From Ashley Adamson, sports reporter at Indianapolis TV station WISH-TV:
I would like to thank Jim Irsay and the Irsay family for all they have done for me over the past fourteen years.
I'm grateful for all the support the fans have shown us in good times and bad. Indianapolis has been a wonderful place to live and work.
Most of all I would like to thank the players, coaches and staff who have played a pivotal role in this magnificent journey. I will miss them all.
0 recs | 47 comments
He may have been an a-hole...but....
There’s no denying we don’t have a SB win here, another appearance, playoffs since 1999 with exception of 2001 and 2011, a new stadium, and hosting a SB….without Polian. He was a jerk, no doubt, but he did build quite a dynasty. It was just time to move on, especially after the train wreck of this season.
cmgww - January 2, 2012
exactly
he’s had some bad drafts, and i dont disagree with the firing, but people CELEBRATING over a guy getting fired? Especially when he built a team that won a Super Bowl? That’s a bit over the top. And for people saying it was all Manning, our defense was quite good in that Super Bowl run, and it was thanks to players that Polian brought in.
But he did have some bad drafts and I think it was the correct devision.
ColtRock - January 2, 2012
it was Manning
The defense looked good during that run because opposing offenses were forced to play out of there comfort zone to try to compensate for what Manning was doing on the other side. I give Polian credit for 1 1/2 good decisions: drafting Manning over Leaf and Edge over Ricky Williams (Edge was only what he was cause of Peyton). Other than that, he was an average GM at best. You can only ride the coat-tails of a good q.b. for so long before your exposed (Jim Kelly, Manning). Football is a team sport and he never built a team to surround his q.b. Not gonna miss him.
dylanlb6 - January 3, 2012
Ricky Williams would have been a fine pick also
Dude has had a great career and is still playing in the NFL today.
aaronb - January 3, 2012
It was Chris Polian getting fired and
his father was collateral damage because he wanted Chris as GM. Irsay did not agree with nepotism, and realized he needed a new GM.
Jcrew1179 - January 3, 2012
Bullshit.
We might have had 5 championships by now with another GM. Peyton was responsible for the ‘dynasty’, not Polian. And, calling one super bowl championship is 13 years a dynasty is a bit of a stretch, to say the least.
Ayrshire - January 2, 2012
AGREED
And he got paid plenty to do what he did, it is a normal reaction to celebrate a good business decision by JIM IRSAY.
OBGYNOSUPREME - January 2, 2012
100
blue31 - January 2, 2012
+1
Straight Out The Burbs - January 2, 2012
Enough
Dude, you’ve been going way overboard with this stuff and it’s tiresome.
We might’ve had zero championships with another GM. We might not have had 12 years of excellence. We might’ve had Ryan Leaf and Ricky Williams. We might’ve been rooting for the Pacers because the Colts left for LA. All of this is more likely than your “five championship” scenario.
The Polians have been less than perfect for a few years, but they’re nowhere near incompetent. And if anything was holding the team back from titles it was coaching. Better coaching makes a massive difference in every playoff loss since 2005. There’s no question the 05, 07, and 09 teams were talented enough to win the championship.
I don’t even disagree with the firings, but you’re even more over the top than BBS. They needed to go, but I think people are ignoring just how hard it is to do what they did, and how hard it will be to find someone new to duplicate the success that this team has had. Teams that had an entire decade of sustained success can be counted on one hand. The run is clearly over, and that’s fine… but there’s no point trying to discredit it.
willyduer - January 2, 2012
You have your opinion, I have mine.
I think many people could have pulled off one championship, as GM, if they had the greatest to ever play taking snaps. That wasn’t any big feat and hardly the definition of a dynasty. The commenter above said Polian created a dynasty. I disagree. One championship in 14 years is not a dynasty. And, to say they’re nowhere near incompetent is ridiculous too. The Colts hired a coach who wasn’t even qualified to be a college coach. That’s incompetency. They pulled the plug on a potential perfect season, destroying the players and fans in the process. That’s incompetency too. They’ve let quality coaches get away, made horrible personnel decisions, and Bill Polian put his son’s employment over the interest of the Colts. That goes beyond incompetency. You say that teams that have had an entire decade of sustained success can be counted on one hand. Well, most teams don’t have Manning. If they were lucky enough to draft him, they would have had just as good of a run, probably a lot better. And, if you think my point of view is tiresome, don’t read it.
