Pagano gets contract extension from Colts

General manager Ryan Grigson, if he was given a reprieve, was supposed to do his best to prove that the problems were on the field and not in the front office. The team announced Monday evening that there will not be an announcement on his status until Tuesday at the earliest.

Pagano noted in his postgame press conference that he will meet with owner Jim Irsay on Monday. If those reports are true, Pagano being as well-respected as he is among players is a miracle of great leadership.

“I appreciate the confidence that ownership has shown in me”, Baalke told reporters. With Pagano’s contract set to expire, the conventional wisdom is that he will not return as Indy’s coach. I don’t know what the future is going to hold, so rather give somebody flowers while they’re living than, you know what I’m saying, the opposite. “It’s a spiritual process”, said Irsay. Only one opinion really matters, though, and Irsay hasn’t dropped any hints about which way he’s leaning.

Pagano led the Colts to the playoffs in his first three seasons in charge, advancing one step further each year, losing in the 2014 AFC championship game. “Jim got me and my family through a trying time (Pagano’s 2012 bout with leukemia)”.

“Obviously you don’t want to be surrounded by a whole bunch of new teammates every year, so I don’t think there’s a danger of that happening and of course you wish you could have continuity through everything but if it’s not working, it’s not working”, Luck said. From 1998-2001, the Colts were 32-32 with two trips to the postseason and an 0-2 playoff record. Say what you will about the biggest reason for the failing of the 2015 Colts, be it the injuries that sidelined quarterback Andrew Luck for nine games or the offensive line and running game inefficiencies that led to the midseason firing of coordinator Pep Hamilton or the lackluster defense maligned by inconsistent pass rush.

Pagano, 55, had coached the Colts to a 41-23 record in four seasons.

If Irsay had fired Pagano, who knows where he would have surfaced?

Chuck Pagano will live another day as the coach of the Colts.

Pagano turned down a one-year contract extension last offseason and gambled he could take Indianapolis to a fourth straight playoff appearance, a third straight division title and their first Super Bowl in six years.

It started when Pagano was asked about his hope that linebacker D’Qwell Jackson could play in a Week 14 game at Jacksonville.

“I’ve had a lot of great days in my life, but none better than today”, he said.

“When I look at the old regime, the old era, you look at those first four years”, said Irsay.

I think the Tennessee Titans have a few key pieces in place as they move to the off-season, but are in dire need of playmakers to put around their franchise quarterback.

Irsay described Grigson as being “contractually tied” to Pagano. “It’s a great, great day and I owe it all to Jim”. It will be interesting to see how everyone co-exists with a healthy quarterback.

In Polian’s defense, during 1997-2000, he also had 3 1st round picks that are arguable future Hall of Famers in Peyton Manning, Edgerrin James, and Reggie Wayne-setting up the makings of a future National Football League juggernaut.