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General manager Chris Ballard recently discussed the upcoming quarterback competition between Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones on 'Behind the Colts,' produced by the Indianapolis Colts.
Since the end of the 2024 season, Ballard made it known that bringing in competition for Richardson was going to be a priority. Then at the NFL combine, he would call it a full-blown open competition for the starting quarterback job.
The competitor that the Colts eventually brought in once free agency started was Jones, who signed a one-year $14 million contract that includes an additional $3.7 million in incentives.
“We got to make the best decision for the team," said Ballard via Stampede Blue. "Whatever the outcome is, the outcome is based on performance.
“Excited about both of them. Excited to get Daniel in the building. I think he’s a really good fit for what we want to do, and who he is as a person, and who he can be as a player.”
It would be in the Colts' best interest long-term for Richardson to win the competition, given the investment already made, coupled with his sky-high upside.
The hope is that the competition will elevate the level of play in the quarterback room. And that not only goes for Richardson, who did respond well last season after being benched, but also that the competition will benefit Jones as well.
“Competition brings out the best of anybody,” Ballard said. “It’s a competitive league. We’re not just bringing in anybody. It had to be somebody that’s really going to be able to challenge Anthony (Richardson), and I think it’s going to go both ways. Anthony will challenge Daniel also.
“Between Daniel and Anthony, you’re going to see a really good competition. It’s going to be a spirited competition, but I also think it’s going to be one where they help each other to grow too.”
Before the Colts signed Jones in free agency, it was rumored coming out of the NFL combine that Jones was at the top of the team's list in terms of free agent options at quarterback.
Part of that affinity for Jones, along with his experience having started 69 games in his career, was his fit within Shane Steichen's offense.
"We thought Daniel’s skill-set, and Anthony’s skill-set, there’s a lot of similarities there," Ballard added. "So offensively, I think that’s going to help our offensive staff, so okay, we don’t have to make these wholesale changes with one guy or the other.”
For a Colts team that has to win now, what matters most in determining who the starting quarterback is come Week 1 will be the on-field performance.
“We got to make the best decision for the team," Ballard said. "Whatever the outcome is, the outcome is based on performance.”
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Colts Chris Ballard on Anthony Richardson, Daniel Jones QB competition
Continue reading...
Since the end of the 2024 season, Ballard made it known that bringing in competition for Richardson was going to be a priority. Then at the NFL combine, he would call it a full-blown open competition for the starting quarterback job.
The competitor that the Colts eventually brought in once free agency started was Jones, who signed a one-year $14 million contract that includes an additional $3.7 million in incentives.
“We got to make the best decision for the team," said Ballard via Stampede Blue. "Whatever the outcome is, the outcome is based on performance.
“Excited about both of them. Excited to get Daniel in the building. I think he’s a really good fit for what we want to do, and who he is as a person, and who he can be as a player.”
It would be in the Colts' best interest long-term for Richardson to win the competition, given the investment already made, coupled with his sky-high upside.
The hope is that the competition will elevate the level of play in the quarterback room. And that not only goes for Richardson, who did respond well last season after being benched, but also that the competition will benefit Jones as well.
“Competition brings out the best of anybody,” Ballard said. “It’s a competitive league. We’re not just bringing in anybody. It had to be somebody that’s really going to be able to challenge Anthony (Richardson), and I think it’s going to go both ways. Anthony will challenge Daniel also.
“Between Daniel and Anthony, you’re going to see a really good competition. It’s going to be a spirited competition, but I also think it’s going to be one where they help each other to grow too.”
Before the Colts signed Jones in free agency, it was rumored coming out of the NFL combine that Jones was at the top of the team's list in terms of free agent options at quarterback.
Part of that affinity for Jones, along with his experience having started 69 games in his career, was his fit within Shane Steichen's offense.
"We thought Daniel’s skill-set, and Anthony’s skill-set, there’s a lot of similarities there," Ballard added. "So offensively, I think that’s going to help our offensive staff, so okay, we don’t have to make these wholesale changes with one guy or the other.”
For a Colts team that has to win now, what matters most in determining who the starting quarterback is come Week 1 will be the on-field performance.
“We got to make the best decision for the team," Ballard said. "Whatever the outcome is, the outcome is based on performance.”
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Colts Chris Ballard on Anthony Richardson, Daniel Jones QB competition
Continue reading...
