Joe Thomas, a former Browns offensive tackle, spent his entire career in Cleveland and played for numerous coaches.
However, Thomas voiced his displeasure with the hiring of Jeff Saturday, a fellow former NFL offensive lineman.
After the Colts fired Frank Reich after a 26-3 loss to the New England Patriots on Nov. 6, the team appointed an interim head coach on Saturday.
On Friday's episode of "Good Morning Football," Thomas stated, "It is one of the most disrespectful things I’ve ever seen in my entire life to the commitment, the lifestyle, and the experience that it takes to be an NFL coach — any coach — much less the head coach of the Indianapolis Football Colts.""You have to be kidding me that this is something that Jim Irsay and Jeff Saturday, who is not without fault for accepting the job, could have talked about and decided was the best thing for the Indianapolis Colts at this point in the season," Irsay said. "Jeff Saturday is not blameless for accepting the job."
Thomas believes that the Colts owner's decision to hire Saturday was an insult to other coaches working toward becoming league head coaches.However, Irsay rebutted those who questioned the hiring, stating that he was "glad [Saturday] doesn't have any NFL experience."
Isray said in a press conference after the hiring on Saturday that he was glad the former Colts center didn't have any fear.
Irsay told The Score, "I'm glad he hasn't learned the fear that's in this league because it's tough for all our coaches."They go to analytics out of fear and find it difficult...He is not afraid of that."
The Colts' difficulties since quarterback Andrew Luck's unexpected early retirement have been well documented.
Luck was a four-time Pro Bowler whose contributions to the Colts' four playoff appearances in his first six seasons helped them reach the postseason.
Jacoby Brissett, Brian Hoyer, Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz, Matt Ryan, and Sam Ehlinger have all started at quarterback for the team since then.Since none of those possibilities have worked out, many people started to wonder if the Colts were going to miss out on drafting a quarterback in April 2023.
The Indianapolis Colts have a 3-5-1 record.However, Irsay asserted that the team will continue to compete for victories this season despite Saturday's appointment as interim coach.
"This is where we are;There's no question about it: 9-7-1 gets us in.The season isn't being tanked by us.Whoever expresses these things, that we're not playing [quarterback] Matt [Ryan] in light of the fact that [of a work to tank]… That is false.We will do whatever it takes to win.I'm not sure who people believe we are.We are unknown to them."In Indianapolis, we don't tank," Irsay stated.
Additionally, the hiring raised concerns regarding a potential Rooney Rule flaw.Saturday asserted that the organization would use his tenure as a test case before beginning its search for a head coach following the season.
"I'm in charge of eight games here.After this is finished, they will conduct a thorough search and select the Colts' best candidate to be head coach.I would be honored if I were considered.I don't know where this thing will go."Not even a little bit," he told the journalists.
"I'm perfectly content with who I am as a man.I'm confident I can lead men.I'm knowledgeable about football and passionate about it.The question, "Are you as qualified as someone else?" never worries me.I used a locker room for 14 years.Twelve playoff appearances were mys.Five people who played with me are in the Hall of Fame.You don't think I've seen anything great?Are you sure I haven't seen how people prepare?How do they train?How are they GM?What do they do?I've been to two Super Bowls and won one.
A league spokesperson told the Indianapolis Star that the Rooney Rule does not apply to interim head coaching positions; however, the team must comply with the rule at the end of the season and before naming a permanent coach.
Sunday's matchup with the Raiders in Las Vegas will be the Colts' first test as an NFL coach since Saturday.
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