Ayrshire - January 3, 2012
Don't let the door hit you
on the ass on your way out.
Sorry, but personnel decisions made especially this year made things look super awkward. You believe in Painter? Sure you do, that’s why you brought your #1 draft pick in Carolina here (Collins). Collins doesn’t work out? Put Painter back in because you “Believed in him the whole time”… sure…
Now Caldwell not getting fired yet… I’m curious. What if he has a GM that doesn’t call his shots for him? Might he actually be good?
I feel like we really don’t know, at all. I could personally be totally happy with Caldwell out and replaced with one of the high-quality names out there (well… not including Tressel. Please. No Tressel) but after seeing the dysfunction this year, I can’t argue against a GM who does his job and his job only and lets Caldwell either prove he deserves the job or flame out on his own with Manning or Luck.
Polians HAD to go. He had too much credit for making just one… ONE draft pick right. He’s been documented saying he almost went with Leaf and in that regard would have been fired a LOT quicker had he done so. Working in IT, I see too many people ‘coasting’ on their save for one specific situation then trumping it up for years. That’s how Bill Polian seemed to me.
Good riddance… let the healing bloodletting begin.
AB_Positive - January 2, 2012
wrong
Your a freaking idiot if you think he made only ONE draft pick right…ever heard of James….Wayne….Mathis….Freeny….Clark….Sanders…Brackett….Glenn….and dozens and dozens more….
Colts53 - January 2, 2012
Polian didn't draft Glenn, Toblin did
Phillycolt - January 3, 2012
Okay, so
James, Wayne, Mathis, Freeny, Clark, Sanders, and Brackett. Point still stands.
Sir Sci - January 3, 2012
yea i know just point out he didn't draft glenn
Phillycolt - January 3, 2012
He spelled "Grateful" wrong
indy41 - January 2, 2012
Ha....
Where’s word spell check when you need it.
emiller17 - January 2, 2012
He doesn't seem like the grateful type anyway.
More like full of himself and his “greatness”.
Peter Storgaard - January 2, 2012
There's a very good chance...
…he merely dictated the statement to another, who then typed the actual statement.
The Learned Hand - January 2, 2012
whoevere typed it also appears to have omitted the period after "journey"
He should’ve had a prepared statement in his breast pocket the past 8 weeks, like an inverse Oscar acceptance speech.
zherebyonki - January 3, 2012
he did a good job early
BUT not lately and he is an asshole to the fans and way too defensive and rarely admitted when messed up,, and it was totally inexcusable they were not ready for the possibility that Peyton was going to miss the season. It was time for him to GO!!!!!
OBGYNOSUPREME - January 2, 2012
And his son was not qualified to be the GM!!!!
OBGYNOSUPREME - January 2, 2012
Peyton will be back and the draft choice will be traded
If the Colts were going to draft Luck this move{ Polians}would have been made later.
The new G.M. has already been chosen and has requested time to assess the needs and draft/trade possibilities.
Caldwell doesn’t matter at this point because he will be let go bý the new G.M. who is now deciding who his next coach will be.
At least that’s how I read it.
arcade - January 2, 2012
I agree with this
Regardless of the real reason why BP was let go (I think he was retiring anyway and the real fire was Chris Polian), I think Irsay wants Manning to see this through and has already made a handshake deal with the future GM. Caldwell will be fired too but that’s not a surprise when a new GM takes over.
AceOfSpades - January 2, 2012
u could be right
OBGYNOSUPREME - January 2, 2012
I get the feeling that Caldwell may not be leaving the Colts organization… But I’m pretty sure he will not be the head coach next year.
indymike - January 2, 2012
I see this as a possibility too
I don’t think Dungy would be GM, and I would not necessarily be in favor of it personally, but if he was I think he would keep JC as coach or move him back to QB coach or something like that.
I think that Dungy as GM would be more likely to keep Manning and trade the #1 to help the team for the next 5 years.
AceOfSpades - January 2, 2012
No way this is true
Unlike most “fans” here. Jim Irsay was around from 1970-1998 when this was a rudderless ship. No way he risk not having a 22 year franchise QB because he’s a sentimental old fool.
People saying this crap are the same dopes that said they wouldn’t be Packers fans because Brett Favre left.
The move was made because we need an adult to make adult decisions.
aaronb - January 2, 2012
Wow you guys are good, why blog..with knowledge like this you would make millions
I just can’t believe you read it this way. I think I’ll wait and see.
armycolts25 - January 2, 2012
Pats fan here
Congratz on, as someone put it, flushing a dead rat down the toilet.
Any idea on what he does now?
New Century Silver - January 2, 2012
Bill was about to retire. He either follows through on that or joins another organization as a “consultant” to get his son Chris in the door there.
mkehoosier - January 2, 2012
bleh
was a reply to New Century Silver
mkehoosier - January 2, 2012
Thanks Bill
but this is the right time to go in a different direction. Lets hope it is a complete housecleaning!!!!!
Dito29 - January 2, 2012
Manning reaction
http://www.indystar.com/article/20120102/SPORTS03/120102056/1058/SPORTS03?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
Is he just saying all the right things about the guy who drafted him or is there going to be some friction between him and Irsay?
mkehoosier - January 2, 2012
(leaning towards the former)
mkehoosier - January 2, 2012
I dunno -
Manning is not one to comment on things he doesn’t feel he knows anything about. I think with the Front office gone, lots of veteran players not resigned, it’s scaring Peyton a bit. Hopefully it doesn’t scare him away. Imagine someone else picking up Bill and Chris P, and them bringing Manning with them.
buymymonkey - January 2, 2012
Scary tweet:
Dan Graham @coltsinsider
#Colts Manning camp on a wait and see approach before any further comments. Right GM good Wrong one will ask for a trade or retire
buymymonkey - January 2, 2012
That's pretty sensationalist
I mean medical and capability wise his return is in the air anyway
mkehoosier - January 2, 2012
True -
I guess this is what it feels like to be a Dolphins fan? So many things up in the air.
buymymonkey - January 2, 2012
He can't demand a trade and if he does..move on without him..retire is the best thing to do
armycolts25 - January 2, 2012
How can you say that?
Is your “retire is the best thing to do” assumption based on a belief that he could be paralyzed next season? If so, I urge you to research his surgery further and educate yourself more on the subject.
I still can’t understand why so many are calling for Manning to be tossed aside like yesterday’s garbage.
AceOfSpades - January 2, 2012
It's more about the best interest of the franchise as opposed to holding a candle for Peyton
I’d be thrilled to have both guys on the roster next year if its at all possible. However given the choice between a 36 year old Manning coming off of 3 spinal surgeries and a 26 million dollar cap figure, or a 22 year old Andrew Luck and a 6 million cap figure.
I’d choose Luck. He’s the future of the franchise. Like it or not.
aaronb - January 2, 2012
I wish Luck would have came out last year
Honestly it seems like people already know Luck will be great. He hasnt played a snap in the NFL. No matter how much people say, there is no 100 percent guarantee he will be what everyone says he is. We all know Manning is still a legit QB if healthy.
I would much rather trade down and get another QB to sit under Manning (even if only 2 years) and let him develop. Then we can get more picks to build up a team to where we are not so dependent on the health of a QB. How about getting a Defense that can spot someone. A few extra 1st rounders can help that.
INDYCOLTSROCK18 - January 2, 2012
What if the difference in doing that becomes
The difference between John Elway and Todd Blackledge? Not all QB prospects are created equal. And as a team that has watched Manning play all these years. We of all people should appreciate the difference between a good qb and an average qb.
aaronb - January 2, 2012
Or what if the difference is between Ryan Leaf and Tom Brady
You can see it either way. Now, I certainly do not think that Luck will be a bust and I do agree that he is the future of the Colts, but I find this premature fawning over Luck to be quite ridiculous. If and when we have him in blue and he steps on the field and leads the Colts to the playoffs, then I will laud and support him.
Sir Sci - January 3, 2012
Im not saying Luck wont be a good QB, but theres no 100 percent guarantee though
We are investing our whole future on a QB who hasn’t played yet when we have one of the best QB of all time if healthy already on our roster. Our roster is old, so why not build to win now while we can with Manning and then draft a future QB later in the draft that can work under Manning and learn(aka Rodgers). Luck is no Manning and he alone will not be able to cover up all of our weaknesses. A surplus of first rounders can.
INDYCOLTSROCK18 - January 3, 2012
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