The news that the Colts decided to part ways with Jim Caldwell took everyone, EVERYONE, by surprise. It didn't matter if it was Indianapolis Star beat writer Mike Chappell, radio personality Jake Query, or a dirty little blogger like me. All of us were talking to different people, and all those people told us that Caldwell would be back.
Despite the events that transpired today, it looks as if those sources were, indeed, correct. Well, at least the people we talked to were right, anyway.
We reported earlier today that sources told us the Colts had interviewed Steve Spagnuolo for the vacant defensive coordinator position. Actually, we were the first to report it (yay us!), scooping Jay Glazer and Adam Schefter. Neither one of those guys gave us credit when they reported on the Spagnuolo story. Whatever. I don't expect courtesies from FOX Sports and ESPN.
Those reports also corroborated the info our sources told us: Spagnuolo was interviewed, and Caldwell was part of that interview process. The intent was to keep Caldwell was the head coach, and today's press conference was to announce that news along with the hiring of Spagnuolo.
However, what our sources didn't know was that Spagnuolo turned the Colts down. We don't know the reasons why, but he does have an interview scheduled with the Saints tomorrow for their vacant defensive coordinator position. The Saints are a top tier team. The Colts aren't. Gonna guess that the New Orleans seems more appealing to Spags because, you know, it is.
Once Spags said no, it appears as if Ryan Grigson felt it was moot to keep Caldwell.
In many ways, this makes the Colts organization look dysfunctional and somewhat leaderless. If Grigson had doubts about Caldwell, Caldwell should have been fired without hesitation. Bringing on Spagnuolo to run the defense doesn't change all the well-documented deficiencies Caldwell had as a head coach. As a G.M., you either believe in your head coach, or you don't. Grigson apparently didn't, but was willing to give Caldwell a chance as long as Spagnuolo came on board.
Perhaps Grigson saw Spags as a potential replacement head coach next year should Caldwell falter.
Regardless, the news that Caldwell was part of the Spagnuolo interview suggests the Colts planned to retain him, but when Spags unexpectedly said no, Caldwell got the ax.
In any case, for me personally, I kind of got to have my cake and eat it too. Our sources were correct, but they didn't know about Spagnuolo's decision. Therefore, what I REALLY wanted (Caldwell fired) was what I got. I also want to make to clear to everyone that my desire for his firing was not personal. Caldwell seems like a good man who had to work for a crappy boss (Bill Polian). Caldwell deserves a ton of credit for keeping the team playing hard during a 2-14 season.
But, at the end of the day, coaches are judged by results. In Caldwell's case, he just wasn't very good and doing the things good head coaches are supposed to do.
Going forward, it really is a crap shoot to find out who Grigson is targeting to replace Caldwell. Imagine how people like Robert Mathis must feel. One second it looks like Caldwell is back with a guy like Spagnuolo running the defense. The next, nothing.
In the end, in order for a 'New Era' to begin, Caldwell had to go. Now the focus shifts to who will replace him, and what will happen to Peyton Manning now that his coach is out.
0 recs | 126 comments
Caldwell should have been fired sooner
BUT late is better than never , a very pleasant surprise today esp. after BBS set me up last night for disappointment, so now Grigson can concentrate on getting a good head coach
OBGYNOSUPREME - January 17, 2012
No one would want to work for Caldwell as one of his assistants....
They must have finally got the message.
Odin1980 - January 17, 2012
agreed a nice guy but not a good coach and he was a puppet,
if I want to watch a puppet, will go to a puppet show
OBGYNOSUPREME - January 17, 2012
The conversation must've went like this...
Grigson: “We’d love you to join our organization Spags.”
Spagnuolo: “Sounds great when do I start?”
Grigson: “Just as soon as I inform your boss, Jim Caldwell.”
Spagnuolo: “W… T… F…?!?”
Sound of door slamming followed by fast moving feet.
SoCalHoosier - January 17, 2012
So if that is what caused Caldwell's firing
It was a good thing, BUT HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIRED BEFORE THAT !!!
OBGYNOSUPREME - January 17, 2012
Agreed. I honestly believe having no head coach at all is still better than having Caldwell.
SoCalHoosier - January 17, 2012
Aint that the truth...
