The date was January 4th, 2016 and we all waited to hear the news about Chuck Pagano not being brought back as the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts. The morning meeting that was to take place…well, didn’t and so the afternoon was spent in meetings between Chuck Pagano, GM Ryan Grigson, and Colts owner Jim Irsay instead. Word came later in the evening that no decision was going to be made that day. We all went on with our lives and would wait until the next day to hear some news. As many of us were winding down from a hard day of work and preparing to go to bed we got a breaking, and a rather unexpected, news alert. The alert was that Chuck Pagano had signed a four year extension with the Indianapolis Colts. At that point all of Colts Nation went into a frenzy. Both the good and bad kinds.
We all knew with certainty that Pagano was going to get the ax and we were really just waiting to see if Ryan Grigson would be released as well. We were also hoping to hear that Jim Irsay had found Pagano’s replacement already so that we could all have something to talk about in the coming weeks. The news of Pagano signing the extension sent the local media into hurry mode as many of them had already left the West 56th Street facility to head home or back to their respective jobs. A press conference was held at 10:30pm and that is where Pagano, Girgson, and Irsay come out and showed a unexpected unified front. They came out with smiles on their faces, at least Irsay and Pagano did, and sat down to go over the daily happenings.
During the press conference Irsay stated that he had confidence in both Grigson and Pagano and wanted to have continuity instead of basically blowing it up and hoping a new coach could come in and get quick results. He also stated that Pagano and Grigson had already surpassed what the Colts old regime had completed in their first four years and he wanted to see what they could do with another four years to build this team into a powerhouse.
Pagano was elated at the fact that he received an extension. Just earlier that day Pagano addressed the team and thanked them for their hard work and told them he wasn’t sure if he still had a job or not, yet he wanted to let them know he appreciated everything that they did and gave him. Players took to Twitter with the hashtag “#ChuckStay” on their accounts showing love for their coach and the resounding need to have him back as their head coach. Pagano called this the “happiest day in his life” which is an overstatement if you ask me for a man who had beaten leukemia and has a beautiful and wonderful family at home, but it was a statement made in the moment. Pagano was asked about the friction that has been reported surrounding him and Ryan Grigson and he eloquently answered with “We agree to disagree” and that they end every meeting with a handshake and hug.
Grigson was the only person during the press conference who didn’t seem happy about the news. Maybe it was because he doesn’t want Chuck as the coach in Indy or maybe he had just gotten his hands smacked like a kid sneaking into the cookie jar for tampering too much with the day to day happenings of the team instead of letting the head coach deal with them. Jim Irsay stated at the end of the press conference that “no one is bullying anyone in his organization” which goes to show that Irsay has been listening and possibly did chastise Grigson for meddling.
The question still remains though whether Grigson and Pagano are on the same page for real or just in public view. I have heard reports that as part a of Chuck’s extension he will have control over his coaching staff and have a large hand in on the NFL Draft. If that report is true then that could be a large reason Grigson is upset because now he won’t be able to bring his best player available on board without consulting with Pagano on who he wants. Hopefully that translates into offensive lineman and defensive players instead of wide receivers and tight ends. This also means that no more coaches will be hired by Grigson and forced onto Pagano’s staff which means that could get some shakeups in the coming weeks.
So where do we go from here? Will new assistant coaches be brought in or will the same staff stay intact for right now? I said this last night to multiple people on Twitter, if Pagano had the players he needed to build the team instead of the players that Grigson wanted on the team then we may have seen different outcomes over the last four years. Now Pagano will have a say in what players to draft and what players to bring in via free agency. It won’t be Grigson’s show anymore. It will be a united front or it won’t work and with both of these men “contractually” tied together that means if one fails they both fail. That should stop all power struggles and get both men to swallow their pride and get out of their own ways. That should allow these two men to go into each situation with level heads and come up with a great solution to any personnel issue. Am I being naive in thinking that this can and will happen? Maybe, but I do think both of these men know what is at stake at this point. If the Colts have another terrible draft and bring in a bunch of older players via free agency and the outcome isn’t a run to the Super Bowl next year you can bet that Irsay will have them both fired quicker than Chuck can say iron sharpens iron.
There are many of you out there who are upset with this extension. I can see why people would be upset. Chuck has made some boneheaded calls in the past and some are so egregious that we try to forget they even happened, but what other solution does anyone have? Sean Payton? Jon Gruden? I admit I was happy to hear that Gruden had made himself available, but I did know by bringing in a new head coach meant new assistant coaches and scheme changes which can derail progress for a season or two. If the Colts can trim some of the fat off this team during the offseason and make room for younger talent that can make an immediate impact, then the Colts can get back to their winning ways. And then what is there to be upset about? Look at it this way, if Chuck or Grigson has a terrible year next season then more than likely they are both gone. That should be enough of an insurance policy for the fans that hate this idea to hold onto throughout this offseason and into the 2016 NFL season.
I just want to take time and say a congratulations to Chuck Pagano on his extension. He is a great man and a good coach who can become a great coach. He knows the game and now it’s time for him to put up or shut up. There won’t be anymore fall guys. If he fails then I will be the first person to say that it’s time for Pagano to go. There is no need to waste the time Andrew Luck has in this league and if Pagano and Grigson can’t play nice and continue to squander huge talents then it will be time to bring someone new in. I don’t think it’s that time just yet though. All of Colts Nation is watching you Coach Pagano and we also have our eyes on Ryan Grigson. It’s time to pull this together and put together a winning combination of players that can bring home another Lombardi Trophy to Indy.
