Polian gets contract extension from Colts

INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- The Indianapolis Colts have signed team president Bill Polian to a five-year contract extension.

Financial terms were not disclosed. The Indianapolis Star reported that the new contract places Polian among "the upper echelon of team executives."

Polian, 60, had been working with a contract that was set to expire after the 2004 NFL draft.

"He's right there with the top guys -- (Tampa Bay's) Rich McKay and (Kansas City's) Carl Peterson," Colts owner Jim Irsay told the Star. "And rightly so. This has been an ongoing process and I'm happy we were able to get it done."

Polian, considered one of the NFL's top executives, was responsible for building the Buffalo Bills' four straight Super Bowl teams in the early 1990s. Since joining the Colts in 1997, the franchise has gone to the postseason three times.

The Colts have posted a 44-26 record since 1999, the fourth-best record in the NFL. The franchise's cornerstone players, quarterback Peyton Manning and running back Edgerrin James were drafted by Polian.