NEW ORLEANS -- Executives throughout the NFL would happily trade places with Super Bowl general managers Trent Baalke (San Francisco) and Ozzie Newsome (Baltimore).

Neither prevailed in voting among peers for the Sporting News' award honoring the top executive for the 2012 season. That distinction went to Indianapolis Colts GM Ryan Grigson, who turned over most of the team's roster and went 11-5 with a rookie quarterback.

AFC South blogger Paul Kuharsky and I were among those voting for Seattle Seahawks GM John Schneider in a separate poll. Schneider narrowly prevailed in that one.

My thinking at the time: