New Coach in Indy...What about Manning?

Chuck Pagano is the fourth former Ravens defensive coordinator to land a head coaching job, following Marvin Lewis, Mike Nolan and Rex Ryan.

The Wyoming graduate and former strong safety for the Cowboys began his coaching career in 1984 as a graduate assistant at Southern California and spent time in the college ranks at Boise State, UNLV, East Carolina and Miami before joining Cleveland to coach the secondary. In 2005-06, he was defensive backs coach at Oakland, then served as defensive coordinator at North Carolina before joining the Ravens when John Harbaugh became head coach four years ago.

"Chuck is unorthodox," Suggs said. "He's like the Joker. You never really expect what he's going to do, and everything has a motive."

The Ravens considered Pagano to be just one of the guys.

"What makes him good? He relates to the players a whole lot," defensive end Cory Reddingsaid. "He's almost like a player in a D-coordinator's position. The guy has so much fun with us. He treats you like more than a player. It's like we're his sons. He wants us to do well. He keeps it fresh. He knows everybody's strengths and puts them in position to make plays."

Asked last month if he had aspirations to be a head coach, Pagano replied, "When I was a kid growing up, my dad being a football coach, he asked the same question of all the assistants that he ever hired: 'Is your goal to be a head football coach?' He always said if somebody had answered him, 'Not really, I'm OK just being a position coach,' then I don't think he really wanted him on his staff because he wanted ambitious guys.

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Kirby Lee/Image of Sport/US PresswireChuck Pagano is the fourth former Ravens defensive coordinator to land an NFL head coaching job.

"I think if you ask anybody they'd say yeah. That would be something you always work for and toward."

Ravens linebacker Paul Kruger believes Pagano has what it takes to be a head coach in the NFL.

"Chuck has a leadership quality about him. He's humble but he also knows when to take the reins and take charge," Kruger said. "He doesn't try to dominate you in every meeting. He's just a coach that knows exactly how players are and what direction they need. He's a hell of a coach and I really think he'll be a head coach one day."

One of Pagano's and Grigson's most important decisions will be helping Irsay determine Manning's future with the club.

In an interview with The Indianapolis Star this week, Manning appeared turned off by the sudden upheaval in the Colts complex.

"I'm not in a very good place for healing, let's say that," he told the newspaper. "It's not a real good environment down there right now, to say the least. Everybody's walking around on eggshells. I don't recognize our building right now. There's such complete and total change."

Manning said he met with Grigson last week and was told that Irsay would determine whether the quarterback will remain a Colt.

Manning said a meeting with Irsay "is going to happen at some point, but we haven't had that conversation yet because we really don't need to have that conversation yet."

He reiterated to The Star that he wants to remain with the Colts but realizes it's not his call solely to make. He also made it clear that he isn't contemplating retirement right now.

Manning is due a $28 million bonus in early March.

We might have got something right. I'm smiling inside.

You got Baby Money

News Flash: Rapper and entrepreneur Shaun “Jay-Z” Carter has bet 20 million on the NY Giants to win in response to New Orleans based rap mogul Brian “Birdman” Williams aka Baby bet of 5 million on the New England Patriots. Our estimations is this is another dig at Baby by Jay-Z showing him he’s got baby money. Jay-Z says if the Giants win, the earnings will go to the public school system of New Orleans. He was overheard saying "Them expletive gotta expletive learn how to count down there". There have been reports that rapper Dwayne "Lil Wayne" Carter, no relation to Jay-Z, has put up another million in support of Baby and the Patriots.

The GOAT turns 70

10 Spot - Playoff Edition

1. Best Game this Weekend?

EBIZZ: hands down the San Fran Saints.it was everything I expected and then some...Hell, they even iced it with Davis doing all that crying at the end ... where is singletary now???

Beans: San Francisco vs. New Orleans.  The first 3 quarters went just about how I thought it would.  Then the offensive explosion happened.  That San Fran D is super serious.  Drew Brees ended up putting up some big numbers but that was after the 49ers held him down for the first half.  Alex Smith really showed some heart in that victory as well.  His strong play is being overshadowed by the D and "The Catch."

DProf: San Francisco vs NO was instant classic. The 4th quarter was Tebowish. But the game was interesting the whole way out, San Fran was sticking, NO was airing it out. NO didnt capitalize enough early in the game. First drive the helmet to helmet hit with the fumble on the 3 set the tone. 

2. Worst Game this Weekend?

Beans: The annihilation of the Denver Broncos at the hands of the New England Patriots.  Guess I wasn't the only one tired of the all the Tebow talk last week.  Tom Brady set everything right with his usual stellar passing.

EBIZZ: Tebow and them looked bad in New England. The damn game was watchable for about 5 minutes.  

