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Indianapolis Colts director of player development Brian Decker, a former Special Forces operative, plays a key role in screening players who want to wear the Horseshoe.
The Athletic Indianapolis Colts writer Bob Kravitz discusses Decker's role in his April 29 article.
The Colts even hired Brian Decker, a former Special Forces operative who is the team's director of player development. In the military, he was tasked with creating a process by which the Green Berets could choose the best and the brightest for their outfit.
‘Brian plays a big role and we overload Brian,' (Colts general manager Chris) Ballard said. ‘He is highly intelligent and he's got a great way to get to the core of who somebody is. He does a great job of training our scouts what to look for in a player and also when he's interviewing a player, getting the truth of who he is…
‘Look, I am realistic enough that we aren't going to have a locker room full of choir boys and it's not always going to be perfect. They've got to have talent. I mean, talent wins in the league. When they've got talent and character, that's a home run.
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Nobody can doubt Ballard's stellar track record in the draft. Hiring somebody like Decker should help the Colts select talented players with character. It's a great move on the part of their front office. This kind of personnel decision shows the extent to which NFL organizations spend time, talent and treasure in search of the ideal roster — not just in terms of the X-and-O compatibility of players, but their compatibility as teammates and, ultimately, coworkers.
This year, the Colts selected 10 players in the draft. They include cornerback Rock Ya-Sin, pass rusher Ben Banogu, and wide receiver Parris Campbell. You can be sure Decker sized them up thoroughly. That bodes well for the Colts' 2019 NFL season and beyond.
