Bill Belichick is ranked as the best coach in the NFL, according to a poll of 30 league insiders.

Pete Carroll and Sean Payton are ranked second and third and are also in their first tier.

"The most important thing to me is the ability to control the offense, the defense and the special teams," a GM said in describing the ideal coach. "You can change and you can coach multiple things and you have the ability to teach almost every position group. Then you can lose any coach you want and replace from within because the head coach is the talent. Belichick is the ultimate model of that."

Belichick commmanded a 1 vote on 28 of 30 ballots.

In Tier 2 are Andy Reid at No. 4, Tom Coughlin at No. 5, Mike McCarthy and Mike Tomlin at No. 6, Jim Harbaugh at No. 8, John Harbaugh at No. 9, John Fox at No. 10 , Jeff Fisher at No. 11, Chip Kelly at No. 12, Bruce Arians at No. 13, Lovie Smith at No. 14 and Mavin Lewis at No. 15.

Tier 3 is led by Chuck Pagano At No. 16, followed by Rex Ryan (17), Mike Smith (18), Gus Bradley (19), Ken Whisenhunt (20), Mike McCoy (20), Marc Trestman (22) and Ron Rivera (23).

Tier 4 features Mike Zimmer (24), Jay Gruden (25), Bill O'Brien (26), Jim Caldwell (27), Doug Marrone (28), Joe Philbin (29), Jason Garrett (30), Mike Pettine (31) and Bruce Allen (32).

Bill Pollian considered drafting Andy Dalton in 2011 as early-round quarterback insurance for the Indianapolis Colts when Peyton Manning was going through a series of neck surgeries.

Polian reportedly told Marvin Lewis that he wouldn't have been fired by the Colts had he drafted Dalton.

Dalton would presumably be the backup to Manning with the Colts right now, as he would have likely taken the club out of the running for Andrew Luck.

Under that scenario, Dalton wouldn't have signed a major contract and Manning wouldn't be on a team ready to compete for a Super Bowl as he is on the Denver Broncos. Luck presumably would be on the St. Louis Rams with Jeff Fisher.

T.Y. Hilton believes Andrew Luck will be throwing to three No. 1 type receivers with himself, Reggie Wayne and Hakeem Nicks.

"He never ceases to amaze us," Chuck Pagano said Monday about Hilton. "The guy is just a spectacular athlete. The game has obviously slowed down tremendously for T.Y. He knows this thing inside and out now."

Whereas Hilton is just hitting his stride, it remains to be seen if Wayne and Nicks can return to true "No. 1 receiver" form.

Wayne is coming back from ACL surgery, while Nicks has consitently been banged up over the past few seasons.

Trent Richardson had an impressive week of practice with the Indianapolis Colts.

Richardson struggled last season after his trade from the Cleveland Browns, averaging just 2.9 yards per carry.

“He’s getting back to 100 percent, so I think some of those runs you’re starting to see, the hard work, the full offseason, the comfort with the scheme, the terminology, being around the offensive guys, the guys that are lined up in front of him blocking and seeing him starting to put a foot in the ground, see a hole, burst through the line of scrimmage, all that stuff is coming,” Chuck Pagano said. “It’s only going to get better, too, as he gets closer to 100 percent, health-wise. Again, he’s on track, he’s on track.” 

“The comfort level is so much better now,” Richardson said. “I know the plays and I’m not playing so tight. I’m really comfortable with the offense, and the timing with the offensive line is coming. I know all my cuts and reads before snap.”