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We all thought it was coach speak coming from Shane Steichen at his regularly scheduled Monday presser. When asked about the status of Anthony Richardson he admitted the staff was “evaluating everything” when it came to whether Richardson would start this Sunday night in Minnesota. Well, we got the news today that the Colts have made one of the most short-sighted decisions in franchise history. They have decided to bench Anthony Richardson and start Joe Flacco on Sunday night.

 

10 Game Sample Size

 

When the franchise drafted Anthony Richardson, they warned us that he was a project. It would take some time to mold him into the franchise quarterback we all wanted. He had the talent, the confidence, and the freakish athleticism that scouts and coaches drool over. He had to sit most of his first season with a shoulder injury, that in hindsight, was probably best for him. He came in with great expectations this season but most fans (myself included) knew this would take some time and we had to display patience.

Well, that patience has run dry now after only ten games. That’s right. This franchise has given this 22-year-old just ten games to prove he can play quarterback in the NFL. Barely half a season, and they have given up on him.

 

No Going Back On This Decision

 

This decision is a monumental franchise-shifting move going forward. In my belief, there is no going back to Richardson now, at least in the long term. Sure, you can go back in the short term (with a Flacco injury), but his future with this franchise is over. You have destroyed his confidence, and they have shown their cards. They told us they wanted to mold this quarterback, but Ballard lied to us. He, they, and everyone in that building want instant gratification. This team was not a Super Bowl team to begin with. They are not one with Richardson, and they are not one with Flacco either.

We have seen this happen already with one quarterback from the same draft class as Richardson. Panthers QB Bryce Young was benched for the veteran Andy Dalton a few weeks ago. It has not gone well for them, and it appears that Bryce Young’s time in Carolina is complete. Richardson will inevitably suffer the same fate here in Indianapolis now. This is a move you only make once.

 

Chris Ballard Has Sealed His Fate

 

You could argue that the entire organization has sealed its fate, but it is Ballard who needs to take the biggest fall here. I have spent too long defending him and that time is over now. We gave him chance after chance after chance. He used a band-aid approach after the abrupt retirement of Andrew Luck and drew criticism for it. He finally took a chance in the draft with Anthony Richardson and preached patience. If 10 games are the length of his patience then he (Ballard) should have been let go a long, long time ago.

The Colts were in football purgatory last season, and now Chris Ballard and this staff have done the same thing again this season. You rolled the dice on a young prospect, and you crapped out on it. This organization has bordered on incompetence as of late and is now acting cowardly by taking the easy way out. I am still rooting for Richardson, but it’s time for Ballard to meet his fate because this loyal fan base (and city) deserves to have a winning football team again.

 

More from The Blue Stable:

Recapping the Rollercoaster: What to make of Anthony Richardson

Anthony Richardson is “Tired” and Shane Steichen Begins to Lose his Luster

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