ExtremeRavens Posted October 30 Posted October 30 INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis Colts coach Shane Steichen provided a simple explanation for making the quarterback change Wednesday. He wants to win now — and so do the Colts. One day after news broke that Anthony Richardson, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 draft, would be benched in favor of 39-year-old Joe Flacco, Steichen made his first public comments and acknowledged he made the decision for one reason, committing to Flacco for the foreseeable future. “It’s my obligation to 53 guys in this organization to win football games,” he said. “Right now, Joe Flacco gives us the best chance.” The 22-year-old Richardson has struggled with his performance and his health. His completion rate, 44.4%, is the worst in the NFL this season and he’s thrown four touchdown passes and seven interceptions. His nine total turnovers are tied for third most in the NFL despite sitting out two games with an injured right hip. Missing games is not a new phenomenon for Richardson, either. He’s sat out 15 of 25 career games and finished just five of his 10 career starts because of an assortment of injuries, including season-ending surgery on his throwing shoulder last October. Then came Sunday. Houston (6-2) picked off one of Richardson’s poor throws deep in Colts territory in the final minute of the first half and quickly converted it into a touchdown. The Texans won 23-20 to take a two-game lead in the AFC South and sweep the season series from Indy (4-4). Worse yet, Richardson briefly left the game in the second half after tapping his helmet to signal he needed a breather. Though he returned on Indy’s next series, his decision to leave — on what Steichen said was going to be a handoff — was so heavily scrutinized, Richardson acknowledged he made a mistake though he didn’t say when he realized it was a mistake. “Regarding that play, I know I can’t do that as a leader, especially as a quarterback of this team,” Richardson said. “As a football player in general, I can’t necessarily just take myself out of the game like that, especially in key moments like that. But you live and you learn. You’ve just got to grow from it.” The result: Indy is benching one of the youngest, least-experienced quarterbacks in the league and going with one of the league’s oldest. Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson has been benched 10 games into his NFL career. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) Flacco, last year’s AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year and the Super Bowl 47 MVP, already has made two starts and is 2-1 in the three appearances with the Colts. He’s completed 71 of 108 passes (65.7%) with 716 yards, seven TDs and one interception and his quick decision-making has helped Indy’s offense stay on the field more consistently. And with the Colts still in the playoff mix, Flacco certainly appears capable of leading another team on a postseason run — just as he did with the Cleveland Browns last season. But his biggest contribution to helping Richardson’s growth may be providing insights only a few other NFL quarterbacks can. “The thing we have to remember here is Anthony is really young. I know that when I was that young, there’s no chance I would have been able to have the perspective and just the right head on my shoulders to handle it and take it the right way,” Flacco said. “Being this is my 17th year, I do have that perspective. So this doesn’t have to be a negative thing. There are a lot of positives on his end that can come from this.” Still, it’s a dramatic shift for Steichen, who just last week told reporters he needed to help Richardson with better play-calling. Back then, the Colts seemed intent to let Richardson learn from his miscues regardless of the results. What changed? Steichen said the switch had nothing to do with Richardson taking himself out of Sunday’s game because he was “tired” and more to do with what was best for the Colts. Still, it caught the calm, unflappable Richardson off guard. “Of course, it hurts,” he said. “As a competitor, you definitely don’t want to be told that you’re not the guy anymore for the upcoming week, but it’s all good. I’m using this moment as an opportunity to grow and just learn from my mistakes.” So for now, it’s Flacco’s job to lose. “I’m fired up man,” Flacco said. “Anytime you get a chance to play football in this league, you have to count yourself as blessed. I really feel very fortunate to be with this team and be in this situation and I’m excited to get it done.” View the full article Quote
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