INDIANAPOLIS -- Watch the video above of the full press conference announcing Indianapolis Colts Head Coach Chuck Pagano's four-year contract extension. Focus only General Manager Ryan Grigson (seated on the left). Just the first few seconds, then come back down here.
Fidget, fidget, awkward sip of water, forced smile. Uncomfortable glare at team owner Jim Irsay.
Now skip forward to 5:00 in when Grigson speaks for the first time.
Repeat of what Irsay said earlier with antsy attribution. Eye flutter, eye flutter. Avoid eye contact. Forced eye contact when referencing that Pagano is a "great man." Repeating himself, repeating himself. Uneasy toss to Chuck. Sip of water with a grimace as Chuck opens with a joke.
Now watch the rest of the press conference (again, focusing only on Grigson) once it widens out after Chuck's comments, just after 9:00.
Remaining stoic. Eyes look left. Eyes look right. Blink, blink, blink. Forced body movement. Smirk when media reports of Chuck's firing come up. Fidget, fidget, especially after Irsay mentions contractual ties.
OK, one more, skip ahead to 19:35.
Grigson: "We're in the arena together every day, he's in a different part of the arena than I am."
Different part, huh?
Grigson: "At the end of the day, whether we have difficult decisions to make, or he has a differing opinion than I do, I think we both know what both of us are made of at our core - we work to resolve anything to make the best decision for the franchise."
You know that co-worker you have, that you really don't like dealing with, but have to? Yeah...
Grigson: "To win as many games, as our head coach has..."
Wait, nope, don't give him too big of a compliment, talk about what the cameras see - those postgame speeches, yeah, that's it.
Grigson: "Something that Chuck brings to the table every day, even with the season we had this year, is just hope, it's just the man he is, it's his experiences."
Forced compliment, but keep pounding your hand on the table so it seems genuine.
Take a quick glance over at Pagano, and see him fidget after hearing this, which is a contrast to his normal stillness.
Grigson: "Chuck's the guy that can get us to the mountaintop, and that's why we're all here today together because that's what we're planning on doing,"
Grigson goes on to discuss the adversity this year that he believes will make the team better, and it's as genuine as anything from the calm GM during the conference, but two more notes: Grigson never looks at Pagano, save for the very beginning of the press conference, and keep an eye on Irsay's demeanor when Pagano speaks vs. when Grigson speaks.
Last spot in the video to watch, I promise: 24:10, Irsay cuts off Pagano.
Irsay: "If you think I'm going to let someone bully my head coach, you're wrong. You don't know me."
So you're saying you may or may not have had a conversation with Grigson to cut the crap?
Irsay: "Ryan's not that type of guy."
Are you sure you didn't just make him "not that type of guy"?
Irsay: "But if you think I'm going to have that in my organization? You're wrong, that's not me."
Got it, Jim. You put your foot down.
Irsay: "No one's bullying anyone in my organization, TRUST me on that. It's the truth."
OK, Jim, seriously, we got it. You roughed up Ryan real good, didn't you?
Grigson blinks awkwardly, looking past Irsay throughout these comments, cracking a smile only when Irsay mentions Pagano's freedom to celebrate a victory whenever he pleases, likely upon realizing he needed to match the jubilation on that side of the table.
The body language doctor says Grigson wasn't the biggest fan of the granted "connected extension" with head coach Chuck Pagano. Just look at the "press photo" at the bottom of this story: Not much of a smile from the GM.
Sure, some of Grigson's reactions are just who he is, but check out this press conference following the 2014 season, and compare how much more animated Grigson is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbxD8fQ3Db4
There was an erosion at some point, likely coming to a boiling point during the turmoil that was starting 3-5, and it's reflected in how both Grigson and Pagano treat each other and talk about it.
"We agree to disagree," Pagano said at the press conference. "But at the end of the day, we end every meeting with a handshake and a hug, and you say, 'OK, look, it's about one thing and one thing only: It's about the team."
You all read the reports of Grigson "making decisions that run counter to Pagano's wishes" and "inserting himself in lineup decisions normally made by the head coach."
It's pretty clear that Ryan Grigson was looking elsewhere for a head coach in 2016, but Irsay reeled him in. Especially if the NFL sources cited by a newspaper reporter in Terre Haute who said the Colts reached out to Sean Payton's camp were true.
"We're going to do everything with the Shoe in mind," Pagano said.
We know you are Chuck, and well played on shmoozing your team's owner into tying the GM's job to yours. That will settle some arguments.
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