ESPN saying Colts Offensive Line Coach Howard Mudd Retiring

by BigBlueShoe on May 6, 2009 12:43 AM EDT in Colts News Comment 6 comments

Chris Mortensen is saying Howard Mudd, legendary offensive line coach for the Colts, may be retiring:

Offensive line coach Howard Mudd has informed the Colts he is planning to retire immediately because of the pension-plan changes, according to team and league sources.
...

Mudd could not be reached for comment, but sources indicated it is almost a certainty that he is stepping down and that assistant line coach Pete Metzelaars will assume his duties.

During the league's meetings in March, owners passed a resolution to revise its pension program for non-players.

Mudd, 67, believes he has to take his entire lump-sum pension payment now because if he does not exercise that right at 65 under the revised plan, he will be allowed only to accept annuity payments upon retirement that will be reduced to 50 percent value for his immediate survivors if he dies, according to sources.

Mudd has already maximized his pension because he has surpassed the formula that requires a coach's age and league tenure to equal 75. He has been an NFL assistant for 36 consecutive seasons.

Many assistant coaches are upset with the recent pension revisions and have complained the new program not only reduces their retirement income but also lacks clarity.

The owners cutting the pension plan is crappy douchey on their part, and if it drives one of the best coaches in football out of the league, shame on them and their greed.

Of course, this could all be a bunch of crap. The source of all this is Mortensen; the same Chris Mortenson who said the Colts were moving to LA, and that Mike Shanahan was going to the Kansas City Chiefs. We shall see.

Tip to monstersbox.

0 recs | Comment 6 comments | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Read More: howard mudd, Indianapolis Colts

Comments

NNNOOOOOOO!

by jantz101 on May 6, 2009 1:56 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

uh oh

by Stadtfeld on May 6, 2009 3:22 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

this whole situation sounds odd in its unraveling. if it is true its a big loss but not huge loss, the past few years our line has sucked and granted its because we lost some talented vets but if he is that great of a coach some of these younger guys would have started performing by now. I hope this isnt true but so far I like the changes and hirings of caldwell and have all the confidence in the world he finds adequate replacements. he got rid of that idiot of a special teams coach and his d coordinator looks good (we dont know yet but..) so Im not going to freak out on this just quite yet. if he is more interested in what it sounds like (although what a sucky thing that happened) Id rather have a guy who comes in raring to go and move on

by kinnickcolt on May 6, 2009 4:34 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Hopefully moore stays!

Read the whole article… says Moore is 70… he might go as well

by ColtKing on May 6, 2009 6:11 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

this makes me wonder

does this type of thing fall at a bad time for changing staff around from a hiring prospective? obviously its not ideal as OTA’s will be starting up, then camp and so on. but i would guess most of the good coaches available on the street have jobs since all of the head coaching and regime changes around the league have taken place. i know the Colts will promote from within and shuffle the staff around, then hire someone probably at some kind of entry level position. Howard Mudd and Tom Moore have been here so long………its just wierd timing i guess. We’ll all get over it if it does happen and the Colts have a good season.

by MARVININDY on May 6, 2009 6:46 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs