The second part has been my assumption all along. The first part is definitely a bad look and it’s possible they need to get his attention. This doesn’t at all seem like the right way to go about it.

And the plot thickens.

Barring something really fucked up, I still would not do what they are doing. We cannot get back into the spin cycle. Fuck, put him out there and run 70% of the time until he breaks and lose all of them. Draft high and get another QB. Doing what we are doing is the definition of insanity.

While i understand how you feel, i think the rage at Ballard is somewhat misplaced. Sure, he drafted AR, but there’s no way he did so without Jim and Shane’s blessing.

Remember, Steichen is supposed to be the quarterback whisperer. And from everything I’ve heard, AR is being benched despite Ballards wishes.

So if anyone is to blame for this mess, it’s Shane Steichen, in my opinion.

Yeah I get it and I hear you. I'm probably just blowing vessels in any general direction of the organization at this point out of pure frustration of how fucking damaging this is to the team and now far away from success we really are.

So twisted up on this shit. I guess I am looking at it from the view of if AR is really a bust, which for this to be done so fucking soon and to be so harsh, it is very hard to straw man a scenario where he ISN'T a bust, well in that case, then enough is fucking enough- no more 2nd or 17th chances, Ballard needs to be held accountable for not being able to stabilize the most important position in all of sports.

At this point, I wouldn't have a problem at all with him and Steichen being let go as a package. You picked him, you knew the risks, they blew up in your face. The team has to start over with a new QB search and at this point there is nothing to indicate they are the right people for the selection and development.

Man it absolutely sucks to be back at this point.

The way everybody is talking... it sounds like a whole team thing. If the preparation thing was already something guys were looking sideways at, the tap out could've been a breaking point.

That's on top of on-field shortcomings that are likely frustrating guys. 7 points from sweeping the Texans, only needed 17 points to beat Green Bay, etc.

Not that AR is the sole blame for those, but you can imagine a locker room full of guys seeing what we all see, and saying, "Man, if we were just a liiiiitle better at QB, the season looks way different."

o


If I recall correctly, there was a poster who said that Richardson needed to sit for 2 years.

Well ...... he sat almost all of last year because he was injured, he has already sat 2 games this year with an injury, and now he is going to sit some more in favor of Joe Flacco.

o

This might actually work out well for him. (hear me out) He has seen the game speed and physicality of the league, and now he gets to do a reset and watch and learn from a guy who had a pretty good career. If (big if) the benching does not mess with his psyche, and if (big if) he is immature and grows up in his time on the bench, we might (might) be able to salvage they guy moving forward.

I listen to Nashville radio, and one of their guys suggested Carthon call up and try to trade Levis for Richardson, because he thinks coaching messed AR up here.

Yeah, I thought about that play before posting. But I also remember Peyton throwing a screen or swing pass to Addai at the end of the 1st half of the 2007 loss to Pats, that went for a 70+ yd TD.

I've got two questions?


Is Nat Atkins a trustworthy Colts source or is just another RATS moron who is talking outta his ass? How does he know the Colts play call as well as the mentality of the organization?


If we are truly in win now mode, then shouldn't Ballard be looking to make a trade before the deadline, for either a DB or a pass rusher? Dollars to donuts Ballard will not do damn thing.

o


That's one reason why Manning is Manning, and other quarterbacks are who they are ...... I would trust Manning if he insisted on going for it on 4th-and-30 from his own 3-yardline.

o

I agree on the coaching having messed AR up here, or maybe stated as coaching here does not appear prepared to use AR in a way that maximizes his talents (despite it seeming that was exactly what Steichen was supposed to be in place for).

That said, a trade for Levis, fuck, man I wouldn't just punch myself in the dick,I would drop cinder blocks on it in pure fury at him being our QB!

I recall a play where they went empty with Manning at about the same distance as Sunday and he was sacked for a fumble TD. Stupid play call then too, but at least there the QB was probably the smartest QB to ever play the game. Still puzzled at Steichen doing that shit at that point with AR, just puzzled.

If he shows up to meetings late and work ethic is questioned, well then that changes everything for me if true. There's no excuse for it.

No way I would ever want Levis. That guy is pure garbage as a QB.

That’s the only time I’ve heard this but JMV doesn’t usually throw bullshit out there

I have been thinking about this, and coupled it with his previous comments about the NFL being easy. I am on the bandwagon of people who say he is too immature to be given the reins if these two things are true. Or he just isn't very smart. Why else would he put a target on his back, and possibly alienate veterans who had already paid their dues in the league?

I only posted it to see if those who are ready to give up on Richardson are dumb enough to think it was a good idea,

its over

absolutely right, oreos

lol thats hilarious

who on this team has a right to be critical? the podcasting lber boys? fucking garbage. what leader on this team can talk shit? not a one

Can you imagine Will Levis throwing to AD Mitchell? That would probably end up in a 7 int game.

Nobody creates more separation than AD, for whatever reason him and AR weren’t on the same page

Flacco will get him the ball

I know he's not a leader, but imo Jaylon Jones has been ballin'! Yeah, I wouldn't mind the podcast boys just going away. I mean, Olubi, Carlise and Stuard haven't exactly been a drop off?

If AR is showing up to meetings late and not putting in the prep effort then that would explain his benching and it also goes along w/ Steichen saying that he needs to grow as a professional.

Although you would think that if AR was showing up late and been slacking then he would have been benched sooner or fined for tardiness. And that there would have been some leaks about this as well. Maybe he's just been putting in the bare minimum?

If so, man that will be so disappointing. He seemed so damn driven and committed to being a leader. If not, well fuck him.

I would still play him, and I would work his ass to absolute death. If he can't get it done, then it would at least set us up for a semi-replacement pick.

o


Downs, Pittman, and Pierce are the only ones on the entire roster that even come close to having that right.

And I'm not saying that they DO have a right to be critical, just that if anybody did, they would be the ones.

o

Just Downs of that group, honestly.

If you were a player on this team, would you be good with a decision to play the QB who gives you a lesser chance of winning?

Why not? It’s the culture of the team Ballard has built. Let’s not act like this is the only position that has been gifted to a young player. Fuck that’s been one of my constant criticisms of Ballard. What did he put in front of Kwity and Dayo? The secondary? QB is the one position where it maybe made sense. The team lacks direction and that’s from Ballard. You should either be in win now mode or rebuilding . Ballard constantly tries to do both and the results are exactly what you’d expect - a mediocre team with no identity and no plan.

And I’ll add - Ballard and Steichen are the ones that gifted him the position in the first fucking place. They are the ones that drafted the rawest QB in the draft and said he needs to play from day one. They did that. So what message were they sending the team then? And what message are they sending now? That they don’t know what the fuck they are doing. That’s the fucking message to the team, the media and the fans. They don’t have a plan and don’t know what the fuck they are doing.

Don't think you can really take this approach and succeed. This would create a scenario where young guys can't get on the field, and not just at the QB position, though that is where it would be most pronounced. This would mean as a team you would always be looking to the FA market to build the team, and that is not a sustainable model. Teams have to be able to deal with the challenges that come with younger lesser experienced players and grow through them.

Obviously for reasons we may never really know, we have decided we can no longer go that route with AR.

If the team wasn’t giving up on AR and wanted to try to win now here is what should have happened:

He should have been benched at halftime in Houston. He had a bad first half and the team was still in striking distance of a needed win. If he was lazy, if he was late to meetings, if he audibled Shane’s call before half. All of that was already known. If it’s the “tap out” or the press conference those aren’t reasons to give up on him the way they have. Those are conversations with an immature player. Shane should have said AR is still their QB, they are committed to developing him as their franchise QB, this is a multi year process and him getting game experience and then getting a chance to digest and work on what he’s seen is just part of the process. He’s going to sit a few games and he’ll grow and be ready when the team calls on him.

Instead they decided they need to win now AFTER they gave Houston a 3 game lead. Steichen has named Flacco the QB going forward and he can’t predict the future on if AR will start again for the Colts. AR says he’s not been told why he was benched. AR may suck, he may not be mature enough. To me that’s not completely unexpected. But the supposed adults in the room have fucked this up as well. And the only thing worse for a team than instability at QB is a lack of leadership and direction from the coach and GM. Sadly after 8 years of Ballard that’s no more unexpected than AR lacking at this point in his career.

Do you really believe Shane did not tell him why? Of course he did, and both have agreed to keep that part in house. That is why they were so vague end evasive when those questions came up.

Well, we're going off the premise that he's lacking in the preparation/effort department on top of historically poor passing. Nobody has played great in every game, but there has been one consistent hinderance and a bunch of close games despite it. They have a right to be frustrated, especially if they feel a better option (Flacco) is available, and ESPECIALLY if effort and professionalism comes into question.

But I haven't seen single guy talking shit. Everyone seems on the same page that he needs to grow up and, at least publicly, they all sound willing to allow him to grow until his opportunity comes again.

Right now with him, they're playing roulette by betting on a single number. Yeah, when they hit, it's 35-1 and fucking amazing. But most of the time, the croupier is just scooping their chips.

From Indy Star article:

“Richardson did not get specific about the areas he needs to improve most, in part because he said Steichen and the Colts did not give him clarity on the reasons for the move.

When Steichen made the move, he called Richardson into his office and gave him the news; Richardson said there was not much explanation.”

So either AR was lying or you are wrong. Considering what I heard directly from Stechein’s mouth, I believe he didn’t explain it beyond Flacco is better right now. IMO he went out of his way to put doubt on AR ever being the Colts QB again.

Steichen didn’t say he told AR where he needed to improve, said he couldn’t predict the future though. And AR said he didn’t. So why do you believe he did? Just because it would be stupid not to? I’m sure the team is doing damage control now with everyone pointing out their stupidity in their handling of this. And I’m sure at some point they’ll tell him. But so far it’s been a fucking clown show as usual.

Listening to a lot of different radio today, man it sounds like there is enough smoke that there is some form of fire re: his lack of professionalism.

If that is the case, if this dude has not been carrying the weight he is mandated to as the #4 pick, well that changes absolutely everything; they have NO CHOICE but to step in and shut him down in this instance in fairness to the remaining 52 dudes.

That said, that should without pause be a sledgehammer to Ballard's grill- GONE. Say what you want about how Irsay and Steichen having signed off on the risks of AR, this part of the evaluation is 100% on Ballard's report card. No way Steichen or Irsay even entertain talking to AR without Ballard doing what he is supposed to do as the GM- due diligence and report back to them that they should sign off on this guy because he hits all the marks. Acting on the premise that it's true, that AR is more Jamarcus than Manning- then AR is a fucking con and Ballard was his mark.

If that's true, how in the fuck do you let Ballard swipe his badge at the door tomorrow morning?

Is there a reason that the pass blocking is borderline excellent when Flacco plays vs when Richardson plays? To be clear, I mean beyond the in game play. I mean more of a team dynamic.

Steichen says he doesn't know the pulse of the team? I call BS on that one.

Steichen may not have needed to tell Richardson why he was being benched, because he had already harped on him in the previous weeks what he needed to improve on. When he didn't heed that warning, then the righting was on the wall.

If his work habits are that poor, how the hell did Richardson get named a captain to begin with?

Did West 56th shut down this week? I already can count for regular videos from colts.com that have not aired this week?

Has anyone heard of a single player defending Richardson? By defending, I mean disagreeing with this decision?

why would you be ok to have ample cap space every year? to watch film every week of Franklin playing like shit and keeping his job? taven Bryan still being on the roster?


they are getting a check. do your job

good post bro