In Indianapolis, Phil Richards cited a source as saying that former Colts Dir of Football Operations DENNIS POLIAN's departure from the club was initially described as a “parting of ways,” but Colts GM RYAN GRIGSON “fired him over the phone” when Polian was in Nashville for an interview with the Titans. The source said that permission for Polian to interview for the position was “denied, then granted.” Polian had originally been retained by the Colts after his father, former Vice Chair BILL POLIAN, and his brother, former VP & GM CHRIS POLIAN, were let go on Jan. 2. The Titans did end up hiring Dennis Polian as Personal Assistant to head coach MIKE MUNCHAK (INDYSTAR.com, 3/15).
EXECS: Mexican IOC Exec BOD member MARIO VAZQUEZ RANA resigned from his position Thursday. Vazquez Rana, who would have been “required by IOC age rules to give up his executive seat in July,” will also “relinquish control of the 204-member Association of National Olympic Committees, which he has led since founding it in 1979.” PATRICK HICKEY of Ireland will replace him on the IOC Exec BOD (AP, 3/15)….NHRA VP/Sales & Business Development TONY DRISCOLL left the organization last week. He is currently looking for other opportunities in and outside of sports (Tripp Mickle, SportsBusiness Journal)....NFL Media Dir of Communications DENNIS JOHNSON is leaving the league after four years (THE DAILY)….The D’Backs promoted the following: GRAHAM ROSSINI to VP/Special Projects & Fan Experience, RYAN HOLMSTEDT to Dir of Sales and ANDRE LUCK and TRAVIS BAKER to Senior Account Exec Team Lead (THE DAILY)….Bright House Sports Net named FS South Senior Producer/Original Programming RAY GOODRICH Managing Editor (CABLEFAX DAILY, 3/16).
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