Opinion: Colts will be different

Chris Ballard got the message.

Last week, the often-criticized Colts general manager made key acquisitions in free agency: they added safety Camryn Bynum and cornerback Charvarius Ward, along with a bevy of additions across the rest of the field.

They also signed New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones.

Critics of the latter move – Anthony Richardson’s staunch defenders, who love the quarterback no matter what – have criticized the move.

The simple fact of the matter is that football is a results-driven game. It doesn’t matter who you are. And so far, by any objective measure, Anthony Richardson has not delivered the necessary results.

It is completely reasonable for the Colts to amend that problem by finding a second quarterback to a.) put pressure on him to perform and b.) create competition and c.) have a different option in case he flounders in his third year. If Richardson is as good as all the people say he is, he should be just fine beating out a career-backup from New York.

Or he might not be.

The question now becomes, what will the Colts do in the draft? Do they add a big-time defensive lineman to generate a pass rush, or do they provide extra weapons for Richardson – or Jones – on offense? Time will tell.

Either way, good for Chris Ballard, good for Shane Steichen, good for Jim Irsay. A different Colts team will hit the field this fall, and that’s a good thing.