It’s only a matter of time before Colts’ Caldwell on hot seat

The Indianapolis Colts are winless after five games this season.

It’s no secret by now that Colts quarterback Peyton Manning is out—possibly for the season. The defensive secondary and offensive line also are decimated by injuries.

But that hasn’t stopped the talk about Colts Coach Jim Caldwell being on the hot seat. Caldwell has had his share of detractors since taking over for Tony Dungy following the 2009 season.

In some circles, Caldwell wasn’t given much credit for the Colts run to the Super Bowl during his first season as head coach. Now that the team is losing, there is no shortage of fans willing to credit him with the team’s on-field failings.

And the hiring of former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel probably won’t help Caldwell’s situation. Though Tressel was hired as a replay review consultant, it’s pretty clear he’s a solid head coach—at least on the college level. The man in the sweater vest hired to help Caldwell might in fact turn up the heat on Caldwell.

Tressel is finishing up a six-game suspension imposed by the Colts and endorsed by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for misdeeds at Ohio State.

It will only be a matter of time before disgruntled, some would say spoiled, Colts fans are howling ever louder for Caldwell’s dismissal. It’d be easy for some fans to leap to the conclusion that Tressel should be the new head coach. Questions are bound to arise about Tressel's hire by Colts owner Jim Irsay and president Bill Polian.

The notion that Tressel could be the head coach in waiting is bound to surface. And given the way the Colts are playing, probably sooner rather than later.

If the Colts can’t win at least three of four games this year, the heat might be too much for Caldwell to handle.