Sources: Colts meet with Dungy, offer flexibility
By Chris Mortensen
ESPN.com
Updated: January 12, 2008, 12:41 PM ET
Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy met Friday with owner Jim Irsay in the most recent of ongoing discussions about Dungy's future, according to team sources.
Irsay is offering Dungy "tremendous options" and "flexibility" to enable the coach to return for the 2008 season, even though Dungy's children have transferred from their Indianapolis schools to Tampa schools in the past week, sources said.
Dungy reiterated to Irsay that he will make a decision when the playoff run is over but first will take several days to recover from the season. Thursday, Dungy acknowledged he would talk with his wife and Indianapolis officials about the future when the Colts' season ends.
If Dungy does retire, assistant head coach Jim Caldwell, who is also Peyton Manning's quarterback coach, is the clear-cut choice to succeed Dungy, sources said. Caldwell is a candidate for head-coach openings with the Atlanta Falcons and Baltimore Ravens.
Irsay wants Dungy to usher the team into the franchise's new Lucas Oil Stadium for the 2008 season. As part of the ongoing discussions, the owner and general manager Bill Polian have presented several options to their coach, including an allowance for Dungy to spend three or four months away in the offseason.
Dungy appreciates that offseason option but is unlikely to accept it, though sources say Irsay also is willing to allow Dungy use of his private jet to take the coach back and forth to Tampa to enjoy specific family events, such as his son Eric's high school football games on Friday nights.
The decision by Dungy and his wife, Lauren, to enroll their school-age children in Tampa schools is complicated and not necessarily related to Dungy's immediate coaching future, sources said. Dungy spent almost his first two years in Indianapolis while his family resided in Tampa and he and his wife believe it can work again if he chooses to continue his coaching career.
Dungy is focused on the team's Sunday game against the San Diego Chargers and a run at a second consecutive Super Bowl title. He has been a head coach for 12 seasons with stints in Tampa Bay and Indianapolis.
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