Some Indy Insight into Polian's firing

[Jerry Jabber]

I understand everyone loves to work for someone that is cordial and nice. Dick Jauron was a nice guy to his players and staff, but the team was not successful. While Bill Polian was abrasive and a d*ick, he's been very successful in three different organizations (Bills, Panthers & Colts). The Bills were 2-14 before Polian took over, and took them to multiple Super Bowl trips. The Panthers were an expansion team that he took to the NFC Championship game. The Colts were a 3-13 team before he turned the team around, and made them a Superbowl champion.

[Never NEVER Give-up]

I'm in the camp that Polian had to go, because Chris had to go. Some of these guys get so powerful, they think they own the business and try to employ their families.

 

Bill is a great GM, Chris hasn't proven himself in any way. Chris would do well to join a team as a scout and work his way up - THAT is how Bill did it.

 

If we had hired Marty Schottenheimer, would we have wanted Brian as the OC? Based on the NYJ experience, I'd say no.

 

If we had hired Shanny, would we want Kyle shoved down our throats - no.

 

Expertise is not transferable via DNA, except maybe in the case of Archie, Peyton & Eli. (LOL)

 

These guys would have been wiser to call in a favor and get them some job within the NFL and let them earn their own stripes. If any of them were to pan out (show expertise), Dad could always ask them to join him wherever he is. But to start and be give a role of critical importance is a lot of pressure to bear for the offspring.

Edited January 6, 2012 by Never NEVER Give-up

[Buftex]

I understand everyone loves to work for someone that is cordial and nice. Dick Jauron was a nice guy to his players and staff, but the team was not successful. While Bill Polian was abrasive and a d*ick, he's been very successful in three different organizations (Bills, Panthers & Colts). The Bills were 2-14 before Polian took over, and took them to multiple Super Bowl trips. The Panthers were an expansion team that he took to the NFC Championship game. The Colts were a 3-13 team before he turned the team around, and made them a Superbowl champion.

 

 

You wanna bet, if Manning doesn't sit out the season, and the Colts go 13-3, or 12-4, Polian and son are still employed by the Colts. It is all about wins and losses, in the end. Finishing with the first pick in the draft, is a sign of something gone wrong....being arrogant and difficult, doesn't help. So, Irsay just thought, maybe rightfully, it was time to make a change. That doesn't mean that Polian will have any fewer suitors. And it shouldn't. You can argue that he isn't a nice guy, but you can't really argue with his track record.

[RunTheBall]

 

I suppose the Colts fans base and its writers forget what that Franchise was like before Bill Polian, back to back 3-13 seasons. It wouldn't surprise me one bit to see the Colts slide back to what they were before Polian, a crap org with crappy coaches and GM's.

 

This is exactly what happened to us in Buffalo.

 

RTB

Edited January 6, 2012 by RunTheBall

[NyQuil]

I'm sure calling Irsay's daughter a dirty tranny see you next tuesday helped.

[apuszczalowski]

I understand everyone loves to work for someone that is cordial and nice. Dick Jauron was a nice guy to his players and staff, but the team was not successful. While Bill Polian was abrasive and a d*ick, he's been very successful in three different organizations (Bills, Panthers & Colts). The Bills were 2-14 before Polian took over, and took them to multiple Super Bowl trips. The Panthers were an expansion team that he took to the NFC Championship game. The Colts were a 3-13 team before he turned the team around, and made them a Superbowl champion.

How did he turn the Colts around? Thats right, he chose Manning over Leaf. I think it looks much worse on his reputation that even with Manning, he could only win one SB. Being the GM of a team with a QB like Manning, or Brady, should be one of the easiest jobs in the league to have.

[Jerry Jabber]

How did he turn the Colts around? Thats right, he chose Manning over Leaf. I think it looks much worse on his reputation that even with Manning, he could only win one SB. Being the GM of a team with a QB like Manning, or Brady, should be one of the easiest jobs in the league to have.

 

So, you're saying you wouldn't be happy if the Bills won only 1 Superbowl? There were so many Bills fans that wanted Bill Cowher to come to Buffalo, but he only won 1 Superbowl as well, guess you didn't want Cowher either? I remember Leaf was hyped up just as much as Manning was. Plus, Polian made a very sweet deal with New Orleans to trade all of their draft picks, plus the following year's #1 pick, just so Ditka could get Ricky Williams. But I'm sure you feel anyone could have pulled that kind of deal off. I guess you forget how pathetic the Bills were before Polian took over as the GM.

