Bill Polian Hall of Fame Finalist

[ColtsFanMikeC]

no one remembers who came in second

 

Most GM's never make 1 super bowl.  Getting a team to as many super bowls as he did is remarkable.  He's not on the field playing, the execution comes down to the players and coaches at that point.

 

so you look only at the hindsight of things. the high powered offenses and the wins. what did all of those so called genius moves get? regular season awards? how about one and dones in the playoffs. how about tieing up the cap by overpaying medicore players like kelvin hayden joesph addai and gary brackett 

 

 

really? thats your argument? they were on the super bowl team? what did addai brackett and hayden do when they left indy? in fact what has any of our players besides peyton done since they left indy?

 

Brackett had a 9 year career. Kelvin Hayden played in the league 10 years, and Addai had an injury-plagued 6 year career.  All of these guys were in the league for longer than the average NFL player and all played fine for the Colts and helped them win a super bowl.  Not for nothing, but to expect a LB or DB to play effectively for much longer than 9 or 10 years is ludicrous.

 

Don't believe he's HOF deserving but guess it is what it is

But then again...... He did land us Grigson, Pagano, & Manusky

Definitely HOF worthy, such better people building this tram than it was in the Polian days

 

Polian is arguably the best NFL GM of all time.  He took a terrible team in Buffalo and turned it into a powerhouse.  I don't care if they lost 4 super bowls in a row, just making the playoffs 4 years in a row is tough enough, let alone going to 4 straight superbowls.  Then he left and took a franchise team to a title game in 2 years. Then he left and took a 3-13 Colts team and made them the winningest team of the decade (I think the winningest team of any decade for that matter).  His problem was letting his son take too much control of the team towards the end.

 

? um they were all here for the 2011 season before grigs got rid of them

 

Grigs came in to clean house.  At this point of all their careers they were nearing the end and Grigs brought in a new coaching staff and a new scheme.  Polian built the winningest team of the decade after he started with the worst team in the league.  I don't know why you're arguing.

[ruksak]

Jebus Cripes....... can't we just thank the man for his service and congratulate him for being honored, and drop the damn debate? 

 

 

Why does every subject have to have a cynical component to it on these internetz? 

[ColtsFanMikeC]

hayden gone garcon gone, addai gone, brackett gone, saturday gone, clark gone and of course peyton gone. grigs cleaned house. go check it

 

Polian built a team with consistency and kept a lot of players that started around the time Peyton did around for the long haul, which is a big part of why we were so successful (the most wins in the decade and 2 super bowl appearances) -- Saturday, Clark, Brackett were all at the end of their careers.  Addai battled injuries his whole career and didn't have much gas in the tank, and Hayden was nearing the end of his career which also had some injuries.  Garcon is the only one on that list who wasn't near the end of his career when Polian left.  All he's done is lead the NFL in receptions last year -- you're right, all Polian's players sucked.

[Coffeedrinker]

any of every good FA since we couldnt because polain is as conservative as john fox and tied our money on C level stars by giving them A level contracts

None of what you said in this post is true.

[Superman]

only gm to lose 5 super bowls

 

Starting with this post, and including the rest of them, you are being irrational. 

 

No love lost between me and Bill Polian. I think he did a terrible job over his last four years here, and the team was a mess. He could have done more, and better. It wouldn't have guaranteed us anything, but it would have made the team better. So there's plenty of room to criticize his performance. No reason to talk about his attitude and personality, but we could...

 

However, there's no question that Bill Polian was a great GM in his day. And there's no question that he's HOF worthy.

 

If you don't think so, make a real argument. But GMs don't lose Super Bowls. GMs build rosters. And Polian's rosters were good enough to go to the Super Bowl 6 times in 20 years, far more than any other GM in that span (not to mention conference championship games). The Bills are the only team to make the Super Bowl four years in a row, and that includes winners and dynasty-level teams like the Cowboys and Patriots who won in 3 of 4 seasons. To use that as a knock against him is ridiculous. Try again.

