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McDaniels Changes Mind On Colts Job, Will Stay With Patriots

McDaniels reportedly had trepidation about moving his family away from New EnglandGETTY IMAGES

The Colts said that Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has "decided not to accept" the team's head coaching job, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. A source said that in the past 48 hours, Patriots Owner Robert Kraft began "talking with McDaniels and ultimately wound up sweetening his contract, helping to entice McDaniels, who had yet to sign a contract with the Colts," to remain with the Patriots. McDaniels has been "vacillating on this decision throughout the interview process, ever since meeting with the Colts on wild-card weekend." It is the reason a "second meeting with Colts officials and team Owner Jim Irsay was held." A source said that McDaniels was "trying to get comfortable with the idea of taking his family out of New England and moving to Indianapolis." The Krafts then "stepped in this week to make McDaniels feel even more wanted, and the two sides were able to come to an agreement" last night. A source said that McDaniels' decision to stay could "spark speculation that perhaps Patriots head coach Bill Belichick's tenure is about to end, but those close to McDaniels say that isn't the case" (ESPN.com, 2/6). In Boston, Tom Curran reported there were 15 hours of meetings between McDaniels, Belichick and the Krafts "over the past two days." Also among the things convincing McDaniels to stay were "stability in New England (this season and the past 48 hours notwithstanding), the program in place with personnel czar and longtime friend Nick Caserio and the chance to keep his family rooted in New England" (NBCSPORTSBOSTON.com, 2/6).

NEXT IN LINE: In Boston, Ben Volin in a front-page piece writes the Krafts' move to keep McDaniels was made not only with '18 in mind, but the "future of the Patriots." If Belichick "doesn’t step down this year, it’s coming soon." McDaniels "better have gotten assurances from the Krafts or Belichick that he is going to be the next Patriots head coach, and sooner than later." He still "wants a second chance at a top job, and he certainly won’t be viewed positively in NFL coaching circles after this sudden about face." ESPN's Damien Woody tweeted, "U pull that move if there are ‘assurances’ b/c that’s career suicide jack!" Volin notes McDaniels is the "obvious heir to Belichick" (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/7). Also in Boston, Steve Buckley in a front-page piece writes, "You know, and I know, and the Krafts know, and (Tom) Brady knows, and I assure you Bill Belichick knows, that Josh McDaniels is the next head coach of the Patriots." It is "just a matter of if he takes the reins next week or next season" (BOSTON HERALD, 2/7). Pro Football Talk's Michael David Smith‏ tweeted, "McDaniels would rather have a chance of being the head coach for Robert Kraft some day than the certainty of being the head coach for Jim Irsay now. And I think that's how I would feel if I were in McDaniels' shoes."

POOR FORM: THE MMQB's Peter King writes it "might take McDaniels some time to clean up the damage done by leaving his friend, Colts GM Chris Ballard, at the altar." A source said that McDaniels got "no written assurance that he will succeed the 65-year-old Belichick." However, it is "clear McDaniels would get first consideration to take over" (SI.com, 2/7). In Boston, Karen Guregian writes the fact Kraft reportedly made a "rally in the 11th hour to hasten McDaniels’ to return to Foxboro ... speaks volumes." Kraft went out and got Belichick the "same way 18 years ago" when Belichick "reneged on a deal to coach" the Jets. When Kraft has his "eye on a target, he usually lands the prize." But the move "pretty much assured McDaniels won’t get another job now." No team will "trust him enough to hire him." So it is the "Patriots head job or bust" (BOSTON HERALD, 2/7). Also in Boston, Greg Bedard wrote there is still "much to hash out between the triumvirate" of Kraft, Belichick and Brady. This also could be seen as a "move to make Brady more comfortable" (BOSTONSPORTSJOURNAL.com, 2/6).

THE CITY LEFT BEHIND: In Indianapolis, Zak Keefer in a front-page piece notes the decision came "hours after the Colts had announced McDaniels had come to terms with the team on a contract agreement." McDaniels is "leaving the Colts in an awful situation." It is a "painful blow for a Colts’ organization that was prepping" to introduce McDaniels today. Ballard finds himself in the "unenviable position of having to restart his search" for Chuck Pagano’s successor. Of the candidates the Colts interviewed, "three have already accepted head-coaching positions elsewhere." The Colts also have already "come to agreements with three assistants, who all signed up to work for McDaniels." The expectation, at this juncture, is that the assistants will "remain on staff and work under whomever the new head coach is" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 2/7). YAHOO SPORTS' Charles Robinson writes "regardless of whether it’s fair," this will go down as a misstep by Ballard -- "particularly amongst those who haven’t bought into the resurrection of McDaniels’ reputation" following a short head coaching stint with the Broncos (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 2/7).

AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT: NBC Sports Bay Area’s Kelli Johnson said of McDaniels turning down the Colts, “Two years ago, I would think you would jump at this opportunity. Now the Colts gig doesn't look so good." NBC Sports Bay Area's Dave Feldman added, "The Colts job is not as sweet as you think any more because we don't know how healthy Andrew Luck is. When he’s healthy, he’s awesome and it’s a great fan base, the fans in Indianapolis care about football but Luck hasn’t been healthy for over a year.” NBC Sports Bay Area’s Ray Ratto: “More to the point, the ownership and the front office is a hot mess and in New England, it is not" (“The Happy Hour,” NBCS Bay Area, 2/6). ESPN's Stephen A. Smith said, "For all we know, Andrew Luck will be ready to go come training camp, or his career could be in jeopardy." ESPN's Max Kellerman added, "If Andrew Luck had never been injured, if that wasn't even a question and he played all 16 games this year and had his typical excellent season, do we all still think Josh McDaniels would not have taken the Colts job?” (“First Take,” ESPN, 2/7).

TOUGH TIMES: USA TODAY's Mike Jones notes the Colts have "experienced a rough few days after an alleged drunken driver killed" LB Edwin Jackson. While yesterday's news with McDaniels "pales in comparison, it is still a significant blow for a team that’s already trying to recover from a difficult year" (USA TODAY, 2/7). NFL Network's Dan Ellie said the Colts go from "maybe getting the jewel of the future head coaching market to now you don’t know where you’re going to go" ("NFL Total Access," NFL Net, 2/6). In Indianapolis, Gregg Doyel writes, "This is humiliating." The Colts "just got punked." The team is now a "mess and a punch line, but it could have been so much worse." Doyel: "They could have woken up Thursday with Josh McDaniels as coach" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 2/7). ESPN's Mike Golic said of the Colts, "I can't fathom the ‘between a rock and hard place’ they are in" ("Golic & Wingo," ESPN Radio, 2/7). The Indianapolis Star's Stephen Holder‏ tweeted, "I can't fault Ballard on this one. JM screwed him -- period." The Athletic's Melissa Lockard‏ in a tongue-in-cheek tweet wrote: "I feel bad for the Irsay family. Must hurt to have someone promise one thing and then go somewhere else without warning." 

MORE TWITTER REAX: ESPN's Randy Scott‏: "Starting to think the #Colts should NOT have waged a 15-year whine-fest against the #Patriots, complaining to the league about grass length, receiver contact, offensive formations, and football air pressure. Almost like Bob Kraft kept the receipts." The MMQB's Albert Breer‏: "The time for the NFL to change its ridiculous rules on hiring coaches from playoff teams has come. They played a big part in what happened tonight." The Ringer's Michael Lombardi‏:"I feel bad for the coaches that left their positions to be on the Colts staff working for McDaniels and now they don’t know who their head coach will be. That’s horrible."

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