Ayrshire - January 17, 2012
Spaggs wasn't exactly Don Shula himself
(206)NightRidah - January 17, 2012 via mobile
Regardless... Don Shula's toilet brush would be a better head coach than Caldwell.
SoCalHoosier - January 17, 2012
Soooo.....
even when you’re wrong, you’re right….BRILLIANT!!!!
Colts609 - January 17, 2012
Straight from the bottle...
BRILLIANT!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QYjFzFvJk4
Yougotme - January 17, 2012
From one VP/GM to the next, so go the days of Stampede Blue’s life. I really wish I could read here without a complaint, even when you get your way. Jesus. Its pretty ridiculous.
Just give us the information and your opinion on it, not tangents that pat your own back.
AnotherWriter - January 17, 2012
Does grigson own a suit?
Sweet khaki
zkmavz - January 17, 2012
don't care how he dresses
care how he thinks and picks and reacts,, look at the Hoodie the worst dressed coach in football
OBGYNOSUPREME - January 17, 2012
and he can wear a string bikini IF HE WANTS TODAY
cause at least he got the CALDWELL THING RIGHT lol
OBGYNOSUPREME - January 17, 2012
Where are the facts?
Neither link you posted backing up your “Spagnuolo said no” comments say anything about him saying no. One says that he is going to take his time to find the right spot. The other implies that he may be in the mix for the HC spot. Just because they didn’t hire him with Caldwell doesn’t mean they can’t get him.
It seems like you would really go out of your way to provide plenty of credible evidence for at least a few days after reporting a story that turned out to be 100% incorrect. Instead, you have gone with an “I was still right no matter how wrong I was” argument.
PeytonTheManning - January 17, 2012
Grigson
Grigson in his presser said they brought Spags in as a DC candidate and that Caldwell was there for the interview. Spags was there solely to be the DC working under Caldwell. That’s from my sources and from Grigson himself.
Brad Wells - January 17, 2012
Still not sure
I still don’t know how you are so positive that you’re on here asking people if they’re joking and laughing at them questioning you. It’s not like we don’t have reasons to question your stories or anything.
From the press conference:
Question: Will you wait on moving on Spagnuolo or go ahead and bring him in before you bring in a head
coach?
Grigson: We’re going to identify who we’re looking for
and get them in.
I’m not sure how that says they’ve moved on. That quote sounds like they are going to bring in the guys they want whether it starts with a HC or DC.
With the amount of teams interested in him, and the issue of not knowing who his HC would be, there is a very good chance he ends up going elsewhere.
That doesn’t mean you should report it as fact while posting two separate links that don’t mention that he turned down the position. Saying your sources told you that the same day your sources made you look like such a fool isn’t the best way to confirm your claim. Maybe post some quotes or links to quotes from others.
Also, your article said that “everyone” was wrong on Caldwell. It was actually everyone who was reporting it as fact based on information from sources. Kravitz and ColtsAuthority both waited for facts.
When it is from a source you can say that your sources are saying that it should or probably will happen. You’re setting up a pretty big face full of pie for yourself when you treat info from people in the organization, who aren’t the final decision makers, like
it is definitive.
Also, why are you responding to comments on here with “LOL! Are you serious?” after how foolish you looked when you got in a twitter argument with Kravitz? Then, you post it on here, and you find out he was right all along.
I don’t feel like you learned a single thing from any of this. Especially considering you are justifying being wrong, because other people were wrong, too. Seems like you should be figuring out ways to put yourself ahead of them.
PeytonTheManning - January 17, 2012
It’s not like we don’t have reasons to question your stories or anything. From the press conference:
No, you don’t have reasons.
Seriously, if what you are looking for are reason to not believe me, then why the fuck are you here? Ask yourself that? Why are you here if you don’t believe what I wrote up there?
And if you are someone who, apparently, just waits for facts, well what up there is not factual?
They Colts did interview Spagnuolo. Sources inside the team told people Caldwell would be back. Hell, Caldwell helped interview Spagnuolo yesterday. Do you have a head coach interview a DC candidate if you are planning to fire that head coach? How much sense does that make?
