Queen of the Mancave

Disclaimer: Please excuse my football ranting...this has been a long, disappointing season!

I need my own sports talk show. I don't care if it's radio, local late night or Bristol...I always have an opinion and it's usually based on what I think, not regurgitated analyst talk so it would be fun to watch/listen to as well :). If you know anyone looking to hire an awesome new sports reporter, give them my name. In the mean time I will simply share my humble opinions with you all !

Bill Polian did great things for the Colts organization for many many years and he deserves all the credit for his part in that. While I was not surprised by his firing yesterday, it was sad to see him go after 14 great years that started with drafting Peyton in 1998. But Bill was ready to retire; he had handed the day to day operations over to his son just this year and, in my opinion, Chris managed to make all the wrong decisions for a franchise that seemed to run itself most of the time.  I know his job became increasingly complicated due to the lockout and Peyton's injury, but you don't go from a decade of 10+ win seasons to 2-14 overnight just because your franchise QB is unable to go.

An article Bob Kravitz wrote two months ago makes this announcement even more interesting because it leads us to believe that while Bill is/was well liked and well respected in the locker room and front office, Chris was quite the opposite. I didn't do the interview, I obviously don't know any professional football players personally and honestly I only agree with Kravitz about half the time, but this article actually made a lot if sense to me. Our recent decline in draft picks, the inexplicable choices made with personnel (specifically top-notch coordinators on both sides of the ball), the "good guys" we let go and the questionable ones we've kept. It all plays into Chris Polian's very poor decision making.

It is my opinion that Irsay and Bill Polian discussed these pitfalls during the season but especially after the Jacksonville game - and that Jim possibly offered to let Bill stay but was set on firing Chris.  No father is going to agree to fire his son therefore it was "time" (according to Irsay) to make a move. If you watched, or even read any of the press conference/release it was clear that Irsay is grateful for Bill's contribution to Indy's "greatness" and continues to have a great deal of respect for him as a GM/Vice Chairman and as a person. However, if you were really paying attention, it was almost impossible to miss how little Chris Polian's name was mentioned.  This was also apparent during the interview with Peyton and with the players who tweeted their reactions on Twitter.  Peyton mentioned Chris' name as an afterthought once, but Irsay never uttered it during the press conference except to say he had been let go.

My question is why am I the only one who's paying attention here?  I am admittedly a sports talk radio junkie, especially during football season.  I read several articles from the so-called experts last night and today and I listened to all the shows this morning - including the local ones who should know this better then I do since they get paid to pay attention - never once did anyone bring this up!  They were all "shocked" that Irsay would let a talent like Bill go at this crossroads for the franchise.  I still don't think he wanted Bill to go - but Chris should have been expecting his pink slip after tanking this season, presumably unintentionally, for an otherwise proud franchise.

Honestly, the conspiracy theorist in me wonders if some of his decisions weren't made hoping Indy would under-perform, to say the least, so he could get the #1 draft pick and make his mark on this franchise the same way his dad did.  But that is a debate for another day.

 As a bonus for anyone who was patient enough to read my entire rant...my opinions going forward: Draft Luck (duh, I know) but sit him for 2 years behind arguably the best quarterback of this, and maybe any era (yes, I'm biased).  Sign Manning's weapons (Reggie, Clark, Saturday as well as Freeney's partner in crime Mathis) to 2 year contracts - Irsay can make cap room to do this for a short time - and make the most of the Manning era, provided he passes his physical in March which appears will be the case.

Following those 2 years, Peyton turn 38 in the offseason (did I mention we share a March 24 birthday?!) and will likely prove infinitely smarter than Favre when it coming to knowing to retire.  Plus, he will have a couple of twin toddlers at home to keep up with - a great added incentive to move forward!  After that, unleash Luck with two solid years of mentoring by Manning and surround him with the guys you've drafted specifically for him, as Polian did for Manning, during Peyton's final two years.  Green Bay appears to be 2/2 in grooming back up QB's for starting positions (though Flynn may be too valuable to be back with the Packers next year) - so I'm considering my opinions on Luck with that in mind.  You know, Irsay did say his ideal candidate would be someone who'd never held the GM title before...maybe I should give him a call!