Hiring of blind offensive coordinator irks Manning

Peyton Manning has been very vocal about his displeasure with the coaching changes made this off-season to the staff of the Indianapolis Colts.  That continued today with the hiring of Frank Slade as offense coordinator. Slade, who has been blind since birth, becomes the first sightless person to coach in the NFL.    Manning was quick to criticize the decision, calling it  “an abomination.”   “I really don’t see how a blind man can coach this offense,” said Manning. “I mean, how is he supposed to read the defenses and call plays?”

While Manning doubts Slade’s credentials, the coach has a very strong pedigree.  He has coached at all levels of the game and commands the respect of coaches and players throughout the league.    Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin calls Slade, “one of the most brilliant minds in football.”  Penn State coach Joe Paterno, who gave Slade his first coaching job as Penn State’s quarterbacks coach, says of him, “Frank can see and draw up plays better than any coach I’ve had that could see.”   Former Lions great Barry Sanders says of him, “Frank has 20/20 vision when it comes to football.”

Having never obviously seen a football game with his own eyes, one might question exactly how Slade can understand and comprehend the game of football. “ I don’t know why everybody else sees,” ponders Slade.   “But what my mind’s eye sees is pretty special.”

Rumors have circulated that Manning will hold himself out of off season mini-camps and training camp in protest of the hiring. Owner Jim Irsay says he expects Manning to show up. “Peyton has to respect the decisions of the organization. Hopefully he will be able to see the forest through the trees on the situation,” Irsay said.

This entry was posted on Friday, June 5th, 2009 at 6:23 pm and is filed under Football, Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.