Colts losing Howard Mudd to retirement

[Deus Irae]

Offensive line coach Howard Mudd has informed the Colts he is planning to retire immediately because of the pension-plan changes, according to team and league sources.

Indianapolis Colts offensive line coach Howard Mudd plans to retire immediately - ESPN

I'd guess that it's possible that the O.C. (Moore) could join him. He had to be talked out of leaving even before the pension change happened. Things could get a bit more interesting in Colts land.

 

[ALP]

whos will indy hire to replace this HOFer signal spy?

 

[OhExaulted1]

whos will indy hire to replace this HOFer signal spy?

Sorry kids, Mangini's spoken for. I'm sure that dooche Polian will come up with another super-slueth, though.

 

[wdkantro2]

The Colts were always very fortunate to keep their entire staff intact year after year. Let's see how they like the turnover that the Pats have had numerous times!

 

[Fencer]

I hope Dante doesn't do the same thing.

Presumably, Kraft will pay him well enough not to.

 

[BradyFTW!]

I think this'll be a bigger hit for the Colts than most people will initially realize.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Word up is that Mudd still suffers lingering injuries from post AFCCG 2005 when Peyton threw the OL under the bus.

 

[Rob0729]

Considering the problems the Colts had with their o-line last year with all the new pieces, a switch of coach this late in the game might be a big blow.

 

[cavtroop]

Word up is that Mudd still suffers lingering injuries from post AFCCG 2005 when Peyton threw the OL under the bus.

LOL, almost spit my coffee all over my keyboard, good one

 

[maverick4]

Colts are quickly dropping into mediocrity.
Lost their coach, O-line coach, maybe their O-coordinator soon too.
Dungy won't be there to patch up the defense anymore.

They won a few games by sheer luck last year. This year they won't be as lucky.

 

[patchick]

Mudd sounds like just the tip of the iceberg. If I'm following those pension rule changes correctly, the NFL has suddenly made it so that every staffer who hits age 65 has to immediately head for the hills, or risk their family's long-term financial security. That's a recipe for absolute turmoil.

 

[BTTA]

Mudd sounds like just the tip of the iceberg. If I'm following those pension rule changes correctly, the NFL has suddenly made it so that every staffer who hits age 65 has to immediately head for the hills, or risk their family's long-term financial security. That's a recipe for absolute turmoil.

Yes, and perhaps an indication that the league will provide some "clarification" of the rules, or a rewrite, that will keep this from happening. But they will still try and keep the coaches from turning 75, taking the lump sum, and then returning as a consultant.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

I hope Dante doesn't do the same thing.

Presumably, Kraft will pay him well enough not to.

The vote was to allow individual teams to opt out. A couple apparently did immediately. We have no idea who they are beyond Indy. Perhaps Kraft isn't intending to.

 

[jmt57]

Yes, and perhaps an indication that the league will provide some "clarification" of the rules, or a rewrite, that will keep this from happening. But they will still try and keep the coaches from turning 75, taking the lump sum, and then returning as a consultant.

I interpreted the last line to mean that the new rules prevented this type of double dipping and that this could be done previously, but not any longer.

A league source said there were several factors that motivated owners to change the pension program, including a loophole that enabled a tenured assistant coach who hit the 75 formula to retire and take a lump sum only to return to a team as a high-paid consultant.

 

[Rob0729]

Colts are quickly dropping into mediocrity.
Lost their coach, O-line coach, maybe their O-coordinator soon too.
Dungy won't be there to patch up the defense anymore.

They won a few games by sheer luck last year. This year they won't be as lucky.

Do agree that the Colts could easily been 9-7 or 8-8 last year if not for a few breaks. At least two of the games were results of fumbles returned for TDs which are flukey. Minnesota would have won if Childress didn't have Tavarous Jackson run the same bootleg play over and over again after Adrian Peterson went down.

 

[workhorse]

Colts are quickly dropping into mediocrity.
Lost their coach, O-line coach, maybe their O-coordinator soon too.
Dungy won't be there to patch up the defense anymore.

They won a few games by sheer luck last year. This year they won't be as lucky.

Man, I hear this every year.

I like Mudd. He has done a good job of coaching up some diamonds in the rough. But I really don't think an O-line coach leaving is the straw that broke the camel's back.

There are several things that will likely have a greater impact than Mudd deciding to stay or retire. Peyton is healthy this year and will be able to participate in training camp and the preseason. Jeff Saturday is healthy. They get starting cornerback Marlin Jackson back. They have 5 300+ lbs DTs vs 1 last season.

 

[Deus Irae]

Man, I hear this every year.

I like Mudd. He has done a good job of coaching up some diamonds in the rough. But I really don't think an O-line coach leaving is the straw that broke the camel's back.

There are several things that will likely have a greater impact than Mudd deciding to stay or retire. Peyton is healthy this year and will be able to participate in training camp and the preseason. Jeff Saturday is healthy. They get starting cornerback Marlin Jackson back. They have 5 300+ lbs DTs vs 1 last season.

Two things, though:

1.) The Colts were clearly not a top team last year, for the first time in a while, and that was true even when Manning's knee looked healthy.

2.) Mudd may not be the only one leaving. You could conceivably lose your O.C., too.

 

[workhorse]

Two things, though:

1.) The Colts were clearly not a top team last year, for the first time in a while, and that was true even when Manning's knee looked healthy.

2.) Mudd may not be the only one leaving. You could conceivably lose your O.C., too.

The Colts won 12 games last year, including 9 in a row.

Tom Moore leaving wouldn't change a whole lot. Peyton calls the plays and they have been running the same offense for years. Very few wrinkles have been added in the last 5 years.

 

[Deus Irae]

The Colts won 12 games last year, including 9 in a row.

Tom Moore leaving wouldn't change a whole lot. Peyton calls the plays and they have been running the same offense for years. Very few wrinkles have been added in the last 5 years.

Winning games doesn't necessarily mean you're a great team, especially when you're getting the wins gift wrapped the way the Colts were last year. This is not intended as a knock on the Colts, by the way, because one could point to the Patriots of last year and come up with a solid, logical argument that paints that team as a paper tiger that couldn't play with the big boys despite winning 11 games.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

The Colts won 12 games last year, including 9 in a row.

And yet almost nobody was surprised when they lost to San Diego, since the Colts won about 5 games in which they were physically dominated on both lines of scrimmage and the opposing team did multiple stupid/freaky things to hand over the game. Plus in the playoffs you've got the QB with the 7-8 career record. The Caldwell collapse is the new One and Dungy, if they even make it that far, with a coach with a career record of 26-63 as a head coach.