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Is Jim Irsay’s Faith in Pagano and Grigson is Waning?

By Kyle Nishida

Nov 20, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts owner Robert Irsay talks at halftime of a game against the Tennessee Titans to honor the 10th anniversary of the 2006 Super Bowl championship team at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 20, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts owner Robert Irsay talks at halftime of a game against the Tennessee Titans to honor the 10th anniversary of the 2006 Super Bowl championship team at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports /
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In January, Indianapolis Colts’ owner Jim Irsay announced the extensions of both head coach Chuck Pagano and general manager Ryan Grigson. Eleven months later, he is starting to regret those decisions?

The Indianapolis Colts lost 22-17 to the Houston Texans Sunday. As a result, their playoff chance virtually vanished. Those implications probably did not sit well with the owner. Also, the loss probably did not make Pagano or Grigson feel like their jobs are secure.

However, if Irsay is upset, he is doing a relatively good job not indicating it. He is certainly doing his best to dance around the dilemma when talking to the media.

"“Right now I’m not anticipating making any changes,” Irsay told USA TODAY. “That can always change. It always can when we’re sitting down at the end of the year and evaluate things. But I’m just looking at seeing if we can win these next three games …”"

This statement does not answer the question at hand. Though, it does give some insight to what Irsay is thinking. He may not be ready to fire the two people who run his organization, but “that can always change.”

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It is understandable for Grigson to delay his decision until the end of the season. The Colts can still make the playoffs. Regardless of how unlikely that is, a playoff berth could influence his decision. However, it is more than likely Irsay has made his decision and is just does not want to tell anyone.

Irsay sees the writing on the wall: the Colts are probably missing the playoffs. As a result, Pagano and Grigson are gone.

Neither individual’s job can be saved even if Indianapolis finishes the season with an 8-8 record. It may seem unfair, but Irsay has been more than patent enough with these two men.

Irsay has given Pagano five years to build the Colts into a defensive powerhouse. Instead, Pagano has delivered a middle-to-bottom tier defense. His teams have been severely unprepared in important regular and postseason games (Ex: all encounters with the New England Patriots).

Also, NFL franchises are starting to hire more offensive head coaches. Pagano is one of the few defensive head coaches left. Irsay could be seeing this national trend and could be think a change in philosophy is needed.

Meanwhile, Irsay has watched the overall talent of the Colts’ roster diminish under Grigson’s reign. When Bill Polian was in charge, he drafted eventual longtime starters like Peyton Manning, Marvin Harrison, Dwight Freeney, Robert Mathis, Reggie Wayne and more.

Who has Grigson brought in? There is Andrew Luck, T.Y. Hilton, Jack Mewhort, Ryan Kelly and few more guys. The rest of the starters are players who would be starting on elite teams.. That is not a sign of a good general manager. It is the sign of a horrendous one.

With the way the Colts are trending, it is likely they miss the postseason in back-to-back years for first since the 1997-98 seasons. Also, they would two years removed from their AFC Championship appearance and do not look like they will be making a return trip soon.

Next: Colts’ OLB Mathis Unhappy About 22-17 Loss to Texans

Irsay may still be trying to make up his mind, but he has all the evidence he needs to fire both Pagano and Grigson. Barring some miracle over the next three weeks, Pagano and Grigson will be probably looking for new homes in 2017.

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