Even ESPN’s Chris Mortensen said that Spagnuolo turned down the DC job. This isn’t rocket science folks. When you bring a candidate in like Spagnuolo, you are bringing him in to offer him a job. Spags and Grigson go way back. So, it’s not like Grigson needs to ‘get to know’ Spags.
Also, this is just a small pet peeve of mine: If you’re going to Bob Kravitz and fucking Colts Authority for your news, then go there. Kravitz’s own people at the Star were writing the exact same stuff I was, and both Chappell and Wilson are helluva lot more connected to the team than Kravitz. The info coming out of the complex was that Caldwell was staying. It doesn’t take a fucking rocket science to put two and two together and come up with the notion that had Spagnuolo accepted the DC job, Caldwell is still the coach. Mortensen even made that claim this evening.
Why have Caldwell interview Spags if the intention was to fire Caldwell all along?
Again, these aren’t huge leaps in logic, and it’s not like I’m making this shit up as I go. At the end of the day, if you are here, it’s because you believe us. If you don’t believe us, well then just fuck off and read someone else. I don’t see how that simple little concept eludes people like you.
I mean, seriously? What the fuck do I have to do to get you to see the fucking bark from the trees? I can’t spell it out any more simply than this. This is all I got. The best I can do. That’s either good enough for you, or you can fuck off and read someone else.
Brad Wells - January 17, 2012
This sounds a lot like a rant from somebody...
Somebody I’ve read a lot around here but can’t quite put my finger on his name… Don’t think he’s with the Colts anymore… Bill Pullman… no – that’s the dude from Dumb and Dumber… Napoleon…. no – that’s the short mean dude from France… Oh, it’ll come to me.
Yougotme - January 18, 2012
Slow down
I made a similar comparison, and my comment got deleted. I also got a warning. Be careful comparing him to…crap, I forgot his name too. Paxton. It’s Bill Paxton. I knew we’d get it.
PeytonTheManning - January 18, 2012
The guard for the Chicago Bulls back...
in their heyday?
Yougotme - January 18, 2012
thats a common mistake
but you’re obviously thinking of me
muncie_in_this - January 18, 2012
Only one man
would dare give Brad the Raspberry!!!
Addai Another Aday - January 18, 2012
Brad,
I really wish you’d relax a bit. Don’t get so upset when people, mostly, are asking you to [a] quit the bashing and constant complaining about the franchise and give your opinion on the things you can control or at least give the time for things to change, and [b] stop being so hateful and immediately start deleting posts when you are questioned. I get that it is your blog, but do you really have to go all WW2-era Hitler on us, censoring what people say on an open blog, especially when it rarely has profanity, etc. connected to it? Be rational and logical and let discussion and disagreement have a place on SB. If you open up the dialogue, rather than run from it and start bashing readers, I think you’ll find people will back down a bit, not be so up in your face about it all the time. The more obstinate you are are, worse it’ll get.
AnotherWriter - January 18, 2012
I 100% agree
Brad you did it to me for disagreeing with you….not a cuss word did I say…I just thought you were wrong….next thing I know I get a warning that i will be banned cause I disagreed….I say 4 letter words all over here that you say not one word about….I 100% agree with Another Writer here….and I still think the Colts are acting lost in space …and yesterday was living proof….I have read many words yesterday that say the Colts are acting very unprofessional….and much in disarray.
Colts53 - January 18, 2012
I don't know about the unprofessional part...
but they do seem to still be in disarray. It’d be interesting to hear about the inner workings at this point.
The Colts need to bring in a head coach who can restore order to what seems like a spiraling out of control ship at the moment. They need a coach with some stability and can command the respect of the organization. I know it’s a pipe dream, but Bill Cowher would seem like the perfect guy given where this organization is at right now. That or a Harbaugh – quick, somebody check the white pages. There’s got to be a few hundred in the greater Indy area alone.
Yougotme - January 18, 2012
I find it truely ironic the complaints BBS made about Polian...
and how he treated “the media” and front office people and how he treats his audience in nearly an identical manor.
