Colts Owner Jim Irsay on Saturday announced the firing of GM Ryan Grigson and "denied that there were ever any serious negotiations" with former NFLer Peyton Manning about a front-office position, according to Holder & Keefer of the INDIANAPOLIS STAR. Irsay said of Manning, "I wouldn't say he's in the picture." Grigson "signed a three-year extension a year ago this month," and Irsay said at the time he was "tied at the hip" to coach Chuck Pagano. Irsay: "I untied them. ... I don't think we ever celebrate a firing. Ryan was a good man, and anyone who can't see that is unfortunate." Irsay added, "This is the move that we needed to make. I made it slowly, cautiously, prudently, because it’s a big decision. I prefer continuity. But this move was the right move." Holder & Keefer noted the Colts are not "accustomed to sitting at home in January -- yet that's exactly where this team found itself the past two years." It "became obvious" as the '16 season wore on that the Colts were a team "in regression, a team with an incomplete and imperfect roster paying dearly for the free agent gaffes and draft whiffs of the past few years" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 1/22). Irsay said, "I don't think you guys understand and give Ryan enough credit for what he's done here. I really don't." The STAR's Stephen Holder wrote Irsay's reasoning was "a puzzling rationale for firing someone." The working relationship between Grigson and Pagano "never truly improved," and it "seems to have played a role in Grigson's dismissal." The news was "met with glee in some corners, like among players." Grigson was "not popular in the locker room" as was made evident by the reaction of P Pat McAfee on Twitter. " McAfee tweeted, "Unwarranted arrogance just ran into a brick wall called karma." Former NFLer Reggie Wayne, in an interview on NFL Network, said Grigson "walked around and tried to put fear in people, and that ain't the way you do it" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 1/22).
DON'T SHED A TEAR: In Indianapolis, Gregg Doyel writes, "The bad man was fired, and there was much rejoicing." The loudest people seem "happy Grigson's gone simply because he's gone" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 1/22). ESPN's Louis Riddick said, "I've never seen in all my years ... players come out, be so vocal and express how they disliked him as a person and as a manager. That speaks to a severe fail on his part and something he'll have to re-evaluate if he wants to continue his career and get another chance at being a GM again” (“SportsCenter,” ESPN, 1/22). ESPN.com's Mike Wells writes there was a "disconnect between Grigson and Pagano, with their relationship so strained that they barely talked" during the '15 season (ESPN.com, 1/22). PRO FOOTBALL TALK's Mike Florio asked, "Why did it take 20 days to develop the gut feeling needed to make a change?" The process "obviously included trying to line up a replacement before letting Grigson go." Irsay made this move "only after coming to the conclusion that he can and will do better than Grigson" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 1/22). But ESPN's Adam Schefter reports the decision was made over the weekend "because the Senior Bowl starts this week." Schefter: "You don't want to send your GM down to the Senior Bowl and then fire him after he's down there doing that work. I think that was his artificial timeline" ("Mike & Mike," ESPN Radio, 1/23).
FILLING IN THE SPOT: The STAR's Zak Keefer wrote Colts fans can "stop their dreaming." Manning and ESPN's Jon Gruden "aren't walking through that door." Keefer: "Not now at least" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 1/22). THE MMQB's Albert Breer cited sources as saying that they "believe Manning has a job waiting for him with the Colts if he wants it, and he’s well aware of that." Should Manning "decide to come on board, he’d likely have a title" akin to Exec VP/Football Operations and play a role "similar to the one that John Elway accepted with the Broncos" in '11. Manning "doesn’t do anything halfway" though. If he goes in, he is "doing it with both feet, and that would mean an end to the retirement he’s enjoyed thoroughly over the last year." He and his family also "very much enjoy living in Colorado" (MMQB.com, 1/21). In Indianapolis, Jim Ayello notes Colts VP/Football Operations Jimmy Raye III will serve as interim GM. Irsay said that Raye would "operate the team in the short term and receive an interview for the position." He will also "lead the Colts in their Senior Bowl scouting" beginning today (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 1/22).
POPULAR LANDING SPOT: USA TODAY's Tom Pelissero wrote the Colts GM opening is the one "pretty much every prospective general manager had been eyeing for two years now," as it features the "chance to build around" QB Andrew Luck (USATODAY.com, 1/21). The STAR's Keefer writes a "heck of an opportunity just opened up," and Irsay "won't have trouble finding interested candidates" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 1/23). ESPN's Schefter said," A lot of people in the league want that GM job in Indianapolis. ... That job is very desirable" ("Mike & Mike," ESPN Radio, 1/23). NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports Irsay "will interview 4-5 GM candidates," and we can "expect to see plenty of familiar faces from the #49ers search" (TWITTER.com, 1/23).
