2011 Indianapolis Colts discussion

[Sea Ray]

Could Irsay have canned both of the Polians because he feels the next coach will be a "big name" who would want a major say, if not total control of personnel?

I'd say yes, except for the fact that Elmer Fudd, er, Jim Caldwell is, as of now, still Colts head coach.

I'd say that Caldwell still being the coach does mean that it's expected that the new GM will have total control. Keeping Caldwell gives the new GM the power to fire him

[redsfanmia]

Could Irsay have canned both of the Polians because he feels the next coach will be a "big name" who would want a major say, if not total control of personnel?

I'd say yes, except for the fact that Elmer Fudd, er, Jim Caldwell is, as of now, still Colts head coach.

Caldwell by all accounts is a good, kind, decent man who was mainly a puppet of Polian. You can't really say that he is a bad coach because he has basically had no power, that said I hope he gets canned too.

[Revering4Blue]

Caldwell by all accounts is a good, kind, decent man who was mainly a puppet of Polian. You can't really say that he is a bad coach because he has basically had no power, that said I hope he gets canned too.

I agree. The Elmer Fudd moniker refers to the way Caldwell wears his cap, or at least that's how some Colts Fans have explained it to me.

BTW, per ESPN insider, Bill Polian and OC Clyde Christenson are both rumored to be heading to Chicago.

The plot thickens.

[fearofpopvol1]

I think that Irsay liked Bill Polian and didn't know how long he would stick around, but wasn't high on his son and that it was a package deal and that he had to get rid of both to get rid of the younger Polian.

And I'm fine with that. I love Bill Polian, but he is close to retirement and I don't like his son as the future of the Colts.

[CTA513]

I know its going to suck for you guys if Manning either can't play anymore or is replaced, but I like Lucks chances of being a good QB for you guys if thats who you end up drafting.

Id love to see what he could do with a team that actually has some speed at WR compared to the possession type WRs hes had at Stanford.

[Eric_the_Red]

I'm curious what the Colts will do regarding their free agents, namely Reggie Wayne and Robert Mathis. It's hard to imagine this team without them, but I could say the same for Manning.

If Manning is healthy and he stays, can the Colts afford to keep Wayne and/or Mathis? If Manning isn't healthy, wouldn't it make more sense to let one or both walk and use that extra cap space to get younger and more depth, building for the future?

Personally, I'd love to see Manning healthy enough to return, and the Colts to draft Luck. Manning sticks around for a year or two to mentor Luck, and then transitions to the coaching staff, possibly as QB coach. I imagine you would have to let one or both of Wayne/Mathis walk, and I guess I'd prefer Mathis leave. Without Wayne, there is no consistent threat at WR. Use the rest of the draft to address the many other needs of this team (DL, DB, RB).

I think this would allow for some continuity as the Colts rebuild while still fielding a playoff worthy team. With the right draft picks, the Colts could even remain serious contenders during the transition. Which is why the GM pick has to be a homerun.

[bucksfan2]

I'm curious what the Colts will do regarding their free agents, namely Reggie Wayne and Robert Mathis. It's hard to imagine this team without them, but I could say the same for Manning.

If Manning is healthy and he stays, can the Colts afford to keep Wayne and/or Mathis? If Manning isn't healthy, wouldn't it make more sense to let one or both walk and use that extra cap space to get younger and more depth, building for the future?

Personally, I'd love to see Manning healthy enough to return, and the Colts to draft Luck. Manning sticks around for a year or two to mentor Luck, and then transitions to the coaching staff, possibly as QB coach. I imagine you would have to let one or both of Wayne/Mathis walk, and I guess I'd prefer Mathis leave. Without Wayne, there is no consistent threat at WR. Use the rest of the draft to address the many other needs of this team (DL, DB, RB).

I think this would allow for some continuity as the Colts rebuild while still fielding a playoff worthy team. With the right draft picks, the Colts could even remain serious contenders during the transition. Which is why the GM pick has to be a homerun.

I think the Manning camp has been distancing themselves from the Colts over the past few months. If it hasn't been Peyton it has been Archie talking about the current start of the Colts. I get the feeling that Peyton wants out of there and is going about it in the usual Manning manner.

Even if Peyton is back I don't think theyare a playoff team. I think the Texans are the class of the division and its not even close. If you were to give me a choice of Schaub or Manning right now heading forward it would be Schaub and it wouldn't be close. So I guess the big question is are the Colts with Manning, who are trending in the wrong direction, better than the Steelers, Ravens, Bengals, Chargers, Broncos, Pats, and Jets? Are they better than the likes of the Titans, Raiders, or Dolphins?

If I were the GM I would let Wayne and Mathins walk, take the comp picks in 2013's draft. Draft Luck and do your best to trade Manning. I think its time to build a team from the gound up. They had a great run with Manning as QB but that may have come to an end.

[fearofpopvol1]

I think the Colts will keep Mathis but will probably let Wayne walk. The Colts need all of the defensive help they can get. I like Wayne a lot and the last few weeks of the season he made some incredible catches, but I just think he would command too much money and he's already 33 years old and will turn 34 in the middle of next season. I would keep him though if he took a cheap contract.

[redsfanmia]

I think the Manning camp has been distancing themselves from the Colts over the past few months. If it hasn't been Peyton it has been Archie talking about the current start of the Colts. I get the feeling that Peyton wants out of there and is going about it in the usual Manning manner.

Even if Peyton is back I don't think theyare a playoff team. I think the Texans are the class of the division and its not even close. If you were to give me a choice of Schaub or Manning right now heading forward it would be Schaub and it wouldn't be close. So I guess the big question is are the Colts with Manning, who are trending in the wrong direction, better than the Steelers, Ravens, Bengals, Chargers, Broncos, Pats, and Jets? Are they better than the likes of the Titans, Raiders, or Dolphins?

If I were the GM I would let Wayne and Mathins walk, take the comp picks in 2013's draft. Draft Luck and do your best to trade Manning. I think its time to build a team from the gound up. They had a great run with Manning as QB but that may have come to an end.

Did Manning run over your dog or refuse you an autograph? You seem to take a shot at him at every given chance. A healthy Manning or Matt Shaub? Really? Not even that close? ummmm ok.

[Eric_the_Red]

The Colts fired their special teams coach. That should fix it.

[MWM]

Schaub over Manning moving forward? That's a good one....

[bucksfan2]

Did Manning run over your dog or refuse you an autograph? You seem to take a shot at him at every given chance. A healthy Manning or Matt Shaub? Really? Not even that close? ummmm ok.

Never really cared for Manning but he didn't run over my dog. From an outsiders perspective, once it became apparant that the Colts were the leaders for the "Suck for Luck" campaign the Mannings began to distance themselves from the Colts. Archie went on the national media saying Peyton wouldn't want to play with Luck on the team. Peyton's soundbites were that he wanted out of town.

Going forward Schaub is 5 years younger than Manning and not coming off of neck surgery. Manning will be 36 heading into next season, Schaub 31. So yea I would take Schaub over Manning heading forward.

[George Anderson]

Peyton's soundbites were that he wanted out of town.

.

Where and when did Manning say this?

I have said for sometime I don't think Manning would shed a tear if he was able to leave Indy and go get one more chance at a ring somewhere else but no way Manning would come out in the media and hint or talk about how he wanted out of town. He is to smart and media savy to do that.

[bucksfan2]

Where and when did Manning say this?

I have said for sometime I don't think Manning would shed a tear if he was able to leave Indy and go get one more chance at a ring somewhere else but no way Manning would come out in the media and hint or talk about how he wanted out of town. He is to smart and media savy to do that.

I think his media savy comments did exactly that. He never came out and said he wanted to leave but I thought his comments when the Polians were fired kinda showed some displeasure with the Colts organization.

[George Anderson]

I think his media savy comments did exactly that. He never came out and said he wanted to leave but I thought his comments when the Polians were fired kinda showed some displeasure with the Colts organization.

I reread the article where Manning commented on Polian being fired. What quote exactly showed displeasure with the Colts organization?