Bill Polians Excellent Book

[lennymoore24]

I bought BIll Polian's book this morning and spent all day reading it because I couldn't get enough of it.  I just found it so interesting the way he explains why running a Tampa-2 is cheaper than a 3-4, or how contracts went down with the Bills, the 1998 draft, why Mora was fired, and how things went down with Peyton's injury.   He is always very complimentary of people in the book and doesn't really put anyone down.  Amazing the wealth of football knowledge he has.  He really breaks down things like how to set the draft, what to look for in head coaches, and how to rate players.  I think any football fan and especially Colt fans should read this.  I know it has become popular by some fans to put down Bill Polian since he left, but you can't argue with this results.  I say it is a must read!

[Patagonia Chris]

What is the name of the book again? And the ghost writer? I know he went to NYU but he majored in history. Did he write it himself?

[chrisfarley]

Sounds like he's going to make a fortune on this book.  Something a GM would want to read.  I bet Grigs has already read it.

[Dark Superman]

Very interesting..

[lennymoore24]

Bill Polian -The Game Plan.  Really good stuff if you ever wondered how his job works and some of the stories over the years.  I am sure he had help writing it, but it seems like information only he would know.

[Curveball]

Architect of the greatest decade in the history of football.  Thanks Bill.

[PrincetonTiger]

next time I get to Evansville I will look for it

[crazycolt1]

I bought BIll Polian's book this morning and spent all day reading it because I couldn't get enough of it.  I just found it so interesting the way he explains why running a Tampa-2 is cheaper than a 3-4, or how contracts went down with the Bills, the 1998 draft, why Mora was fired, and how things went down with Peyton's injury.   He is always very complimentary of people in the book and doesn't really put anyone down.  Amazing the wealth of football knowledge he has.  He really breaks down things like how to set the draft, what to look for in head coaches, and how to rate players.  I think any football fan and especially Colt fans should read this.  I know it has become popular by some fans to put down Bill Polian since he left, but you can't argue with this results.  I say it is a must read!

Cant argue with the results? Yes Polian did a good job on a lot of things but putting the team on one players back is not the key to winning super bowls. Just look at his record in the playoffs and super bowls and it says he almost built super bowl winning teams. Polians refusal to advance himself into the mindset of the newer players played a big point in his losing his ability to continue. I do find it ironic that he became a media hound after years of putting the hate on them.

[jvan1973]

Cant argue with the results? Yes Polian did a good job on a lot of things but putting the team on one players back is not the key to winning super bowls. Just look at his record in the playoffs and super bowls and it says he almost built super bowl winning teams. Polians refusal to advance himself into the mindset of the newer players played a big point in his losing his ability to continue. I do find it ironic that he became a media hound after years of putting the hate on them.

he made himself available to the media far more than grigson has so far

[shakedownstreet]

i started to read it, but polian's glowing excellence was too much for me to handle

[crazycolt1]

he made himself available to the media far more than grigson has so far

What has that to do with anything? Most of what Polian did with the media when he was a GM was argue and have nothing good to say to none of them. It was a constant downer when it came to the media and Polian when he was a GM.

[Moose Of Woe]

Is the name of the book  "Close, but no Cigar?"

 

Apart from 2006 when the defense actually showed up in the playoffs.

[jvan1973]

What has that to do with anything? Most of what Polian did with the media when he was a GM was argue and have nothing good to say to none of them. It was a constant downer when it came to the media and Polian when he was a GM.

I take it you didn't watch polians corner every week when he was here

[crazycolt1]

I take it you didn't watch polians corner every week when he was here

Like I ask before. What has that to do with anything about this thread? Polian has had a long history of bad feelings at the media. That was my point.

[jvan1973]

Like I ask before. What has that to do with anything about this thread? Polian has had a long history of bad feelings at the media. That was my point.

some media, and i don't recall him ever being demonstrative about it

[cmgww]

I read it. Thought it was a good read into the mindset of Polian and how he did things. I was surprised he didn't really devote more pages to his time with the Colts, as he was here for over a decade and had arguably his most successful years here. I wonder if he still has some lingering resentment...but i will say he wad very professional in the book, about the way things went down.

[Malakai432]

i started to read it, but polian's glowing excellence was too much for me to handle

 

Shakedown you are the epitome of excellence my lord.  You have no reason to be weary of Polian who was a mere peon compared to Shakedownstreet the Great!

 

[lennymoore24]

Cant argue with the results? Yes Polian did a good job on a lot of things but putting the team on one players back is not the key to winning super bowls. Just look at his record in the playoffs and super bowls and it says he almost built super bowl winning teams. Polians refusal to advance himself into the mindset of the newer players played a big point in his losing his ability to continue. I do find it ironic that he became a media hound after years of putting the hate on them.

 

I am as disappointed as the next Colt fan that we only won one Super Bowl with the best QB in the league and some good offensive players.  But if the mindset is to keep playmakers around Manning, what options are there?   There wasn't a lot of money left to build a great defense.  But let's take a little further.  If I were to blame anyone, I would blame the coaching staff, not Bill Polian.  Bill Polian didn't set the gameplan for being flat in the playoffs all the time.   Compare Belichick to Mora, Dungy, and Caldwell and it is amazing how much better Belichick will adjust the game play by game, half, and quarter.  Colts?  Nope, they were going to do the same thing every week and you had to scheme against it.   My opinion is that if Belichick were our HC, we likely would have had 4-5 SB titles.  No way that team is so flat.  So I really can't blame Polian for that.  Look at the Patriots drafting over the last 6 years.  For having so many picks, they haven't one much with them.  Yet, they still win.  We had great players and got beaten by teams like the Chargers, Dolphins, and Jets.

[#12]

Is the name of the book  "Close, but no Cigar?"

 

Yes, and this is the cover:

[lollygagger8]

No, this is the cover: 

 

[The Fish]

Polian wore out his welcome, but he was one of the best GM's in the game for a long time, I'm sure it's an interesting read.

[Atlas Shrugged NFL]

How much of his book did he dedicate to Dungy's Christian faith and his obsession over the Pats?  Any good gossip on the owner's "suppliers" ?

[BOTT]

This site may be more to your liking

http://www.tmz.com/category/tmzsports/

[dgambill]

Thanks for the referral....I enjoy reading...its sadly something that a lot of people are doing less and less. Maybe if some would spend more time reading about football they may learn more than just watching talking pundits sunday morning and night.

[crazycolt1]

I am as disappointed as the next Colt fan that we only won one Super Bowl with the best QB in the league and some good offensive players.  But if the mindset is to keep playmakers around Manning, what options are there?   There wasn't a lot of money left to build a great defense.  But let's take a little further.  If I were to blame anyone, I would blame the coaching staff, not Bill Polian.  Bill Polian didn't set the gameplan for being flat in the playoffs all the time.   Compare * to Mora, Dungy, and Caldwell and it is amazing how much better * will adjust the game play by game, half, and quarter.  Colts?  Nope, they were going to do the same thing every week and you had to scheme against it.   My opinion is that if * were our HC, we likely would have had 4-5 SB titles.  No way that team is so flat.  So I really can't blame Polian for that.  Look at the Patriots drafting over the last 6 years.  For having so many picks, they haven't one much with them.  Yet, they still win.  We had great players and got beaten by teams like the Chargers, Dolphins, and Jets.

The coaches can only coach the players brought in. If there was not enough money to build a defense then explain why other teams could do it? Polians refusal to bring in players hurt more than helped. The Colts would not have had near the success in regular season had they played in a different division. The AFC south was at that time the weakest division in the NFL. You cant lay the blame on the coaches when quality players are not brought in. Polian signed very high dollar contracts to players who were not worth the contracts they were paid. You bring up the Patriots? It is common knowledge they don't pay high dollar contracts and trade players when they can get value for them. Polian would keep players around way too long rather than admit making a mistake. His biggest blunder of all was the signing of his boy Kerry Collins. A 4 million dollar fiasco. Then there is the Curtis Painter fiasco. For a GM who was suppose to know football those were some pretty lame moves. When Grigson took over the very first thing he did was clean house of the dead weight. We have benefitted from that. There are only 4 players left from the Polian days on the Colts roster and two of those are kickers. That itself says a lot.

[husker61]

I am as disappointed as the next Colt fan that we only won one Super Bowl with the best QB in the league and some good offensive players.  But if the mindset is to keep playmakers around Manning, what options are there?   There wasn't a lot of money left to build a great defense.  But let's take a little further.  If I were to blame anyone, I would blame the coaching staff, not Bill Polian.  Bill Polian didn't set the gameplan for being flat in the playoffs all the time.   Compare * to Mora, Dungy, and Caldwell and it is amazing how much better * will adjust the game play by game, half, and quarter.  Colts?  Nope, they were going to do the same thing every week and you had to scheme against it.   My opinion is that if * were our HC, we likely would have had 4-5 SB titles.  No way that team is so flat.  So I really can't blame Polian for that.  Look at the Patriots drafting over the last 6 years.  For having so many picks, they haven't one much with them.  Yet, they still win.  We had great players and got beaten by teams like the Chargers, Dolphins, and Jets.

 

 

The coaches can only coach the players brought in. If there was not enough money to build a defense then explain why other teams could do it? Polians refusal to bring in players hurt more than helped. The Colts would not have had near the success in regular season had they played in a different division. The AFC south was at that time the weakest division in the NFL. You cant lay the blame on the coaches when quality players are not brought in. Polian signed very high dollar contracts to players who were not worth the contracts they were paid. You bring up the Patriots? It is common knowledge they don't pay high dollar contracts and trade players when they can get value for them. Polian would keep players around way too long rather than admit making a mistake. His biggest blunder of all was the signing of his boy Kerry Collins. A 4 million dollar fiasco. Then there is the Curtis Painter fiasco. For a GM who was suppose to know football those were some pretty lame moves. When Grigson took over the very first thing he did was clean house of the dead weight. We have benefitted from that. There are only 4 players left from the Polian days on the Colts roster and two of those are kickers. That itself says a lot.

 

i agree with both of you. he did a great job bringing in talent, EVERY gm is going to make some bad decisions. i will take his long term record over anyone elses! i have also said for a long time he way over payed players and didn't want to cut ties with players that he should have. this is the only knock i had on polian, until he put his son in charge. that was a huge mistake!

[crazycolt1]

How much of his book did he dedicate to Dungy's Christian faith and his obsession over the Pats?  Any good gossip on the owner's "suppliers" ?

Maybe if your so interested about what Polian has to say you could buy the book. Maybe then you could be more informed instead of rattling off some stupid sarcastic comment.

[lennymoore24]

How much of his book did he dedicate to Dungy's Christian faith and his obsession over the Pats?  Any good gossip on the owner's "suppliers" ?

 

None.  The book is really about his career in the NFL, different events that happened like signing Jim Kelly and Bruce Smith.  It is interesting to see at different stops what he or another person in the organization wanted to do with a player and how it came out.  And let me be clear, he did not make himself out to be perfect.  He admits many mistakes he made.  But so much information I didn't know.  Like I didn't know that Ralph Wilson told him he is out at the beginning of the season, but Polian said it would help the team if they kept it quiet.  So they went the whole year knowing that and saying nothing. And it was because they brought is someone who was a numbers guy who Bill didn't hit it off with.  And Bill admits he could have done a better. Job.

 

I am a football fan all over.  If I could read a book by Peyton Manning of how he broke down his best games in history, i would read it in  second.  Polian breaks down about everything related to his job.  For me, it made me understand a lot better why he made decisions he made, right or wrong.

[basketballsteve]

How much of his book did he dedicate to Dungy's Christian faith and his obsession over the Pats?  Any good gossip on the owner's "suppliers" ?

Tony is a secret muslim born in Africa some place and he was Jim's supplier in college or wait a minute maybe I'm thinking of somebody else.....

[LJpalmbeacher2]

What has that to do with anything? Most of what Polian did with the media when he was a GM was argue and have nothing good to say to none of them. It was a constant downer when it came to the media and Polian when he was a GM.

Yea I remember him having a shouting match and/or public war on a little comedian Jay Mohr.