NFL analyst slams Colts for overlooking minority candidates after signing Saturday

The Indianapolis Colts' hiring of former player Jeff Saturday as interim head coach has ruffled some feathers. After Frank Reich was given his marching orders after a poor start to the season, there was a thought that the Colts had the perfect chance to hire a minority head coach.

They did not. And it did not go down well.

Mike Freeman of 'USA Today' wrote a piece about the hiring of Saturday and called it a slap in the face to black coaches.

"Colts hiring Jeff Saturday a slap in face of Black coaches."

So why is there such commotion over Saturday's hire as interim head coach? Putting it simply, he has no prior NFL coaching experience. Huh?

That's right. This has led many, like Freeman, to question why a minority head coach wasn't given a chance. Even still, as some have mentioned, the current crop of coaches, all of whom have over six or seven years of experience, were overlooked for a coach with no experience at the NFL level. Why?

That's rather odd, isn't it? Now we aren't pointing fingers here, far from it. But the Colts definitely missed an opportunity here.

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Jeff Saturday in for Frank Reich. Is GM Chris Ballard on his way out, too?

NFL Combine

Usually when a head coach loses his job, there is a domino effect. Now, the fingers are being pointed at Colts GM Chris Ballard. After an offseason that sold so much hope with the acquisition of Matt Ryan from Atlanta, the Colts have fallen flat.

A 3-5-1 record and on a three-game losing streak saw Reich lose him job, but should Ballard lose his, too? One could make the case. He has his fingerprints on the team as much as Reich did.

Now with Sam Ehlinger under center, the Colts will likely not be progressing much in terms of playoff hopes. They were the favorites to win the AFC South prior to the start of the season, but now they find themselves two games behind and with an expensive quarterback sitting on the bench.

Regardless of what happens from here, the Colts missed a chance that many feel they shouldn't have in hiring a minority head coach.