This isn’t likely to be the post or reasoning most may expect. If you have been reading my stuff lately, I’ve already been into the weeds on those details. This is more of a 30,000 feet above look at the franchise. Coming from a place of realization that this team is in need a full on top down rebuild. For too long now we have been running this team off our back foot in a completely reactionary manner. Some of that has been our coaching staff, some the GM. However I’ve ultimately landed on the idea that Jim is not only part of the problem, but a part that we will not ever be able to overcome.

It was able to work with Bill Polian, but those guys don’t grow on trees, nor would a guy like that ever get through the interview process these days. Jim has done nothing but hire flashy yes men since Polian. Sure Ballard is a bit more honest and down to earth yes man, than the ketchup popsicle salesman Ryan Grigson. At their core though. Thats what both were and still are. Probably by design honestly. If I owned the team, I’d probably micro manage some too being honest. Most of us would as we love the team and want the best for it. Which in Jim’s defense, has never been a problem. He very much cares, and is willing to spend whatever it takes. He just also happens to think he’s a football mind, even more so than the guys he hires in those spots, and nothing major can change until we can be shaped by a different true leader, and find a better balance of leadership and roles within our FO. Ownership doesn’t need to change for certain, but the way ownership interacts with the team does.

There are a number of organizations to learn from on this point. Currently we resemble the Cowboys power structure more than any other, and it shows on the field. So rather than get into how we handle the QB decision next week, other position groups, and all of that stuff. Below I will present a step by step for how to fix this organization. It’s not going to happen, but it’s so needed.

Step 1- Clean House-

This means as soon as the season ends. We fire Chris Ballard, Shane Steichen, and Gus Bradley. Along with the majority or totality of their staffs. Really anyone not named Reggie Wayne, and maybe the cap guy, and/or respected training staff goes.

Step 2- Jim Irsay Retires-

Look I understand this is a tough subject. However, it truly is best for all involved, including Jim himself. He still has an ok legacy league wide, even with what’s taken place the last decade. Yet it’s really only going to get worse from here the more he try’s to do. I think it’s time he calls a press conference the second the season ends. Stating the following, and not much more.

"I love the Colts, I love the city of Indianapolis, and I love the whole state of Indiana. My goal has always been to provide the fans an elite experience, and create an equally elite working environment for the players, coaches, FO, and all auxiliary personnel. I am proud to say we’ve been able to do that for the most part, while achieving success, and making memories for all over the past 28 years that I’ve owned this franchise. It is with a full heart, and as much love and optimism that one could have. That I am here to announce it is time for me to step down. My last act was to clean the slate, and leave this great franchise in a healthy place to rebuild better than ever.

I am handing over all team operations and ownership to my two lovely daughters. Who I know love this team and city just as much as myself. They will lead this team into the future with the same core values I have, but with a fresh set of eyes, and more youthful ambition. We should all be excited for the future, as the team and organization is in great hands. I myself look forward to relaxing as a fan, and watching their vision bring this city success. Thank you all for your love and support over the years. You will never know how much it has meant to me and my family, and will continue to mean in retirement. Go Colts!!!".

Step 3- Find A Leader-

While I have no reason to doubt the Irsay girls are capable of making good decisions, and probably know more than a fair amount about the sport. Still, the proper PR move here for all involved is to find a partner, or insert a president of football operations to run that side of what is a much larger business operation. Ultimately the name is less important than whether they are a bright football mind, good leader, well spoken, and going to be loyal and dedicated to the Colts. However, these are the options I came up with that would excite me, and probably elevate the team.

Option A-

Peyton Manning becomes a partial stake holder of the Colts, and serves in the role of president of football operations. This is a home run PR move, and would guarantee off field success and profit for the Irsays. With Manning not experienced in such a role, it’s hard to say if it would equal on field success. Although my guess is that he’d recognize that, and swiftly move to surround himself with capable personnel to delegate to and trust. With this being such an easy choice and feel good moment. I just can’t count on it.

Option B-

Jeff Saturday is hired as president of football operations. This wouldn’t cost ownership stake, and I can almost guarantee has reciprocal interest. Sure there is an experience issue, and could be construed as failing upward. Although Jeff not being the guy to coach the team was more about in game management, not an issue with any of the criteria I listed above. Saturday actually knocks all of those metrics out of the park. Also, while not being a Peyton Manning type boost to the PR side. It’s certainly not bad PR, and still a boost in marketing to the demographic that can afford season tickets. I’d equally expect Jeff to surround himself with veteran staff, and lean into those opinions. This is the option I will move forward with for continuities sake of this post.

Option C-

While I said above I was comfortable going with Jeff Saturday. Both options above are relatively similar. So I do want to give a couple more options that aren’t. Look no further than hiring Bill Belichick as President, GM, and coach. I do have concerns about this option working out, along with age/timeline concerns. However, I do think we’d be better off than we are now. Which is a big box to check off. Preferably he’d take the President role alone, and bring in his choice of GM and the same coach I want, or simply come on as HC. I just don’t think he will do that. He wants total control, and I get why. It’s a lot easier to consolidate power, set standards, and not waste years due to the indecision of many.

