Written by Nat Newell at Indianapolis Star.com
Five things to know about new Indianapolis Colts General Manager Chris Ballard, whose hiring was announced by the team on Sunday:
1. Ballard has been credited with helping Kansas City General Manager John Dorsey remake a roster that went 2-14 in 2012 into a team that has posted four consecutive winning seasons, with three playoff appearances and this season’s AFC West title. Kansas City is 43-21 over the past four seasons.
2. Several published reports credit Ballard’s role in evaluating cornerback Marcus Peters, a controversial first-round pick in 2015. At the University of Washington, Peters was suspended for the first quarter of the Fight Hunger Bowl after the 2013 season after he was late turning in a final for a class and had to wait for the grade to post. In a game on Sept. 6, 2014, Peters head-butted an Eastern Washington receiver, drawing a penalty that extended a drive. He refused to let an assistant coach calm him down, throwing down his helmet and gloves, according to a USA Today story. He also failed a drug test for marijuana in 2011.
Ballard spent time with Peters and his family in Oakland and told the Chiefs he would not be a problem. Peters made the Pro Bowl his first two seasons in the NFL.
3. Ballard was hired by the Kansas City Chiefs as director of player personnel in 2013 after 12 seasons with the Bears, 11 as the franchise’s southwest area scout, his final year as director of pro scouting. He helped draft Pro Bowlers Matt Forte, Johnny Knox, Charles Tillman and Nathan Vasher with the Bears, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Prior to that, Ballard coached seven seasons at Texas A&M-Kingsville, working with receivers and the secondary, including one season as defensive coordinator. He played four seasons at the University of Wisconsin as a receiver. According to a Wisconsin media guide, Ballard listed his hobbies as jogging and water skiing.
4. Ballard was reportedly the No. 1 contender for the Bears general manager opening in 2015, but the job went to New Orleans’ Ryan Pace. Former Bears Director of College Scouting Greg Gabriel said Ballard’s previous connection to the team may have played a role during an interview on WSCR-AM (670). Gabriel added: “Chris may have scared them a little bit. Chris knows the problems that are within the organization and had ideas on how to clean them up, and I’m hearing that they didn’t necessarily like hearing that.”
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