Yougotme - January 18, 2012
WOW
Coming from a guy who hates when people curse at hiim on his blogs and has to flag and block them…AND YOU DROP THE F BOMB!!! HOW FOOLISH DO YOU LOOK NOW IDIOT?
rk4112 - January 19, 2012
Am fine with Spags declining
From what I have listened to from the new GM Ryan Grigson, our beloved Colts will find a terrific coach to team up with Grigson in the re-constructing of this team. Spags may come to regret his decision. I am loving what this young man says, and the humility, genuine spirit and conviction with which he says it. In Grigson I trust !
oldecoltsfan - January 17, 2012
Thank GOD or Tim TEEBOW or Whoever!
When I recieved a text today saying IT’s official COLTS fire Caldwell. I damm near pissed my pants with joy!!! Awesome jod IRSAY/GRIGSON. Next up sign SPAGS as DC! Were on the right track!!! COLT fans get ready for some big moves in the next few months!!!
shoospa - January 17, 2012
Who really cares if BBS was wrong or right
All I care about is what really happens, i would rather like in this case, have BBS be wrong about Caldwell being kept, then him being right in this case. The focus for me is what happens with the Colts , everyone makes mistakes ,, or gets the wrong story when you try to predict before something happens based on “credible sources”.
OBGYNOSUPREME - January 17, 2012
What?
There is no proof anywhere that Spags said no!!
What are you going to say when he takes the job after feeling out the rest of his prospects of which there are like 4 …none of which has he told NO to!!
This is just ridiculous …even when he is wrong he is somehow right…LOL!
AJ Colt - January 17, 2012
'There is no proof anywhere that Spags said no!!'
LOL!
Seriously, you’re joking right?
Brad Wells - January 17, 2012
No... where is it?
Your link doesn’t say that.
James Broschat - January 17, 2012
Please show me...
Please show me one link where Schefter, Mortenson or someone of that caliber said that Spags turned them down and said no! And please don’t point to one of YOUR articles that says it lol please spare me or I will throw up in my mouth…
Just think about how many job interviews have you agreed to take and then told them absolutely NO on the spot??. Without having another job already signed on the dotted line… Who does that? Answer is …. Absolutely Noone!!! Lol
AJ Colt - January 17, 2012
And we know
We know Spags doesn’t already have a job as he is interviewing with the Saints… Why would you burn a bridge this early in the process?
AJ Colt - January 17, 2012
Mort said it on ESPN today right after the press conference.
That doesn’t mean it’s true, but he did say it.
EVLGNUS - January 17, 2012
AJ Colts
Go to the link in the story and watch Mortensen’s interview. He also states Spagnuolo turned them down.
Also, stop ranting like a madman for a moment and think. Use logic. Why the fuck is Spagnuolo being brought in for an interview WITH CALDWELL PRESENT if the intention is not to hire him?
Also, the old adage in the NFL is if you get the guy in the room, the intention is to hire him. This is especially true if you know the guy. Spags and Grigson go way back.
And since Spags has moved on to other interviews and is considered out of contention for nay job with the Colts, it’s obvious he turned them down. If you want ‘PROOF!’ in the form of an office wire tapping, talk to the Chiefs Scott Pioli.
Brad Wells - January 17, 2012
No, Mort doesn't say that.
He “takes a leap” and says that he thought that if Spags had taken the job, Caldwell would still be coach. Mort never says that he was told Spags turned them down. He speculates, like you.
James Broschat - January 17, 2012
James
Seriously, go back and re-read what you just wrote and then re-eatch Mort’s interview. The ‘reach’ aspect is in Caldwell still being coach (which really isn’t much of a reach).
What he did not ‘reach’ on was the statement that Spagnuolo turned down the job. Spags did turn it down. Mort says that twice in the interview. Also, it’s just fucking logical that Spags turned it down.
I mean, he wasn’t hired. The Colts clearly had him there with the intention to hire him and throw ‘big money at him,’ or so says Mort.
Brad Wells - January 17, 2012
Transcript:
Mort clearly says it’s all his opinion. He’s not reporting anything. I watched the video four times, he’s just offering his opinion.
James Broschat - January 17, 2012
I HAVE seen reports that say that Spags didn't want to make a decision yet,
so that would make sense, but I haven’t seen anyone reporting that Spags was offered the job in Indy and flat turned it down. I’ll try and find those reports.
James Broschat - January 17, 2012
Found it.
