Colts Preparing to Enter the Grigson Era
Brett Mock reports that NFL sources are confirming Ryan Grigson as the future Colts General Manager.
Adam Schefter tweeted this morning that NFL league sources can confirm an agreement in principle between the Indianapolis Colts and Ryan Grigson -- meaning the lawyers simply have to nail down the specific contract language and the team has to hold a press conference. Things rarely break down in contract negotiations and the hiring process once it has reached this point.
*UPDATE Jim Irsay has now made it official as well by posting a story on Colts.com about the signing.
Assuming Grigson's process is like most others, it means the 9-day wait for a new Colts General Manager is over. It means a new era is about to begin. It also means that Ryan Grigson is about to undertake the biggest challenge of his professional career and that Jim Irsay thinks he is the man for the job.
What could lead Irsay and Grigson to the conclusion that this marriage is best for the Indianapolis Colts and their own professional careers? Consider that Grigson is an Indiana native, who grew up in Highland, Indiana. He played college football at Purdue University.
Also consider the Irsay made it very clear in his press conference and radio show that he was going to look for candidates who did not necessarily have experience as a general manager, that were relatively young (Grigson is 39), driven, and had a clear vision for the future of the franchise. In many respects, Grigson's resume and Hoosier history suggest that he is the kind of guy who could strike the balance Irsay has been looking for.
Very few young NFL executives have advanced their careers at a pace as aggressive as Grigson's. He won't get the notoriety of a DeCosta or a McKenzie but examine his resume:
Grigson played tight end and offensive line at Purdue and was one of the team's three captains in 1993 and 1994 -- which happened to be Purdue's first winning season in a decade. This is after he suffered an injury to his kidneys when he was hit in the stomach by a Minnesota defender his sophomore year, resulting in hospitalization and causing Grigson to miss the entire 1992 season.
Grigson was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the sixth round of the 1995 NFL Draft, was cut, and picked up by the Detroit Lions -- where he would remain for 1995 season.
Grigson was cut by the Lions in August of 1996 and moved on to play in the CFL for the Toronto Argonauts in 1997. He suffered a career-ending back injury and was forced to retire.
Grigon's love for the game was apparent though. He immediately moved on to be an assistant coach for McPherson's College and a Pro Scout for the Sasketchewan Roughriders in 1998.
Not satisfied, Grigson took the opportunity to be the player personnel coordinator and assistant coach for the Buffalo Destroyers of the Arena Football League in 1999.
Grigson was hired as a national scout for the St. Louis Rams in 1999 -- the team that won Super Bowl XXXIV. He was still with the team when the Rams returned to the Super Bowl in 2001 as an area scout.
With five years of NFL experience under his belt, Grigson attracted the attention of the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles signed him as a western regional scout in 2004 -- where he was a part of the Eagles NFL Championship team. He made an impression on the Philadelphia front office in a hurry. In 2006, he was promoted to director of college scouting. In 2010, he was promoted to director of player personnel.
Now, if sources are correct and the legal process goes smoothly, he will be hired as the General Manager of the Indianapolis Colts on January 11, 2012.
Source: Wikipedia
So what we know is that Grigson is a former football player. He understands what it is like to suffer through injuries, what it is like to have pressure to play football and deal issues only players could fully appreciate. We know that Grigson has brief experience coaching players, establishing relationships with players as a personnel director, and has been all over the country and even spent time in Canada scouting football players.
We also know that obstacles Grigson has faced collegiately and professionally have not slowed him down on his rise to NFL legitimacy and respect. A man whose learning curve is from being a retired CFL player to NFL general manager in just 14 years is pretty astonishing.
Additionally, the Colts blog entry linked above mentions that Grigson played a part in scouting and drafting Eagles Pro Bowlers LeSean McCoy and Desean Jackson, and played an important role in free agent acquisitions like Jason Babin, Nnmadi Asomugha, and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. A solid resume of talent acquisition from the draft and free agency for a guy who spent just one season and off-season (during a lockout) to get comfortable in his new role.
Now all Colts fans have to figure out is what kind of personality does Grigson have? Where does he stand on Peyton Manning? What direction does he intend to take the team? What are his first steps? How does he handle the imminent salary cap concerns and numerous veteran free agent contract issues facing the team? How quickly does he intend to take action? What does this mean for Jim Caldwell's future?
That's the funny thing in Indianapolis right now folks. Even answers generate more questions.
Expect a press coference at some point later today or tomorrow morning announcing Grigson's arrival in Indianapolis. A new era is about to begin in Indianapolis.
Anyone want to join me in acting like a complete idiot, complaining about everything Grigson does wrong, and work on running him out of town as soon as possible?
We can talk nicely about him once he is gone too!
@mattshedd I believe you´re looking for one Bob Kravitz. There will be a brief honeymoon period, and then it´s back to "Hey, let´s trash the Colts!" for him.
Interview with Grigson already up: http://www.colts.com/media-center/videos/Colts-General-Manager-Ryan-Grigson-Interview/d2101c92-917b-43f1-bde4-5e28b416ee3d
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I´m not gonna be excited about our new GM, for the simple reason I wouldn´t be excited about it no matter who the choice was. McKenzie and DeCosta could turn out to be disasters. It´s a position where only long-term results will tell if we´ve got a keeper, however bright the resumé is, especially when it´s the first time he´ll be in this spot. Besides, I remember all too well the grand declarations over how Coyer and Rychleski were bright coaches who would make the Colts an exciting new team, so I hope I´ve learnt my lesson. All the new hires receive gushing panegyrics. But definitely, what an offseason awaits us.
I am just happy that we have someone and can move on to the next step. Not to worried about the job that he will do yet, these things always play out with time, hopefully for the best.
Hopefully an announcement of the firing of Jim Caldwell is coming next. If all of the talk of a "new era" is true, don't stick with the same lame duck coach.I'm not going to pretend I know enough to know if Grigson is a good or bad hire. Hopefully good.
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And that would mean PM is staying (there's no reason to keep him aside from Payton wanting him as his HC).
A serious response... I think we have to assume he's on board with the "keep Peyton" bandwagon. I don't think Irsay will listen to anyone who suggest a rebuild from the ground up. The best thing (IMO) would be if Peyton is 100% healthy. The next best thing, sadly, is if Peyton is nowhere near healthy and no promise of being healthy... then Irsay could release Peyton and rebuild the team without compunction.
@LovinBlue Most people would want to keep Manning, but I hope the decision on whether Peyton remains a Colt is made by Peyton. Peyton and Mr. Irsay definitely have an interesting conversation approaching. I only want to see Peyton return a Colt if he is OK with only playing a couple more years. If he wants to play 4 more years, I think he and the Colts should part ways. Peyton deserves to be on a team dedicated to winning superbowls. At the end of the day, all partys involved are very smart, and I trust they will make the best decision, whatever that may be.
@mattshedd@Peyton for President@Goéland It´s just... Who would want to lose Manning? For me, it´s important that there are people like you who value loyalty so much.
I feel like I will like every comment you make about Manning-Luck. You and I are brothers when it comes to this issue. @Goeland @Peyton for President
Sorry, i though my response was as serious as the question (you were being somewhat sarcastic, right?).
@Goeland @Peyton for President You'd think that a GM that kept both would automatically be disqualified as "good GM".
@kasey_junk hah. I always wonder that. Like Packers the other day said, "The only thing that matters here is championships."
Okay? Like you're the only city that feels that way?
Also similar to people on "reality" shows that say, "I don't wanna go home, I'm here to win it!!!" Because everyone else is here to lose.
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@Peyton for President Oh, I´m definitely hoping (and assuming in my comments) that we avoid the trainwreck that would happen if we draft Luck for the reasons you´re highlighting. Trade the pick is my motto these days.
@Goeland, You think Luck will sit on the bench for 4 years? That would be my reason for Peyton to leave. You can't take a guy first overall, only to ask him to be a backup for 4 years. I just can't imagine that being realistic. I don't want to see Manning forced out because of Luck. I'de rather see him leave now and have a chance to win another superbowl somewhere else. If Irsay is serious about wanting Manning to be his starter, he should have the balls to trade the pick and draft another QB later in this draft, or use one of the extra picks to draft a QB next year.
@kasey_junk I guess I should've said win superbowls now. The Colts wouldn't be fully dedicated to winning now if they kept Peyton and drafted Luck. How does someone who isn't going to play help you win?
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@Peyton for President@LovinBlue If Grigson turns out to be a good GM, and he manages to build a good team, there´s no reason for Peyton to leave after 2 years. The Colts would be a contender, and what kind of sense would it make to leave them for another team, especially since Manning is such a special QB in terms of timing, perfectionism and continuity? I think he is dedicated to playing out his whole career with Indy, and I share that intention. Now if the Colts crumble and become bottom feeders, I might change my mind, but otherwise, here´s to several years of the glorious Peyton-led Colts.
@Freeneysalwaysheld Just because they aren't good at it, doesn't mean they aren't dedicated to it.
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@Peyton for President@LovinBlue Just out of curiosity, which teams aren't dedicated to winning Superbowls?
@LovinBlue I agree with you. Taking Irsay at his words, "One Voice" and "if Peyton is healthy he will be a Colt". I think its one of those things where Irsay is saying, this is what I want to do, now make it work. Tough situation with the cap issues.
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Interesting that you mentioned Grigson's Wikipedia page. When was he announced as a candidate? Because on January 4 somebody created a user account named "Hoosier73" to do nothing but fill out the list of Grigson's credentials a bit. Was that Grigson polishing his bio? or someone within the Colts?
Hilariously, Jim Popp's Wikipedia page has been filled out a *lot* today by a brand new user named "Jimpopp1". Gee, I wonder if he's angling for a job...
Grigson was included in one of the earlier lists of candidates IIRC. Interesting thought that it might have been someone within the Colts.
@LovinBlue Would a Boiler name himself "Hoosier"? Or is he just trying to throw us off the scent?? Dun dun DUNNNNN!!!
@squirrel@LovinBlue Well in any literal sense, Grigson is definitely a hooser. He's just a bad kind of hoosier.
Well, I'm not sure I'm thrilled, but with the importance off this offseason, we definitely needed someone to come in. With other teams like the Raiders making moves so quickly, I was hoping this didn't get drawn out too long. Not that quick is always a good thing, just saying. I was kinda rooting for Telesco. I hope he sticks around. Grigson does have an interesting story. It seems as if everywhere he's been the people around him have been impressed, but heavy lies the crown. We'll just have to wait and see.
Interested to see how the next few days go. I wonder who Grigson will bring in to round out his staff. That is just as interesting to me as what he does with Caldwell.
Can't say I have a great feeling about the hire, but I'm more than happy to be proved wrong.
The Colts Press Release on the Grigson hire makes a point of highlighting his Free Agency signings last year.
Just mentioning it.
@Kyle Rodriguez@GregC Yeah, let´s hope not. You´d think this was precisely the season everyone needed to come to terms with the perils of free agency, particularly where an ex-Eagles employee is concerned. Who would want to repeat the fabulous 2011 "the dream that slid into nightmare" experience?
