Forget 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.