Dear Colts fans:
When we last spoke, I said your owner knew it was time to clean house, but l really wondered if she’d set her mark and enforce it.
Welcome to the Carlie Irsay-Gordon era as with one general manager fired and two of her best players traded, it’s pretty clear to me that she’s got a plan called rebuild and there’s no question now about who’s in charge of it all.
Chris Ballard, Quenton Nelson, and DeForrest Buckner are history and there’s more to come. What started off as does she have the moxie to blow it all up has now become where does it all stop and for the record, I do think she can pull it all off.
While she doesn’t need any more advice from yours truly (wink), I will be happy to offer some despite the fact that I’m impressed with her moves to date.
There’s a quarterback named Daniel Jones who could be a backup on another team, so why not simply cut him before the trading deadline if you can’t secure a low draft pick in exchange for paying most of his salary? You’re already on the hook for the balance of his contract this year and all next season as well, so why not wade into the murky water of dead salary cap money and keep this long and winding quarterback search moving right along? It’s simply the lumps they have to take.
To his credit, Jones has been valiant with his attempted comeback from a serious injury and while it’s obvious he’s not 100% physically, this experiment with him is certainly over and far beyond embarrassing, so simply pull the plug now.
While we’re on the subject of cap space casualties, why not show Sauce Gardner the door to a new ZIP code? It’s the NFL and while he has basically been a major disappointment since arriving, in this case the NFL would stand for No Fiscal Liability for the Colts if they can get some draft capital for him.
Some team will take him, so get Mayflower to send a truck to his residence and get whatever you can in return for what’s definitely been a not-so-special Sauce. What could’ve been is over and it’s time to move ahead without a guy who was not nearly worth two number one draft picks in return.
However, the big prize is one Jonathan Taylor who has shown he’s worth the extension he signed in training camp and then some, and is clearly the biggest asset the Colts can offer another team and in return, grab draft capital while clearing cap space.
As one of the top tier backs in the league, it’s safe to say he wants no part of the rebuild and will be happy to receive his direct deposits from another team in the league. While he won’t bring a first pick in return, I could envision a second rounder and that indeed would be extremely valuable to his soon to be ex-employer.
The Colts should also jettison Head Coach Shane Steichen, giving whomever they choose as their new General Manager the ability to choose his own coach.
I was somewhat surprised he didn’t get his walking papers when Ballard did, but it’s going to happen.
In a nutshell Carlie Irsay-Gordon has established herself as where the proverbial buck stops and that was sorely needed.
Assistant GM Ed Dodds will ride it out for the rest of the season, but he too is gone in due time along with Steichen’s coaching staff. So far, the clearance sale has been productive and by the time this column is available for your perusal, there is a good chance even more players will have also been traded.
That’s what a total rebuild is all about and thankfully the process has begun.
Irsay-Gordon apparently means business and that’s a rather positive sign coupled with a breath of fresh air. Things are going to get more interesting, so stay tuned. It’s a long haul but it’s finally moving and that’s all we can ask of her.
Danny Bridges, who thinks Carlie Irsay-Gordon is definitely on the right track, can be reached at (317) 370-8447 or at bridgeshd@aol.com.
Danny Bridges is an award-winning journalist and a longtime sports columnist for the Indianapolis Recorder. He covers college, professional sports and especially all things IndyCar racing. He can be reached at 317-370-8447 or at bridgeshd@aol.com.