Clayton had it:
James Broschat - January 17, 2012
Careful
I responded to his hateful, adolescent remarks with facts, so he deleted the comment and gave me a warning to not post like that. You might want to take it easy posting things like transcripts of conversations he keeps referencing. You’ll be next.
PeytonTheManning - January 18, 2012
i read that comment
and it was very good and thus, deserving of the ban hammer
muncie_in_this - January 18, 2012
Yeah
I guess I know not to question anything he does anymore. I will just accept everything, and never try to get justification on claims being made. I usually just come here for the comments sections, anyhow. This was the first BBS article I have read in months, since I grew tired of reading the same article over and over. I wanted to see how he would react to posting incorrect information. He actually exceeded my expectations. I’ll just stick to bantering with people who don’t take their ball and go home.
PeytonTheManning - January 18, 2012
I responded
with facts, and just dialogue too, of course that was too much and needed to be deleted as well. The fans are why I come back to this place, If I knew of a better website with equally cool colts fans, Id just go there. Its getting to be a joke over here.
BiggRedd - January 18, 2012
AGAIN
I AM GOING TO FLAG EVERYONE OF YOUR POSTS THAT YOU CURSE IN…ARE YOU GOING TO BAN ME???
rk4112 - January 19, 2012
I hope I wasn't one of the 'sources' you were speaking of
I appreciated the retweet, but I was purely speculating based off of what Grigson was saying in the presser. Looking back, it was my bad to tweet it the way I did. It sounded like I heard it from someone who would know. Sorry if I misled anyone!
Mark Olson - January 17, 2012
No
We had people connected to the team that spoke with us. This wasn’t the pizza delivery guy, or a person randomly on Twitter.
Brad Wells - January 17, 2012
Glad to hear it
I was like “Crap, I may have just broke BS news…”
Mark Olson - January 17, 2012
Interesting that you say your sources were correct regarding the retention of Caldwell. Especially given the fact that, you know, they were wrong.
burc - January 17, 2012
Grigson said in Indy star he wants Leadership
from a new head coach, I am glad he realized Caldwell was not a leader
OBGYNOSUPREME - January 17, 2012
Not the time for any blame games
Jim Irsay has made an incredible hire in Ryan Grigson. This young talent guru is the real damn deal, and he is incredibly well grounded in reality and humility. We need to focus on the ball . . . . . .the ball being the excruciatingly difficult decisions Ryan must work his way through between now and March 8th and then the Draft. Peyton Manning or Andrew Luck. Who coaches this team into the new era? Wow . . . .this dude has a shitload on his plate. But, you know what ? I think he’s got the right stuff to guide this franchise through the fog and return to greatness. I respect everyone’s opinions, but my vote is for Grigson and his skills to rejuvenate our Colts .
oldecoltsfan - January 17, 2012
Agreed.
In Grigson we trust. For the time being…
Peter Storgaard - January 17, 2012
Fair enough, Peter . . .
but, I am intrigued to enravel the results regarding roster, staff and overall direction this fertile young mind named Grigson can devise. I, for one, have the gut-feel that he is the genuine article and can navigate without his hand being held. I really like this man.
oldecoltsfan - January 17, 2012
Don't get me wrong...
I like him too. A lot!
I was simply making a reference to my impression of the fanbase in general.
Polian was a hero… well, until he wasn’t anymore.
Peter Storgaard - January 17, 2012
I trusted in Polian, too . . . . .
>….until he got too damn big for his britches. His moves to entrench his son Chris as a transitional piece was at first acceptable but later proved self-serving and dysfunctional. I was slow to pick up on that, but realize now that they had out-lived their ability to serve this franchise and had to go. Ryan Grigson is a goood human being, an exquisite judge of football players, and the right choice to lead this franchise into whatever future he can create with his judgements and evalustions. I like our chances now.
oldecoltsfan - January 17, 2012
Yeah, Polian never quite got that
the Colts franchise wasn’t his family business to pass down from generation to generation.
Ayrshire - January 17, 2012
Um, what are you basing your observations on?
What at all do you know about this guy? I genuinely hope he is all of those things and I’m optimistic about his future but damn. Is he your nephew it something?
mlc2656 - January 17, 2012 via mobile
good start so far
OBGYNOSUPREME - January 17, 2012
Schefter doesn't seem to think the Colts are still in the race for Spags
http://nfltraderumors.co/eagles-falcons-and-saints-all-in-play-for-steve-spagnuolo/
Mentions Eagles, Falcons and Saints.
Peter Storgaard - January 17, 2012
So be it
Spags may not be all he seems to some of us.
oldecoltsfan - January 17, 2012
Schefter mentioned the Colts right after the mentioned tweet:
https://twitter.com/#!/AdamSchefter/status/159365907372716032
James Broschat - January 17, 2012
Fail.
https://twitter.com/#!/AdamSchefter/status/159365907372716032
James Broschat - January 17, 2012
You're right.
Peter Storgaard - January 17, 2012
Where does it say Spags said no?
Your link to ESPN doesn’t.
Oh, and you didn’t “scoop” Spags’ interview. LovinBlue did.
James Broschat - January 17, 2012
Link?
mgrex03 - January 17, 2012
There is no link
Laura didn’t scoop anything.
Brad Wells - January 17, 2012
Also
Didn’t we cite Laura’s airplane tweets in our report?
Oh yeah, we did.
Brad Wells - January 17, 2012
So when are you going to apologize to Kravitz?
All I read from this blog the past couple days is how he was so wrong about everything and had so called “meltdowns.” I haven’t read any apologies yet. Seems to me you’re conveniently ignoring the issue.
BlueInSD - January 17, 2012
I'm not
Apologize for what? For him insulting me, belittling Jake query, and conveniently ignoring that his own colleagues were writing the same stuff?
Were you drinking when you wrote this comment? If so, what? I’m thirsty.
Brad Wells - January 17, 2012
So what Now
No HC No Spags. Who is out there realistically?
Cwhite916 - January 17, 2012
Why no Spags?
James Broschat - January 17, 2012
"However, what our sources didn't know was that Spagnuolo turned the Colts down. "
Cwhite916 - January 17, 2012
So... if his sources didn't know that...
then who did? Because nowhere in this article does it have anybody in the business saying that.
James Broschat - January 17, 2012
Who would want to coach for this team?
It’s a circle jerk and there is a lot of turmoil behind the scenes. The GM hasn’t even spoken with the franchise QB in the first week he’s here?! That guy is the missing piece to the puzzle! Get it figured out!
The previous HC thought he was home free and sent his staff home right before he was fired?! This place is a mess. We’ll be lucky to draw the Akron water boy for a head coach by the time everything is said and done.
Mark Olson - January 17, 2012
Peyton/Luck should attract someone.
Peter Storgaard - January 17, 2012
Ha! Good luck...
Whose going to attract Luck!? I was one of the major doubters that Luck would force the Colts to trade the pick, but now I could see good reasoning. Colts are a joke right now.
Mark Olson - January 17, 2012
Right firing Caldwell is what made the organization a mess...
Caldwell was arguably the worst coach in the NFL
(206)NightRidah - January 17, 2012 via mobile
..not just the worst coach in the NFL..
he was the worst coach in NFL history, IMHO.
Ayrshire - January 17, 2012
Two Words...
Rich Kotite
(206)NightRidah - January 17, 2012 via mobile
Tom Landry was the worst coach in NFL history
or maybe he would have been if the Cowboys had given up on him as fast as we gave up on Caldwell
Landry’s record:
1960 0-11-1
1961 4-9-1
1962 5-8-1
1963 4-10
1964 5-8-1
1965 7-7
Even Chuck Noll didn’t break .500 until his 4th season. Belichick had one winning season with the Browns and was fired after he followed that season up with a 5-11 record. When he took over for the Pats he had that same 5-11 record when the year before he got there they finished at .500 with an 8-8 record.
Fans want results now, but good things come to those who wait. I still argue this was a hasty decision and what comes next for the Colts could be years of dreadfulness.
Mark Olson - January 17, 2012
Time will tell.....but I've seen Caldwell
fail at too many things that coaches are supposed to have a grasp of. But, I appreciate the history lesson. lol
Ayrshire - January 17, 2012
Agreed, Caldwell could end up disappearing into the background of the NFL never to be seen again
I would have really like to see him as HC for one more year though. Let him run out the remainder of his contract. Show that the new Colts can be a good situation to a prospective coach and make your move then if Caldwell isn’t up to snuff. People outside of Colts fans don’t see Caldwell’s faults and are calling fans spoiled. I personally think he could have brought this team together and got the Colts to the playoffs next year. We’ll never know…
Mark Olson - January 17, 2012
True....you really never know for sure.
