Indianapolis Colts QB Peyton Manning on Tuesday voiced his displeasure with what he perceived as “poor” communication within the organization regarding Tom Moore and Howard Mudd.
This understandably drew considerable reaction not only in local and national media, but on the blogosphere, and with reason, because Manning isn’t routinely given to such critical public comments on a routine basis.
As a quick recap, Moore and Mudd – as most readers likely know by now – are the only offensivecoordinator and line coach Manning has had in 11 seasons with the Colts. They retired early this month, and shortly thereafter Colts Owner and Chief Executive Officer Jim Irsay said the duo likely will return as assistants. In the meantime, Colts President Bill Polian and Colts Head Coach Jim Caldwell each have said that wide receivers coach Clyde Christensen and assistant offensive line coach Pete Metzelaars are assuming the duties of Moore and Mudd, respectively, though neither has been officially promoted.
I get that this is a big story, rightfully so. I get that people are excited.
And I get that teeth are being gnashed.
But while this is a story that may have some short-term wheels, and while it certainly will keep the messageboards buzzing, I can’t see it having many long-term ramifications.
By long-term, I mean ramifications that extend into the regular season.
For the record, we’ll run down what the major players around the Colts were saying on Tuesday:
Colts Head Coach Jim Caldwell . . .
One of the things I think is important for us is to take care of the here and now. The situation with Tom Moore and Howard Mudd is still one of those situations where as there are still negotiations going on. We are getting a feel for what can and can’t be done. Some of those things are out of our coaching hands in terms of the decisions that can be made. Those decisions are certainly at another level in terms of the ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act) laws in terms of retirement and things of that nature. At some point and time, it will filter its way out. Sometimes it doesn’t happen as quickly as we like but in the long run, I think it will work itself out. The thing that we have to do is focus in on what we have to get done at this time. Clyde Christensen and Pete Metzelaars are excellent at what they do and been involved in the system for quite some time. They have a real thorough grasp of it and will do a good job in the interim. We have a couple of young coaches that we added on as interns and they are feeling there way around and getting a feel for the system. We don’t expect a whole lot out of them because of the fact that they are learning right now and getting a sense of where things are. The guys that have been around will certainly make the decisions that have to be made this time of year.”
More from Caldwell . . .
The best-case scenario would have been none of this would have happened at the time that it happened. It is what it is. It’s occurred and we made adjustments and we’re moving forward. We think right now we’re in the best possible position we can be in for what we’re trying to get accomplished this spring during our OTA’s. We’ll work through those and get better and deal with the other issues a little bit later on. Overall I believe we just have to focus in on what’s immediate and right now. I think if you look down the road, and obviously because of the time in which it happened, you feel like there is some uncertainly, but nevertheless, the important part of it is to focus in on what we can control. What we can control is what we do out on the practice field and how much effort we put into it and our mission is to get better.
And for the record, Manning . . .
I really can’t tell you. I can’t tell you what’s going on. I will say I don’t think it’s been the most properly communicated scenario around here. But we have learned to deal with change and be prepared to adjust. It’s still somewhat of an open book the last I’ve heard about it. If they come back as consultants – status quo – it’s really hard for me to answer. I really don’t know what the word consultant means and I don’t know if anybody does. I know Tom Moore always told me that he talked to other teams that had consultants, he thought that was kind of a scary word. He thought all a consultant ever did was came in and second-guessed every play call you made.
However that plays out, I’m not ready to give you my closing remarks on Tom and Howard. Tom and I did have a meeting three weeks ago and it was somewhat of an emotional meeting., It was 7 a.m. We were saying goodbye not knowing if it was official or not. We took some time to share some personal thoughts. It’s hard to do it in an hour meeting after 11 years of being together. . . . Right now everybody is just trying to focus on doing their individual job better up through minicamp and the last OTA.
And a bit more Manning . . .
I wouldn’t say I totally like the way it is right now. It’s not normal not having a full coaching staff. I know we hired a couple of guys to come in, but these guys are learning. They’re not offering a lot of coaching out there, I can assure you of that. It’s not a situation that I’m just thrilled about. I think the communication has been pretty poor in my opinion. But that’s what we’re dealing with. The hard work is what’s going on right now. That’s what will carry us through. . . . I really don’t know anymore than what you know. Somebody says one thing, then somebody else says another thing. I’m not sure everybody’s on the same page in this building. I’m just trying to focus on playing quarterback well.
Bill Polian then weighed in, speaking to Chris Mortensen of ESPN . . .
Basically, Peyton is confused about the roles that Tom Moore and Howard Mudd will have in the future. My answer is, welcome to the club. We’re confused, too. The people that are supposed to have answers still don’t have answers. Whether we can bring them back, when we can bring them back, remains to be seen. We would love to have ‘em back but we don’t know in what capacity they will be allowed. It’s still being researched.
Polian said of Christensen and Metzelaars . . .
Pete Metzelaars did a terrific job last year when Howard had to miss almost three weeks when he needed knee replacement surgery and that was with some young [linemen] needing to play. We really see this as a transition. Clyde has been a coordinator and had a chance to be a coordinator again, plus our head coach [Jim Caldwell] is an offensive guy. We’d love to have Tom Moore and Howard Mudd around as consultants but we feel good about our offense.
Now, know this about Polian:
He is a stickler for accuracy, and until it’s a certaintly that Moore and Mudd are going to return, it’d be surprising to see him make public statements assuming their return. It’s just still hard to believe that if Irsaydoesn’t want to get something done on this front that it won’t happen, particularly considering NFL Coaches Association Executive Director Larry Kennan’s comments to the Associated Press on Tuesday:
As long as Howard and Tom pay their own taxes for the next six months, they can return to the Colts as paid consultants, I’d say effective right away, based on what the ERISA attorney just told me.
Considering the nature of this story, it would be shocking if this is the last of it, but the ERISA factor is one that had been discussed around this story the last few days, and if that obstacle is out of the way, the clear-cut plan Manning desires likely is a bit closer.
But to those overly worried about Manning being upset, it may be time for a breath, and some perspective.
I’d refer them to comments made by Colts C Jeff Saturday Tuesday:
I don’t know exactly what’s going to happen or what it’s going to be like. I’m sure Jim (Caldwell) will make it very clear, but understand from our side, I would not be dealing with coaches right now anyways. I come in and lift, run, do stuff with the strength coaches, and I may spend 10 minutes with a coach talking about different things we’re implementing. So it hasn’t been anything different for me because it’s just been normal business. Next week. Once we start our true coaching sessions when we’re on the field with everybody doing team work, that’s when I’d notice a difference, if any.”
Obviously, Manning is more intimately involved with the details of the offense than Saturday, but the truth is, if Moore and Mudd happen not to return, the succession that likely will happen in the next few years is in place, and if they do return, then it’s back to what it has been before. Mudd and Moore each were involved in the first stages of the offseason and it only has been in the last few weeks that they have been absent from West 56th Street. Their current absence isn’t ideal, but neither is it something that can’t be overcome. Manning is working, and the rest of the offense is working. They’re focused on what they should be, and Caldwell wants them focused on mostly individual stuff in the first few weeks of OTAs, anyway.
Either way, these few weeks of uncertainty — and even some rare public displeasure from Manning — shouldn’t have much of a long-term impact.
