Post by MizzouTiger on Jan 22, 2008 0:21:30 GMT -5
www.kansascity.com/sports/football/story/454753.html
Dungy will remain with Colts at least one more year
The Associated Press
INDIANAPOLIS | Tony Dungy is sticking with the Colts.
The team said Monday that Dungy will remain with Indianapolis through at least the 2008 season before turning over the coaching to hand-picked successor Jim Caldwell.
Dungy, who won the Super Bowl last year, spent a week meeting with his family, close friends and trusted colleagues while deciding whether to return for a seventh season with the Colts.
“It was a family decision,” Dungy said. “We’re on board, and we look forward to ’08, look forward to putting together a winner.”
The debate focused on Dungy’s desire to balance family and football, especially after his family moved back to Tampa earlier this month. His son Eric, 16, now attends high school there, and Irsay’s willingness to let Dungy spend more time in Florida was a factor in the decision.
Irsay has said Dungy could spend Friday nights there watching his son’s football games, but insisted the Colts job would be more than a part-time gig for Dungy.
Dungy said he decided he could give coaching and his family life the “passion” both deserved.
“I wouldn’t shortchange my family,” he said. “I wouldn’t come back if my wife or my children were not for it.”
Team president Bill Polian said Caldwell, 53, would be named associate head coach.
Caldwell has spent the last seven seasons as Dungy’s assistant, one year in Tampa Bay and the last six with the Colts. Over the past year, Caldwell has become a regular on the interview circuit, meeting with the Atlanta Falcons and Baltimore Ravens this month.
Dungy’s 80 wins in Indianapolis, including the playoffs, are a franchise record, and he ranks fifth in victories among those who coached in 2007 with 136 career wins, which also include playoffs. He enters next season tied for 19th in career wins with Hank Stram.
For Dungy, life has always been about more than football. He became a fan favorite in Indy and Tampa, where he was arguably more popular after he left than when he was there.
But it isn’t just the fans who like him.
“We love coach Dungy,” NFL defensive player of the year Bob Sanders said last week. “We’ll let him make the decision, then we’ll know and then we’ll go from there. But we love him around here.”
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Other news
•RIVERS HAD SURGERY: Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers revealed Monday that he underwent arthroscopic surgery a week ago on his right knee so he could play in the AFC championship game and that he’ll need surgery to repair the torn anterior cruciate ligament in the same joint. “It wasn’t real extensive,” Rivers said of last week’s surgery. “But really, that was the only way I would have had a chance to play. I thought maybe I could come back in the Colts game, but it was catching.”
•HARGROVE SUSPENDED: Bills defensive end Anthony Hargrove was suspended without pay for all next season after violating the league’s substance-abuse policy a third time.
•TURNABOUT: Peyton Manning spoke to younger brother Eli Manning Sunday night after Eli led the Giants to a 23-20 win in the NFC championship game. “He said I’m past the point where he can give me advice anymore,” Eli Manning said Monday, grinning as he recalled the phone call with his older brother. “He wants it the other way now. I don’t know if I agree with him, but it’s great to hear it from him.”
•WAITING GAME: Packers equipment manager Gordon “Red” Batty knows the significance of history-making footballs. He’s retrieved many for Brett Favre. So he waited nearly an hour after the game to meet with the Giants equipment manager to make sure that kicker Lawrence Tynes received the ball he kicked 47 yards to send the Giants to the Super Bowl. “That’s a part of their history and I wanted to make sure they had that ball,” Batty said. “It’s the way the Packers would want it done.”
Dungy will remain with Colts at least one more year
The Associated Press
INDIANAPOLIS | Tony Dungy is sticking with the Colts.
The team said Monday that Dungy will remain with Indianapolis through at least the 2008 season before turning over the coaching to hand-picked successor Jim Caldwell.
Dungy, who won the Super Bowl last year, spent a week meeting with his family, close friends and trusted colleagues while deciding whether to return for a seventh season with the Colts.
“It was a family decision,” Dungy said. “We’re on board, and we look forward to ’08, look forward to putting together a winner.”
The debate focused on Dungy’s desire to balance family and football, especially after his family moved back to Tampa earlier this month. His son Eric, 16, now attends high school there, and Irsay’s willingness to let Dungy spend more time in Florida was a factor in the decision.
Irsay has said Dungy could spend Friday nights there watching his son’s football games, but insisted the Colts job would be more than a part-time gig for Dungy.
Dungy said he decided he could give coaching and his family life the “passion” both deserved.
“I wouldn’t shortchange my family,” he said. “I wouldn’t come back if my wife or my children were not for it.”
Team president Bill Polian said Caldwell, 53, would be named associate head coach.
Caldwell has spent the last seven seasons as Dungy’s assistant, one year in Tampa Bay and the last six with the Colts. Over the past year, Caldwell has become a regular on the interview circuit, meeting with the Atlanta Falcons and Baltimore Ravens this month.
Dungy’s 80 wins in Indianapolis, including the playoffs, are a franchise record, and he ranks fifth in victories among those who coached in 2007 with 136 career wins, which also include playoffs. He enters next season tied for 19th in career wins with Hank Stram.
For Dungy, life has always been about more than football. He became a fan favorite in Indy and Tampa, where he was arguably more popular after he left than when he was there.
But it isn’t just the fans who like him.
“We love coach Dungy,” NFL defensive player of the year Bob Sanders said last week. “We’ll let him make the decision, then we’ll know and then we’ll go from there. But we love him around here.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other news
•RIVERS HAD SURGERY: Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers revealed Monday that he underwent arthroscopic surgery a week ago on his right knee so he could play in the AFC championship game and that he’ll need surgery to repair the torn anterior cruciate ligament in the same joint. “It wasn’t real extensive,” Rivers said of last week’s surgery. “But really, that was the only way I would have had a chance to play. I thought maybe I could come back in the Colts game, but it was catching.”
•HARGROVE SUSPENDED: Bills defensive end Anthony Hargrove was suspended without pay for all next season after violating the league’s substance-abuse policy a third time.
•TURNABOUT: Peyton Manning spoke to younger brother Eli Manning Sunday night after Eli led the Giants to a 23-20 win in the NFC championship game. “He said I’m past the point where he can give me advice anymore,” Eli Manning said Monday, grinning as he recalled the phone call with his older brother. “He wants it the other way now. I don’t know if I agree with him, but it’s great to hear it from him.”
•WAITING GAME: Packers equipment manager Gordon “Red” Batty knows the significance of history-making footballs. He’s retrieved many for Brett Favre. So he waited nearly an hour after the game to meet with the Giants equipment manager to make sure that kicker Lawrence Tynes received the ball he kicked 47 yards to send the Giants to the Super Bowl. “That’s a part of their history and I wanted to make sure they had that ball,” Batty said. “It’s the way the Packers would want it done.”