From PFT on Ryan

[JAFF]

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/10/25/matt-ryans-contract-is-the-main-reason-he-wont-play-for-the-colts-again-this-year/

Indianapolis Colts v Tennessee Titans
Getty Images
Sam Ehlinger officially becomes the starting quarterback of the Colts. If he fails or gets injured, Nick Foles will take over. And if Foles gets injured, the quarterback will be anyone but Matt Ryan.

Ryan is done. He’s out. He won’t play again, for reasons rooted in his contract. Put simply, once the team decided (and it was clear from coach Frank Reich’s comments that owner Jim Irsay made the decision) that Ryan won’t be the quarterback in 2023, it was time to pull the plug on 2022.

SPONSORED
Pottery Barn Kids
How To Transition To A Big-Kid Room
By Pottery Barn Kids
Make your toddler feel safe and special in their first big-kid room with our design guide and tips.
SEE MORE

by TaboolaPromoted Links
Tecovas
Don't Miss Out On The Hottest Trend This Fall
NFL fines Micah Parsons, Trevon Diggs for unsportsmanlike conduct - ProFootballTalk
NerdWallet
Refinancing Your Student Debt Could Mean Lower Payments.
Bears make full use of 11-day break from Thursday to Monday - ProFootballTalk
Ryan’s contract already pays him $12 million in base salary next year, fully guaranteed. But millions more would become fully guaranteed if Ryan suffers an injury that keeps him from passing a physical by the third day of the 2023 league year in March, when the payments that are currently guaranteed for injury become fully guaranteed.

Specifically, Ryan has $7.205 million in additional 2023 salary guaranteed for injury, and a 2023 roster bonus of $10 million, which is also guaranteed for injury. That’s $17.205 million that the Colts would potentially owe Ryan (in addition to the $12 million) if he emerges from the 2022 season with an injury that prevents him from passing a physical by the middle of March.

That’s why Ryan won’t be playing again for the Colts in 2022. He could, in theory, be traded before next Tuesday. His performances through seven weeks of the current season, however, will surely cause any/every team to shy away from Ryan and his contract, regardless of whether a starter suffers a season-ending injury this weekend.

The question then becomes whether the Colts would cut Ryan after the trade deadline. He may ask to be released. The Colts may wait for the right moment to dump him, thinking that a potential quarterback-needy team may claim his contract on waivers.

Again, it’s unlikely. He is, by all appearances, done. No every quarterback will have his arm beyond his fortieth birthday. For the 37-year-old Ryan, too many of his throws now look like what John Madden used to call the last shot out of a Roman candle.

Ryan has had a great career. He was an MVP. He did everything in his power to win a Super Bowl. He recently passed Dan Marino to become No. 7 on the all-time passing yardage list.

Matt Ryan has a solid case for Canton. At this point, however, continuing to play could eventually hurt his cause. And so, as it was when the Vikings benched Donovan McNabb for Christian Ponder in 2011 and later released McNabb, it may simply be over for Ryan.

Even if it is, he’ll still make $12 million next year to not play pro football. The Colts, at this point, are simply hoping to be sure he doesn’t get $17.205 million more.

[HoosierinFL]

So I guess what was left unstated in there is that they will not risk further injury on Ryan this season so that he could in principle pass the March physical and will not be owed so much next year.

ok whatever.

I'm not sure how I feel about it being Irsay making this call, though it feels like the right call. Bad o-line aside, it really feels like Ryan is toast. Our own Lawrence Owen doesn't agree but it just feels like the same story week in and week out with Ryan.

[Brylok]

I'm glad Jim yanked the bandaid off. We can't keep going on and on with washed up retread QBs. Gotta start over and build around the young guy. Three years and two months since Luck rat-fucked us. It's been long enough. C'mon Sam! Give us hope for the future, one way or another.

[Hoopsdoc]

Makes more sense this way.

Now, we need Sam to either be really good or really bad.

[rcubed]

So I guess what was left unstated in there is that they will not risk further injury on Ryan this season so that he could in principle pass the March physical and will not be owed so much next year.

ok whatever.

I'm not sure how I feel about it being Irsay making this call, though it feels like the right call. Bad o-line aside, it really feels like Ryan is toast. Our own Lawrence Owen doesn't agree but it just feels like the same story week in and week out with Ryan.
I think it was pretty well stated.

[JAFF]

So how many quarters does he get this week before they pull him? Raimann was suppose to be the LT, and that lasted two series.

Usually the Colts have their bs stories organized. If the Colts cant move the ball by halftime, will there be a change? Maybe this will get the O line to get over their shit storm and go play some ball

[Brylok]

So how many quarters does he get this week before they pull him? Raimann was suppose to be the LT, and that lasted two series.

Usually the Colts have their bs stories organized. If the Colts cant move the ball by halftime, will there be a change? Maybe this will get the O line to get over their shit storm and go play some ball

It seems as if Jim has made this decision. I expect Sam will play the whole game unless he gets injured. God forbid.