 

Seriously, talk about how his drafting fell off, or how he wouldn't sign free agents, or how he couldn't draft offensive linemen for nearly a decade, etc. There are plenty of real arguments that can be made against Bill Polian. "Only GM to lose 5 Super Bowls" isn't one of them. Ironically, that's an argument in his favor.

[southwest1]

no one remembers who came in second

I get what your saying CR91, but you gotta remember that a GM's primary job is to assemble talent & Bill has done that supremely well in Buffalo, Carolina, & INDY accumulating elite playmakers.

 

GMs never put pads on & play. I never hold a GM responsible for how any athlete plays in any SB. 

[southwest1]

Jebus Cripes....... can't we just thank the man for his service and congratulate him for being honored, and drop the damn debate? 

 

Thank you for saying that outloud ruksak. Bill deserves a HOF bust & anybody who thinks otherwise needs a CAT scan immediately. Not only that every other GM would sell their soul for his track record of success. 

 

I think Bill gets a bad wrap for not replenishing o-line & d-line talent after 2006 or holding on to aging players too long after our 2009 SB loss. I respect him for bringing a Lombardi trophy to INDY & any reservations I had about his relationship with the media & his son are water under the bridge now. 

[Gramz]

Good luck Mr. Polian.   You Deserve to be there.

[ruksak]

Good luck Mr. Polian.   You Deserve to be there.

There....now is that so hard people? 

 

No "buts", no "if's". Just a person congratulating another person for their success. 

[GoColts8818]

If you put away the hate some still have for this man and look at his track record and compare it to other GMs this is s no brainer.

[ruksak]

Mr Bill (polian) says "OH NOOOOO"

 

[Patagonia Chris]

really? thats your argument? they were on the super bowl team? what did addai brackett and hayden do when they left indy? in fact what has any of our players besides peyton done since they left indy?

 

If you do any research I think that you would find a majority of players never match their production levels that they enjoyed with their original team. If those players had enjoyed success on other teams then you'd be ripping Polian for letting them go, so what exactly is your point??

[NFLfan]

I get what your saying CR91, but you gotta remember that a GM's primary job is to assemble talent & Bill has done that supremely well in Buffalo, Carolina, & INDY accumulating elite playmakers.

GMs never put pads on & play. I never hold a GM responsible for how any athlete plays in any SB.

Right, SW. Polian is a shoe in for the HOF. No doubt about it.

[Superman]

I don't know why there's a problem with having a debate about whether he's worthy of the Hall. We do it with everyone else. 

 

But I do think the argument against should be better than what it is so far. I could present that argument myself, but I still think he's worthy, so I'd just be playing devil's advocate...

[Superman]

Right, SW. Polian is a shoe in for the HOF. No doubt about it.

 

^^^

 

That's coming from a fan of another team. 

[NFLfan]

^^^

That's coming from a fan of another team.

Is that allowed? ;)

Seriously, I cannot think of more than one or two GMs who deserve this more than Polian. The only person I can think of now is Ozzie Newsome.

[Superman]

Is that allowed? ;)

Seriously, I cannot think of more than one or two GMs who deserve this more than Polian. The only person I can think of now is Ozzie Newsome.

 

It's encouraged.

 

Bill Polian isn't exactly my favorite person, but I definitely think he's deserving.

[southwest1]

Ironically, there is 1 thing I admire most about Bill: His in depth Polian Corner analysis sessions. He is so elaborate with them it always blew me away.

 

It's the 1 thing that I don't like about GM Ryan Grigson...He's too evasive, cryptic, & he doesn't let the fans know where his draft/free agent head is at.  Yeah I know, it's a difference in management styles. 

 

I just really appreciate the scope & attention to detail Bill brought to how we played in a game, new additions we made to the roster, & I gotta give Bill credit for admitting that he was wrong in thinking that QB Painter could carry the load after Manning was out with his neck surgeries. 

 

It took Bill's departure to make me realize how lucky we truly were as a fan base under his front office stewardship. 

[ruksak]

I don't know why there's a problem with having a debate about whether he's worthy of the Hall. We do it with everyone else. 

