Colts Players React To Irsay Firing Bill And Chris Polian

by Brad Wells on Jan 2, 2012 3:28 PM EST in Colts News

Colts center Jeff Saturday told everyone change was coming. Now, we know what it is. longtime team president Bill Polian and his son, general manager Chris Polian, have been fired.

Not 'reassigned.'

Not 'excused.'

Fired.

The news came as a shock to several Colts players, who used Twitter to express their shock:

Pierre Garcon

So what happens now???

Robert Mathis

whoaaaa!!!!! Bill and Chris Polian fired

Pat McAfee

I wonder who the new boss will be?

McAfee also used Twitter to express gratitude towards Polian for picking him in 2009:

Bill Polian took a chance on me when no other team wanted to.. I'll always be grateful to him for giving me the opportunity to be a Colt.

The Colts have a 5:00 p.m. ET press conference scheduled. Likely, it is there where owner Jim Irsay will officially announce the firing of the Polians. We also might have some news as to who the new general manager is, but make no mistake. After today, the 'new boss' is Jim Irsay.

Tweet Comment 45 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Brad,

Thanks for the good coverage.

by Odin1980 on Jan 2, 2012 3:30 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

I hope we can get a good GM.

As big of an asshole as Polian was there is no doubt that he could build and maintain a team. If we get a crappy GM were screwed for years.

by VERNON HOWELL on Jan 2, 2012 3:34 PM EST via Android app reply actions

Agreed. It may be a rough next few years.

by Odin1980 on Jan 2, 2012 3:35 PM EST up reply actions

Be careful what you wish for

Polian built a team that competed at an elite level for 12 years. It will be hard to top that. I hope Irsay knows what he is doing and not making a knee-jerk decision after one horrid season.

by JTBLA on Jan 2, 2012 3:38 PM EST reply actions 2 recs

I think the reaction or action is right

The firing might be due to the unproven Chris Polian and Jim fired Chris and Bill had to go also because of the father son relationship. I think for the Colts Organisation front office and coaching needs to change. Players is next

by kbreboot on Jan 2, 2012 4:22 PM EST up reply actions

The next gm

Irsay did a pretty good job the last time he picked the GM and coach (Polian and Dungy). I hope he does it again.

Yeah, I'm Shure.

by Music Man on Jan 2, 2012 3:39 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Can we start talking about playoffs now?

-- Life is to short to take everything serious. Especially sports blogs.

by indymike on Jan 2, 2012 3:46 PM EST reply actions

Playoffs?...Playoffs?....You wanna talk about Playoffs?

Sorry, it had to be done.

New Math: 2011-18 = 0-16

by EVLGNUS on Jan 2, 2012 3:54 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs

ROFL

by Straight Out The Burbs on Jan 2, 2012 3:57 PM EST up reply actions

Changes

Wow this all seems overreacting to me given the success the colts have had.I can understand a coaching change.

by Stan54 on Jan 2, 2012 3:48 PM EST reply actions

Team has no talent, Manning masked the deficiencies for years

On D, none of them are top5 at their position and there are only 4 potentially top10 at their positions.

by Ty46 on Jan 2, 2012 3:55 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs

'masked the deficiencies for years'

This is a concept that many people who comment here can’t seem to understand. You nailed it.

by Ayrshire on Jan 2, 2012 3:56 PM EST up reply actions

Not sure on that.

I think everyone had the idea. It was clear during the Superbowl Run that our defense is suspect. A defense the likes of 49ers of this year with an offense of the colts would have won SB after SB. Did the polians do so bad, maybe not so because its also starting to show on the patriots, when you have to pick so late in the first round all the great talents are gone. but i do blame them for controlling too much on the coaching and on feild personell decision. As for the patriots they were once a defensive team, now they have become like the COLTS offense offense offense. Take away Brady and they will be 8-8 team at best.

by kbreboot on Jan 2, 2012 4:28 PM EST up reply actions

8-8, when you lose your HOF quarterback, is reasonable.

2-14 isn’t. At least the Colts finished this season as usual, …weak at running the ball,…weak at stopping the run, and weak at giving the quarterback protection. Par for the course on a Polian-led team.

by Ayrshire on Jan 2, 2012 4:40 PM EST up reply actions

I disagree

you have to understand the defense the Colts want to play. Cover 2 requires a DT that consistently either creates pressure up the middle, or draws the double-team. We had that with Nevis until he got hurt. Pressure forces the RB to come up in help, taking him away from the outside where Freeney and Mathis are applying pressure. A double-team leaves a gap on the weakside for the 2 position or MLB to make a play.

