Doyel: Colts GM Chris Ballard optimistic, and realistic, about Shaq Leonard, Jonathan Taylor
WESTFIELD – Chris Ballard believes it will work out for the 2023 Indianapolis Colts. That’s his default setting, but when he comes out and says what he said Tuesday about linebacker Shaquille Leonard’s injury and running back Jonathan Taylor’s contract and quarterback Anthony Richardson’s trajectory, you listen. You take notes.
Then you take a closer look at what he actually said.
You recall the confident way he started his sentences, for sure – “We’ll get there,” Ballard said of Leonard – but you’re stopped short by the way he finished them. Quieter, less assurance.
More wiggle room.
“Time will tell,” is how Ballard concluded what some people will tell you were optimistic remarks about Leonard’s future, “but right now we’re very encouraged.”
Time will tell? Right now?
Anyone else feeling “very encouraged”?
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Prediction: No Jonathan Taylor extension
Camp starts Wednesday. Players reported Tuesday. Physicals were taken. Physicals were passed. Shaq Leonard passed his physical, for example. And Jonathan Taylor reported Tuesday, even as a (somewhat) respected national NFL reporter tweeted at 9:58 a.m. that Taylor “has yet to show up in Indy.”
Yeah he had.
“He’s here,” Ballard said of Taylor, who is (A) seeking a contract extension during camp while recently making clear (B) he’s not happy with the downturn in the running back market.
“Our history is really good,” Ballard said of reaching agreement with the team’s best young players on contract extensions.
And he said:
“You pay guys that are going to help you win regardless of what position. We think very highly of Jonathan.”
That’s how he started those sentences. Confident, as I’ve been telling you. Assured. Chris Ballard knows how the game is played. He can uncork a soundbite with the best of them.
But what he won’t do – what I adore about him – is tell a lie. So this is how he finished each of those two above sentences:
“Our history is really good,” he’d said of extending players like Taylor. “But saying that, we’re coming off a four-win season. We have a new coaching staff. We’ll let it play out as it does, and make those decisions when we make those decisions.”
“We think very highly of Jonathan,” he’d said, the optimism burning hot. “Unfortunately we didn’t have a great season as a team, and he’s coming off the injury.”
Is it me, or did it just get cold in here?
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Doyel: Capitalism doesn't care what you want, Jonathan Taylor
Want truth about OL, CBs?
You’re not here for that. I know. And the news media marketplace being what it is, you can find what you want elsewhere. And you can find it for free! Imagine being Kyrie Irving, for example, and perusing only those websites that tell him the earth is “flat” and Kyrie Irving is a “good teammate.”
Understand, you won’t find nonsense about Ballard’s remarks Tuesday from local reporters. Those of us in the room with Ballard, we heard what he said. We heard all of it. It’s other people, those who weren’t here, the aggregators who see a five-second video and think they know the whole story, who will spread nonsense.
Shaquille Leonard is almost ready!
Jonathan Taylor’s extension is going to work out!
Meh, as in, mehbe. Sorry, as in: Maybe.
Doyel in June 2022: Most Colts injury update ever on Leonard
Chris Ballard believes, as I said. He believes left tackle Bernhard Raimann and the rest of last season’s beleaguered offense line will play better. He believes the cornerback competition, where the Colts return zero starters on the edges – i.e., the two downfield cover corners – “will be really fun to watch” and that someone named Dallis Flowers is “talented” and that nickel cornerback Kenny Moore (not a downfield cover corner, capisce?) will follow last season’s dud with a great season.
Why does he believe those things? Because hope and belief are free, and Ballard’s buying.
The player Ballard was the most obviously cautious about? It was a quarterback, and no, it wasn’t Gardner Minshew.
“Every time Gardner has been asked to play, he’s played excellent football,” Ballard said of Minshew, career record as an NFL starter: 8-16. “He’s competitive and he sees himself as the guy.”
Ballard openly waved the caution flag – but not profanely, because he’s trying to get better – on another quarterback.
Anthony Richardson.
Anthony Richardson inquiry has Ballard cursing (almost)
You don’t want to read that either? Cry me a river. But let’s back up.
Ballard believes in Richardson. Loves his competitive makeup, his mature demeanor, his curious intellect, his intergalactic physical gifts. Ballard isn’t waving the white flag on this guy, OK?
Doyel: Chris Ballard chose Anthony Richardson, and was just starting to get his freak on
But he’s not ready to anoint him a starter. He’s not close, though he says it won’t exactly be his decision. He says he’ll “lean heavily on our coaching staff,” and noted the discussion would feature another interested party:
“Mr. Irsay,” Ballard said.
As we all know, Mr. Irsay – Jim, I call him – wants Richardson to play as soon as possible. So does the new coach, Shane Steichen.
As for Ballard…
“He’s done some great work,” Ballard said of Richardson’s offseason activities, “but he’s young. There will be some up-and-down moments in camp, and up-and-down moments when he plays. But that’s (how it is) for any young quarterback.”
Ballard also said: “You don’t want to put him out there when he’s not ready to handle everything required to play the position.”
To understand exactly how Ballard feels about the external excitement about Richardson – I’m guilty too! – you needed to be at Grand Park on Tuesday to hear Ballard’s potty mouth. Hey, Chris won’t mind this. He knows I like him. And this was funny.
Talking about confident receiver Michael Pittman Jr., Ballard was noting how Pitt wants the ball, wants the world, and then Ballard was confessing:
“That (expletive) doesn’t bother me,” he said for the cameras, then realized his mistake. “Sorry, I’m trying to get better.”
And better he got. A few minutes later, someone was asking Ballard a benign question:
How will you know when Anthony Richardson is ready?
“Oh freak,” Ballard said, then started giggling at his dud of an F-bomb. He believes in Richardson’s tomorrow, but would like the rest of us to be reasonable about his today.
Not happening. You ask me, Richardson will start the season opener.
But you ask me, either Shaq Leonard or Jonathan Taylor will miss significant time this camp, those cornerbacks are going to be abused this season, and that offensive line is going to get someone hurt.
Find IndyStar columnist Gregg Doyel on Twitter at @GreggDoyelStar or at www.facebook.com/greggdoyelstar.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts GM: Shaq Leonard will return, Jonathan Taylor will sign! Maybe.
