Tag: Chris Ballard

Oct 30, 2022; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay speaks at a Ring of Honor induction ceremony for Tarik Glenn on Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022, during a game against the Washington Commanders at Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Mandatory Credit: Max Gersh/IndyStar-USA TODAY Sports

Colts owner Jim Irsay tips off team’s plans at QB

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Indianapolis Colts are apparently planning on drafting a quarterback.

So says Colts owner Jim Irsay, who during the course of introducing new head coach Shane Steichen on Tuesday, appeared to spill the beans that they’ll find their next QB in the draft.

Stand down Jimmy Garoppolo and Derek Carr et al.

Irsay was answering a question, in length, about how he knew Steichen was the right choice to lead the Colts.

“Offense, in my mind, is a little more complex and takes a little longer to develop, but knowing we’re going to have to find a young quarterback to develop, that’s a key factor,” Irsay said, in part.

The Colts pick fourth in the upcoming draft. The Chicago Bears, holding the No. 1 pick, are not likely to draft a QB. Neither are the Arizona Cardinals, who draft third and have a franchise QB in Kyler Murray.

The Houston Texans will certainly be drafting a QB at No. 2, and all signs point to Alabama QB Bryce Young.

“The Alabama guy doesn’t look bad,” Irsay would say a little later in the press conference.

Colts general manager Chris Ballard said last month he would “do whatever it takes” to trade up and get the QB they want. Ohio State’s CJ Stroud is the top QB on some big board rankings, with Kentucky signal caller Will Levis expected to be the third QB taken.

The Colts are still struggling to land on their heir apparent to Andrew Luck, who abruptly retired after the 2018 season. They have trotted out Jacoby Brissett, Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz and Matt Ryan, unsuccessfully, ever since.

–Field Level Media

Sep 19, 2021; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich talks with quarterback Carson Wentz (2) during a timeout in the second half against the Los Angeles Rams at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

GM: ‘What’s best for Colts’ to drive Carson Wentz decision

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Colts general manager Chris Ballard wouldn’t commit to the future of the quarterback position — and incumbent Carson Wentz — when asked Tuesday at the scouting combine in Indianapolis.

“I don’t have the direct answer for you,” Ballard said. “We’re working through it. … Ultimately we’ll do what’s best for the Colts.”

ESPN reported on Feb. 13 that the Colts plan to trade or release Wentz by March 18. If he is still on the roster on that date, he is due his full $22 million base salary and a $6.29 million roster bonus.

If the Colts release Wentz before that date, they would owe him $15 million, according to the report.

Ballard said nothing Tuesday to dispel the report, and said a decision on Wentz will be made with owner Jim Irsay and head coach Frank Reich.

“Frank, Mr. Irsay and I will sit down over the next few weeks. We are going to do what’s best for the team both in the short and long term,” Ballard said.

Wentz, 29, went 9-8 in his first season as the starter in Indianapolis. He completed 62.4 percent of his passes for 3,563 yards with 27 touchdowns and seven interceptions but finished poorly.

He averaged just 166.5 passing yards in losses to the Las Vegas Raiders and lowly Jacksonville Jaguars in Weeks 17 and 18, knocking the Colts out of AFC playoff contention.

The Colts traded a first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft and a 2021 third-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles to acquire Wentz last March.

–Field Level Media

Feb 25, 2020; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard speaks to the media during the 2020 NFL Combine in the Indianapolis Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Colts GM does not commit to Carson Wentz for 2022

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard on Thursday said he does not regret acquiring Carson Wentz, however he appeared to stop considerably short of committing to the quarterback for the 2022 season.

“When we made the decision to make a move on Carson, at the time of the decision, we felt good about it,” Ballard said at the season-ending press conference. “And I still don’t regret the decision at the time. … I won’t make a comment on who’s going to be here next year and who’s not going to be here next year.”

Wentz, 29, reunited with Frank Reich when he joined the Colts at the start of the league year in March. Indianapolis, in turn, parted ways with a first- and third-round pick in the deal with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Wentz became the latest starter in a rapidly spinning quarterback carousel that has included Andrew Luck (retired), Jacoby Brissett (Miami Dolphins) and Philip Rivers (retired). Rivers played one season with the Colts, leading the team to the playoffs in 2020 before ending his career.

Ballard referenced the team’s ever-changing quarterback situation on Thursday.

“I’d like to quit band-aiding it,” Ballard said. “I’d like for Carson to be the long-term answer or for somebody to be here for the next 10 years. Sometimes it doesn’t work out that way.”

Reich didn’t give Wentz much of a vote of confidence on Monday when asked if the latter would be the starting quarterback next season.

“Next year’s roster will be next year’s roster. I don’t want to open it up about one player and then start talking about all of them,” Reich said. “… We’ll take it piece by piece. We’ll evaluate (Wentz’s) play. We’ll evaluate how we’re coaching him, how I’m coaching him, with each position in the pass game. Take it apart piece by piece, and then put it back together. … We’ve got to be better in the passing game. It was definitely below our standards, and there’s multiple reasons for that. We have to take ownership of that as coaches and players.”

Wentz threw for 3,563 yards with 27 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 17 games this season. The Colts, however, lost their final two games of the season, including a disastrous 26-11 setback to the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.

Colts owner Jim Irsay released a statement Wednesday in which he apologized to the fans for the team’s finish to the season.

“We ended our season in perhaps the worst way possible and missed our chance to compete for history,” Irsay said in the statement.

–Field Level Media