Here’s an interesting thought experiment as we head into a new week of NFL football. Jeff Saturday’s Colts surrendered the biggest lead in modern league history to the Vikings on Saturday. My immediate reaction was that this should automatically disqualify him from the full-time gig, which owner Jim Irsay very much wants Saturday, an interim coach, to earn throughout the remainder of this season.
But after a few nights of (toddler-interrupted) sleep, I wondered if this mindset is part of the problem—if we somehow foist our collective impatience on ownership. To be clear, I think Saturday should climb the ladder like the rest of those in the profession and that Marcus Brady or Bubba Ventrone should currently be the head coach of the Colts (or, you know, Frank Reich). But should being on the opposite end of a historical gaffe cost Saturday a full-time job?
If you’re Irsay, the challenge should be to make a broader, more legitimate evaluation. Owners who really want to make something work can normally make something work by providing support and resources. Owners who want to look a certain way fire someone when the going gets tough.
