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Irsay on Chuck Pagano’s Future: ‘Not Super Bowl or Bust’

By Luke Schultheis

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According to Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay, next season is not a “Super Bowl or bust season” for his head coach Chuck Pagano. Essentially a lameduck coaching candidate entering the last year of his original contract signed back in 2012, Pagano and the team have so far been unable to reach a long-term contract extension.

However, Irsay only had high praise of his head coach at Pagano’s very own “Chuckstrong” charity gala Friday night, whose proceeds support cancer research. Per the Indianapolis Star’s Stephen Holder, it’s simply been an issue of the two sides inability to reach a new agreement and that Irsay remains proud of the job Pagano’s done, with contract discussions still remaining fluid:

"“These things are ongoing a lot of times behind the scenes,” Irsay said. “We’re working on contracts, whether it’s management, coaches, players. We had discussions and it doesn’t mean that they won’t continue. It’s not a Super Bowl-or-bust season or anything like that.”"

Contrary to original belief, it looks as though the Colts may have not drawn as hard of a line in the sand as initially thought. Perhaps, the team isn’t putting Pagano behind the “8-ball” and making this a “make or break” season for the soon-to-be 4th-year head coach:

"“There were some efforts to talk about it,” Irsay said. “We just didn’t get there. Sometimes that happens. If you go back to the old days, there were no agents involved, either. Now general managers and coaches sometimes have agents. In fact, oftentimes … We’re real positive about Chuck Pagano and the things that he’s done. It’s not a sign of anything extremely negative. We just haven’t gotten anything done in terms of a long-term contract.”"

Despite his murky contract situation, Pagano seemed unfazed by his somewhat uncertain long-term coaching future in Indianapolis. After all, he’s already said he’s just “thankful for today” and concentrating on coaching the Colts next season. However, more importantly, he was supporting a cause that was greater than the game of football on Friday night at Colts headquarters, cancer research:

"“The doctors, the scientists, researchers, that’s who we’re honoring tonight,” Pagano said. “They’re selfless, selfless people. They spend their entire lives trying to find cures for cancer. That’s what this event is all about, raising money for cancer research. Our goal is hopefully to find a cure for all blood cancers.”"

Whether Pagano is the coach to get the Colts to the promised championship land is another story for another day; however, no one can question that he’s a great leader of men and a high character individual, who just so happened to be supporting a pretty great cause on Friday night. Simply awesome to see both Pagano and the Colts organization put on such a special night.

Jan 4, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts coach Chuck Pagano hugs the Colts mascot Blue as he celebrates the victory against the Kansas City Chiefs during the 2013 AFC wild card playoff football game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Indianapolis defeats Kansas City 45-44. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

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