Indianapolis Colts Owner Jim Irsay Steps In and Promotes Sam Ehlinger

Poor Quarterback Management

The Indianapolis Colts have now had seven different quarterbacks since the retirement of Andrew Luck before the start of the 2018 season when Ehlinger takes the first snap on Sunday. Jacoby Brissett, Brian Hoyer, Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz, Matt Ryan, and now Sam Ehlinger. This is nothing to cheer about in a quarterback-driven league as the NFL is. It’s arguably the single most important position in all of sports. It commands the most money on the team and the most attention among content creators and media. Ballard somehow convinced Irsay to continue the consistent "quarterback band-aids" with bridge solutions until they found the permanent choice. This has now backfired on them with a final last-ditch effort with 2nd-year quarterback Sam Ehlinger.

Not Irsay"s First Time

Jim Irsay has been spoiled, for the most part, with his quarterback history. Indianapolis drafted Peyton Manning in 1998 and was the starter until 2010 after sitting out the 2011 season with a near career-ending neck injury. After an expected terrible 2011 season, the Colts drafted another generational talent in Andrew Luck in 2012. Luck gave them about 5 good seasons and then retired abruptly from injuries before the 2018 season. Any owner would have loved to have the path we had in Indianapolis. However, before that Irsay also made a similar decision, as General Manager, in 1995. The Colts had brought in established quarterback Craig Erickson only to bench him after 3 games for backup Jim Harbaugh. Harbaugh then took Indianapolis to the AFC Championship game and was a dropped hail mary pass from the Super Bowl.

Fanbase Optics

Now that Sam Ehlinger has been named the starter for the remainder of the season, the fanbase can start to begin to see how the future of this team will start to take shape. If Ehlinger works out and can get us into the playoffs, or just keep us in the hunt, it might allow Irsay to keep this regime (that he just re-signed to extensions) around for at least one more season and keep overseeing Sam’s development. Whether they would draft a quarterback is a separate decision. Now, if Ehlinger is not the answer and they continue to be bland on offense then you would let GM Chris Ballard and HC Frank Reich go. Hire new staff for both the front office and coaching. You then evaluate the talent incoming from the draft and build around the new quarterback.

The Future

While I think we are all rooting for Sam Ehlinger to be successful (and I truly am) I believe this will be the final nail in the proverbial coffin of the current Indianapolis Colts regime. Ballard, time and time again, has left the Colts" roster construction unfinished. He is a world-class talent evaluator and has shown immense strength in that department. But as Frank Reich said yesterday, Indianapolis didn’t hold up their end of the bargain. They promised him a great offensive line and a great run game. None of which have come to fruition. With the trade deadline approaching, I see the Colts as sellers to open some more cap space for moves next off-season. It might be time for Colts fans to look to the future and "Embrace The Tank."

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