Retirements

[sb41champs]

The following players or coaches have "officially retired" following the 2012 NFL season:

 

 

1.  Offensive Line Coach Howard Mudd - Worked the past couple of seasons as the Philadelphia Eagles O-line coach and was publicly criticized by Eagles QB Michael Vick.  Considering that under his tutelage the Indianapolis Colts offensive line was always one of the leagues best - I beg to differ with Vick's assessment.

 

 

2.  Offensive Lineman Ryan Lilja - Played the past couple of seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs.  Stepped in to the center position for the 2012 season when the Chiefs regular starter was lost with a season-ending injury.  Lilja was "allowed to walk" as a free agent near the end of the Polian regime and the Colts O-line suffered as a result of that short-sightedness.

 

 

3.  Center Jeff Saturday - Played this season for the Green Bay Packers after being offered a contract that he'd have been a fool to turn down.  His "final snap" to Peyton Manning in the Pro Bowl is my favorite Pro Bowl moment EVER !!  I'm hopeful that owner Jim Irsay will have an opening for Jeff in the front office - OR - the coaching staff.

[Dtman513]

Can't forget what they did for our organization...Not a bad idea on getting Saturday involved in the office somehow

[Smonroe]

Didn't know about Lilja. Not to pile on Polian, but he let Scott go first and kept Lilja while he was hurt. Two bad moves.

But hindsight is 20-20.

[Tark The Shark]

Mudd was a good O-line coach, the Eagles just had a bad offensive line. Vick shouldn't blame the O-line coach, he should blame the O-line.

 

Lilja was a good guard during his time with us, part of the great offenses of the 2000s for us.

 

Saturday is the guy that the league will miss the most, fans and players. Saturday was so good for so long, and also was instrumental in the Players Association during the lockout last year.

[PrincetonTiger]

Great careers for all three

[Superman]

Didn't know about Lilja. Not to pile on Polian, but he let Scott go first and kept Lilja while he was hurt. Two bad moves.

But hindsight is 20-20.

 

Very intertwined decision. They let Scott go partially because they were able to keep Lilja, but Scott was the first choice. If not for Lilja still being there, they might have been more willing to give Scott what he wanted. I wish that had happened, because the Lilja deal didn't wind up doing anything for us.

 

But yeah, hindsight and all that. Getting that one right might have been a huge difference for our team in 2008 and 2009. We couldn't convert 3rd and 2 against the Chargers in 2008, which would have ended the game. And we failed on 3rd and short in the Super Bowl in 2009, which allowed the Saints to score at the end of the half.

[Andy]

One could make the case that Howard Mudd is the reason those 2 are being mentioned today.

 

With that being said, Lilja and Saturday both had very good careers, and us Colts fans were happy to have them on our organization.