Retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Brian Decker, who has "tried to implement in the NFL a system of predictive character traits he once used to select Green Berets," has been hired by the Colts as Player Personnel Strategist, according to a source cited by Seth Wickersham of ESPN. It is a "fascinating move" by Colts GM Chris Ballard to "reshape Indy's personnel department and comes 10 days after he dismissed some staffers." Decker "effectively reinvented the process for selecting Green Berets," turning an "outdated system based on who survived three brutal weeks of training into a data-driven model." His system was "calibrated to detect intangible leadership characteristics in order to find soldiers who weren't merely satisfied with becoming Green Berets, but who wanted to become great Green Berets." Former Browns GM Mike Lombardi in '13 "brought Decker to Browns camp" has was hired by the team in '14. He was "let go" when current Exec VP/Football Operations Sashi Brown took over in January '16 (ESPN.com, 5/9).
FOREVER IMMORTALIZED: The Colts will unveil a statue of former QB Peyton Manning outside Lucas Oil Stadium at 3:00pm ET on Oct. 7 before a game against the 49ers. The statue is being "designed by sculptor and firefighter Ryan Feeney." Manning's jersey retirement and Ring of Honor induction will take place the following day during the Colts' game against the 49ers (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 5/10).
