The Colts fired coach Jim Caldwell yesterday, and Owner Jim Irsay, in “collaboration with new general manager Ryan Grigson, decided a coaching change was required to provide his franchise different leadership and direction,” according to Mike Chappell of the INDIANAPOLIS STAR. The "housecleaning commenced" after the team finished the season 2-14. It began with the Jan. 2 firing of Vice Chair Bill Polian and VP & GM Chris Polian, and the Jan. 11 hiring of Grigson. A search for Caldwell's replacement “begins immediately” (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 1/18). ESPN's John Clayton reported the Colts gave a "lot of consideration" to retaining Caldwell. However, he said, "When they looked at the 2-14 season, wanted to try to be credible for the fans, appease the local media, get that all together, they decided to make this change" ("NFL Live," ESPN, 1/17). SPN’s Chris Mortensen reported there were some "trial balloons sent up about what would the fan reaction be if they kept Caldwell." Mortensen: "I don’t think it played very well without a component of Steve Spagnuolo being a part of that staff. Maybe they didn’t think it would generate enough excitement, but I also think Jim Irsay sensed you’re turning a page. When you fire Bill Polian and his son Chris Polian, when you know there’s uncertainty about Peyton Manning, when you have the first pick in the draft and you’re not going to trade it, you’re turning the page” (“NFL 32,” ESPN, 1/17). ESPN's Tony Kornheiser said the move “indicates there’s a sea change with the Colts now” with the dismissal of Caldwell and Bill Polian. Kornheiser: “It means that Jimmy Irsay is going to be much more hands-on than he’s been before” ("PTI," ESPN, 1/17).
MOVING ON FROM MANNING? In Indianapolis, Bob Kravitz wrote the firing was “the right call,” but a “tough call, a close call.” Yesterday’s announcement suggested that the team has “moved on, emotionally if not physically and officially," from injured QB Peyton Manning. Kravitz writes if Manning “is coming back, my sense is you keep the old gang together.” But Irsay and Grigson “keep talking about ‘rebuilding’ and how this is a ‘new era,’” which “sound a lot more like” prospective No. 1 draft pick Andrew Luck than Manning (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 1/18). Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio said the new coach is going to have a “big role in the decision coming early March or sooner whether or not” Manning remains with the Colts (“NBC Sports Talk,” NBC Sports Network, 1/17). FOXSPORTS.com’s Alex Marvez writes the “only task remaining for Irsay is formulating a way to avoid a Green Bay/Brett Favre fiasco by letting Manning leave the franchise as gracefully as possible” (FOXSPORTS.com, 1/18). However, CSNBayArea.com's Ray Ratto said, "I’m not sure whether firing Jim Caldwell has anything to do with Peyton Manning as some people are trying to connect.” The issue with Manning is “going to be a financial decision” ("Jim Rome Is Burning,” ESPN2, 1/17).
TAKING THE REINS: In Indianapolis, Phil Richards wrote Grigson’s new role is “a huge job for a 39-year-old first-time general manager succeeding a legend in Bill Polian,” but those who know him “promise he will be a selfless warrior whose only priority is the team.” Grigson admitted that he “has little experience working with the salary cap,” but he said that he “will learn and in the meantime, lean on Colts front office personnel who do” (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 1/17).