[CletusPyle]

It sounds like this is more to save money than the Colts having any confidence in Sam having success where Ryan failed. Looks like unless Sam shocks the world we will be looking at drafting a franchise QB next season.

[rcubed]

It sounds like this is more to save money than the Colts having any confidence in Sam having success where Ryan failed. Looks like unless Sam shocks the world we will be looking at drafting a franchise QB next season.
agree. with all the info coming out about the structure of ryan's contract coupled with the beating he is taking and a sub-par arm, they are benching him rather than risk the extra $17M.

unless there was some massive turn around, he wasnt going to be the guy next year. cut losses now.

[dwilli57]

It seems as if Jim has made this decision. I expect Sam will play the whole game unless he gets injured. God forbid.

Might be a guaranteed way to get a high draft pick bc we all know how great Foles would be.

[ChoppedWood]

It would certainly seem to indicate Jim has completely soured on Frank's ability to make any type of difference at the QB position, if not the whole team. Have to believe Frank's penchant for a grizzled vet as the leader ala let's let Nick have a chance at this, was smacked down by Jim with an insistence that we push Ehlinger in over him and let the cards fall where they fall. Which if so, says to me that Frank is a lame duck (good), but not entirely sure why he is still here if there is that little confidence in him?

[Brylok]

Might be a guaranteed way to get a high draft pick bc we all know how great Foles would be.

Has anyone seen Foles lately? I didn't watch any of the preseason, and don't think I've even seen him in a Colts uniform. He had the easiest job in the NFL until yesterday afternoon. He's probably shitting himself now.

[JAFF]

It would certainly seem to indicate Jim has completely soured on Frank's ability to make any type of difference at the QB position, if not the whole team. Have to believe Frank's penchant for a grizzled vet as the leader ala let's let Nick have a chance at this, was smacked down by Jim with an insistence that we push Ehlinger in over him and let the cards fall where they fall. Which if so, says to me that Frank is a lame duck (good), but not entirely sure why he is still here if there is that little confidence in him?

The O line cant block either pass or run. I dont know what playing the kid at this time is going to accomplish. Teams are going to fill the box and double dog dare the Colts to pass. The opposition will throw every look possible to confuse Erlinger and the receivers. And the fans will boo without mercy.

If I had season tickets, I would ask for a refund

[apballin]

The O line cant block either pass or run. I dont know what playing the kid at this time is going to accomplish. Teams are going to fill the box and double dog dare the Colts to pass. The opposition will throw every look possible to confuse Erlinger and the receivers. And the fans will boo without mercy.

If I had season tickets, I would ask for a refund

I have season tickets and I’m excited for Sunday

[Kray007]

It would certainly seem to indicate Jim has completely soured on Frank's ability to make any type of difference at the QB position, if not the whole team. Have to believe Frank's penchant for a grizzled vet as the leader ala let's let Nick have a chance at this, was smacked down by Jim with an insistence that we push Ehlinger in over him and let the cards fall where they fall. Which if so, says to me that Frank is a lame duck (good), but not entirely sure why he is still here if there is that little confidence in him?

I don’t think it means any such thing. Jim Irsay is smart enough to know that you don’t toss the keys to a 1973 Chevy Cavalier to Mario Andretti and expect him to win the Indy 500.

No one who watched Sunday’s game, or any game this year, can walk away saying to himself that, wow, if we’d only had a different coach, we would’ve won. Frank didn’t fumble 11 times, and he sure didn’t throw 9 interceptions, and he sure as heck isn’t one of the human speedbumps posing as LT’s

[Indystu2]

If it hasn't been said already, let's not forget Frank likes him some Foles, who is now #2 in line. Setting Sam up for failure in more than one respect. Bad O-Line could lead to an injury that leads to Foles under center. No way for Jim to stop it that way. Just sayin'...

[ChoppedWood]

I don’t think it means any such thing. Jim Irsay is smart enough to know that you don’t toss the keys to a 1973 Chevy Cavalier to Mario Andretti and expect him to win the Indy 500.

No one who watched Sunday’s game, or any game this year, can walk away saying to himself that, wow, if we’d only had a different coach, we would’ve won. Frank didn’t fumble 11 times, and he sure didn’t throw 9 interceptions, and he sure as heck isn’t one of the human speedbumps posing as LT’s

I agree with that. Listening to S&Q this morning there was apparently another come to Jesus meeting with Irsay after the lost Sunday.

Obviously this may have just been a flat out Jim saying "I want Ryan out, and I want Sam in" and it could be as succinct as that. Could be.

