New Colts owners will have decisions to make about Anthony Richardson
The Colts announced on Monday a new ownership structure, with the three daughters of the late Jim Irsay taking control of the team.
They'll have some important decisions to make, sooner than later, about quarterback Anthony Richardson.
Richardson, whose shoulder injury will keep him out of action until 'at some point' during training camp, now faces a steep uphill climb to win the open quarterback competition with Daniel Jones.
And even if Richardson returns with a vengeance and overcomes Jones to earn the Week 1 job, Richardson's injury history could work against him. If it's a close call, the folks in football operations may be looking to ownership for input on whether to go with Richardson or Jones.
If Jones ends up being benched, the next question becomes whether the Colts would trade him before the 2025 deadline. If he stays for the rest of the year, would they trade him in the offseason?
The easiest question will be whether to pick up Richardson's fifth-year option, next May. For now, that would be a clear 'no.' It changes only if he plays for most of the season and plays well enough to be the clear-cut starter for 2026.
Through two NFL seasons, Richardson has appeared in 15 of 34 games. For the quarterback position, that alone is enough to make the Colts not inclined to make him the long-term answer.
Another factor is whether Richardson will accept being the backup to Jones. Will he stay ready? Will he create issues? Will there be a problem in the locker room, sparked by disagreement over whether Jones or Richardson is 'the guy'? Will he ask to be traded?
The decisions to be made regarding Richardson at a minimum will require ownership to be informed. And it could result in ownership having opinions. With three owners involved in management, things could get interesting if two feel one way and one feels the other.
Especially if the one in the minority is the designated principal owner.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Los Angeles Times
29 minutes ago
- Los Angeles Times
How the Rams make sure rookies bond to start pro careers
Josaiah Stewart quickly studied the assignment, focused intensely, and went to work. The Rams linebacker delicately gripped a paintbrush, dipped it into a cup of green paint, and began filling the outline of a bird traced onto a wall of an Altadena school rebounding from the Eaton fire. A few feet away, Rams tight end Terrance Ferguson and defensive lineman Ty Hamilton maneuvered their huge frames to add their own artistic touches to the hallway mural. It was the latest rookie bonding experience for the 2025 draft class, a six-player group that includes several expected to play prominent roles for a team regarded as a Super Bowl contender. 'We've got a great group,' said Ferguson, a second-round pick. 'All the guys have bought into a lot of rookie bonding stuff by the team. 'It's cool that they really lean into building that relationship. … We're all going through this for the first time, transitioning to the NFL, so it's been a lot of fun.' Ferguson is regarded as the heir apparent to veteran Tyler Higbee, who is in the final year of his contract. Yet the dynamic Ferguson, a former Oregon star, won't have to wait until 2026: He appears on track to have a large role in coach Sean McVay's offense. Stewart, a third-round pick from Michigan, adds another dimension to an edge-rushing group that features NFL defensive rookie of the year Jared Verse and Byron Young. Running back Jarquez Hunter, a fourth-round pick from Auburn, is competing to back up Kyren Williams, who is in the final year of his rookie contract. Hamilton, from Ohio State, adds depth to a defensive line led by Kobie Turner and Braden Fiske, while fellow fifth-round pick Pooh Paul from Mississippi does the same for an inside linebacker corps that features Omar Speights and Nathan Landman. Receiver Konata Mumpfield, a seventh-round pick from Pittsburgh, is learning from Davante Adams, Puka Nacua, Tutu Atwell and Jordan Whittington. Several rookies said veteran players have welcomed and embraced them, helping them absorb the playbook and all that is expected of them on the field. Assistant head coach Aubrey Pleasant has helped oversee the rookies' collective transition to becoming pros, McVay said. 'We've really tried to lean into the types of people where there's different personalities, but there's still our core values or experiences that these guys have gone through that have tested their mental fortitude, their resilience,' McVay said, adding, 'The most important thing is as a team, how do we come together? How do we really lean on one another? But when you are going through a similar experience, it's been fun to be able to watch those guys mature and be able to grow together.' The rookies have bonded on the field during organized team activities, and off the field on excursions for meals, movies and places such as an escape room. The community events play a large role, Paul said. 'This is something I personally enjoy doing with the rookies simply because it really just shows, like, what we stand for outside the shoulder pads,' Paul said during a break from painting in Altadena. 'We've been doing a great job with that, bonding with each other, getting to know each other's backgrounds, where we come from, our collegiate careers and what helped us get to where we are today.' Organized team activities conclude this week, but the rookies will be together again next week when the Rams travel to Maui for a minicamp. On Tuesday, the six draft picks and other first-year players that signed as undrafted free agents will join Habitat for Humanity to rebuild homes in Lahaina that were damaged in 2023 wildfires. It will be another opportunity to work side-by-side, as they did in Altadena. 'It's a tight group,' Stewart said after finishing his painting in Altadena. 'We all bond, and events like these really bring us together.'
