Return of Indianapolis Colts assistants Howard Mudd, Tom Moore right conclusion to story

Colts Owner/CEO Jim Irsay (AP Photo)

With each day, the story surrounding the Indianapolis Colts coaching staff appears to nearing the right conclusion.

That conclusion is that offensive coordinator Tom Moore and offensive line coach Howard Mudd, each of whom retired last week because of concerns surrounding the NFL's pension plan, likely will return as consultants next season. Mike Chappell of the Indianapolis Star reported the possibility last week, and Colts Owner and Chief Executive Office Jim Irsay confirmed the likelihood to Clark Judge of CBS Sports on Tuesday.

Irsay told Judge:

I've talked to them and know they would like to come back and do it and be part of it. They're going year to year (as far as their futures), but they want to be part of it, and I'm for that. . . . If I really felt they didn't want to coach, or if I really didn't think they were ready to get after it I wouldn't have done this. But they are. They are passionate about coming back this year.

Irsay also expanded on the whole pension issue and the state of the Colts' coaching staff:

This thing (the pension controversy) has thrown them for a loop, but I told them, 'Look, guys, I don't care about 2008 and 2010. This is all about '09, and we're really focused about getting after this thing.' As an owner, you're not going to have a chance like this -- I mean, with this group of guys -- every year. The gods of fate determine injuries, but going in with the draft we had -- with Donald Brown and the tackles we got -- and with the players we already have I really like the football team.

I like (Head Coach)Jim Caldwell, too, and his leadership and what he's bringing. Tony (Dungy) isn't around, because it's Jim's team now, but Tony is around in the sense that his influence and his leadership are with all of us and with the players on the team. So it's about as ideal as you can get.

This story is solid for two reasons. One is Irsay's quote and the second is it's Judge reporting it, and whereas some writers could misinterpret a quote and breathlessly move a story in the wrong direction, Judge is an experienced reporter who knows what he's hearing. But enough about the intracies of reporting. Bottom line?

This is obviously very, very good news on many fronts.

The first is that if you're a fan of the Colts, Moore and Mudd -- each of which are cores to the franchise who have been around since quarterback Peyton Manning and President Bill Polian arrived in 1998 - will be involved next season.

A second is that the pension issue that has been discussed and dissected for two weeks won't cause the end of the careers of two guys who love coaching, are committed to the Colts and deserve to continue being around as long as they choose.

It's a good conclusion, and one you could sort of see coming for the last week or so. I never could get past the feeling that if Moore and Mudd really wanted to coach and be involved that Irsay -- who will do whatever he sees necessary to put the best team on the field -- would find a way to get that done. The consultants option had been kicked around for a while in the media and on the blogosphere. Chappell writing it late last week made me think there was a real likelihood. Colts center Jeff Saturday said on Monday he wasn't giving up on the idea and that made you think the possibility had even more legs. When Caldwell said Tuesday there was a still a possibility Moore and Mudd would return -- even after they turned in their retirement papers -- you really just figured Irsay was going to figure out a way.

The result is a good end to what could have been a really lousy story. Good for Irsay. Good for Mudd and Moore.

And really, really good for the Colts.

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