Colts QB Anthony Richardson joins Bryce Young in 2023 first-round benched club. But Colts’ decision is harder to explain

When the Carolina Panthers stunned the NFL world by benching quarterback Bryce Young in September, the reverberations of the decision echoed around the league.

Was a franchise which had invested hefty draft capital to select Young first overall giving up on him 18 games into his pro career?

Had Young started his last game for the Panthers, if not across the NFL?

League sentiment centered the decision around three key tenets: the need to restore Young’s confidence, the shallow talent collection around him and the need to establish a winning culture with first-year head coach Brian Callahan.

Young wasn’t capable of elevating or even keeping afloat his team, the Panthers felt. His skill set and size were not a recipe for success. So Callahan announced the decision, and the Panthers won their following game before losing five more straight.

Fast forward to Tuesday, and news broke of a second 2023 first-round quarterback’s benching.

It’s easy to associate the Indianapolis Colts’ decision to bench Anthony Richardson, the fourth overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, with the benching of the man drafted three spots before him.

But a closer look at the Colts’ decision to roll with Joe Flacco shows how different just about everything is about these players.

Shane Steichen on Anthony Richardson 2 days ago: “We’ve got to just keep working through it. He’s got a good work ethic. He grinds through these things. Man, it’s a process. We do it together. That’s why I say this thing is together. This ain’t about one guy.”

Now, he’s benched. pic.twitter.com/kKVqe1sWiu

— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) October 29, 2024

Where Young’s 5-foot-10, 204-pound (generously) frame hurts him, Richardson’s 6-4, 244-pound frame allures talent evaluators. Where Young’s 27 collegiate starts and 949 college pass attempts gave decision-makers a solid look at his potential, Richardson’s 13 starts with 393 attempts left them heavily projecting on massive question marks.

And where the…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/colts-qb-anthony-richardson-joins-bryce-young-in-2023-first-round-benched-club-but-colts-decision-is-harder-to-explain-033109376.html

Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2024-10-30 03:31:09

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