New York Post
35 minutes ago
- New York Post
Travis Hunter's wife dishes on nerves, swag from her first NFL WAG event
Leanna Lenee is ready for her rookie season as an NFL WAG. After tying the knot with Travis Hunter, the Jaguars' No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, in May, Lenee attended her first event with other NFL wives and girlfriends on Tuesday in Jacksonville, as seen on her TikTok. 'I went to my first WAG event, so I'm going to show you everything I got,' Lenee said, referring to the goodie bags they received at the Seaside Soirée, which took place at Hawkers restaurant in Neptune. Advertisement Some of the goodies included skincare, beauty products, gift cards, cookies and bottles of tequila and vodka. Lenee also showed off a black bodysuit she customized, courtesy of Pressed, to add the Jacksonville area code, 904, on the front in cheetah print. Advertisement 5 Leanna Lenee revealed what was in her goodie bag after attending her first NFL WAG event in Jacksonville on June 10, 2025. TikTok/Leanna Lenee 5 Leanna Lenee revealed what was in her goodie bag after attending her first NFL WAG event in Jacksonville on June 10, 2025. TikTok/Leanna Lenee The influencer explained that she enjoyed meeting everyone, despite being shy. 'A couple wives and girlfriends and fiancées — and retired wives were there so I got to meet a lot of them,' she said. Advertisement 5 Marissa Lawrence, the wife of Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, showed off the goodie bags from the Seaside Soirée WAGs event on June 10, 2025. Instagram/Marissa Lawrence 5 The women were greeted with welcome drinks at the Seaside Soirée WAGs event in Jacksonville on June 10, 2025. Instagram/Marissa Lawrence 'I'm grateful for the team and the ladies who put this together. I had so much fun, even though I was very shy. Thank you to all of the girls.' The event was orchestrated by Women of the NFL, a community and resource for women navigating NFL life — and hosted by Marissa Lawrence, the wife of Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, Tiffany Upshaw, the wife of former Jets wideout Laveranues Coles and Shelley Causey McCray, the wife of former cornerback Demetrius McCray. Advertisement 5 Leanna Lenee and Travis Hunter on their wedding day in Tennessee on May 24, 2025. Leanna Lenee/TikTok In a separate video, Lenee explained that she was nervous and 'out of my comfort zone' to attend the event. 'I get nervous around people and I always feel like I come off as standoffish or mean,' Lenee said Wednesday while getting ready to attend the Jaguars' open practice. 'Because I'm not a person that's openly inviting or in tune — I don't put myself in conversations. But it's really because I'm so nervous. ' All the ladies here are very welcoming and were understanding of that. I think there was a lot of girls like me where we were kind of like nervous, but there were a lot of returning wives and, of course, they're comfortable with each other. And I know I'll get there… it was my first time meeting everyone.' She added that the women shared information on how to get game tickets and where the best seats in the stadium are located — along with the best places in Jacksonville for beauty appointments. Lenee returned to social media around the time of her wedding after going private in late 2024 due to public scrutiny over her relationship with Hunter. The Jaguars open the 2025 season against the Carolina Panthers in Jacksonville on Sept. 7.
Associated Press
36 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Joe Flacco is pleased with his offseason work despite a lack of snaps at Browns minicamp
BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Kevin Stefanski and the Cleveland Browns' coaching staff know what they have in Joe Flacco. That's why Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders have received almost all the snaps during this week's minicamp. While Flacco said Wednesday it would be nice to get a couple more snaps, the 40-year-old quarterback feels like he did what he needed to do during the Browns' offseason program. 'For me, it's go out there and just kind of getting your feel back and getting the ball off your hand well, make sure you're going through your reads the right way. So I feel great with that,' Flacco said. 'I feel like I'm getting through things and spinning it well and the other things will come. 'It's not like I've had a million reps, so it's tough to kind of get in a groove and do those things. But as far as when I'm out there, just kind of getting through everything and just the vision of it all, I felt good, felt comfortable.' Flacco signed a one-year contract in April and expected to compete with Pickett and one rookie for the starting job. The Browns took Gabriel in the third round and then surprised nearly everyone by trading up in the fifth round to select Sanders. Ever since Sanders' selection, most of the questions to Stefanski have been about dividing the snaps for his four quarterbacks. Stefanski said throughout OTAs not to read too much into who did what, but his decisions will be scrutinized even more once training camp starts in late July. 'I don't know what the plan is exactly, but I trust Kevin and that he has a plan for all us and that's really all I can do,' said Flacco, who's entering his 18th season. 'I'd love to go out there and take 120 reps a day and get in a groove and do all those things, but like I said, the coaches have a plan, Kevin has a plan, and my job is to just trust that, go out there and do the best they can.' Flacco has enjoyed his interactions with Dillon and Sanders. 'I would say I've had a smile on my face a good portion of the time I've been here this spring, so it's been a lot of fun,' he said Flacco remains the favorite to be the Browns' starter when they open the season against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7. In 2023, he went 4-1 as Cleveland's starter and averaged more than 300 passing yards per game as the Browns made the playoffs for only the third time since the franchise returned in 1999. The decision not to re-sign Flacco after that playoff run ended up costing the Browns. They went 3-14 in 2024 and saw high-priced starter Deshaun Watson suffer a season-ending Achilles tendon injury in Week 7. Watson will miss this season after rupturing the tendon again in January, but he has been participating in meetings and rehabbing at the team complex. Cleveland will wrap up its offseason program early next week. Flacco has been pleased with what has transpired the past two months. 'Every time you take that field, you've got to give yourself that reminder like, 'Oh yeah, this is where I want to be. And man, I can do this. I love doing it,'' he said. 'And to go out there against your team and to actually complete some balls and bat balls down and do all the things that everybody's doing, it just gives you that little reminder like, 'OK, yeah, we look good. We're going to compete.'' ___ AP NFL:
