https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/203...nasty-excerpt/

From Grok since I do not have the Athletic

Yes, according to a 2020 article in The Athletic (excerpted from Jeff Benedict's book The Dynasty), Bill Belichick believed Tom Brady had outperformed Drew Bledsoe during the 2001 preseason and privately told owner Robert Kraft at the end of preseason that he wanted Brady as the starter.However, Belichick did not bench Bledsoe at the time due to practical reasons: Bledsoe was the established face of the franchise with a massive new 10-year, $103 million contract signed in March 2001, and Belichick was coming off a 5-11 season in 2000 with limited job security.The article states: "If it had been up to Belichick, Brady would have been his starter at the beginning of the 2001 season. He had said as much to Kraft... but Belichick had known that he wasn’t in a position to push the issue then."Bledsoe's injury in Week 2 against the Jets ultimately allowed Belichick to start Brady without controversy. Multiple other sources (including NESN reports and retrospectives) corroborate this account, noting Brady impressed in camp but political/financial factors kept Bledsoe as the Week 1 starter.In short, Belichick thought Brady had earned the job in the summer of 2001, but it wasn't implemented until the injury forced the change.

Your point, as far as I can tell, is a dumb one.

Bringing in Rivers was 100 percent Shane Steichens idea, signed off on by CIG.

If Leonard goes out and plays well, that makes Steichen look dumb. That doesn’t reflect at all on Ballard.

Your hatred of Ballard seems to have made you irrational.

https://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/artic...13132_43186525

When Colts reached out to Philip Rivers
Per a video shared by Colts radio announcer Matt Taylor, Steichen noted that he approached general manager Chris Ballard about reaching out to Rivers once the club learned that backup Riley Leonard was dealing with a strained knee ligament.
"He said, 'Heck yeah, I'm interested,'" Steichen said about the initial conversation with Rivers. Rivers then completed a successful workout with the Colts on Monday night before he decided on Tuesday that he wanted to make a return to an NFL squad.

Earlier on Wednesday, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated wrote about how the relationship between Steichen and Rivers goes back to when Steichen was a defensive assistant with the then-San Diego Chargers in 2011. Steichen later served as Rivers' offensive coordinator with the Chargers.

"The coach and quarterback talk twice a week," Breer added about Steichen and Rivers.

If anybody on this board thinks that Riley Leonard was going to lead us to the playoffs, then the are delusional.

He didn't start last week, because he had no 1st team reps, and we weren't eliminated from the playoffs until Saturday. It would be dumb to not start him this week though.

I'm reading that SS hasn't made his decision yet between Phil and Riley.

My thinking is that Rivers starts. they work to gets his yards (105 yds) to pass Big Ben then Riley takes it from there

If it were me I would just start Riley

I could see that scenario playing out. But, it took the better part of 4 qtr's for old man Phil to get to 105 yds. vs the Jags.

You believe what you want, no way BB knew Brady was a potential GOAT and had him on the bench....what if Bledsoe doesn't get hurt? Ballard is a joke, you guys keep defending him and watch this franchise rot even further. He is a joke and the vast majority of Colts fans want him and Steichen gone at the end of the season. I don't mind Steichen, I think he is learning, was probably never the best choice, another Ballard fuck up!

So I'm fucking stupid now, I wondered how long it would be before you resorted to insults! Ballard sucks as a GM, he has nearly destroyed this franchise but the worst part is fans like you continue to make excuses for him, defending to the death any time he is criticized!

You asked for proof. I gave it to you from MANY SOURCES. IIRC there was a short video about Brady and BB that also talked about it.

Don't be bull headed

Dude, were you around for the sucktivity of 1972 through 1974, or 1978 to 1986 or the further embarrassment of 1991 to 1994?

If not, then you know nothing about destroyed franchises.