Cover 2 isn’t just about “bend but don’t break” it’s also about creating pressure up front, helping the secondary create turnovers when the timing is disrupted and the QB has to throw early. Without the pressure up front, you can chip Freeney and Mathis, and pick up 3rd and long all day. Even the best Defense struggles when they’re on the field nearly 40 minutes a game!

The Colts secondary is NOT good enough to cover/create turnovers without pressure up front. That said, I hope the Colts draft a solid DB and SS to add both talent and depth to our weakest area.

by James Busch on Jan 3, 2012 12:51 PM EST up reply actions

I would put Mathis in the top 5

but else, I agree.

by Peter Storgaard on Jan 2, 2012 3:57 PM EST up reply actions

He is tied for 18th in sacks

Last season he was tied for 10th.

by Ty46 on Jan 2, 2012 4:01 PM EST up reply actions

I might be a homer

but I just see him as a more complete player than a lot of other DEs.
Furthermore the sacks statistics include other positions than DE.

by Peter Storgaard on Jan 2, 2012 4:39 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

I said it months ago and say it again

Manning will and HAS the power to get rid of the Polians because of his relationship with Irsay, face of the NFL and will be playing for the Colts in 2012!

Once Polian got into a pissing match with Manning via the leaks and rumors, it was on…

Bye Polians, thanks for drafting #18 and costing the Colts a perfect season!

TTYL,
Big Blue Dawg

by BigBlueDawg on Jan 2, 2012 3:56 PM EST reply actions

Not overeacting

Polian deserves to be in the Hall of Fame and the Colts and Bills ring of honor. However you cant live on past glory and since 2007 that is exactly what Billy the Bully has been doing. He has not drafted well at all and his decisions have led to an erosion of talent that Peyton covered up very well but got exposed this year. Polian did alot of great things but his arrogance and bullying tactics got old very quickly and Irsay was smart enough to see that change was needed. Good job Mr. Irsay for finally acting like a CEO.

by finallysaved on Jan 2, 2012 3:56 PM EST reply actions

I'm don't understand why people are surprised by this.

Manning’s injury completely exposed the franchise for what it really is: A one-trick pony. The blame for that must fall squarely on BP and, by default, the fruit of his loins. Like many I believe that much of PM’s career was squandered by Polian’s crappy decisions and refusal to build a quality team around the GOAT. Hopefully it’s not too late to learn a lesson and get Manning another ring or two.

New Math: 2011-18 = 0-16

by EVLGNUS on Jan 2, 2012 3:58 PM EST reply actions 4 recs

rec'd

by Phillycolt on Jan 2, 2012 4:01 PM EST up reply actions

Agreed

I’ve been a Colts fan since 1986 – seen a lot of really bad teams. I can’t express enough how incredible Peyton Manning has been for this organization, but it’s a pity the Polians didn’t capitalize enough on having him as their quarterback. I’m very, very happy to have celebrated a Super Bowl victory following the 2006 season, but there should have been more rings and the Polians should shoulder that blame.

by 88horsepower on Jan 2, 2012 4:18 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

from Pat Angerer's Facebook Page

I love the Polian family and am grateful for the opportunity they gave me. Bill Polian got some heat from people for taking a chance on me and drafting me in the second round. He believed in me when many didn’t. I owe a lot to him.

ITS A VVVVVVCCCCCCCCCCC THREEEEEEEEEEEEE

by Keysta101 on Jan 2, 2012 4:08 PM EST reply actions 2 recs

It's just not the team's performance

It’s tough to defend the Polians after what happened to the team this season. Even without Manning this team shouldn’t have been this bad. But you could see it coming. The lack of a running game, and worse yet, the way the defense couldn’t get off the field.

But how long could Irsay keep a GM that has such a sour face as Bill Polian. Polian’s refusal to talk to the local media and his absolute jerk-like responses to unfavorable situations always struck me as someone who thought he was too important to be released. Wrong!

by SouthDakotaColt on Jan 2, 2012 4:10 PM EST reply actions

Don't forget the bonehead decision at start of this season

Getting Kerry Collins.. Jim may have thought and said then – you better hope this is the right decision – we have SB here in indy. then Kerry went 0-4 and straight to IR. I think they were done then. And i agree the Polians refusal to talk when you Boss likes to be Twitter. Maybe he’s on here too reading our reactions

by kbreboot on Jan 2, 2012 4:31 PM EST up reply actions