APForget the P.R. staff or the beat writers or the radio hosts or the local TV reporters or the national news sources. When it comes to the Colts, the best way to keep up with the team is to keep an eye on the Twitter page of owner Jim Irsay.
Irsay’s latest update mentions that the search for a head coach “is wide ranging [and] thorough,” with a decision to come by the middle or latter part of next week.
The timing makes sense. With the NFL universe descending on Indy a week from tomorrow, the Colts will hope to parade the team’s next head coach around Radio Row and the various other photo and interview opportunities.
The known candidates for the job are Titans defensive coordinator Jerry Gray, Saints offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael Jr., Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, former Vikings coach Brad Childress, and former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel, who served as a replay consultant for the Colts in 2011 but who currently doesn’t appear on the team’s roster of football employees.
Eagles offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg’s name has been mentioned as a possible candidate, along with 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman.
Whoever gets the job will have to decide what to do with six remaining members of Jim Caldwell’s coaching staff, including offensive coordinator Clyde Christensen. Since Christensen is the man who worked most closely with quarterback Peyton Manning, Christensen’s fate could provide the strongest clue as to whether the Colts and Manning plan to continue their 14-year marriage.
Channel Finder
I think Jim Tressel could be a great hire.
He is honest, has integrity and can`t leave to coach an NCAA team for the next 5 years.
Hopefully Miami’s staff will start to take shape before the HC gigs in Indy, Tampa, and Oaktown get resolved. I’m hoping those teams (particularly Oak) don’t hire any other Packers assistants so that Philbin won’t have any direct competition WITH historical ties when it comes to plundering Green Bay’s staff.
I think Tressel or Carmichael would make a great head coach.
Isn’t it funny how all of these names seem to surface as candidates for head coach in the NFL, but when the firing of Andy Reid in Philly was discussed by national pundits and personalities, there wasn’t a single name surfaced by anyone who was thought to be an adequate replacement for Ried. Nobody! So all of a sudden, we have half a dozen candidates who are all thought to be just as good if not better than Reid. Puzzlin’ ain’t it?
Tressel is all about winning, he ia a great defensive coach, the colts need to bring a good offensive mind .
If they don’t fir Christensen after the year the Colts’ offense had, Irsay is on crack. I’ve never seen a set of backup QB’s as unprepared as Painter and Orlovsky.
And the new coach is: Rob Lowe!
I think it will be Tressel.
He knows how to win and if nothing else it’ll create a splash!
If Manning stays then Christensen has to stay. Unless a new OC wants to come in just to learn Manning’s offense. That’s why I’m hoping for a defensive coach.
Anybody but Tressel.
One thing I always thought Indianapolis could use more of: blue sweater vests.
Give Tressel a chance, for one he can’t be any worse than Caldwell and who knows he could turn out to be a really good NFL coach. If not Tressel then Zimmer would be my 2nd choice.
“Christensen’s fate could provide the strongest clue as
to whether the Colts and Manning plan to continue their 14-year marriage.”
I thought the strongest clue was whether or not they got the #1 pick….then whether or not they kept the Pollians…..then whether or not they kept Caldwell….then whether or not they would publicly say they would take a QB with the #1 pick…..
So basically, everything that happens is a strong indicator about whether or not Peyton continues to play for the Colts until we dwindle down to the strongest clue being whether or not Peyton continues to play for the Colts?
Carmichael out of New Orleans would fit the type of offense Indy runs with Manning.
Tressel is honest and has integrity? Where have you been the last year? If he was honest and had ANY integrity, he would still be a college coach.
Tressel
Hopefully he has a voice and shows emotion every now and then.
I hope I’m wrong but I don’t see Peyton Manning playing in the NFL again…
Why do people think Tressel was a defensive coach?
Yes his offense at ohio state was boring an unimaginative, but he was always an offensive coach before being a head coach…
How would Tressel adjust to coaching a low-payroll outfit like the Colts?
As much as I’d hate to see Pete Carmichael go from my Saints he would be the most deserving of the picks for head coach. I’d like to see him thrive in INDY as the coach, I like the Colts and Pete is a great fit for that position and well deserving of a shot!
RGIII goes #1 if Tressel gets job.
Just have Peyton coach.
If Manning is the man I think he is, he should understand the position the Colts are in, & not take it personally if/when the Colts pick a Qb in the draft, because even he isn’t sure if he can play, & for how long. It makes perfect sense and I don’t blame them, nor should anyone for that matter. Its always been the rule, you take the best player available when you choose. Its going to be interesting to see how this plays out, because I have said it from the start, if Manning is physically able to play, & I truly hope he is, he will remain a Colt. As a Bronco fan, I would hate to see it any other way, if he is not a Colt, can we have him?
No way the Colts keep Luck and Manning, they’d have to pay them 51 miilion next year, how can you pay the rest of the team?
Tressell or Zimmer…
…and if Zimmer gets it, then Tressell to DC of the Bengals.
the colts spent 6 hrs interviewing jerry gray for HC position, is that a strong clue that gray will b the next head coach of the colts?
why not name Peyton player coach ? Then perhaps they can assign a some portion of his salary to the front office and lighten the cap load…. After 2 years he just coaches
@coolgato13
Wait… What??? Honest? Integrity??
New coach? Better idea trade Peyton Manning for Tim Tebow. If the Colts did that, they wouldn’t ever stop being able to win.
roamingabriel says:
Jan 21, 2012 1:53 PM
I think it will be Tressel.
He knows how to win In COLLEGE and if nothing else it’ll create a splash!
—————————-
Fixed…
The NFL coaching landscape is littered with college coaches who tried to make the transition and couldn’t…
One Nicholas Lou Saban comes to mind; great in college but in the NFL – not so much!
Juan Castillo.
Tressell would be the most interesting choice, something tells me that its going to be another coach that is not this list. Maybe Mornhinweg?
Quit screwing around and hire Tressel already, no brainer
Just name Zimmer already