Option D-

Go outside of the box and hire Jim Nagy as the POFO. After a long playing and scouting career. Nagy has ran the senior bowl for the past six years. While that’s not an NFL franchise. He has done well in that role, and bring a wealth of football knowledge with him. Along with a likely philosophy shift from analytics and testing numbers, back to skill, polish, and developed traits. This may be my favorite merit based option. I just am not sure if he’s up for this type of responsibility, or if he’d be as loyal and committed to the cause as say a Jeff Saturday or Peyton Manning. If you need another name here in this same thought. Oliver Luck is intriguing, and already lives in Indy.

Step 4- Hire The Right GM

Remember above I said that for this posts sake. I am penciling in Jeff Saturday to the President of football operations position. Therefore shifting the need of this hire from the tradition a bit. Rather than someone ready to command the respect of an entire building. With a buck stops here attitude. We need a geek. Saturday will be the buck stops guy by title, and by his personality. He will have no issue making himself heard roster decisions. I’d imagine as a former player himself, he will favor employing a strong HC personality. So we don’t need another chief or super scout. More so a really smart glue guy, that hopefully properly secures our franchise feet to the ground, while others reach for the stars.

Many could fit this bill, but reading through future GM hotlists. I liked Mike Greenberg, assistant GM for Tampa bays resume. He came up through the cap management side rather than the scouting side, and has been a big part of managing the details of their reshaping over the last 7 years, including the Jamies to Brady, and Brady to Mayfield transitions. I think he’d represent a perfect fit for an organization moving toward the structure I’ve suggested. Other up and comers like Adam Peters of SF, will garner spots with teams that give more power to their GM and that’s ok. We get a more middle of the pack candidate, but one uniquely equipped to fitting in with some great football guys that are pretty set in their ideas of what makes a good team. We hire some decent scouts and a well rounded FO starts to come into view.

Step 5- Hire The HC For The Next Decade-

I could be talked into considering a bunch of options here. Including me reminding the reader of the Darth hoodie option mentioned above. However, there are two guys that clearly lead the pack for me. They couldn’t be more different t in their approach and specializations. Yet, I think both would be home run hires within this proposed structure.

Option 1A-

While I brought up Bill B. There is a guy out there that reminds me of young BB at 49 years old. A guy that recently fell out of favor with his organization due to differences on personnel decisions, and his strong willed personality. Things that I believe are needed in a head coach meant to last, and that I think Jeff Saturday will want too. He’s also a guy that has HC experience, AFC south familiarity, and a winning record to boot.

Enter Mike Vrabel. Not only enter Mike Vrabel, but go on and tag on director of player personnel to his title and let’s lock this thing in for the long haul. Rather than set things up for a power struggle in the future. Let’s be clear from the start. Jeff is in charge, sets the tone, dials in the lens, and is involved in the big stuff, Greenberg makes it happen and work, and Mike Vrabel makes the final roster and staff decisions. Meaning he’d never have the AJ Brown rug pulled out from under him again, but also that there are guidelines in place with Jeff and Greenberg involved too.

Nail the coordinator hires, and this seems like a fool proof plan to me. It may not be the sexiest or highest upside on paper path. Yet, if you asked me how we get to a point where we are the team with a Mike Tomlin, Andy Reid, or BB. Vrabel given the proper freedom is the clear choice. He alone raises the expectation, effort and trust given bar here ala Dan Campbell as an intense former player himself. Add in Jeff’s personality, and don’t get me wrong losing days will be real tense. However, talk about an environment of accountability, and combined earned respect with any locker room having those two around.

Option 1B-

From an upside and progressive view. Ben Johnson is the easy hire, for all the same reasons that Frank and Shane were. He seems brilliant, and I have nothing bad to say. I also don’t mean to undersell him. For all I know he goes on to win this SB as an OC and a few more as a HC. However, he’s never been the guy like 1A. There’s simply just more unknown here or with any other first time HC. With our team needing a steady and immediate push forward. I’m just not sure that’s the answer. It’s a good answer if it has to be it. There no guarantee Vrabel would take our call. Yet when compared. I have to clearly lean 1A. Yet will give the respect here to show this would be an exciting hire on many levels.

Step 6- Go Or Get Off The Pot on AR-

How big of a rebuild is required here with the suggested hires above all comes down to their evaluation and desires. Although everyone desires a franchise QB, and as Saturday essentially said in a recent interview. Being deliberate and committed to a direction is essential. So this is the only roster detail I will include in all of this. If AR isn’t the guy, then trade him next offseason for peanuts even, and move forward. If he is. Then dial into that all the way. If there’s a RB that fits him better than JT, or a WR better than MP. Go get them. We are no longer going to settle. We set a standard and strive for it simple as that.

Conclusion-

On the heels of that last topic, yet also relevant to this entire post. The idea and hope here, is that our problems both big and small are coming from the top down. So rather than going in on specific players and positions. I’m suggesting a FO rebuild all the way up. Then an aggressive path forward. Set the standard, make decisions by it, and keep it moving forward, forward, forward. Whatever the details end up being. As long as those guys involved are the right combination. It’s going to work. Evidenced by the NFL most of the time. Sure you have outliers, but it’s the usual suspects that are consistent winners each year. Not due to one or two FA aquisitions, or one good draft. It’s their way of doing business playing out over time that builds the gap. So let’s start that conversation now about how we get the right leaders involved here. Jim ain’t stepping down without pressure from us either. Something to think about, as there was already a sour mood in the building this week. Might be good to keep that up as bad as that sounds.

Thoughts?