What they're saying about Anthony Richardson

Since former Florida Gators quarterback Anthony Richardson was benched following the Indianapolis Colts’ 23-20 loss to Houston in Week 8, he has been one of the more talked about players in the NFL. For now, Joe Flacco has taken his position in the starting lineup and it is unclear if Richardson can reclaim it this season. Here’s what they’re saying about Richardson, the No. 4 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

–Ryan Phillips, SI.com: After the Minnesota Vikings beat the Indianapolis Colts 21-13 in Week 9, Vikings’ coach Kevin O’Connell met with Richardson and midfield and offered some words of encouragement to the young quarterback. O’Connell hugged the Colts’ now-backup quarterback said, “Hey, do me a favor, and remember something. You’re a bad dude. And you’re going to play a long time in this league. Go to work everyday. Good things will happen for you. I still believe in you. I know these guys do. (Colts coach Shane Steichen) does too. Man, this organization loves you. Go to work.“

Indianapolis made Richardson the No. 4 pick in the 2023 NFL draft but he hasn’t played well. In six games during the 2024 campaign, the 22-year-old has completed 44.4% of his passes for 958 yards, with four touchdowns and seven interceptions. His passer rating is a dismal 57.2 and his QBR of 36.9 ranks 29th among NFL quarterbacks who qualify.

Have the Colts mismanaged Anthony Richardson?

–Scott Horner, Indianapolis Star: Are you frustrated by the Indianapolis Colts? You can’t be more frustrated than Jeff Saturday, the team’s former center and coach. The ESPN NFL commentator joined the “Dominique Foxworth Show” and vented about how the team has handled second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson, who has been replaced as the starter by Joe Flacco.

“Not a fan,” he said. “If you didn’t like his preparation coming up to the season, why did you play him again this season? None of that makes sense to me,” he said. “It makes it easy to say it now that you’ve benched him.”

He added players haven’t complained about Richardson’s preparation or practice habits and that he believes there’s back-room maneuvering: “Somebody is protecting a job somewhere.”

–Karl Rasmussen, Si.com: There have reportedly been teams sniffing around and inquiring about Richardson’s availability at the trade deadline. According to ESPN’s Stephen Holder, the Colts have not entertained any such trade offer, informing teams that the 22-year-old quarterback is off limits. Holder indicates that multiple teams have reached out to ask about Richardson, though they’ve all been given the same response.

That’s a stance that certainly makes sense, given how low they would be selling on Richardson, whom they selected with the No. 4 pick just last year. While he’s struggled through his first 10 starts in the NFL, he’s still young and has shown glimpses of enormous potential with his arm strength and ability to create with his legs.

Have the Colts mismanaged AR, Part 2?

–Luke Schultheis, StampedeBlue: According to ESPN’s Stephen Holder on 93.5 / 107.5 The Fan’s ‘The Ride with JMV’, he believes the Indianapolis Colts could’ve done a better a job of communicating their expectations to recently demoted 2nd-year pro Anthony Richardson, given the latter’s general lack of awareness regarding the rigors of the NFL’s starting quarterback position because of his own youth and naivety: 

“One of the things that I think has frustrated Richardson’s camp—at least the player specifically is that, ‘Okay, if I’m falling short in terms of preparation and understanding the rigors of the job.’ I mean for the listeners out there, it’s a very different job playing quarterback,” said Holder Monday on ‘The Ride with JMV.’ “I mean if you play wide receiver, you show up in the morning, go through your meetings, do your deal, and go home.

“It’s not like that for quarterbacks, right? You’ve got to be in there when the game plan is being put together—even on days off. . . . You get there early. You’re staying late. I think the problem with Anthony (is Anthony) is a great human being. Everyone who knows him says that. I’ve dealt with him enough to know that—as far as I can tell at least.

“So the problem for him was not an unwillingness or not taking the job seriously. The problem is ignorance frankly. He doesn’t know, and I think maybe it should’ve been better communicated to him, ‘Hey, this is the expectation. This is what we need you to do.’ That conversation could’ve happened a month ago, and then you put him on notice. And then if he doesn’t do what needs to be done, then you do what you have to do as an organization.”

This benching shouldn’t ruin Anthony Richardson

–John Rich, Barstool Sports: I will never understand why people think benching a rookie quarterback, in this case Anthony Richardson, for however many games early in his career is some sort of death sentence. Why does seeing what Joe Flacco can do for a few games mean the Colts have completely given up on Richardson? He’s 22 years old. He has so much football ahead of him.

I’m sorry, but if sitting the bench for a few games during the regular season, or even the entire second half of the season for that matter, is what kills Anthony Richardson’s development… if Anthony Richardson’s psyche is that weak that he can’t mentally recover from that… then he was never going to be make it in the first place. …

Maybe the Anthony Richardson lottery ticket were holding that’s down to it’s last couple scratches will end up being a winner. The awesome thing is, just because he’s benched at this particular moment doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll never get to find out.