to its trophy case next season?

And will the runner-up Bears find that Super Bowl loser syndrome too difficult to overcome in 2007? The long NFL season is over, and the offseason has begun. Here's a snapshot look at how the two Super Bowl teams stand as they head into the personnel acquisition portion of the NFL's calendar:

Colts

Expect the Colts to put a franchise tag on star defensive end Dwight Freeney. Bob Rosato/SI

SALARY CAP
You can make a heck of an argument that no other team in the NFL is in worse shape than the Colts, who have a bevy of potential free agents on their roster and are projected to be less than $5 million under the $109 million cap. Only three teams have less room, and of those, none have as many key free agents. Any way you cut it, the Colts are going to suffer a significant talent drain this offseason.

FREE AGENCY
First the good news: Even though defensive end Dwight Freeney's contract can void in March, he's not getting anywhere close to the open market. Colts general manager Bill Polian made it clear during Super Bowl week that he'll franchise Freeney (at a cost of $8.6 million for 2007) if Indy can't negotiate a contract extension with him before March.

And now the bad news: Indy won't be keeping all the players it prefers to. In no particular order of importance, the key Colts who are scheduled for free agency include both starting cornerbacks (Nick Harper and Jason David), both starting guards (Ryan Lilja and Jake Scott), both starting outside linebackers (Cato June and Rob Morris) and running back Dominic Rhodes.

COACHING STAFF
It's not out of the realm of possibility that the Colts could lose head coach Tony Dungy to retirement after the Super Bowl. Dungy, 51, has been quoted saying he didn't expect to coach much past the age of 50, and his interest in committing himself fully to some kind of Christian ministry is part of his motivation away from football.

Also, Colts quarterbacks coach Jim Caldwell is considered a head-coach-in-waiting by many around the league and is thought likely to interview for the Cowboys coaching job in the coming days.

2007 SCHEDULE
Remember how bitter those Ravens fans were to the visiting Colts in the playoffs this season? If anything, it could be worse for Indy next season when it has to go back to Baltimore after eliminating the Ravens in that 15-6 divisional round upset. But Indianapolis doesn't have it so bad from an overall perspective. The Colts play just five 2006 playoff teams, although their four division games against Tennessee and Jacksonville aren't even close to being gimmes any more.

Indianapolis draws the NFC South in interconference play, and that includes tough road trips to Atlanta (Peyton Manning vs. Michael Vick) and Carolina, which figures to rebound from 2006's mediocrity. Oh, and one more game stands out: The Colts get the Patriots back in the RCA Dome for a rematch of this season's AFC title game.

Don Banks covers pro football for SI.com.