After one of his recent comments concerning the plight and future of the team that he made and in turn made him, I have come to a conclusion: I will always respect Tony Dungy the coach as a good man, a solid coach, and an example to all on how to behave on and off the field. The analysts that goes by the same name and looks exactly the same (yes, I know they are one and the same)--I wouldn't spit on him if he was on fire.

"I would see him [Peyton]competing and playing as long as he wanted," Dungy said. "If it gets to the point to where, hey, he comes back and it looks like he's gonna play three or four more years, and you say -- we've got Andrew Luck, we've got an asset -- we trade (Peyton)."

When I read this I thought one thing and one thing only--sold out.

How is he selling the Colts out Mr. Blogger Man? Wouldn't the trade get them something in return, i.e. players and/or draft picks that will help rebuild the team?

Without Peyton, no one would know who Tony Dungy was. He was a good coach when he got his shot in Tampa Bay, but if he was a great one they wouldn't have fired him. Having a guy like Peyton Manning leading his offense he really didn't have to worry much about one very important segment of the ball game.

If memory serves, the man came into Indianapolis as a defense-oriented coach. Funny--the defense was never very good when he was there. They were okay at best in some years, but overall they weren't that good. However, since they had a guy like Peyton Manning leading the charge on offense all they had to do was slow opponents down.

That still doesn't explain the whole sell-out part Mr. Blogger Man...

The Colts were his team and Peyton was his man. Fans around the world still identify Dungy as part of the Indianapolis Colts family; not part of the NBC sports family. To say that the team should ditch him in his twilight years, something he undoubtedly knows Peyton would not go for, is just downright disrespectful to the spirit of the game. It shows a complete lack of loyalty.

I don't think that the team would be able to get much for him anyway so it would be a waste to trade him. Teams will look at him and be tempted because they know how great he has been. They also know that it will be pretty difficult for someone who has had three neck surgeries in barely more than a year and a half to come back and play at a level similar to what he once did.

Then there is the concern over whether he will be able to absorb a solid hit from a blitzing linebacker.

At best, you're talking a late round draft pick or two. The health concerns that will follow him till his end of days in the NFL will trump his past greatness. It does no good to have him if he's going to be on the bench.

The team would be better off having whomever they draft shadow him for the next two seasons, learn how to play the game in the NFL, and take over after he has matured some more as a player. The concept worked wonders for the Green Bay Packers (with Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers). Why not try it here?

If we listen to Tony Dungy's advice we can't.

I like Jim Caldwell. I think he somewhat of a no-nonsense kind of guy. He's not as blunt as Brian Billick could be at times or how Rex Ryan is, but he is not a boring 'Yes Man' either that tells you what you want to hear. He's definitely no Belichick either, a guy who has mastered the art of talking while saying absolutely nothing of value or substance.

And his job is in jeopardy.

What? It's one week in and your saying his job is on the line? Are you nuts? Come on!

Before you overreact people, just think about how the landscape has developed in professional football. The sport is very much a win-now or someone else will get the job kind of game. There is no patience for anyone to get their feet wet or to get their system in place after a long-time popular coach (like Tony Dungy) leaves.

In the interest of honesty folks, the Colts could have a very tough season. Next to the absence of No 18 the blame is going to go on one person, the head coach. What will not help him is the fact that he was essentially appointed by Dungy(and of course hired by Jim Irsay) to be his successor.

Should the season go bad, there will be lots of talk over whether he was the right guy for the job. Naysayers will state that the last two years were still due to the system and personnel that Dungy had in place; that Caldwell had nothing to do with it.

Does Caldwell deserve the job than? Absolutely.

First off, everyone that reads blogs has heard the statement "it's not what you know, it's who you know." We have all tried to get jobs or a leg up on a job because of who we knew. In Caldwell's case, he knew Dungy and proved his worth to him. So when Dungy elevated his stature with the team and recommended him for the top job it is not surprising.

With a guy like Dungy recommending him, why wouldn't Irsay listen?

Secondly--and most important--the man has the resume to do the job. He's been coaching football since 1977 when he became a grad assistant for the Iowa Hawkeyes. After 23 seasons in the college ranks, the last eight as a head coach, he joined Dungy's staff in Tampa Bay (in 2001). He's been with Dungy ever since.

Caldwell may or may not have gotten the job because of his close relationship with Dungy, but he has the resume to deserve his shot. Now, with a team lacking a superstar behind center will be the time for him to show the world there is a reason why Dungy had so much confidence in him.

The problem for Caldwell may be whether Irsay is willing to undergo a rebuilding period (should the Colts have a down season this year). Fans will fill Lucas Oil Stadium no matter who the coach is or who lines up at QB. Indianapolis will always love the Colts; the question may be whether the rest of the football loving world will.

How do you stay in the forefront of the football lover's mind even when you are losing? You give them something or someone they know, respect, and expect great things from. Oh, like the San Francisco 49ers did when they hired Jim Harbaugh (who happened to be the last QB to line up for the Colts before Manning).

Or maybe like a certain former Ohio State head coach (turned suspended game day consultant).