All may not be well with the Indianapolis Colts.
On paper, the product on the field got much stronger this offseason as the team added future Hall of Famers Frank Gore and Andre Johnson as key offensive pieces to assist franchise quarterback Andrew Luck in his effort to take the Colts from very good to great.
Throw in the additions of former Philadelphia Eagles and steady, professional veterans Trent Cole and Todd Herremans along with a handful of other pickups, and Colts fans have every right to expect an even better result than last season.
Still, things within the front office may not be particularly hunky dory as Bob Kravitz of WTHR.com is reporting, via Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk that head coach Chuck Pagano and GM Ryan Grigson may not be on the best of terms at the moment.
"Bob Kravitz of WTHR.com suspects, as he explained during Friday's PFT Live on NBC Sports Radio, that a disconnect already exists between Pagano and Grigson," writes Florio. "The leak that Pagano (but not Grigson) won't be getting a new contract before the season at a minimum raises a question about whether Pagano already is being set up to take the fall."
It was reported on Thursday by Ian Rapoport of NFL.com that Pagano was entering a "make or break year" in 2015, meaning that the team had no plans to extend him prior to the end of his current deal, which expires after the 2015 season.
"Two sources briefed on the situation say the team is not expected to work out a contract extension with Pagano prior to the season, the final year of the four-year contract he signed when he was hired in 2012," Rapoport reported.
Dianna Marie Russini of NBC4 revealed shortly thereafter that she was hearing that Colts owner Jim Irsay had actually already offered Pagano an extension, albeit only for one-year and a "very modest increase."
Pagano took over a 2-14 team in 2011 and has helped them reach the postseason and advance a step farther in each of his four years at the helm of the Indianapolis franchise since.
Grigson, as luck would have it, is also entering the final year of his current deal.
As Florio surmises, this could set up a potential scenario in which, success or failure, Pagano and Grigson will ultimately look to assess blame to or steal commendation from the other man.
"If, for example, the team's run defense - its 'Achilles heel,' per Pagano - continues to fail to slow down New England, Pagano could be tempted to blame it on the personnel, and Grigson could be tempted to blame it on the coaching," writes Florio.
If the relationship is already strained as Kravitz hinted, this seems not just a potentiality, but a likely outcome.
No matter how much of Florio's report is true or not, Colts owner Jim Irsay will be faced with a number of tough decisions at the end of next year, starting with the joint futures of his two top football men.
It seems the Colts will be an intriguing viewing experience on many levels next year.