I would venture to guess however that he sat them both down and asked them for their recommendations on how to get this shit going and in that convo I would be shocked for it to be Frank that said "let's throw in the short guy that has never thrown a pass in the NFL". Just doesn't seem his M.O. Thus my speculation he would make the recommendation of Foles, which would tell me Jim probably would look at him and say "I've listened to enough of your quarterback bullshit over the last several years, look at where it has landed my franchise, shut the fuck up, put in Sam".

Which would then lead me to believe Frank has no place at the table any longer, and if so, again I don't see why he still has a job.

BTW I listened to some of his talking on the Colts Live session tonight. He is truly just bad at being a head coach, he really is.

He was asked why Sam. He went on to explain how he is just a special talent and that EVERYONE in the organization has seen it since the day he got here. Dude, you just implied that you've wasted a year and a half on two BAD QB's while you had your generational QB tucked away under the rug. We're 7 games into the 2022 season, you had all of last season to see just how special he was and let him be the starter at the tail end to give us a spark as our QB was flailing the season away- but instead you stuck with a dude that cost you the playoffs and nearly your job, and this year it took you 7 fucking games to determine he was better than the guy you've been trotting out there. IF he really has this special talent and you squandered away a season and a half, then FUCK YOU- FIRE YOURSELF FOR INCOMPETENCE!

He should have just said that Ryan is hurt, we needed to change things up, to inject a little fire, and we felt like Sam was the right QB at the right time and we're going to change things up in a way to help him succeed.

[apballin]

See Rappaport was on Mcafee saying it was Reichs call not Irsays, sayin he’s really been lighting it up since preseason

[ChoppedWood]

I have season tickets and I’m excited for Sunday

No season tickets, but excited to see how he does.

I want to see a couple things:

1- I want to see the ball come out on time. Wentz was ATROCIOUS at not delivering in phase. Ryan was marginally better and Sunday he was perhaps WORSE than Wentz which is crazy. You watch these other teams, and even BAD QB's reach the top of their drop, and the ball is out, period, end of discussion. Might be a bad throw, might be intercepted, but it is getting thrown as the play is called. I will add that now that we have seen all 3 of our primary WR's making plays, I refuse to believe it is just a case of our WR's not getting open.

This is one area I want to see Sam just fling it- let the ball go and let's see how it plays out.

2- I want to see a willingness to attempt to kill the blitz with the streak. Nothing defeats the blitz like a long strike down the sidelines in 1:1 coverage. These D's have been pinning their ears back knowing this OL is atrocious. At leas throw the fucking ball down the field on that single high or empty set and let your guys have a chance. IF Ehlinger doesn't do that some this week then we KNOW this is squarely at the feet of Frank because he refuses to take this approach that EVERY OTHER FUCKING TEAM IN THE NFL DOES!

[CletusPyle]

See Rappaport was on Mcafee saying it was Reichs call not Irsays, sayin he’s really been lighting it up since preseason

Wouldn't it be awesome if Sam does "light it up"! Is it possible that Reich would have made the change earlier but was forbidden to do it? I really think everybody in the organization wanted this to work, they really thought they had pulled off a miracle move. Reich knows that he's gone unless they at least make the playoffs, why would he want to to keep riding a worn out horse when he has a young fresh and according to him very talented guy in the wings?

Maybe this is Reich's Hail Mary? Man, this is getting more interesting and exciting by the minute!

[YDFL Commish]

Did anybody see Reich in the Colts Roundtable on Colts.com? The dude looked completely exhausted and mentally drained.

Irsay must opened up a good ole fashion can of whoop ass on him.

[JAFF]

I have season tickets and I’m excited for Sunday

I HOPE we are all excited on Monday

[albany ed]

I HOPE we are all excited on Monday

That would be nice. I remember Ehlinger at Texas and I thought highly of him. It's a different game in college and the WRs are usually wide open, unlike the NFL. Let's hope the OL can keep him healthy, that's my biggest fear.

[omahacolt]

So I guess what was left unstated in there is that they will not risk further injury on Ryan this season so that he could in principle pass the March physical and will not be owed so much next year.

ok whatever.

I'm not sure how I feel about it being Irsay making this call, though it feels like the right call. Bad o-line aside, it really feels like Ryan is toast. Our own Lawrence Owen doesn't agree but it just feels like the same story week in and week out with Ryan.

the offense was the worst in the league. or 2nd worst

major changes had to be made. ryan wasn't getting it done. not all his fault obviously

[Colts And Orioles]

o


The offensive line has had 1 good game out of 7.

37 year-old Matt Ryan has had 3 bad games out of 7.

In my rat's ass of an opinion, it's a credit to Ryan that he hasn't had 6 bad games out of 7.

o

[Brylok]

If it hasn't been said already, let's not forget Frank likes him some Foles, who is now #2 in line. Setting Sam up for failure in more than one respect. Bad O-Line could lead to an injury that leads to Foles under center. No way for Jim to stop it that way. Just sayin'...

Well, that's one way to make sure you get fired at season's end. Yikes. You're not wrong though.