Cincinnati Bengals defensive staff Mike Zimmer being pursued by Indianapolis Colts for coaching job
The Cincinnati Bengals confirmed on Friday, January 20, 2012, that their defensive coach, Mike Zimmer, was among the Indianapolis Colts list of potential candidates to fill their head coaching slot that had become vacant after firing former coach, Jim Caldwell.
A request from the Colts, according to the Bengals’ team management, has sought permission to interview Zimmer, confirming the speculations that the Colts have approached the team to potentially sign their defensive coach.
Caldwell was fired by Indianapolis Colts’ owner, Jim Irsay, following their worst season on the field. He was the third high profile official to have been sacked by Irsay.
A week earlier, he terminated the contracts of their vice chairman, Bill Polian, and his son Chris Polian, who was the general manager of the team.
After Caldwell had gone, the team management with their new general manager, Ryan Grigson in charge, has launched the hunt for a new head coach.
Some of other officials who have been pursued by the team include New Orleans Saints' offensive coach, Pete Carmichael, and Jerry Gray, who is the defensive assistant coach of the Tennessee Titans.
Zimmer is amongst few names which are leading the prospects of hiring for the position.
The Bengals’ assistant coach has also been linked to the possibilities of accepting a head coaching role with the Miami Dolphins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
No one has been tipped to be the leading candidate for the Indianapolis Colts at this moment as the team continues its search for a new head coach.
Apparently the team’s focus is on hiring an offensive coach.
With Zimmer’s interview being lined up, there could possibly be a shift in the Colts' management's approach and priority in the hiring of a new coaching official.
The team is eligible to recruit a new draft quarterback in the coming season and having an offensive coach stands benefiting their aim of training and grooming him.
The aspect of benefiting the offence department and especially the rookie quarterback more than others could be due to the possibility of team’s ambitions of seeking to replace their star quarterback, Peyton Manning.
Manning has played with the team for more than 13 years and is nearing end of his career.
It could be possible that the team is interested in finding and grooming his replacement in the long run and an offensive coach on the field is set to compliment their hopes and efforts.
In addition to their head coach, the Colts have also fired as many as eight of their assistant coaches.
The team’s owner has continued the cleansing drive that he had started soon after ending the 2011 National Football League (NFL) regular season at the lowest points in their history.
The team played 16 games in total and unfortunately grabbed only two victories.
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