The Colts yesterday named Chiefs Dir of Player Personnel Chris Ballard as their new GM, bringing with him "16 years of NFL scouting experience, from his 11 seasons as a southwest area scout" for the Bears to his most recent role in K.C., according to a front-page piece by Stephen Holder of the INDIANAPOLIS STAR. Ballard replaces Ryan Grigson, who "was fired after five seasons on Jan. 21." The Colts "interviewed six candidates for the position but invited only Ballard back for a second interview." Team Owner Jim Irsay "headed up the search but enlisted the help of several others, including former Colts President Bill Polian." Ballard will be a GM "for the first time, as Grigson was when he took over" in January '12. But unlike Grigson, Ballard has "been viewed as a fast riser among league insiders." He has drawn "significant interest from other teams" when GM jobs have come open. The ability of Ballard and coach Chuck Pagano to work together effectively is a "key to this hire being a success and to Pagano's long-term survival in his current role." People who have worked with Ballard "describe him as having a wonderful personality and being easy to work with" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 1/30). ESPN.com's Mike Wells wrote Ballard "has the knowledge of what it takes to build a roster" despite being a first-time GM (ESPN.com, 1/29).
RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME: THE MMQB's Peter King writes the Colts "hired a very good man" in Ballard, and King always "wondered why he never got a job" as a GM before this weekend. Ballard "withdrew from some, and wanted to stay in the Midwest for family reasons, and this is the perfect shot for him." King: "What GM who wants to win a Super Bowl wouldn’t want to have [QB] Andrew Luck as the baseline player to start? Now Ballard is going to have to convince some great scouts ... to come help" (MMQB.SI.com, 1/30). NFL Network's Ian Rapoport noted Ballard had been "waiting for the perfect spot, a place he could stay in the Midwest, something he knows his family has wanted." The "prospect of working with Andrew Luck and building the Colts was too much to pass up” (“NFL Total Access,” NFL Network, 1/29)
