The continued drama of Joe Flacco or Anthony Richardson has potentially come to a surprising end, with Richardson returning to the starting quarterback position as of Wednesday. Shane Steichen said he will not only start this week against the Jets but he is now slated to start for the rest of the season. This team is somehow still in the playoff hunt and now has a chance to turn this season around with a win this week and a lighter schedule coming in December.
Why The Benching For Anthony Richardson?
We all know the risks of taking a quarterback so early in the NFL draft. You are damned if you and damned if you don’t. The fan base knows this all too well as they criticized Chris Ballard for years when he refused to take one. Instead using QB band aids to keep this team and his job security relevant. Now, Ballard finally pulled the trigger and drafted him 4th in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Anytime you make a move like this, you must have the patience to get “the process” right, as the franchise has stated. It’s apparent that he was benched for a mixture of reasons but the main one being his inability to grasp the finer details of being an NFL quarterback. This inability showed poor performance on the field and seemed to cause some rifts in the locker room.
Why Now For Anthony Richardson?
Colts head coach Shane Steichen mentioned on Wednesday that Anthony Richardson had made strides in the areas that needed his attention these past two weeks and kept himself in good spirits, along with displaying his leadership. While Steichen would not elaborate on the overall scope of what those areas and details were, it is now enough for him to get back on the field and lead this team.
Back to leading a team that is still in the playoff hunt, as they are only one game out of the final Wild Card spot behind Denver. Back to leading a team that seemed to have some locker room issues that leaked out last week. And back to leading a team that is in desperate need of an identity on offense. It’s still a lot to ask of a 22-year-old player with less than a full season of games under his belt, but at least they’re back on track.
#Colts LB Zaire Franklin on supporting Anthony Richardson:
“… I think it was the guys in this locker room that even when it was at its darkest point … We kept telling him … ‘We gonna be with you when come out on the other side of that.’
“Now, we on the other side of that.” pic.twitter.com/TLtv1TJ2WE
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) November 13, 2024
Was This A “Silent Suspension?”
The big question we were all asking was why the benching? All those questions have been answered with the response today from Shane Steichen. Which now bares the question; was this a “silent suspension?” All signs point to yes to soften not only the blow to him in the media but also to the franchise that has already taken a beating these past two weeks as well.
As with any type of job in life, if you don’t perform to the standards set forth by your superiors then you will face the consequences of your actions. This time was no different for Anthony Richardson. He was unable to meet the standards of not only being the quarterback of the Indianapolis Colts but also the face of the current and future Indianapolis Colts. He is 22 years old and to think he could just come in and command the locker room immediately would be short-sided. No human being is perfect but sometimes when they cannot see what the issues are doing to a team, then someone else needs to.
It is yet to be seen whether or not two weeks is the proper amount of time to fix the issue. Or if they decided it was Joe Flacco not playing well enough, it will continue to be debated. Last week showed us there is some building tension in that locker room that is simmering over. It will need to be capped if they want this season to be saved. One thing is for certain, both Shane Steichen and Chris Ballard could save their jobs or lose them before their contracts run out. The development of Anthony Richardson remains the deciding factor in their futures. For better or for worse.
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