As Colt fans, we did not get our optimal results for the tag designation period. In a perfect world, Jones would have signed a team/cap friendly deal that allowed the Colts to tag Pierce. I understand that there is also a faction out there that were perfectly willing to let Jones walk or at minimum hit the market, while prioritizing keeping Pierce in the building.
Much of this stems from the crappy realization that Pierce’s chances of staying with the team are now pretty slim. We can’t now say that we will give you nearly 30 million per the tag amount for receivers. I do not know this to be the case, but I believe that Pierce’s camp may have pulled an okey-doke on us. By saying that he would not sign until he knew who his QB was, he got the Colts to use the tag on Jones and in the process freed himself up to enter unrestricted negotiations. He has now made it known that he feels he deserves the right to explore free agency. In short, it is going to suck if we lose him.
What I do not understand is that given the opportunity to end the maddening cycle of starting a new QB each year, some are frustrated that we have been able to retain the best one that we have had A.L. (after Luck). You might pick at the Colts early season competition, but the offense that DJ was leading was Manning level. We simply were seldom punting, while putting more points on the board than anyone in the league. They were consistent numbers and it didn’t disappear against the better teams, including the Broncos, Rams and Chargers.
Concerns about arm strength were debunked and he was not just running well, like the last time he had looked good with the Giants. He had command of the offense, spread the ball around, and picked up first downs with his legs when needed. He wasn’t ripping off 20 yard runs, but if he needed 6 yards, he was getting 8 – 10, while converting sneaks at a high percentage as well. If it was smoke and mirrors, it had 90% of those who get paid to talk about football fooled as well.
Some will point out that he was “figured out” in the Pittsburgh game. I personally put that on the inability to game plan for the adjustment that the league made, but I have some level of confidence that it could/would have been figured out, had DJ not sustained an injury. Again, DJ suffered an injury. If you listen to Pittman, it was a far more severe injury than was reported. Without missing a game, he found a brace that he felt comfortable enough with to play.
During the hot streak, I polled fans to see if we should get him in the fold for a few years. I found that I was in the minority in my desire to sign him. I could be wrong, but I believe the fact that he was on a one year deal, played a role in putting a player with a broken bone on the field. Given some of the other player’s (more basketball) experience with playing on an injured leg, causing them to injure their achilles, the Colts may have played it safer. Since Rivers would still have been coaching his son, Leonard would have received first team reps until Jones’ leg was sound, even if that was not until training camp this year.
As we look at what a Jones contract might look like, I feel you have make sure it is for longer than one season. If not, you are putting him in the same position this year, where he will play injured if he feels it is in his personal best interest. I am betting that he is ready for the start of camp, but I don’t want him out there if he has any limitations. I also would think that once Richardson is traded away, Leonard will see a ton of first team reps during training camp.
Leonard would also benefit from spending some more time with Rivers in Fairhope, Alabama, even if he has to throw to some kids to pay for the knowledge. Anything that keeps the connection between the Colts and Rivers together, will ultimately pay dividends with a job for Rivers in some capacity. Heck, maybe even HC if the season doesn’t produce that playoff run that has supposed to have been the baseline for coaches and staff over the last three years.
I’m sort of excited about the prospect of having Jones under center for the next three years or so. We know more about what we have in him than any of the out of house options. Even if he is a tad slower, it is not like designed runs were a large part of the Colts offense. Make sure that you have OL depth and that you have a plan for the run blitzes that started a downward offensive trend last season. Play Leonard if and when needed and gel in the second half, rather than the first.
I think it was always going to be an either/or situation with Jones and Pierce. Either contract basically put you at your cap limit, before cuts and renegotiations. Given our struggles to find a QB, I’m happy that Jones should get the opportunity to be the man in Indy, at least until he is not. One last thing about the salary that Jones might command. When he signed that 40 mil contract with the Giants, it made up 18% of their cap. 40 mil this year, will make up 13% and would continue to go down.
My opinion will not be a popular one, but I would also have chosen stability at the QB position, if this truly was an “either, or” decision. It is a risk, but we know what not having a QB looks like and I believe DJ breaks that cycle.
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