Colts: Frank Reich-Doug Pederson reunion somehow makes perfect sense
By Adam Weinrib
Would you accept Doug Pederson joining the Colts and working *under* his old assistant Frank Reich? Would *he* accept it?
After Doug Pederson submissively acquiesced to Eagles management and tanked the final game of his head coaching career on the national stage, only to be unceremoniously dismissed himself a few days later, we have to ask: Does this man have any shame?
And if not, would he slink with his tail between his legs to ask Frank Reich, formerly someone he bossed around at his old stomping grounds, for a job?
Reich lost his offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni on Thursday to the Eagles, filling Pederson’s still-warm vacancy once and for all.
So, the question becomes, how desperate is Pederson to work in 2021? Would he accept a demotion back to his original role, led around by the man he groomed? Is their relationship that stable? Or will the Colts look internally instead?
The Colts now have a position to fill at offensive coordinator.
— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) January 21, 2021
Internal candidates: QB coach Marcus Brady, who's already drawing interest from other teams, and WR coach Mike Groh, who's worked with Frank Reich both in Philly and now Indy.
External candidate: Doug Pederson.
So crazy it just might work? Or so crazy, and something that absolutely will not work?
Early indicators are Pederson is leaning towards taking next season off before plowing his way back into the coaching search the following year, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Of course, this update came Tuesday night, before Sirianni’s hire created an interesting vacancy.
Perhaps Pederson will be persuaded by Reich to take advantage of the desire for revenge he’s currently feeling and stalk the sidelines with a near-contender in Indianapolis? After all, was the inexperienced Sirianni really that much of an upgrade? Had Pederson truly lost the locker room with his Week 17 decisions? And, if so, why were they sanctioned from up above? To justify dismissing Pederson in plain sight?
Sirianni seems to be a solid B-grade hire for a city that usually aims higher.
What are #Eagles getting in Nick Sirianni?
— Matt Lombardo (@MattLombardoNFL) January 21, 2021
From #NFL source: “Young energetic coach who is extremely smart, can relate with young and older players. Excellent teacher and development of talent ... puts players in place to succeed based on their strong qualities”
But, who are we to judge? Perhaps Reich can convince Pederson that, just like he did a few years back after a fortuitous bounce landed the Indy gig in his lap instead of Josh McDaniels’, he escaped at the right time.