 

 

It just seems disrespectful, considering the thread topic.

[MTC]

Polian was a great GM. Hopefully, we may see him get another shot.

As far as nobody remembering second. Not a very educated statement. This guy holds records for coming in second. I think that will be remembered for a long time.

 

His days as a GM are pretty much over. He likes doing TV and radio. 

[jskinnz]

Kinda funny the three guys you mention were all starters on the superbowl winning team. It doesn't really help your case. As a matter of fact it amazes me how often you are on the wrong side of the augment

He is on the wrong side of every argument.

[jskinnz]

I dont need to understand building a franchise 101 to know a market value for a certain player. I actually remember a story about kelvin hayden wanting 5 million a year before they starting talking and polian gave him 7

More absolute nonsense

[Superman]

It just seems disrespectful, considering the thread topic.

 

I see where you're coming from. I just think he's like everyone else who is up for the HOF. We talked about Marvin, we'll talk about Reggie and Peyton and everyone else.

 

If he's elected, and I assume he will be, I think that thread should be more congratulatory than anything else. But we'll see what happens.

[Superman]

Ironically, there is 1 thing I admire most about Bill: His in depth Polian Corner analysis sessions. He is so elaborate with them it always blew me away.

 

It's the 1 thing that I don't like about GM Ryan Grigson...He's too evasive, cryptic, & he doesn't let the fans know where his draft/free agent head is at.  Yeah I know, it's a difference in management styles. 

 

I just really appreciate the scope & attention to detail Bill brought to how we played in a game, new additions we made to the roster, & I gotta give Bill credit for admitting that he was wrong in thinking that QB Painter could carry the load after Manning was out with his neck surgeries. 

 

It took Bill's departure to make me realize how lucky we truly were as a fan base under his front office stewardship. 

 

That was a great feature during Polian's management. I learned a lot about football in general from the Polian Corner. Always enjoyed it, until Week 16, 2009, but that's a different story...

 

Grigson and Pagano do a weekly radio segment that you can listen to on Colts.com. I wish the website would transcribe, because it's much easier for me to read than to listen. And of course, both of them have very different personalities and ways of expressing themselves, compared to Polian. So it's a different experience. 

[NewColtsFan]

hayden gone garcon gone, addai gone, brackett gone, saturday gone, clark gone and of course peyton gone. grigs cleaned house. go check it

 

They were toward the end of their careers.   That happens to everyone.    And you know this.   What is the matter with you?!?

 

I don't know if you've noticed,  but we're 65 posts in and no one here agrees with you.    Worse, the people who oppose you are crushing you.     Seriously.    You're getting killed here.

[OffensivelyPC]

Mr Bill (polian) says "OH NOOOOO"

 

I wish I knew more people who liked Mr. Bill.  "Oh No! That Mr. Sluggo is gonna be mean to meeeeee!"

[wordofmouth]

How anyone with any sense of NFL history can argue that he isn't deserving is beyond me.

As was stated so eloquently by Superman,  But GMs don't lose Super Bowls. GMs build rosters. And Polian's rosters were good enough to go to the Super Bowl 6 times in 20 years

 

That is exactly right. The contract thing is ridiculous.  How many contracts did he give out over the years?  Some are going to be right on  some are going to be overpaying and some will be bargains. I'm sure his numbers were in line with anyone else who is trying  (successfully )  to keep a winning team together.  Imagine the outcry if we let Dallas and Sanders and others like them walk.

 

The other thing that cracks me up is how people who spend all sorts of time watching, cheering, complaining and analyzing regular season games, all of a sudden dismiss regular season success.

 

Here's to hoping that someday we aren't lamenting about the "Polian Days" like they do in Buffalo.

[OffensivelyPC]

That was a great feature during Polian's management. I learned a lot about football in general from the Polian Corner. Always enjoyed it, until Week 16, 2009, but that's a different story...

 

Grigson and Pagano do a weekly radio segment that you can listen to on Colts.com. I wish the website would transcribe, because it's much easier for me to read than to listen. And of course, both of them have very different personalities and ways of expressing themselves, compared to Polian. So it's a different experience. 

