IN OTHER COLTS NEWS:
Jim Mora 'wouldn't feel comfortable' attending Peyton Manning statue ceremony
The Colts will unveil a statue of Peyton Manning outside of Lucas Oil Stadium on Oct. 7.
Don't expect to see former Colts coach Jim Mora there.
Mora was the first coach Manning ever had in the NFL, but had a falling out with owner Jim Irsay and then-team president Bill Polian. Because of that fractured relationship, Mora said Wednesday he would rather avoid any awkward situation that could detract from the ceremony to honor Manning.
"I would love to come back there, but because of the way I left the Colts, my relationship with Polian, I don't know. I just wouldn't feel that I would feel comfortable being there," Mora told the "Query & Schultz" show on Indianapolis radio station WNDE.
Mora did say Manning wanted him at the October ceremony, but the former coach declined.
"I think I would just feel a little bit awkward there," Mora added. "It was a big part of my career. I coached some really good players there. I loved the organization. I loved the city. It was a great city."
The Colts selected Manning with the first pick of the 1998 NFL Draft and Mora was the team's coach from 1998 to 2001. Despite going 3-13 in their first season together, they orchestrated a remarkable turnaround by going 13-3 the following season to win the AFC East. The team went 10-6 in 2000 and again reached the postseason. But following a 6-10 campaign in 2001, Polian told Mora to fire defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.
That was not something Mora was willing to do and, after meeting with Irsay, was fired and has not worked as an NFL coach since. Fangio was hired by the upstart Texans and is currently the defensive coordinator for the Bears.
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"I didn't walk away, though, I got fired. It was either fire Vic or fire me. I was asked by Bill Polian — I was told by Bill Polian — he wanted me to fire Vic Fangio," Mora explained. "I said, well, he doesn't deserve to be fired. He's an outstanding coach, was then and he still is. So we had talks with Jim Irsay, it came down and I wouldn't do it...
"I couldn't fire a friend or a coach that I felt was very qualified that didn't deserve to be fired. So I got fired. That was it."
Jim Mora 'wouldn't feel comfortable' attending Peyton Manning statue ceremony
The Colts will unveil a statue of Peyton Manning outside of Lucas Oil Stadium on Oct. 7.
Don't expect to see former Colts coach Jim Mora there.
Mora was the first coach Manning ever had in the NFL, but had a falling out with owner Jim Irsay and then-team president Bill Polian. Because of that fractured relationship, Mora said Wednesday he would rather avoid any awkward situation that could detract from the ceremony to honor Manning.
"I would love to come back there, but because of the way I left the Colts, my relationship with Polian, I don't know. I just wouldn't feel that I would feel comfortable being there," Mora told the "Query & Schultz" show on Indianapolis radio station WNDE.
Mora did say Manning wanted him at the October ceremony, but the former coach declined.
"I think I would just feel a little bit awkward there," Mora added. "It was a big part of my career. I coached some really good players there. I loved the organization. I loved the city. It was a great city."
The Colts selected Manning with the first pick of the 1998 NFL Draft and Mora was the team's coach from 1998 to 2001. Despite going 3-13 in their first season together, they orchestrated a remarkable turnaround by going 13-3 the following season to win the AFC East. The team went 10-6 in 2000 and again reached the postseason. But following a 6-10 campaign in 2001, Polian told Mora to fire defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.
That was not something Mora was willing to do and, after meeting with Irsay, was fired and has not worked as an NFL coach since. Fangio was hired by the upstart Texans and is currently the defensive coordinator for the Bears.
MORE: Jerry Jones' wife, Gene, will present him for Hall of Fame induction | Russell Wilson launches 'elite QB' training academy
"I didn't walk away, though, I got fired. It was either fire Vic or fire me. I was asked by Bill Polian — I was told by Bill Polian — he wanted me to fire Vic Fangio," Mora explained. "I said, well, he doesn't deserve to be fired. He's an outstanding coach, was then and he still is. So we had talks with Jim Irsay, it came down and I wouldn't do it...
"I couldn't fire a friend or a coach that I felt was very qualified that didn't deserve to be fired. So I got fired. That was it."
comments he's said over the years.