| Share it

ADVERTISEMENT

INDIANAPOLIS—Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy told quarterback Peyton Manning that he is extremely interested in formulating the game plan and executing in-game decisions for the team’s next game against Tampa Bay and asked Manning politely to allow him to do so, according to sources inside the Colts organization.

“He has wanted this a long time,” said ESPN football analyst John Clayton. “My guess is Peyton Manning will give Dungy a shot to have more influence over play calling this week, and if it is a successful experiment I think Manning will even begin to allow Dungy to participate in a lot of the pre-game strategy sessions.”

Dungy answered only a few questions from reporters this week but did say he was very polite when speaking to Manning and had no intentions of disrupting the organization or chemistry Manning has built. “I would just love to get a chance to call a play here or there,” said Dungy. “I used to coach down in Tampa Bay, and everyone thought I was pretty good. Of course, I’m no Peyton Manning, but I’m sure I could help him in some way.”

Many Colts fans fear that if Manning relinquishes any control to the head coach, Dungy may begin to overextend his authority and begin giving Manning his opinions in critical game situations.

“I think the last thing anyone wants is for Dungy to begin getting in Peyton Manning’s way when making crucial decisions late in games,” said Colts radio commentator Joe Staysniak. “Certainly you want to defer to the man who has coached a team to a Super Bowl victory, and Manning is very capable of coaching and quarterbacking the team back to that position again this year.”