I had NFL channel on Sirius XM Radio for some time and I loved listening to Pat Kirwan - he has a blog or whatever on cbssports.com that gets fairly interesting around draft time (but it was more fun to listen to his film break down for games, college and NFL).  It's amazing the little intricacies and small things that most of us see and never recognize.  We can talk about how intricate baseball is statistically, how basketball is tough to get ahead in, but the more you dive into football - at any level - the more you realize how impossible it is to get ahead of the competition.  It really is the ultimate team sport.

[Superman]

The other thing that cracks me up is how people who spend all sorts of time watching, cheering, complaining and analyzing regular season games, all of a sudden dismiss regular season success.

 

The irony, right? I've never seen this expressed this way, but you're absolutely right.

 

Here's to hoping that someday we aren't lamenting about the "Polian Days" like they do in Buffalo.

 

 

I don't think we have to worry about that too much. Grigson is doing a good job.

[wordofmouth]

 

The irony, right? I've never seen this expressed this way, but you're absolutely right.

 

 

I don't think we have to worry about that too much. Grigson is doing a good job.

 

Yes he is!  but it doesn't take much for things to get derailed. That is why Polians career is so remarkable.

Grigson's true test will be what he does after the Luck, Fleener, Hiltons etc.  contracts are up.

Who he signs and who he lets go and how he replaces those players will go along way towards establishing his legacy.

I, for one, am pretty optimistic about his future.

[southwest1]

That was a great feature during Polian's management. I learned a lot about football in general from the Polian Corner. Always enjoyed it, until Week 16, 2009, but that's a different story...

 

Grigson and Pagano do a weekly radio segment that you can listen to on Colts.com. I wish the website would transcribe, because it's much easier for me to read than to listen. And of course, both of them have very different personalities and ways of expressing themselves, compared to Polian. So it's a different experience. 

Yeah, despite the fact that Polian loved to quote Bill Parcells almost nonstop LOL...His answers to questions gave you a window into how to approach injuries & mental learning curves among players as they transition from a rookie to about year 3 when the lightbulb of awareness & playing making ability is supposed to skyrocket.

 

I have listened to the Grigs radio segments before, but his responses just don't resonate with me. I get it Grigs is a close to the vest guy vs Bill who had so much experience to draw upon that nothing a reporter or fan asked him felt like he was about to accidentally divulge a corporate franchise secret. Translation: You're not gonna surprise Bill because he knows more about football than 90% of the journalists talking to him. 

 

Grigs has a good eye for finding gym rats who love playing football, but he just seems guarded about what he says to the media. Part of that is learning his GM duties on the fly & part of that is just wanting to keep reporters at a considerable distance. I've just learned to accept the fact that Grigs will seldom answer a question directly. If I expect nothing beneficial, I'm usually not disappointed. Therefore, I treat a Grigs interview like a Bill Belicheck press conference. Intentional deflection with nothing new to see or hear here. 

[GoColts8818]

How anyone with any sense of NFL history can argue that he isn't deserving is beyond me.

As was stated so eloquently by Superman,  But GMs don't lose Super Bowls. GMs build rosters. And Polian's rosters were good enough to go to the Super Bowl 6 times in 20 years

 

That is exactly right. The contract thing is ridiculous.  How many contracts did he give out over the years?  Some are going to be right on  some are going to be overpaying and some will be bargains. I'm sure his numbers were in line with anyone else who is trying  (successfully )  to keep a winning team together.  Imagine the outcry if we let Dallas and Sanders and others like them walk.

 

The other thing that cracks me up is how people who spend all sorts of time watching, cheering, complaining and analyzing regular season games, all of a sudden dismiss regular season success.

 

Here's to hoping that someday we aren't lamenting about the "Polian Days" like they do in Buffalo.

I think the fans that do that are the ones who are just wanting to be "right" with the argument more than they really mean it or are just grasping straws to have a reason to dislike Polian. 

