Detroit Lions: GM Timeline Won’t Save Jim Caldwell’s Job
By Zac Snyder
Indianapolis Colts fire Bill and Chris Polian
January 2, 2012
The 2011 Colts endured a brutal 2-14 season with Peyton Manning sitting out the year following neck surgery. Undoubtedly frustrated that the team could fall so far following the loss of Manning, owner Jim Irsay decided to end the tenure of Bill Polian and son Chris Polian in the Colts’ front office.
Having already cleared Mayhew and Lewand from the picture, and hiring Rod Wood as the new team president, the Lions are ahead of where the Colts were on the second day of 2012. In hiring Ernie Accorsi to assist in the search for the next general manager, the Lions are ahead in the game there as well as Irsay stated that he hadn’t talked to any candidates when announcing the firing of the Polians – only that a search would begin immediately.
In hindsight we know that Jim Caldwell was fired by the Colts but the change in his status was not the motivating factor in the Indianapolis house cleaning. The NFL.com report of the Polian firing makes that clear:
"Irsay also told reporters there was a good chance that coach Jim Caldwell will be back next season, but his evaluation wasn’t over."
Like Martha Ford, Irsay was through with the men leading his front office, but didn’t immediately feel the need to fire Caldwell.
Next: January 11, 2012