[K-9]

So, you're saying you wouldn't be happy if the Bills won only 1 Superbowl? There were so many Bills fans that wanted Bill Cowher to come to Buffalo, but he only won 1 Superbowl as well, guess you didn't want Cowher either? I remember Leaf was hyped up just as much as Manning was. Plus, Polian made a very sweet deal with New Orleans to trade all of their draft picks, plus the following year's #1 pick, just so Ditka could get Ricky Williams. But I'm sure you feel anyone could have pulled that kind of deal off. I guess you forget how pathetic the Bills were before Polian took over as the GM.

 

You may want to rethink that one.

 

However, Polian did end up drafting whom many thought was the better RB that draft when he selected Edgerrin James.

 

GO BILLS!!!

[BuffaloBill]

Interesting ... I guess the truth is that everyone puts up with the ugly stuff while the team is winning but it wears thin when they lose. His behavior may not be all that unusual as compared to many successful people. To reach that level of success you have to be very driven and probably make a significant number of personal sacrifices. In light of this you may very well not give a flip about other people. I'm not condoning just saying it's maybe not rare behavior.

[San Jose Bills Fan]

Interesting ... I guess the truth is that everyone puts up with the ugly stuff while the team is winning but it wears thin when they lose. His behavior may not be all that unusual as compared to many successful people. To reach that level of success you have to be very driven and probably make a significant number of personal sacrifices. In light of this you may very well not give a flip about other people. I'm not condoning just saying it's maybe not rare behavior.

Once again the Polian situation has been nicely nutshelled in this topic… except one thing I personally don't understand…

 

Why do some parents believe in nepotism?

 

From a purely biological standpoint of course, it makes sense… preservation of the bloodlines, etc.

 

But personally I believe that a parent should want their child to work for what they earn in the world… and not have it given to them.

 

 

[Jerry Jabber]

You may want to rethink that one.

 

However, Polian did end up drafting whom many thought was the better RB that draft when he selected Edgerrin James.

 

GO BILLS!!!

 

Ditka stated he was willing to give up every draft pick he had that year so he could move up and draft Ricky Williams. Bill Polian wanted to see if he could get Ditka to agree to all of that year's draft picks, plus the following year's #1, and Ditka agreed to it. I'd say that was a bold & smart move on Polian's part.

[K-9]

Ditka stated he was willing to give up every draft pick he had that year so he could move up and draft Ricky Williams. Bill Polian wanted to see if he could get Ditka to agree to all of that year's draft picks, plus the following year's #1, and Ditka agreed to it. I'd say that was a bold & smart move on Polian's part.

 

I'm confused then, Jerry. Ditka and the Saints made the trade with Casserly and the Redskins so I don't understand Polian's role in any of it.

 

GO BILLS!!!

[Hapless Bills Fan]

I understand everyone loves to work for someone that is cordial and nice. Dick Jauron was a nice guy to his players and staff, but the team was not successful. While Bill Polian was abrasive and a d*ick, he's been very successful in three different organizations (Bills, Panthers & Colts). The Bills were 2-14 before Polian took over, and took them to multiple Super Bowl trips. The Panthers were an expansion team that he took to the NFC Championship game. The Colts were a 3-13 team before he turned the team around, and made them a Superbowl champion.

 

We all know what Polian did in the past. This is a "what have you done for me lately?" results driven business.

 

The fact is: whatever personality traits Polian has, were tolerated while the Colts were winning and arguably within sight of another SB trip. He wasn't fired because he was abraisive, he was fired because it became brutally evident that beyond Manning, the Colts have nothing. And it's on Polian to field a team, not to bet the whole enchilada on one human playing an injury-prone position.

 

The sensible conclusion is, whatever Polian has done to build teams in the past, he hasn't done it much lately.

[apuszczalowski]

So, you're saying you wouldn't be happy if the Bills won only 1 Superbowl? There were so many Bills fans that wanted Bill Cowher to come to Buffalo, but he only won 1 Superbowl as well, guess you didn't want Cowher either? I remember Leaf was hyped up just as much as Manning was. Plus, Polian made a very sweet deal with New Orleans to trade all of their draft picks, plus the following year's #1 pick, just so Ditka could get Ricky Williams. But I'm sure you feel anyone could have pulled that kind of deal off. I guess you forget how pathetic the Bills were before Polian took over as the GM.

