As Colts bench Anthony Richardson, it’s clear they’re content material embracing mediocrity

They informed us there could be ups and downs. They informed us there could be rising pains. They informed us it will be well worth the wait — or that they’d not less than be affected person sufficient to search out out it wasn’t.

However now, 18 months after drafting quarterback Anthony Richardson fourth, the Indianapolis Colts are pulling the plug on the participant who was meant to place an finish to the QB merry-go-round that has plagued this franchise ever since Andrew Luck retired in 2019.

On Tuesday afternoon, information broke that the Colts (4-4) had been formally making the transfer to bench Richardson in favor of 39-year-old backup Joe Flacco, who will begin Sunday night time towards the Minnesota Vikings (5-2).

It will have been comprehensible if Indianapolis ultimately determined Richardson was not part of its future. That’s not the result anybody in Indianapolis needed, however the actuality is that not each extremely drafted QB pans out. Nevertheless, to do that simply 10 video games into Richardson’s profession is mind-bogglingly short-sighted.

The Colts determined to make this transfer following Richardson’s poor exhibiting Sunday, during which he completed 10-of-32 passing in a 23-20 loss at Houston — have in mind Tyler Goodson dropped a landing; Will Mallory dropped a primary down; and Michael Pittman Jr., by his personal admission, didn’t do almost sufficient to assist Richardson as his high goal.

Colts coach Shane Steichen telegraphed Richardson’s benching Monday when he was requested if Richardson would stay the beginning QB in Week 9.

“We’re evaluating every part,” Steichen stated

When pushed additional about Richardson’s starter standing, Steichen replied, “Proper now, right this moment, he’s, sure.”

However what about Sunday at Minnesota? “We’re evaluating,” he stated.

It didn’t take a genius to determine what was coming subsequent.

And let me be clear: Benching Richardson is a big mistake. To divorce themselves, even briefly, from the 22-year-old super-athlete who has barely performed half of a full NFL season in favor of an virtually 40-year-old journeyman makes little sense.

Why?

Let’s begin with Richardson, whose confidence they’re killing and whose belief in Indy’s coaches and within the group goes to erode. Keep in mind, they didn’t simply promise Colts followers persistence. They promised him, too.

Clearly, he hasn’t performed the best way they’d hoped, however early struggles shouldn’t precisely have been a shock.

One of many greatest issues about Richardson popping out of Florida was his lack of expertise. “He’s obtained blue traits, however there’s no résumé,” Colts assistant basic supervisor Ed Dodds stated after the 2023 NFL Draft. 13 begins had been all Richardson had with the Gators, and he’s had even fewer within the NFL.

Richardson’s rookie yr being lower to only 4 video games resulting from a season-ending shoulder harm wasn’t best, nor was the indirect harm that knocked him out of two video games this yr. There are authentic issues about Richardson’s long-term sturdiness and whether or not he may be obtainable sufficient to even be correctly evaluated.

However regardless of all of that, he’s presently wholesome, and the Colts wanted to play him as a lot as attainable all through the remainder of this season, no matter how ugly it obtained, as a result of a season-long evaluation of Richardson is far more invaluable than the choice.

I can hear the refrain of Colts followers now: What about attempting to win now? What about making the playoffs? I’ll get again to these issues in a second, however for individuals who can’t wait, sure, Richardson’s growth trumps all of that — particularly because the best-case state of affairs with Flacco working the present doesn’t include a fairy-tale ending.

Look, there’s no sugarcoating Richardson’s struggles. He hasn’t performed just like the promising QB he seemed like final yr when he scored seven complete touchdowns in simply 4 video games. However a giant a part of Richardson’s regression this yr, I consider, has been Steichen’s play calling, which appears to be much less tailor-made to Richardson’s strengths than it was final season. I requested Steichen, who after each recreation says he’s “gotta be higher,” how he may be higher as a play caller for his younger QB.

“Operating the ball higher, placing him in easier positions, getting the ball out of his palms faster so he’s not dropping again, sitting again there,” Steichen stated Monday.

So, why hasn’t Steichen finished extra of that? In spite of everything, that is “his man,” in line with proprietor Jim Irsay, who leaned on Steichen’s opinion when evaluating quarterbacks forward of the 2023 NFL Draft. Richardson wouldn’t be in Indianapolis if Steichen hadn’t advocated for it.

