INDIANAPOLIS – Chuck Pagano and Ryan Grigson didn’t hold any punches. They really couldn’t, actually. They’ve seen what has happened with their players, some they took a gamble on and others who they never thought would have any run-ins with the law.
Four Colts players have been arrested since Jan. 15.
A rape charge. DUI. Assault. Marijuana charges.
As one player told me, “This is not a good look for us. Trouble is not how we do things.”
He’s right.
But the Colts continue to find trouble off the field. They’ve had so many issues that it’s easy to forget that they took another step last season by reaching the AFC Championship Game.
“We’ve had some issues,” Pagano said. “I’m disappointed about those issues, and we’ve got to do better. I’ve got to do a better job. We’re trying to develop these guys to be the best they can be on the field and help us win football games, and off the field. We’ll continue to educate. It’s an ongoing process. It’s a daily process. Again, it’s disappointing that you have those types of deals, but gotta make good choices and with choices come consequences. We’ll continue to try to encourage our guys to do the thing things and make good choices.”
Pagano compared what has happened to raising three daughters. Two of his daughters, according to the coach, brought home straight 'A’s’ from school. The third daughter brought home an occasional ‘C’ and it took her some time to get things figured out. That’s how the Colts view their roster. They’ve got a roster full of good players for the most part, but there are a few who are having a difficult time getting it together.
The Colts released linebacker Andrew Jackson, who was a rookie last season, after his second DUI. Running back Ahmad Bradshaw, who was recently arrested for having marijuana, is a free agent. Linebacker Josh McNary’s rape case is ongoing. The same goes for linebacker D’Qwell Jackson’s assault case on a pizza delivery driver.
Bradshaw, McNary and D'Qwell Jackson’s legal issues took the Colts completely by surprise, according to several people inside the organization. Andrew Jackson was arrested for his second DUI in less than a year.
“I think the culture is a strong one; it’s a strong locker room,” Grigson said. “We have an excellent culture and very good veteran leadership. There’s also risk-reward. Do you take a flier on a guy who has very low financial risk but also loves football … the hope is always that he’ll buy into the culture that you’re presenting him, which we think is a very good habitat for players. To be at their best, to iron out some of their rough edges, and some of them have. Some of the guys we struck out on, I guess we need to do a better job in certain areas and we will. We will.”
The issue the Colts, along with every other team in the NFL, have is that they can’t keep their eye on their players once the season ends because they’re scattered across the country. Pagano and Grigson can only hope their players are mature enough to avoid getting in trouble, which obviously hasn’t been the case.
“We can’t be with them 24/7,” Pagano said. “Talk about making great choices and doing the right thing and representing the ‘shoe’ and the name on the back of their jersey and we’ll continue to do that. We’ve got to do better. I think it’s an ongoing process and it’s not easy.”