I would love it if they won one, but it doesn't mean that I wouldn't want/expect them to win more, especially if the team was built with a player the caliber of Manning. Do you think Colts fans are satisfied with only 1 SB win? As for Cowher, I knew he wasn't coming back to coach when Buffalo was looking, and unless he was bringing over the same players and coaching staff to Buffalo, I don't know if he would have the same success here. As for the trading of picks, did Polian go out and initiate and convince Ditka to make that deal or did the Saints come calling and made the offer? If its the later, then yes, anyone could have made that deal. What did Polian do with all those picks he got in the deal? Nothing because the Picks went to the Redskins

Edited January 6, 2012 by apuszczalowski

[K-9]

We all know what Polian did in the past. This is a "what have you done for me lately?" results driven business.

 

The fact is: whatever personality traits Polian has, were tolerated while the Colts were winning and arguably within sight of another SB trip. He wasn't fired because he was abraisive, he was fired because it became brutally evident that beyond Manning, the Colts have nothing. And it's on Polian to field a team, not to bet the whole enchilada on one human playing an injury-prone position.

The sensible conclusion is, whatever Polian has done to build teams in the past, he hasn't done it much lately.

 

Injury prone position? Manning hadn't missed a game in his first 13 seasons.

 

GO BILLS!!!

[Jerry Jabber]

I'm confused then, Jerry. Ditka and the Saints made the trade with Casserly and the Redskins so I don't understand Polian's role in any of it.

 

GO BILLS!!!

 

You are right: http://www.profootballweekly.com/2010/10/20/rewind-remembering-the-ricky-williams-trade

 

Gotta eat some crow on this one. Sorry about that. I remember watching a story on the NFL network about the Ricky Williams trade, but somehow got Bill Polian tied in with it, instead of Charlie Casserly.

 

I don't know if Bill Polian's son is to blame for the Colts being so bad minus Manning. It's possible that Bill was hooking up his son with the GM job, instead of Chris Polian becoming a scout and working his way up the ranks. If that's the case, then it definitely falls on Bill Polian's shoulders for putting his son in that position.

 

I just look at how successful the Bills were with Polian, compared to how successful they were without him. The Polian era was the most successful era in Bills history. 2nd, would be during the AFL Championship days, 3rd, the John Butler era. Would the Bills be in a 12 year playoff drought if Polian was still here in Buffalo? I highly doubt it. Polian is a d*ck, then again, so was Thurman Thomas, Jim Kelly and others during their time in Buffalo. I'd rather have a team of S.O.B.'s that win, compared to a bunch of nice guys that lose.

Edited January 6, 2012 by Jerry Jabber

[K-9]

You are right: http://www.profootballweekly.com/2010/10/20/rewind-remembering-the-ricky-williams-trade

 

Gotta eat some crow on this one. Sorry about that. I remember watching a story on the NFL network about the Ricky Williams trade, but somehow got Bill Polian tied in with it, instead of Charlie Casserly.

 

I don't know if Bill Polian's son is to blame for the Colts being so bad minus Manning. It's possible that Bill was hooking up his son with the GM job, instead of Chris Polian becoming a scout and working his way up the ranks. If that's the case, then it definitely falls on Bill Polian's shoulders for putting his son in that position.

 

I just look at how successful the Bills were with Polian, compared to how successful they were without him. The Polian era was the most successful era in Bills history. 2nd, would be during the AFL Championship days, 3rd, the John Butler era. Would the Bills be in a 12 year playoff drought if Polian was still here in Buffalo? I highly doubt it. Polian is a d*ck, then again, so was Thurman Thomas, Jim Kelly and others during their time in Buffalo. I'd rather have a team of S.O.B.'s that win, compared to a bunch of nice guys that lose.

 

Join the club. Happens to the best of us.

 

I'll say this, if Polian had made that trade with Ditka, I bet he would have gotten much more than the Redskins did out of all those picks. And they weren't the end-of-each-round picks that Polian has made for the last 10 years, either. Casserly really didn't do much with them except to package a deal to move up to select Bailey, who will end up a HOF CB.

 

GO BILLS!!!

[Jerry Jabber]

Join the club. Happens to the best of us.

 

I'll say this, if Polian had made that trade with Ditka, I bet he would have gotten much more than the Redskins did out of all those picks. And they weren't the end-of-each-round picks that Polian has made for the last 10 years, either. Casserly really didn't do much with them except to package a deal to move up to select Bailey, who will end up a HOF CB.

 

GO BILLS!!!

 

I agree 100% that Polian would have gotten more out of that deal.

[Alaska Darin]

Uber successful people are usually abrasive and have low tolerance for failure. Jim Irsay is probably going to regret this decision far more than the Polians will.