Colts name Jeff Saturday Interim Head Coach

[ChaosTheory]

Originally Posted by YDFL Commish

So this may not be quite as unprecedented as some believe.

It so happens that Bart Starr was the Packers HC from 1975 to 1983 with only 1 year of QB coaching experience in the NFL in 1972.

He was also the Packers GM from 1975 to 1980 as well, with no prior experience as an executive either.

It's interesting. Although the league was a lot different then. I don't know how precedented it is... I just know it's pretty fucking strange.

[AlwaysSunnyinIndy]

Take this with a huge grain of salt because it is written by Jason La Canfora who is not always the most reliable source of info (I think at times that he will write about rumors he hears without taking much time to verify them).

However, he is reporting the Colts locker room is not happy - both the remaining coaching staff and players.

Lots of players want out now.

That the reason why Parks Frazier is the play caller is because other members of the staff turned down the job.

Jeff Saturday may have his work cut out for him in winning over the locker room.

Link to article with a few excerpts below:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sport...aturday-colts/

Irsay had already mandated in Week 8 that developmental quarterback Sam Ehlinger, the 218th pick in 2021, replace borderline future Hall of Famer Matt Ryan. He oversaw the firing of offensive coordinator Marcus Brady days later, a power play some in the league believe is fueled by a lust for the first overall selection, which netted Irsay generational talents Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck in the past. (Numerous individuals who discussed the matter with members of the Colts staff and roster and who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive topic indicated that Irsay was behind these moves.)

“Frank never wanted to change QBs and if he was forced to do it and it was up to him, he would have gone to Nick Foles,” said a longtime confidant of Reich’s who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to reveal their private conversation. Reich “knew Ehlinger wasn’t ready to play. He would never fire Marcus Brady like that. Frank doesn’t fire anyone. That’s not how he operates. This is all Irsay. Frank will take the high road, and he won’t say anything about it. But that’s how it went down.”

One NFL general manager with ties to several key members of the Colts staff said in the immediate aftermath of Reich’s firing Monday — but before Saturday had been named the replacement — that the moves were “all premeditated. The owner is already on to next year. It’s already about next year. He’s tanking for a QB. It was obvious when he benched a $30 million guy for a guy who can’t play. That’s what this is about.”

Contacted again after Saturday was plucked from ESPN to take over this fractured football team, that general manager said: “I told you, he is doing whatever he can not to win.” (Irsay has rejected the accusation, telling the Athletic "That’s the most absurd thing I’ve ever heard, that we’re tanking,” and repeatedly calling it “bulls---.”)

Ryan and other veteran players were irate when informed of the Reich-for-Saturday swap by General Manager Chris Ballard, who told them this came directly from the owner, according to multiple individuals who discussed this with Colts players but were not authorized to speak for them. Several players said privately that they did not want to play there anymore; Irsay waited until after the trade deadline to pull this trick.

Not surprisingly, Saturday had great difficulty finding anyone willing to take over as offensive coordinator and call plays Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders. His top pick, quarterbacks coach Scott Milanovich (like Reich, a former University of Maryland star), turned it down, according to individuals with knowledge of the situation. The newbie finally settled on another novice to give it a shot: Parks Frazier, 30, the Colts’ assistant quarterbacks coach, who has no history running an offense.

“I’ve talked to coaches there, and they are all like, ‘What the f--- just happened?” said an individual who has worked with members of the Colts staff and remains in close contact with them but who spoke on the condition of anonymity when discussing private conversations. Irsay “had three guys he could have promoted who could have done the job and he hires a guy off his couch from ESPN? Trust me, inside that building they know this is an absolute waterfall of s--. The coaches and players know this is a total tank job. That’s what they’re all talking about.”

“Jeff has a huge problem with that staff already,” said one longtime agent who has discussed the matter with Colts players and coaches. “The owner just threw that staff completely under the bus. He could have helped Jeff if he handled it the right way, but Irsay completely butchered this. Everything he said was a smack in the face to the coaching profession in many ways. His comments were atrocious to the coaching fraternity, and now Jeff is supposed to be their boss. I don’t see how that’s supposed to work.”

[Hoopsdoc]

Originally Posted by AlwaysSunnyinIndy

Take this with a huge grain of salt because it is written by Jason La Canfora who is not always the most reliable source of info (I think at times that he will write about rumors he hears without taking much time to verify them).

However, he is reporting the Colts locker room is not happy - both the remaining coaching staff and players.

Lots of players want out now.

That the reason why Parks Frazier is the play caller is because other members of the staff turned down the job.

Jeff Saturday may have his work cut out for him in winning over the locker room.

Link to article with a few excerpts below:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sport...aturday-colts/

None of that surprises me at all. Jim sabotaged this team for years to come with this bullshit. No one will want to play or coach here now.

This is an absolute disaster.

[Oldcolt]

If that is true (coaches and players not happy) fuck them. So I am to assume they were happy as pigs in shit Monday before he fired Frank and are upset because things were going so well and they had done such a good job that firing Frank was such a surprise? They think that they deserve the money they are stealing from Irsay and should not have consequences to their absolute shit play and coaching? The only people they should be unhappy with is themselves,

[apballin]

Originally Posted by Oldcolt

If that is true (coaches and players not happy) fuck them. So I am to assume they were happy as pigs in shit Monday before he fired Frank and are upset because things were going so well and they had done such a good job that firing Frank was such a surprise? They think that they deserve the money they are stealing from Irsay and should not have consequences to their absolute shit play and coaching? The only people they should be unhappy with is themselves,

Exactly I’m guessing the defensive guys are fine with this they’ve been working 3 times as hard as the offense just trying to keep them bums in the game. Fuck them, how about get a fuckin first down score some fuckin points stop getting manhandled fuckin 40mil fuck you

[YDFL Commish]

If only the players would've been just as pissed about losing and getting their asses kicked in the process, then maybe this would not have happened.

[Brylok]

Originally Posted by Hoopsdoc

None of that surprises me at all. Jim sabotaged this team for years to come with this bullshit. No one will want to play or coach here now.

This is an absolute disaster.

There will be a mass exodus in the off season, coaches and players both. I wonder if any players will refuse to play in the next eight weeks.

[rcubed]

Originally Posted by Brylok

There will be a mass exodus in the off season, coaches and players both. I wonder if any players will refuse to play in the next eight weeks.

well, the coaches were largely going to be let go. any new HC would want to pick his staff.

players are under contract.....so show up if you want to get paid. their attitude may be the problem.

[Hoopsdoc]

Originally Posted by Brylok

There will be a mass exodus in the off season, coaches and players both. I wonder if any players will refuse to play in the next eight weeks.

Yep, coaches for sure. Some of the veterans may ask out as well.

But hiring Saturday was a slap in the face to every other coach in the league.

[Chromeburn]

Originally Posted by AlwaysSunnyinIndy

Take this with a huge grain of salt because it is written by Jason La Canfora who is not always the most reliable source of info (I think at times that he will write about rumors he hears without taking much time to verify them).

However, he is reporting the Colts locker room is not happy - both the remaining coaching staff and players.

Lots of players want out now.

That the reason why Parks Frazier is the play caller is because other members of the staff turned down the job.

Jeff Saturday may have his work cut out for him in winning over the locker room.

Link to article with a few excerpts below:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sport...aturday-colts/

Because they think we are tanking. They don't want to tank. You can't tell a bunch of type A's to take it easy. Oh and we might draft your replacement.