I still remember the moment well.
Approximately seven months ago, a colleague who knows more about the Indianapolis Colts organization than anyone with an NFL media credential ever will, rang my phone to interrupt a fine nap to inform me the Colts would be signing 39-year-old Joe Flacco to serve as a backup to Anthony Richardson for the upcoming 2024 NFL season.
Assuming this was simply a bad dream, l got off the couch and ran to my kitchen to garner both a Mountain Dew and a snack cake figuring the sugar rush would enable me to either verify the news or crush the rumor, all the while hoping to avoid the meltdown l was destined to experience if my friend was actually breaking correct news.
How could this be unfolding before my eyes? The guy who will be forty years young next January is the best backup to be procured after watching Justin Fields be acquired by Pittsburgh for a measly sixth round draft pick? Say it ain’t so.
Yeah, l know he gargled the water from the fountain of youth in Cleveland last season rallying the Browns to a playoff berth, but after Houston roughed him up and ended “Flacco-Mania” for what l thought would be forever, Colts GM Chris Ballard extended an offer for Brother Joe to put on the pads one more time instead of being a QB Coach and my meltdown began.
Sure, he was a modern-day George Blanda last season for the Browns but surely there was a younger signal caller out there, one whose 40-yard dash time would not necessitate the use of a sundial to capture the tortoise-like results.
What did Ballard and company really know and how could they actually plan on Flacco to save the season if Richardson went down?
Apparently a lot more than l did.
After watching Richardson sustain various injuries, the Colts got out the bugle and played “Here comes Joey” and in the process unleashing a cagey veteran who has played superbly. I guess you might say that over seven hundred passing yards with seven touchdown tosses and only one interception is more than adequate and proves l was clearly completely wrong about calling for him to be put out to pasture instead of granting the future Hall of Famer a fully guaranteed contract.
No one expected Flacco to be the player he was in Baltimore when he led the Ravens to a Super Bowl ring, but the reality is his performance this season isn’t too far off that. In my opinion, he has clearly shown he’s the best quarterback option the Colts have, even when a healthy Richardson is available.
Yeah, l know that’s quite the reversal for someone who thought Ballard was “El Loco” for signing a guy who l thought was ready for a shot on one of the many network pregame studio shows, but l was wrong.
Flacco isn’t the next man up, he’s the best one for the job as we speak. Anthony Richardson may yet prove to be the man in terms of the future, but 39-year-old Joe Flacco is the best option today.
Maybe when l meet him in person for the first time this Sunday in the post-game presser l should tell him that after extending an apology.
Danny Bridges, who now looks rather stupid for doubting both Flacco and Ballard, can be reached at 317-370-8447 or at bridgeshd@aol.com.