DProf: Belicheck did every thing but throw a hail mary to end the game. This game needs no more discussion.

3. Biggest Surprise this Weekend?

EBIZZ:  The discount double check didnt hold up. These guys disappointed me big time. Giants earned every bit of the win but I didnt expect it to come in the fashion that it did.

Beans: Discount Double Choke!  I never expected the Green Bay offense to look as inept as it did on Sunday.  Rodgers didn't look good,  the O-line looked terrible, and the Receivers were even worse.

DProf: How fast the Denver game was over. They didnt leave nothing to the imagination. All of the other games at least sucked you into the 4th quarter drama for the ratings. 

4. Has League Caught up to Tebow?

EBIZZ: The game vs the Patriots did not indicate much. The first time they played this season the Patriots showed that they were clearly the better team. And that they had an answer to stopping Tebow. That does not mean the rest of the league does. It didnt help that they found a way to bring back McDaniels right before the game (and there should be a rule that prohibits this type of mess from happening). Tebow has shown improvement every game this year and overachieved a lot as well. Next year he must continue to get better and prove his critics wrong by winning games. I say its time to get off tip and let him live.

Beans: I agree with E here.  This game did nothing to confirm or deny this, but in my opinion YES!  The entire league sees their weaknesses.  I wanna see Tebow run the option for 16 games next year.  He's gonna get killed!  Good Luck on that off-season mechanics tweaking...

DProf: I agree with one thing E said, Tebow has overachieved and that is an understatement. I dont hate Tebow but he can't throw. I know he hit the deep balls against the Steelers but besides that, he managed 10 pts vs NE, 3 vs KC, 14 vs Buff. I'm not saying caught up as much as he has to evolve into more than deep passes and option runs if he wants to be called a QB. 

5. SF vs NYG?

Beans: It's gonna be another beauty.  San Fran at home, feeding off that crowd.  Eli and that Giant D will be ready though.  I say Giants win this one 24-13.

EBIZZ: I gotta go 49ers with this one. Vernon Davis looks unstoppable out there. Also that 49ers defense is playing at a very high rate at the moment. This will be there toughest game yet, but I think they have what it takes to get it done. I see this game coming down to the wire and San Fran finding a way to pull it through. Giants will not just turn over though. They have the best WR group left playing and will force the issue if need be. But have shown to be real successful at it though. Im expecting this to be the game of the week.

DProf: I predicted the Giants would roll like they did in 2007 and so far they are proving me right. I'll take the Giants in a 20-17 type game. Eli sure as hell shut up those critics that doubted if he was an elite qb didnt he?

6. New England vs Baltimore?

Beans: I'm pretty disappointed with the Ravens.  Yes they beat the Texans, but they had a rookie running the show basically closing his eyes and chucking it down the field  for a good portion of the game.  They've got good D, but not good enough.  I have to go with the best QB in the league, Tom Brady and the Patriots.

EBIZZ: Kendrick Lamar Hiii Power. That's the best way to describe that Patriots offense.Its like a machine. The Ravens are viscous on defense and the offense has shown that they can hold their own too. If the Ravens can slow these guys down a little and get some help from the O, then there is a legit chance they win. The key for the Ravens is not letting Brady get off to one of those hot starts, and try to maintain from there.....

DProf: Its hard to trust Joe Flacco. I mean, if they had anybody else at QB, Baltimore would be the favorite in NE, but I don't see it happening. It will be close, but expect Brady to have on a new hat to match his ugg boots.

7. Super Bowl Matchup will be....

Beans: As much as I'd love to see a 49ers and Ravens Superbowl.  It just won't happen.  Eli and the Giants have more experience and poise.  Tom Brady is just... Tom Brady.

EBIZZ: New England vs San Fran. Lets get it going. 

DProf: New England vs Giants. Think about it, rematch from 2007 in the city Indianapolis that hates the Pats and the city where big brother holds the team hostage. 

8. Super Bowl Winner will be....

EBIZZ: Im goin on that limb and will pick the 49ers to shock the world. Im finally learning to expect the unexpected. 

Beans: Eli has plenty to prove.  Just think he's always been second to his bro.  Now he'll have one more ring than him.  Giants have the necessary firepower to hang with the Pats.  They'll do more than hang, they'll win.

DProf: Giants baby. ELI becomes to Brady what Brady is to Peyton. That would be the ultimate diss.

9. Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Coughlin, Brady, Belicheck - Who needs Super Bowl more?

Beans: None of these guys actually.  They've all proven themselves.  I'm going with Eli.  No more backseat for Eli at Manning family get-togethers anymore!!!

EBIZZ: I think all will go down as Hall of Famers, But for Eli this would sort of solidify him some positioning.

DProf: Coughlin probably needs this win to keep his job but this is all about ELI. 

10. Happy MLK Day