Preserve that in thoughts as you think about this benching. And this, too: Pulling the plug on Richardson is a transparent indictment of Steichen, who both did not develop Richardson correctly or failed in his analysis of the QB.

I lean towards the previous, as we’re eight video games into Richardson’s second season. For the six video games Richardson has performed, he’s been requested far too many instances to be a pure pocket passer when everyone knows accuracy is his greatest on-field situation.

Within the season opener this yr, Richardson gave the impression to be choosing up the place he left off after a promising rookie marketing campaign. His 60-yard landing cross to Alec Pierce captivated the NFL world. However since then, the curler coaster has been much more down than up.

Richardson has thrown 4 touchdowns towards seven interceptions this season. His 44.4 completion share is the worst within the NFL amongst certified QBs. And he didn’t garner any grace by subbing himself out Sunday as a result of he was “drained” following a failed scramble towards the Texans during which, in equity to Richardson, he chucked a 318-pound defensive sort out off his again.

“We had a dialog about it, and I believe he is aware of that’s not the usual that he must play as much as and the remainder of the group holds him to,” stated heart Ryan Kelly, the Colts’ longest-tenured participant. “I’ll type of go away the dialog we had at that, however I’m positive he’s gonna take some criticism for that and rightfully so. That’s a tricky look. … But when anybody ever questions how exhausting he performs, I don’t assume that that’s the case.”

Steichen stated Monday that Richardson’s request to be subbed out for one play didn’t issue into the group’s determination to re-evaluate who would be the beginning QB at Minnesota. Nevertheless it clearly didn’t go over nicely within the locker room, and it’s truthful to recommend that Richardson could should rebuild his popularity a bit amongst his friends, all of whom have continued to help him publicly.

However regardless of the unhealthy optics for Richardson, benching him is a horrible overreaction by the Colts.

Positive, a sound argument may be made that Flacco has been steadier and doubtless even higher than Richardson this season. The previous Tremendous Bowl MVP has thrown seven touchdowns towards one interception whereas going 1-1 as Richardson’s backup. However keep in mind what I stated in regards to the best-case state of affairs? It’s not as rosy as some might imagine. Even when Flacco performs nicely and leads Indianapolis to the playoffs, this isn’t a group with a sensible likelihood of profitable the Tremendous Bowl.

These Colts aren’t beating the Chiefs within the playoffs. Or the Payments. Or the Ravens.

Indy’s protection has been injured and inconsistent. Its high extensive receiver, Pittman, has a foul again. And its beginning left sort out, Bernhard Raimann, simply entered concussion protocol days earlier than Indianapolis has to face an at all times difficult Brian Flores-led protection in Minnesota.

Does that sound like a recipe for fast success or future progress? To me, it appears like a surefire path to mediocrity. And the Colts are embracing it. Even when they handle to complete 9-8 or 10-7 whereas clinching their first playoff berth since 2020, they’d be sacrificing their draft positioning subsequent spring and beginning over once more at quarterback with a worse decide than if Richardson merely performed and struggled.

Maybe others could possibly be satisfied that Richardson’s benching is simply non permanent, and that his time on the sideline this season will assist him study and put together for a redo in 2025. Perhaps, however the Colts at the moment are working the danger of shattering Richardson’s confidence. At this level, by the point he performs once more, it will likely be his third NFL season, and so they nonetheless will likely be no nearer than they’re now to understanding if they’ve their long-term reply at quarterback.

They’re simply kicking the can down the street.

“I undoubtedly may have delivered the ball higher. I undoubtedly may have made some higher checks. I may have performed higher. I undoubtedly perceive that,” Richardson stated after Sunday’s loss. “Even after we play nicely and we win the sport, they’re going to say, ‘A.R. was the principle motive we gained.’ You’ve simply obtained to have the ability to take either side of it, the wins and the losses.

“I’m simply steadily attempting to develop and simply preserve getting higher.”

That’s not going to occur now as Colts chase one other early playoff exit as a substitute of seizing each alternative for his or her younger QB to sink or swim.

“Peyton (Manning’s rookie) yr we had been 3-13 the primary yr, and that’s a man who performed quite a lot of school video games and was actually ready as a lot as he could possibly be for the league,” Irsay stated on “The Pat McAfee Present” in July 2023. “So, for Anthony Richardson it’s gonna be robust. We all know that. However he has to play to get higher. There’s no query.”

So, why are they questioning it now?

(Picture: Stacy Revere / Getty Pictures)