'I thought it was a joke': NFL Network's Joe Thomas rants on Colts coaching move

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay is taking more shots regarding his decision to hire Jeff Saturday as interim coach in the wake of Frank Reich's firing.

Saturday had been an NFL analyst for ESPN, and his only coaching experience is at the high school level. Colts legend Dwight Freeney couldn't believe the hire.

But just wait for Joe Thomas' reaction. The retired offensive lineman unloaded on the Colts on a "Good Morning Football" broadcast from Germany, where Tampa Bay and Seattle will play on Sunday.

"When you hire you're drinking buddy to be the coach of an NFL football team, it is one of the most disrespectful things I've seen in my entire life," Thomas started, noting the commitment, experience and lifestyle coaches display for decades.

"You have got to be kidding (to think) that Jim Irsay -- and Jeff Saturday, who's not blameless here for accepting the job -- could have talked and decided that this was the best thing for the Indianapolis Colts at this juncture of the season," Thomas said.

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Thomas discussed Rob Chudzinski, a Cleveland Browns coach and Thomas' neighbor for one year. Chudzinski saw his children one time every week, twice if the Browns had a home game that week, according to Thomas.

"That's a lifestyle. That's who you are. That's not something you can just show up for," Thomas said, adding that such a lifestyle is a reason he doesn't want to coach. "I want to see my children."

He said many coaches don't retire because that's all they've been around and don't develop hobbies away from the sport.

"To defend the decision by saying, 'I'm glad he doesn't have any experience, because he's not scared.' If you didn't insult every person who has ever worked their entire life to be a head coach in the NFL … I thought it was a joke," Thomas said.

"It is the most egregious thing I can ever remember happening in the NFL, and I went 1-31 my last two years in the NFL."

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts news: Joe Thomas rips Jim Irsay for hiring Jeff Saturday