Well, he certainly put some nice teams together in Buffalo. And they haven't exactly been a worldbeater since he was fired...
Carolina is to me a little overstated. 7-9 to 12-4 to 7-9 (and 4-12 after he departed which led to Capers canning) is really more an expansion fluke. He drafted a QB for them who turned out to be a pissa in more ways than one, an alcoholic who actually quit on the team four games into his third season... Then of course there was the little matter of his selecting a first round WR who is currently doing life without parole...
Had Manning not been available to him with the #1 pick (which he indeed made the correct selection) who's to say this team he built could win at all. Most pundits seem to be of the opinion they could not, which is why Peyton wins so many regular seaon MVP awards. Had Eli been Archie's middle son, or Peyton decided to come out as a junior as is the norm nowadays, whose to say how Polian's time in Indy would be being judged...He inherited Harrison and Marshall Faulk (whom he flipped for Edge after one season). Mora Sr. was an emotional wreck he was fortunate to replace with someone who by record shouldn't have been available...And the circumstances worked out so he was able to retain the offensive staff Mora had built. Out of the gate he was given the kind of truly unfettered control, by an overmatched but well intentioned milk toast owner desperate to redeem the sins of the father, that few personnel men ever achieve. He has had his share of busts and disappointments including one expensive, durability related one in the draft that get glossed over. His LT of the future is a backup RT. His 3rd round selections don't often pan out and one recently retired after his rookie season. His lone foray into elite FA was an unmitigated disaster (Simon). He has built a "dynasty" (according to this author) that has gone to 2 Superbowls in his 12 year tenure and won one to date. They have certainly been consistently competitive in the last decade, particularly since being shuffled into the largely uncompetitive AFCS... His QB has been extremely durable to date. He is certainly a master manipulator, and he has made excellent use of his slot on the NFL Competition Committee to insure the league emphasizes whatever he believes is in the best interest of his franchise model. And after grooming his son to follow in his footsteps, his goal was certainly to build a Polian "dynasty"...
That said, I think he achieved SOB deserving of HOF consideration once he finally built a team that could win a ring, while a guy like BB who is both architect and schematic genius and HC became a lock based also on his record with the Giants as DC when he won his second ring as a HC. The third ring elevated BB to first ballot lock. If Indy prevails on Sunday Polian is probably a lock. If they don't but they continue to dominate their division and/or win again in Manning's career he is probably a lock. He is somewhat unique, not the field general or the owner but certainly the single driving force behind the Colts success not named Manning. I do think in acknowledging his contribution however Irsay will be out of contention entirely for consideration as a owner no matter what transpires going forward. Whereas here both Bill and Kraft will ultimately get in and depending on how things go in his future Pioli, though it would take another ring, has a shot. We could end up with almost as many FO types in the HOF from our dynasty as players.
