The Colts’ next general manager won’t just be walking into a personnel challenge. He’ll be stepping into an ownership setup that, by Matt Verderame’s read, requires a very specific kind of comfort level.
Speaking on Query & Company the day Indianapolis fired Chris Ballard, the Sports Illustrated writer laid out the job in blunt terms: there’s real talent on the roster, but there are also glaring holes that make the opening anything but clean. He named Tyler Warren and Jonathan Taylor as the positives. Then came the hard part - no first-round pick and no obvious long-term answer at quarterback.
“Daniel Jones is not playing like a guy who’s going to be the long-term fix at quarterback,” he said.
Verderame also made clear that any candidate for the job has to be ready for Carlie Irsay-Gordon’s very visible role in football operations. Her presence on the sideline, he said, is part of the package.
“If you’re the GM or the coach of the Colts, you better get comfortable with it,” he said. “And if you’re not comfortable with it, don’t go to Indianapolis.”
Ballard’s exit, in Verderame’s view, was the result of a long-running quarterback problem that never got solved. He described Ballard as “a smart guy, good man” who just never found the replacement for Andrew Luck. The lingering Luck explanation, he said, no longer carries weight.
“It’s 2019. Who cares? It’s over.”
He also pointed to the Sauce Gardner trade, which cost two first-round picks, as another decision that leaves Indianapolis in a tough spot. “it’s certainly not favorable for Indianapolis.”
Shane Steichen’s future is now part of the equation as well. Verderame said Steichen is “very, very clearly on the chopping block,” and believes the new GM should either commit to him with an extension or move in another direction.
“You can’t go into this with one year left.”
As for who might fit the role, Verderame mentioned veteran executives John Dorsey and Thomas Dimitroff.
He also addressed the possibility of Peyton Manning being involved. In Verderame’s view, giving Manning full control over football decisions along with a path to a minority stake “would at least be very intriguing.”
In Other News...
Anthony Richardson Just Added To The Colts Biggest Uncertainty
The Colts were already dealing with one of the leagues more watchful quarterback situations, and Anthony Richardson Sr. has now added another layer of uncertainty off the field. The backup passer was charged with misdemeanor marijuana possession after a traffic stop in Carmel, Indiana, putting an unwelcome spotlight on a player whose role has already carried plenty of attention in Indianapolis.
Richardson briefly addressed the matter, calling it an ongoing legal issue and offering no regret when asked about it. The Colts said they are gathering information and will let the legal process play out, with any possible league discipline expected only after that is resolved. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Kicking Nightmare Came Down To One Costly Breakdown
Spencer Shraders rough afternoon at U.S. Bank Stadium left the Colts staring at a kicking problem they could not afford. The placekicker missed two field goals in Week 7, including a long try from 56 yards in the third quarter, and afterward he did not duck the frustration that came with it. Shrader said he felt responsible for the loss and pointed to his own process as the issue, a reminder that even one off day can swing a game when special teams become part of the story.
Luke Rhodes, meanwhile, made clear the Colts are not ready to give up on him. The long snapper backed his teammate after the game, offering confidence despite the missed kicks and the sudden spotlight that followed a breakdown in a phase the Colts usually count on for stability. For a team trying to keep its footing, the concern is not just what went wrong in Minnesota, but how quickly it can be fixed. [Read more 🡒]
Anthony Richardson Is Running Out Of Chances To Save His NFL Future
Anthony Richardson entered the league with the kind of ceiling teams spend years chasing, but three seasons in Indianapolis have left the Colts still waiting for the refinement that was supposed to come with time. The 2023 fourth overall pick has flashed the arm strength and athleticism that made him such a tantalizing prospect, yet injuries and inconsistency have followed him through 17 appearances, along with a 50.6% completion rate and a struggle to keep the offense on schedule.
Indianapolis has already moved on in practice and planning with Daniel Jones, which only sharpens the question around Richardsons place in the organization. The talent is still there, and so is the possibility that another team could believe it can unlock him, but the same issues have defined his career so far: accuracy, footwork and decision-making. At this point, the Colts need more than upside from a quarterback who has spent most of his first three years trying to prove he can become the player they drafted. [Read more 🡒]