Chris Ballard IS NOT Out As Colts' GM, Jim Irsay Issues Letter Announcing Both Chris Ballard & Shane Steichen Will Return Next Season
I'm sorry Colts fans. I really tried to speak it into existence earlier today.
Adam Schefter sounded so convincing on NFL Countdown this morning. I really thought he knew something. I was so confident that the Colts would get rid of Chris Ballard that I was actually disappointed in Schefter implying that the Colts' would be promoting from within, as opposed to blowing up the entire organization. I thought "BALLARD OUT'" was a given. Promoting Assistant GM, Ed Dodds from within and keeping Steichen was worst case scenario to me.
Above all I had faith that Jim Irsay would listen to Colts fans at a time when they're as vocal with their displeasure as they have been in my entire life. Even before Irsay announced that both Chris Ballard and Shane Steichen would be returning next season, this year was probably as angry as Colts' fans have been since they left Baltimore in the middle of the night. No matter all the crazy stupid shit Jim Irsay has done in his time as owner, I've always rest assured that above all else he wanted to win. Maybe he didn't always know how to do it. But he wouldn't just let the Colts fade into nothing. He would always at least try something. Especially after last week when Pat McAfee of all people. The most influential Colts figure in media outside of Peyton Manning, announced he was essentially done with the Colts organization.
It amazes me how after all of that turmoil, Irsay would still keep everybody in place. It's crazy. I don't know if Irsay is just old (65 going on 90) and doesn't want to put in all the extra work that comes with re-hauling an organization. That seems to be the most plausible explanation. The only semi-logical football reason I can come up with (and this is just a complete guess) is that Irsay doesn't believe in Anthony Richardson. But at the same time, he doesn't feel like he can fully give up on him yet. So maybe he sees Ballard, Steichen, and Richardson as a package deal. Like they're all in this together. Either they figure it out together, or they're all gone. Since he feels like he's gotta give Richardson another year, maybe he doesn't want to bring in a new GM and a new head coach with an awkward situation at quarterback. Maybe he thinks the Colts' job openings are more desirable if the new GM & Head Coach have a clean slate to work with, and can start from scratch with their own choice at QB. I don't know. I'm searching for any "legitimate" football reason for Irsay keeping Ballard around. Who the hell knows what goes on in Irsay's head. I'm sure he's has had crazier thoughts.
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It's about to be a bleak off-season for Colts fans. Absolutely nobody has faith in what Indianapolis is doing right now. The most annoying part of it is, the Colts could still end up being ok next year. They're capable of winning games. If Anthony Richardson and the team improve even a little bit, the Colts could win 10 times and sneak into the playoffs. That'll buy Ballard another year or two of floundering around .500. But is there really a world where he can have sustained success with the team? Where he can make a run in the playoffs? Win a Super Bowl? I believe Ballard & Steichen can make the playoffs every couple years or so. The AFC South might be the easiest division in football to do that in. But it's really hard to picture a world where the Colts' front office and coaching staff as currently constructed will ever be a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
GM Ed Dodds sure sounds pretty good right now. I really preferred when I thought that was happening and was only disappointed. Now I'm depressed. With the Colts luck, another organization will hire Dodds to be their GM, and he'll be a smashing success. While the Colts continue being the same team they have been ever since Ballard took over.
The Colts need a complete culture change. A complete change in the way they approach free agency. Maybe they can happen with the current front office. I don't want to say it's completely impossible. Nobody would love to be wrong more than me. But I just can't see it. And I have a hard time believe that Jim Irsay truly believes that as well. Which is what makes this so sad
Sad day for Colts fans. Sad day for ticket sales. Sad day for the city of Indianapolis. This is the first time in my life I felt like Irsay and the Colts don't give a shit about winning. They're content with being a middle of the road playoff contender. It's really a punch to the gut. But hey, maybe it was just Gus Bradley's fault all along! At least there was no mention of him in Irsay's stupid letter. Maybe a new DC will fix everything!