The second time around needs to be different.
Second chances are abundant in the NFL. Players may struggle with the team that drafted them but find a resurgence with another. Quarterbacks such as Jared Goff, Sam Darnold, and Baker Mayfield are just a few names in that conversation. Yes, many players find second and even third or fourth chances as they drift from team to team, but second chances are the end of the line when operating within the same franchise. Anthony Richardson is already on his second chance with the Indianapolis Colts, and I can just about guarantee there won’t be a third.
Richardson has struggled on the field to start his second year. While the on the field struggles have been evident, they aren’t being cited as the reason he wasted benched in favor of Joe Flacco. The bigger issues appear to be effort and maturity. Gathering the tidbits we have received from players and coaches, it appears Richardson needs to start understanding his role as a NFL starting quarterback and begin taking it more seriously. The “tap-out” in isolation wasn’t the issue; it was the breaking point. It was the moment in which the organization felt he wasn’t quite where he needed to be to lead this team.
The most important aspect now is whether Richardson has learned his leason. I don’t expect him to come straight into the Jet’s game and be unstoppable. He still needs to log reps and experience. The hope now is that he is taking a better and more engaged approach to preparing for the games. The hope is he understands that nothing in this game is promised and raw ability alone isn’t enough. The hope is he becomes a student of the game and comprehends that everyone around him is relying on him. If Richardson pours himself into the game and used his time on the bench to self reflect, he will be that much better for it.
We shouldn’t look for miracles on Sunday. Anthony Richardson isn’t going to be a totally different player. We need to look for progress over the next month. Let’s see if we can identify growth and maturity. Those are less tangible traits, but they should be identifiable in aspects of his game. If we see that through the rest of the year, all is not lost, and Richardson will have made the best of his second chance.
