Stampede Blue
So many thoughts…
The story broke that Shane Steichen named Daniel Jones the starter for the Indianapolis Colts on Tuesday. Since that moment, opinions, feelings, and declarations have been flying around the internet. Some fans love the move, stating Anthony Richardson was a sunk cost and there was no reason to waste more time on him. Others, found the move to be premature as it essentially declares the end for Richardson in Indianapolis. Plenty more couldn’t fully wrap their heads around the decision. I find myself in the third camp; filled with thoughts and questions. Here are just a few.
Does Chris Ballard survive this?
Ballard told the world when Richardson was drafted that we couldn’t expect him to come in and be Superman. He preached patience with the raw talent they had acquired to be the franchise quarterback. Two seasons and one year worth of action later, the experiment appears to be over. The patience has dried up. This appears to be the last gasp for Ballard (although the man does seem have nine lives, so who really knows). Drafting a quarterback with the fourth overall pick serves as a measuring stick for Ballard’s overall ability to identify talent and build a roster. Watching his choice fail in a short amount of time and pairing that with a lack of postseason success, Ballard has to feel the writing is on the wall.
How will Carlie Irsay-Gordon respond?
Nothing publicly will be said that goes against her head coach’s decision, but that doesn’t mean Irsay-Gordon has to like the choice. Maybe she loves it. I have no clue. The thing to understand as Colts world moves forward is that this franchise is under new management. Things that were tolerated before might not get a pass now. She inherited Ballard and Steichen, so her attachment to them may not be as fierce as her father’s. This will be a fascinating wrinkle to watch as the season plays out. Irsay-Gordon may be a bit of wild card as fans start to learn her tendencies and preferences. This is shaping up to be her first real test.
Can Jones be the guy?
There wasn’t a lot separating the two quarterbacks. Each had strengths and weaknesses on the field. What tilted the scales were the behind the scenes moments: command of the offense, a high sense of professionalism, and winning over the locker room. That is all well and good, but will Jones deliver on Sundays? Sam Darnold did it for the Vikings last year at a high level. Sometimes, a change of scenery and a second chance is all that is needed. While I have my own thoughts on how this season will shake out, get out to a fast start and critics turn into champions for your cause. The best thing Jones can do is win. Win and people will soon forget about Richardson.
What is Richardson’s future?
What does this all mean for him? Where does he go from here? To...