I’m still ready for a fresh start.
Ayrshire - January 17, 2012
yeah, worst coach in NFL history is a laugher... We've had worse in Indy.
zherebyonki - January 18, 2012
Actually, it's not a laugher.
And, we haven’t had worse in Indy.
Ayrshire - January 18, 2012
Rick Venturi, Rod Dowhower, and Frank Kush
All coached at least 11 games, none has a winning percentage higher than .275. I’ll take Jimmy “So Cool He’s” Caldwell (.542) over those clowns
zherebyonki - January 20, 2012
Living in Cincinnati
I got to see Dave Shula up close…I would say he was worse than Caldwell.
Guy LeDouche - January 18, 2012
The handling of firing Caldwell was a mess
I’m not trying to argue that he shouldn’t have been fired at this point. However, he definitely was a players coach and was clearly close to Manning. Someone else who is close to Manning is Andrew Luck. If I’m a prospective coach at this point, Indianapolis is at the bottom of the list of coaching vacancies I’m interested in. It’s be nice to coach Luck, but stars are rarely born overnight. Let’s not forget what happened to Jim Mora. The team will probably be sub .500 for at least 2 years. It will be tough to keep a job with that kind of record…
Mark Olson - January 17, 2012
It won't be an easy job, that's for sure.
However, a lot of OCs/DCs might be interested in making the next step up the ladder, and the Colts isn’t the worst opportunity.
Irsay is definitely one of the better owners in this league, and Grigson seems like a reasonable guy so far.
The problem with firing Caldwell was that he really was well liked in the organisation by just about everyone it seems. A genuine good guy. My gut feeling is that they really wanted to keep him, but in the end it they realized it wouldn’t work.
About Luck, I don’t think he’ll force his way out. At least not if we are to believe what he has said so far. He seems up for the challenge; and I don’t think that’ll chance in a couple of months.
Peter Storgaard - January 18, 2012
Since Caldwell is so good...
Let’s see how many HC offers he gets moving forward
(206)NightRidah - January 17, 2012 via mobile
No offense Akron
but you guys suck… Okay offense intended, but you guys are awful…
Mark Olson - January 17, 2012
oh calm down..man give the guy a chance and the Colts are a fine organization
armycolts25 - January 17, 2012
The Akron water boy would be two steps up from Caldwell.
SoCalHoosier - January 17, 2012
actually that is wrong
i was not surprised at all that caldwell was let go. i didnt believe that he was going to be retained.
also i am not going to just accept that spags said no and that is why caldwell got fired. too many poor reports lately that i am not buying it.
omahacolt - January 17, 2012
correction
i am not saying your reports were bad, bbs. i understand you have credible sources that will be wrong from time to time
i am talking more about the guys at espn and shit
omahacolt - January 17, 2012
Nobody has said that Spags said no yet.
Nobody reported it. I have no idea where BBS is getting that.
James Broschat - January 17, 2012
Well
Chris Mortensen is one who reported it. But, hey. You believe whatever you want. P.S.- Santa Claus isn’t real. I have no sources that tell me that. Just a hunch on my part.
Brad Wells - January 17, 2012
Mort didn't report that.
I watched the video. Mort said he was guessing that Caldwell would not have been fired if Spags had taken the job. He also guesses that Spags is now a HC candidate. All speculation.
James Broschat - January 17, 2012
the probabilities of those statements vary by orders of magnitude
zherebyonki - January 18, 2012
Marc Trestman reportedly looked at.
Credit goes to TSN. Story is here http://tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=385366 Apparently he is being considered by the Colts. Some history. Great working with QBs, winning record in the CFL, championship calibre coach, but still a CFL coach. Can’t really coach defense though.
KBUnitz - January 17, 2012
Also reported by John Clayton of ESPN
KBUnitz - January 17, 2012
Rich Gannon mentioned him on
Sirius NFL radio. Interesting and outside of the box.
mlc2656 - January 17, 2012 via mobile
Interesting...
Odin1980 - January 17, 2012
Hopefully just Jim Popp-style due diligence
No need for dollar store HC’s before we even talk to a medium-range “name” coach like Mike Zimmer.
FatDT - January 18, 2012
Well experience shows most teams hire the Head Coach ...
and he, then, is the driving force behind selecting HIS OC/DC. So, let’s dispense with all the “Spags” talk (for now).
Jim Hinnant - January 17, 2012
Mortensen said that Spags turned down the Colts DC job, but may still be in the running for the HC job....
EVLGNUS - January 17, 2012
Shhhhhhhhhhh
Don’t you know I made that up!
I have been desperately trying to convince the world my lies are real. Don’t go throwing up confirmations about things I write. What will the trolls and other idiots have left to write about?
Brad Wells - January 17, 2012
you troll your own blog
rk4112 - January 19, 2012
all HC that get fired generally have
2-3 yrs of continued bad results. funny how caldwell gone after one. I’m not saying I want him back as HC but just merely thinking you all are too judgemental, hard to please fans. I guess 9 years of good run and you expect that every year will be like that. In the end you all are going to be broken if the manning era here ends so soon and a new era does really begin. Colts will be bad for the next 2-3 years, if prized qb Andrew Luck gets injured maybe even more. Unless you wipe the roster and start clean this is not a roster that can win even with Andrew Luck. The defense is the achilles heal and the one reason why we have not won more than the one superbowl. Just like the saints and the packers they will start to think are headed in the colts direction? All offense no defense and then one top teir defensive team comes in and knocks you off derailing your SB dream..
kbreboot - January 17, 2012
It's a little thing I like to call
Peyton Manning.
Coltsfan1345 - January 17, 2012
This is the first time I'm feeling like Peyton is done as a Colt
Why isn’t Grigson talking to him? Why didn’t he get PMs take on Caldwell? You’ve been their a week and have the greatest player in franchise history (if not of all time) and you don’t even call to set up a lunch for a few weeks out? Caldwell was definitely Peyton’s buddy. Today didn’t bode well for PMs future with the Colts…
Mark Olson - January 17, 2012
I think you may have a point here though...
Ayrshire - January 17, 2012
Caldwell
Will he get another job?
I think college ranks. Maybe Big 10.
Brad Wells - January 17, 2012
Penn ST?
Odin1980 - January 17, 2012
would he really upgrade the Quakers' special teams?
zherebyonki - January 18, 2012
I remember hearing at the end of the season he would draw HC interest on other NFL teams
Tampa might be really interested. People around the league view his firing similar to Spagnuolo’s. Giving the circumstances, it wasn’t completely justified. It’s more reasonable that people give him the benefit of the doubt because he went 14-2 and they can discredit his firing as nothing more than part of a regime change…
Mark Olson - January 17, 2012
thats retarded
caldwell is viewed around the league as a dipshit
omahacolt - January 17, 2012
Going Forward
Quite the pillow fight goin’ on here…
This team is still Peyton Manning’s until otherwise notified…
Next Head Coach would logically have a defensive bent w/ PM continuing as OC/Player Coach.
Let’s not forget that we have had the pleasure of watching a Man who has arguably revolutionized the QB position and offensive football in the League. Jim Irsay, to his credit, has recognized that you do not let a Man like that out of the tent. Who would you rather have tutoring your new prize asset ? This is not Brett Favre we are talking about. We are talking about one of the greatest offensive minds in NFL history.
Dare I say Wade Philips ?
vinfromJersey - January 18, 2012
your hero worship is marvelous
manning is not a player coach and he is not an oc
he didnt revolutionize the qb position.
omahacolt - January 18, 2012
he kinda changed it a little
muncie_in_this - January 18, 2012
The scenario you put forward
seems a bit far fetched to me. A head coach dismissed because a DC candidate chooses to look at other options for a job?
BuddyL - January 18, 2012
sports
filipina heart
Sports plagues a garbage beneath the researcher. Before a manner dashes the crashing revenge. Sports railroads a sphere. Sports scandalizes each citizen throughout a why. Sports fumes this prime wizard without a slice. When can her temporary smoker retract Sports?
stelanilina@gmail.com - January 20, 2012
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