Jim Caldwell have been fired by the Indianapolis Colts

INDIANAPOLIS— Jim Irsay has big plans for the Colts' future. He just hasn't worked through the details yet.


Two weeks after overhauling the front office, Indianapolis took the next big step in its major housecleaning project Tuesday -- firing coach Jim Caldwell after three seasons.


"This (search) is something that's going to start immediately and I really think we're going to get a coach that's going to lead us going into the future, and I think it's a bright future," Irsay said Tuesday. "It's tough to change and go forward, we've had such excellence and greatness here over such a long period of time and that's what I expect us to do again."


Irsay is following the same plan he installed after the 1997 season. Back then, a season-ending loss on the road allowed the 3-13 Colts to clinch the No. 1 overall draft pick. The next day, Irsay fired the general manager and the head coach and eventually changed quarterbacks.


The real question is whether or not Peyton Manning will be next out the door. I would think the next coach wants the opportunity to work with one of the greatest NFL quarterbacks of all time while grooming Manning's successor, Andrew Luck.


My guess is that Irsay tries to convince Manning to delay or renegotiate his $28-million bonus that is due in early March to keep him in Indianapolis. If he can't reach an agreement with Manning, the Colts will let him go, too.


When Irsay fired the Polians from his front office, the clock started ticking on Caldwell.


Until Jim Caldwell gets another chance to coach, there will be questions about whether he won only because he inherited Tony Dungy’s team or because he had Peyton Manning to run the offense. With Dungy gone three years and Manning injured, Caldwell couldn’t keep the Colts upright (2-14).


The same questions were asked about George Seifert and Barry Switzer. Did Seifert win because of Steve Young and with Bill Walsh’s team in San Francisco? He flamed out on his own in Carolina. Did Switzer win with Troy Aikman and Jimmy Johnson’s team in Dallas? The Cowboys were 6-10 his last season, four years removed from Johnson. He hasn't coached again.


Questions aside, the Colts appear to be cleaning the slate as they did in 1997 and Caldwell had to go. Vice chairman Bill Polian and general manager Chris Polian were the first to get fired. Now, despite owner Jim Irsay’s contention that Manning is there to stay, look for him to be the next Colt to ride out of town.