Jim Caldwell Fired: What This Means for Future of Indianapolis Colts

The Indianapolis Colts continue to clean house as they parted ways with head coach Jim Caldwell on Wednesday.

The move comes after the organization fired team vice chairman Bill Polian and his son Chris, the general manager, replacing the tandem with former Philadelphia Eagles head of player personnel Ryan Grigson.

Many thought that Caldwell's close relationship with Colts quarterback Peyton Manning may save his job, but with Manning's playing status for 2012 still uncertain, it's clear that Grigson didn't want to keep Caldwell around to do Manning a favor.

This latest move further indicates that the Colts are planning on a wholesale rebuilding in 2012 and makes Manning's status with his long-time team even more uncertain.

Colts owner Jim Irsay is already reported to be sold on taking Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck with the team's No. 1 overall draft pick this year, making him either the team's starter in 2012 or Manning's clear heir at some point in the future.

With the latest firing, Manning's chances to be a part of the Colts in 2012 become slimmer. The same goes for a number of veterans, including wide receiver Reggie Wayne, center Jeff Saturday and running back Joseph Addai, along with a number of underperforming defensive players.

At 2-14 in 2011, the Colts need to make significant changes to their approach on both sides of the ball. Their defense was dreadful this season and their offense seemed to disappear without Manning under center.

Making changes were of course necessary and it would have been impossible for the team's poor showing this season to not cost a number of people their jobs.

At this point, the Colts organization seems to be taking a more realistic approach about the team's future and it's not likely they've made these moves expecting to return to Super Bowl contention in the matter of just one offseason.

Instead, this is just one step in what's going to be a long process. It's not likely that the Colts of 2012 and beyond will bear much resemblance to the one we've become accustomed to in the Manning era, except perhaps in fielding a top quarterback if Luck's projections prove accurate.

The Colts don't just need a head coach, they need a defensive coordinator as well. With this recent firing, they may also need an offensive coordinator if they choose not to stick with Clyde Christensen.

Whoever comes in next is likely to share some of the same philosophies on offense and defense that the Colts have advanced in the past decade, but changes are necessary and inevitable.

First and foremost, the team needs a leader who will commit to improving every facet of the team's game and who believes that dramatic change will be a positive thing.

Nothing in the NFL stays the same for long, and now the Colts have joined a long line of teams over the last few years that have undertaken an extended period of retooling and will experience the growing pains that comes with it.

Don't expect the Colts to be a top-10 team in 2012; however, it doesn't seem like they'll go 2-14 (or worse) next season either.