Randall Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 Dungy to announce decision about future on Monday By Chris Mortensen ESPN.com Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay went to bed Sunday night believing coach Tony Dungy "was leaning" toward coming back for the 2008 season, but he won't know for sure until Monday morning. "I'm hopeful, I think he's leaning our way, but he hasn't committed to anything," said Irsay, who spoke with his coach on Sunday. Irsay confirmed that he has signed assistant head coach Jim Caldwell to a new contract with a firm commitment that Caldwell will succeed Dungy if and when Dungy retires. "Two things that are clear right now: One, if Tony comes back, he will come back full time and, two, Jim Caldwell will be the coach if Tony steps down," said Irsay. "I'm optimistic but I really don't know that Tony will [return]. I can see him coming back for one, maybe two years, but he has to find peace with that." Irsay has offered Dungy considerable flexibility about his future but the coach has dismissed a plan to take significant time in the offseason to spend with his family, which has recently moved back to Tampa. Dungy has spent the past five days in Tampa, discussing his future with his wife Lauren. He is scheduled to return to Indianapolis on Monday. Chris Mortensen covers the NFL for ESPN. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Front Row Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 NFL network is reporting he will be back next season , press conference scheduled for later today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sturphy Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 NFL network is reporting he will be back next season , press conference scheduled for later today. Dungy is turning into a "Favre-watch" situation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Posted January 21, 2008 Author Share Posted January 21, 2008 NFL network is reporting he will be back next season , press conference scheduled for later today. Good. I wonder if he'll be using Irsay's private jet to attend his kids games as was talked about last week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isleseeya Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 i hope he stays on ..he is a good man , good coach and i believe good for the colts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyr0802 Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 Colts just held a press conference where Dungy announced he's staying on next year and possibly longer. The Colts have signed Jim Caldwell to head coaching money and named him associate head coach and plan to allow him to be a part of the head coaching decisions although Dungy will still have final say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Wolf Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 Yep...si.com confirming as well: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/foot...y.ap/index.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pig devilz Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 respectfully.............DAMN IT!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Swerski Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 This is great news. Even though I don't like Dungy lining up 270-lb guys at DT, he's a great defensive coordinator and he's finally gotten those guys to play at a high level for an extended period of time. He's also a great leader, an important calming influence, and is universally-liked in the locker room. Almost any other coach in the league would've been a step down, so I'm glad that he'll be back on the sidelines later this summer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushwacked Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 This is great news. Even though I don't like Dungy lining up 270-lb guys at DT, he's a great defensive coordinator and he's finally gotten those guys to play at a high level for an extended period of time. He's also a great leader, an important calming influence, and is universally-liked in the locker room. Almost any other coach in the league would've been a step down, so I'm glad that he'll be back on the sidelines later this summer. Great news for the Colt organization, there are only a few select coaches that generally lead teams to success year in and year out. It's hard to give Dungy total credit for that with future HOFs leading his offense every year, but he has been a winner his whole career and that doesn't come by accident. My fingers are crossed as I think the Seahawk nation learns if Holmgren is still coach tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeeR Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 Yeah he's one helluva defense builder. Take a look at his Colt Ds during his tenure - impressive. Also wt fark w/Mr be-a-good-parent pimp moving his family to Fla - then decides to keep coaching in Indy. Although I'd rather him than freakin Caldwell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Swerski Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 Yeah he's one helluva defense builder. Take a look at his Colt Ds during his tenure - impressive. Given that the Colts spend the majority of their money on their offense and let many of their good defensive players walk as free agents (Mike Peterson, David Thornton, Nick Harper, Cato June, etc.), I don't think that he's doing a terrible job. In Tampa, where he and McKay built the Bucs around defense and paid top-dollar to keep their studs around (Sapp, Brooks, Lynch, Barber, etc.), his defenses were outstanding. Also wt fark w/Mr be-a-good-parent pimp moving his family to Fla - then decides to keep coaching in Indy. They've maintained a home in Tampa since he coached the Bucs. IIRC, his family didn't move up to Indy until a few years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeeR Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 Given that the Colts spend the majority of their money on their offense and let many of their good defensive players walk as free agents (Mike Peterson, David Thornton, Nick Harper, Cato June, etc.), I don't think that he's doing a terrible job. In Tampa, where he and McKay built the Bucs around defense and paid top-dollar to keep their studs around (Sapp, Brooks, Lynch, Barber, etc.), his defenses were outstanding.Fair enough. It's more Polian's fault than his. I still don't think he exactly merits the defensive guru tag though, at least not in Indy. They've maintained a home in Tampa since he coached the Bucs. IIRC, his family didn't move up to Indy until a few years ago.So? Why have them move to Fla and he stays in Indy? Have to wonder if a divorce isn't looming. It just seems odd to say the least that a guy who harps on the family unit so much decided to have his family all move to Fla and he stays in Indy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Swerski Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 So? Why have them move to Fla and he stays in Indy? Have to wonder if a divorce isn't looming. It just seems odd to say the least that a guy who harps on the family unit so much decided to have his family all move to Fla and he stays in Indy. You need to read Dungy's book. He and his family spent a lot of time in Florida, even when they were all living in Indy during the season. His wife also does not like cold weather (and especially hated Minnesota winters). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Posted January 22, 2008 Author Share Posted January 22, 2008 Why have them move to Fla and he stays in Indy? Have to wonder if a divorce isn't looming. It just seems odd to say the least that a guy who harps on the family unit so much decided to have his family all move to Fla and he stays in Indy. I would say he wants his kid to stay in the same school now and after he retires. Moving children during HS isn't a good idea. I would say he is making life difficult for himself and for the benefit of his children. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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