I’ve always been a fan of great stories, especially those in which individuals persevere and make a comeback that proves all of us were wrong about their abilities.
No matter how far down the wrong road one might have traveled, it’s only proper to acknowledge the climb they’ve made when they finally make the unexpected return to prosperity.
It’s no different in professional sports with multi-billion dollar franchises competing for the prestigious title of world champion, and where both front office and coaching careers are judged by not only wins and losses, but also the number of Super Bowl rings they capture.
Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon made a big decision earlier this season when she approved the deal that sent two number one draft picks to the New York Jets for cornerback Sauce Gardner, but she had an even bigger decision to make after the last game of the season in terms of what to do with current General Manager Chris Ballard and Head Coach Shane Steichen.
In a move that undoubtedly confused some alleged experts who think it was time to jettison both of them and start the process of recruiting their replacements, Irsay-Gordon reminded everyone who is the boss and elected to run both of them back for another season.
She’s obviously confident that the plethora of injuries that derailed the Colts’ playoff chances can be overcome with a competent off-season that includes a successful draft, putting more than just her toe into the free agency waters, and examining every possible trade option available to them as well.
While that in itself is clearly an overflowing cup, she’ll also need to independently evaluate every member of Steichen’s staff and perhaps make some difficult decisions about who’s back.
Then there’s the 900-pound gorilla in the room that’s named starting quarterback and everything that goes into that next season. Do you even give a seriously injured Daniel Jones a new contract or go with a Riley Leonard and Anthony Richardson combination? Don’t forget to stash a good third-stringer on the practice squad while you’re at it.
Who replaces DeForrest Buckner and can you stop the Merry-Go-Round at the place kicker slot?
The common denominator for answers here, as you can see, is Irsay-Gordon, who, despite her pedigree, is also inexperienced in these matters. Did she have anyone to discuss the Ballard and Steichen decision with or did she go it alone on this one by herself, trusting her instincts and ignoring those who aren’t privy to what she sees every day?
No one really knows what went into her decision, and, as long as she’s signing checks, she doesn’t have to explain it to anyone else, especially those in the media.
We’ll all find out in a few months, but until then, everyone who fancies themselves as an actual expert will continue to second-guess her. While Ballard and Steichen’s seats are so hot they can’t even sit in them, they both realize she threw them another lifeline in good faith that they didn’t deserve.
One thing is for certain, this situation could easily get worse before it actually improves, so let’s see if it does continue to be more of the same or denotes a complete overhaul. Stay tuned Colts fans.
Danny Bridges, who admires Irsay-Gordon’s moxie but thought she needed to clean house, can be reached at (317) 370-8447 or at bridgeshd@aol.com.
