The Indianapolis Colts’ quarterback saga since Andrew Luck’s abrupt exit feels like a never-ending game of Whack-a-Mole. Just when you think they’ve found their guy, another problem pops up. Imagine a tailgate where the bratwurst is always half-cooked—close to satisfying, but never quite there. That’s the Colts’ QB carousel since 2019. Now, they’re stirring the pot again, and this time, Anthony Richardson’s future is simmering on high heat.

And there you have Daniel Jones, the former Giants QB who’s been handed a $14 million golden ticket to challenge Richardson. It’s like swapping a sizzling rookie pitcher for a seasoned reliever in the seventh inning—except the game hasn’t even started. What’s really cooking in Indy?

On March 27, Colts GM Chris Ballard dropped the grenade. Daniel Jones isn’t just backup material. He’s here to compete. “We thought Daniel’s skill set and Anthony’s skill set—there’s a lot of similarities,” Ballard said, per Stampede Blue. But NFL analyst Michael Holley isn’t buying the diplomacy. “This sounds like a very polite dismantling of Anthony Richardson as a franchise quarterback,” Holley fired on Pro Football Talk. Translation?

The Colts are quietly admitting their 2023 first-round pick might be a bust. And they’re on a mission to fix the deal. “This is generally not what you say about your franchise quarterback and somebody else. So I think what they’ve pretty much told us. They just don’t want to come out and say it. He’s not their franchise quarterback,” Holley mused. Besides, Richardson’s rookie year was a rollercoaster.

577 yards, 3 TDs, 87.3% passer rating in just 4 games. But 2024? Things just went down the road. 499 rushing yards, six touchdowns, and a franchise-worst 47.7% completion rate. And then came Week 8, 2024. Richardson infamously subbed himself out mid-drive, muttering, “Tired, I ain’t gonna lie.” Cue Pat McAfee’s viral rant: “I had never seen an NFL QB tap out while still being healthy until watching Anthony Richardson. The QB is your franchise. The message it sends is loud and influential.”

Now, Ballard’s actions scream louder than a Lucas Oil Stadium crowd. Signing Jones to a $14M “prove-it” deal isn’t a backup plan. It’s a threat. “Competition’s going to help everybody,” Ballard said, doubling down on his Survivor-style QB battle. But let’s be real. When a GM spends top dollar on a 27-year-old reclamation project, it’s not just about ‘growth.’ It’s desperation. Richardson’s flaws are glaring—12 interceptions in 11 games, durability concerns, and that cringe-worthy “tired” moment. However, his raw talent is undeniable. Meanwhile, Jones arrives with his own baggage.

A 2-8 record in 2024 and a Giants tenure that fizzled faster than a Diet Coke in July. Holley nailed it: Indy’s move reeks of buyer’s remorse. Drafting Richardson fourth overall was a Hail Mary after the Carson Wentz and Matt Ryan flops. Now, they’re hedging bets like a blackjack player splitting aces. “They don’t want to say they gave up on him or that they missed,” Holley added. “But their actions, they’re getting really close to saying, ‘we missed and so we’re going to do something else.’”

Showdown in Indy: Who survives training camp—Richardson or Jones?

Even Ballard’s praise feels backhanded. Comparing Richardson to Jones? That’s like pairing a Ferrari with a Ford Fiesta because they both have four wheels. Sure, both can run—but only one’s built for speed.

Let’s break it down:

• Anthony Richardson: 50.6% career completion, 10 rushing TDs, 17 missed games.
• Daniel Jones: 63.3% completion in 2024, 15 career rushing TDs, one playoff win.

Stats aside, the Colts’ locker room is buzzing. Linebacker Zaire Franklin insists that competition helps everybody. “Obviously, being in there with him in the trenches through the highs and lows of the season last year, it was tough, but [I’m] obviously supporting him and his growth,” Franklin said. But Richardson’s agent, Deiric Jackson, isn’t sweating: “AR will be ready to roll.” Sure, but for how long? And will he run out of gas approximately 20 minutes short of the finish line again?

The Colts are stuck between rebuilding and reloading—an NFL purgatory worse than a 0-0 tie. Richardson’s ceiling is sky-high, but his floor is subterranean. Jones? He’s a Band-Aid on a bullet wound. Besides, this isn’t a competition. It’s an intervention.

As NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt once said, “Second place is just the first loser.” Ballard’s playing with fire, and Richardson’s career is the kindling.