According to multiple reports, Daniel Jones is on his way to Indianapolis. Best of luck to the Colts. If Anthony Richardson, the current quarterback there, is unable to outperform Jones, then Richardson doesn’t deserve a spot in the NFL. However, there’s a catch. If Jones can’t surpass Richardson, then he too may not be cut out for the NFL. It’s quite a predicament, so let me elaborate.
Jones has commendable qualities. He is diligent and kind-hearted. During his tenure with the New York Giants from 2019 to 2024, he endured some brutal hits, showcasing remarkable resilience. Undoubtedly, he possesses an extraordinary level of toughness.
Yet, the core issue lies in Jones’ performance as a quarterback. This has been evident for years, culminating in a particularly dreadful game against the weak Carolina Panthers defense in November. It was a disastrous display of holding onto the ball too long, indecisiveness, and inaccuracy. Getting sacked on a flea flicker with open receivers downfield was a glaring example.
This game marked the end of Jones’ time in New York. Following his benching for Tommy DeVito, he requested and received his release from the Giants. As per ESPN Research, since his rookie season in 2019, Jones had the worst record as a starter (22-44-1, .355 winning percentage) among quarterbacks with over 50 starts, along with the lowest touchdown rate per attempt.
While not all the blame falls on Jones, a significant portion does. Despite his flaws, Jones now has an opportunity to potentially start for the Colts due to Richardson’s own struggles, which have been equally concerning, if not worse.
Richardson has recorded 11 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions in his 15 NFL starts, with a completion rate of 50.6%. Notably, he made headlines when he voluntarily took himself out of a game against the Houston Texans, citing fatigue as the reason. This decision raised questions about his commitment and leadership as a quarterback.
Former Colts punter Pat McAfee expressed his surprise at Richardson’s move, emphasizing the significant responsibility that comes with being an NFL quarterback. It’s clear that both Jones and Richardson face challenges that may impact their future in the league.
He made a significant error by unnecessarily speaking his thoughts out loud. Not every thought that crosses your mind needs to be verbalized. The current scenario in Indianapolis is complicated. One quarterback is prone to mistakes, while the other has been accused of abandoning his team and is also error-prone. Their issues could potentially offset each other like a complex mathematical equation. Do we know who the third-string quarterback is in Indy? This article was first published in USA TODAY: The Colts’ QB situation is among the NFL’s worst.
