The Colts fired coach Chuck Pagano after six seasons following the team's season-ending win over the Texans, and the team yesterday "turned the page and began the process of moving on," according to Stephen Holder of the INDIANAPOLIS STAR. Colts GM Chris Ballard said that the team has "one of the most attractive job openings in the NFL." Ballard: “We’re going to get the right fit for the Indianapolis Colts. We have a great organization, we have a lot to sell and this is going to be a great place." He said that there will be "no timeline" for hiring Pagano's replacement. Colts Owner Jim Irsay "made it known he will follow Ballard’s lead in the search." Holder reports Ballard will be "out front in conducting the search and will make recommendations that Irsay said he willingly would follow." There has been "speculation that Irsay’s occasional zeal for wanting to make a splash might impact this coaching search" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 1/2). Irsay said he will have Ballard “do the heavy lifting” regarding the search and will present the "best candidate.” Ballard said, "We want a partner. The head coach-general manager relationship is one of the most important things for the success of this franchise." In Indianapolis, Gregg Doyel notes Ballard was linked to Chiefs assistant coach Dave Toub when he was a candidate for the Bears GM job in '15, so Toub likely is the "leader in the clubhouse" to replace Pagano. But that "doesn't mean" he will get the job (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 1/2). The STAR's Holder noted the search "might include candidates from the college ranks as well as NFL assistants" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 1/2).
IS THIS A GOOD JOB? ESPN’s Ryan Clark said the Colts’ opening "scares me," as he is "not a guy that necessarily wants to coach under Jim Irsay." He noted the franchise during the Peyton Manning era was the "standard in the AFC, along with New England Patriots, that you thought that every year had the opportunity to win it." However, Irsay has become someone who "leaks information from the locker room, that wants to lead in almost a Jerry Jones-type way without the Jerry Jones ‘control’ that he has." Clark: "This really makes me nervous if I'm going to take this job. Will this organization be run in a way that allows me to be successful, especially with a quarterback that I don’t know who he will be when he comes back?” (“NFL Live,” ESPN2, 1/1). FS1's Nick Wright said this is a "good job" but wondered, "Who is going to know how healthy Andrew Luck really is?" Wright: "If Luck is healthy and you walk into a job with a top 12 quarterback, you don't have to worry about the situation." However, FS1's Cris Carter said, "This job is marginalized because the owner has been crazy for a long time" ("First Things First," FS1, 1/2).
BEING FORTHRIGHT: The STAR's Holder notes Irsay yesterday "embarked on a long rant during which he was as forceful as he’s ever been" regarding Luck and his ongoing recovery from shoulder surgery. Irsay was "adamantly insisting Luck will be back and better than ever." Irsay: “I’m not going to BS you. I’m not going to BS our fans. I have no doubt in my mind that Andrew is going to come back. That kid is a special kid. He was born to do great things in the NFL” (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 1/2).