 

Other than Peyton Manning he's done more for the Indianapolis Colts being successful than any other person even if he was a jerk and it didn't end well here. 

[rockywoj]

I've been a faithful Colts fan since 1966 and Polian presided over the most successful, joyous football era I have had in 48 years. He is CLEARLY worthy of the trip to Canton. Anybody that has been around long enough (before the Manning era) understands just how fleeting success is.

I waited roughly 35 years between Colts Super Bowls and aside from the promise of the not long enough Bert Jones years, I saw very little other than futility until Polian came along. His Colts success coupled with what was arguably even greater success with the Bills, along with how quickly he built up an expansion team is actually truly remarkable.

Polian is a sure fire Hall of Famer and I would submit that the naysayers spoiled by Colts success since Polian and Manning came onto the scene quite frankly lack football understanding and sound perspective.

The Polian era was a great ride and Luckily, under Grigson it looks like things might be setting up for another great ride! With any luck we will be talking about Grigson's mug in Canton in about 15 to 20 years.

Go Colts!

[Malakai432]

Jebus Cripes....... can't we just thank the man for his service and congratulate him for being honored, and drop the damn debate?

Why does every subject have to have a cynical component to it on these internetz?

Indeed comrade, here's a salute to Poilian for putting together a team that kept us fans entertained for years and years. Good for him, I admit I've gave him my fair share of criticism, but I definitely can't fault the guy.

[corgi]

I'm as cynical as anyone on here, and even I'm aghast at some of the comments on here. If the job of the GM is to build a Super Bowl team then you would have a hard time finding many that were more successful than Polian. He helped build 6 Super Bowl teams, and helped the Panthers make the NFC Championship in their second year in the NFL. I didn't always agree with him, but dude was legit for a long long time. He had nothing but great things to say about Irsay and the Colts on SVP last week. I'm very happy for him.

[Gramz]

How anyone with any sense of NFL history can argue that he isn't deserving is beyond me.

As was stated so eloquently by Superman,  But GMs don't lose Super Bowls. GMs build rosters. And Polian's rosters were good enough to go to the Super Bowl 6 times in 20 years

 

That is exactly right. The contract thing is ridiculous.  How many contracts did he give out over the years?  Some are going to be right on  some are going to be overpaying and some will be bargains. I'm sure his numbers were in line with anyone else who is trying  (successfully )  to keep a winning team together.  Imagine the outcry if we let Dallas and Sanders and others like them walk.

 

The other thing that cracks me up is how people who spend all sorts of time watching, cheering, complaining and analyzing regular season games, all of a sudden dismiss regular season success.

 

Here's to hoping that someday we aren't lamenting about the "Polian Days" like they do in Buffalo.

Love this post.

[SteelCityColt]

In all my time on this forum I don't think I've seen a poster's argument/opinion destroyed in such a erudite, passionate and conclusive manner by not one, but many posters. Topic at hand aside, good job people, this is how you debate! 

 

As for my own take the latter years of the Polian stewardship the empire had started to crumble, how much is down to Chris is debatable, but his record before then speaks for itself. 

[crazycolt1]

Jebus Cripes....... can't we just thank the man for his service and congratulate him for being honored, and drop the damn debate? 

 

 

Why does every subject have to have a cynical component to it on these internetz? 

Because some just want to argue when someone don't have their opinion. Debate is thrown out the window when the discussion gets over 3 comments.

[crazycolt1]

I'm as cynical as anyone on here, and even I'm aghast at some of the comments on here. If the job of the GM is to build a Super Bowl team then you would have a hard time finding many that were more successful than Polian. He helped build 6 Super Bowl teams, and helped the Panthers make the NFC Championship in their second year in the NFL. I didn't always agree with him, but dude was legit for a long long time. He had nothing but great things to say about Irsay and the Colts on SVP last week. I'm very happy for him.

Not to throw gas on the fire but Polian wasn't speaking of Irsay and the Colts so well before he become a media person. And that is something I have a problem with also. Before he became a media hound he hated them himself. Just a thought.

[Gramz]

sometimes you just need to step back and say: