Colts Owner Jim Irsay said the process to find a new GM will be "extensive," and "it could take multiple weeks." The team on Monday announced the termination of team Vice Chair Bill Polian and VP & GM Chris Polian. In Indianapolis, Phil Richards writes Irsay “wants someone with Polian's ‘magical’ talent for player evaluation and ‘intuitive feel for greatness,’" and he “does not want a puppet.” Irsay will “make his selection, invest him with all necessary authority and pay him well, but he will not relinquish control.” Irsay wants a GM “with a vision and a plan for restoring the Colts to their recent successes after this season's 2-14 collapse, and a sense of the franchise's place in the community” (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 1/4). The AP’s Jim Litke writes there is “no question someone had to take the fall for Indy's unmitigated disaster of a season, but the heavy favorite was coach Jim Caldwell.” Whether Bill Polian’s “genius for evaluating talent rubbed off on the son remains to be seen, but Chris clearly inherited some of his overbearing nature” (AP, 1/4).
HOOK & BAIT: In West Palm Beach, Greg Stoda notes the hiring of a new Dolphins coach will be Stephen Ross' “most important decision since becoming owner.” Ross “has to get this one right, and Miami … might be a hard sell to any coach with options” (PALM BEACH POST, 1/4). In Ft. Lauderdale, Omar Kelly writes Ross “isn't acclimated with being disliked, and more importantly, he's uncomfortable with it.” Ross is “obsessed with seeking approval.” He is “one of the NFL's youngest owners, so mistakes have been made,” but the one thing that “can't be questioned is Ross' desire to get it right, the resources he'll put behind his projects.” He realizes the “only way to gain the respect of Dolphins [fans] is by building a franchise that towers over the 31 other teams in the NFL” (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 1/4). Meanwhile, also in Ft. Lauderdale, Craig Davis noted the Dolphins' ’12 schedule features home games against the Patriots, Bills, Jets, Jaguars, Titans, Rams, Seahawks and Raiders. Selling tickets “could be a much tougher task.” Davis: “Not an intriguing match-up to circle on the calendar in the bunch” (SUN-SENTINEL.com, 1/2).
TO-DO LIST: In San Jose, Monte Poole writes the "mob circling" Raiders coach Hue Jackson, calling for him to "oust himself after one year, should be ignored.” The organization's “first move to fix itself, having lost architect and former owner Al Davis, has to be hiring a general manager.” Poole writes it is “unlikely the organization will find someone more qualified for the GM job than Reggie McKenzie," a former Raiders LB and currently Packers Dir of Football Operations (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 1/4).
