Stampede Blue
ESPN Dan Orlovsky published the proclaimed worldwide leader in sports’ annual league QB rankings when it comes to 7 of the most important traits at the position, and Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. was surprisingly omitted.
When listing the Top 10 in arm strength among NFL quarterbacks, Richardson’s name was shockingly nowhere to be found at first glance. However, Orlovsky ‘hedged’ a bit by indicating in his final notes that Richardson wasn’t under consideration because he may not win the Colts’ starting quarterback job:
“As for the names not mentioned … the obvious exclusion is Anthony Richardson Sr.,“ writes Orlovsky. ”The third-year Colts quarterback can throttle the ball to every level, but I cut him simply because he hasn’t proved he can stick on the field and might not even win the starter’s gig.”
I can get where Orlovsky is coming from to some extent here, but despite his other quarterback shortcomings, if we’re purely talking about a quarterback ripping it from Point A to Point B as far as they can throw on the football field, Richardson Sr. has to be on any list, regardless of whether he’s entrenched as his team’s starting quarterback or not right now.
That wasn’t the only time that Richardson Sr. was surprisingly excluded from consideration, as he was also not considered by Orlovsky for ‘rushing ability’ either later on, which outside of Lamar Jackson, he’s as good as any quarterback carrying the football right now: Jalen Hurts, Josh Allen, etc., you name them.
“The two Colts quarterbacks — Anthony Richardson Sr. and Daniel Jones — could each make a strong case to be on here,“ notes Orlovsky. ”Richardson can’t stay healthy, and I’m not sure who will win Indy’s starting job.“
His teammate Jones also deserves some recognition on this list, as he should be higher than Brock Purdy.
In the end, it was a bit disappointing as a Colts fan to see both of Richardson and Jones disqualified from consideration just because neither has been named Indianapolis’s starting quarterback yet.
