Colts' Dungy takes break to reflect on son, coaching future

[raiders72001]

Colts' Dungy takes break to reflect on son, coaching future
Colts' Dungy takes break to reflect on son, coaching future

By MICHAEL MAROT, AP Sports Writer
January 16, 2006

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Tony Dungy plans to return as Colts coach but left open the possibility of retirement following a season marked by the death of his 18-year-old son.

"I really don't know how I'll react the next few days," he said Monday, a day after the Colts were eliminated from the playoffs. "I think I'll be back. But it will really be the first time I've had to think about it."


Dungy has been one of the NFL's most successful coaches over the past decade. He's reached the playoffs eight times, won three straight AFC South titles and taken teams to the AFC and NFC championship games.

This year, he won his 100th career game less than two weeks after he turned 50.

But Dungy has always been a family man first. After the Colts' season ended with Sunday's 21-18 loss to Pittsburgh, Dungy said he intends to spend the next few days watching movies, spending time with his wife and children and reflecting on the death of his oldest son, James.

That has created a genuine conflict in Dungy's future plans.

"I think this will be the first time I'll really get to reflect on things and not be on autopilot," Dungy said. "So we'll have to see what the next few days bring."

Indianapolis certainly wants Dungy to return.

Most players praise Dungy for his faith, philosophy and the relationships he's established. It was one of the reasons that safety Mike Doss grabbed the football after beating Arizona in the regular-season finale, Dungy's first game back after his son's death, sprinted to the sideline and gave Dungy a hug.

"We really try and play hard for Coach Dungy, everyone loves him," defensive tackle Larry Tripplett said after that victory.

In October, Dungy signed a three-year contract extension that will keep him with the Colts through 2009. The question now is whether he will fulfill the deal. When pressed on the one missing link from his resume, a Super Bowl title, Dungy said he could walk away from the game without it.

"That's one of the blessings from my son's situation is that it puts everything in perspective," he said. "I'm sure I'll get over this a lot quicker than I will my son. It's a tough deal, but there are a lot more important things in scope of it than us not winning a Super Bowl."

http://http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/n...v=ap&type=lgns

[cajuns]

Dungy has been one of the NFL's most successful coaches over the past decade. He's reached the playoffs eight times, won three straight AFC South titles and taken teams to the AFC and NFC championship games.

A guess this writer thinks fourth place in a 32 team league is success.

Success is Gruden taking Dungy's former team and winning the Super Bowl.

[homedog]

I really have a hard time knocking Dungy because he is truly one of the class individuals in the NFL but you are correct.

I find it hard to understand someone who can be so calm in such an emotionally charged sport. It is easy to take that lake of emotion as a lack of passion or will to win but I don't think that is the case with Dungy. It is just his personality, like it or not.

[cajuns]

Dungy may be a great guy with an express ticket to the spiritual world, unfortunately he has underachieved as a head coach.

Dungy's staff was outsmarted the past two seasons.

Yes, I'm calling for a new head coach and a Super Bowl ring in Indy.

[slacker00]

Dungy may be a great guy with an express ticket to the spiritual world, unfortunately he has underachieved as a head coach.

Dungy's staff was outsmarted the past two seasons.

Yes, I'm calling for a new head coach and a Super Bowl ring in Indy.

As a Colts fan, it's hard for me to disagree, cajuns. Who's on your shortlist of available coaches? I wonder how many draft picks Tampa would need to let Gruden come to Indy.

[gynecologist]

Maybe He is just not much of a coach anyway???

[cajuns]

Maybe one of the defensive assistants from the Steelers or Chargers.

Indy's offense seems to be run by Manning (waving of the FG team) so why not bring in a defensive mind who found a hole in one of the best offenses of all time?

[slacker00]

Maybe one of the defensive assistants from the Steelers or Chargers.

Indy's offense seems to be run by Manning (waving of the FG team) so why not bring in a defensive mind who found a hole in one of the best offenses of all time?

That's be cool if Indy suddenly developed a monster defense, and plays pure ball control, with Manning's stats looking more like Trent Dilfer or Brad Johnson.

Hey imgv94, welcome to TFZ.