Colts benching Anthony Richardson for Joe Flacco makes JJ Watt question HC Shane Steichen’s goal for 2024 season
JJ Watt fought for Anthony Richardson and questioned Shane Steichen's decision to bench him despite Colts having very little chance of winning the Super Bowl.
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Anthony Richardson and JJ Watt (Image via NFL.com)
NFL teams have been accused of mishandling the young quarterbacks for quite some time. The Colts added their name to that list as they abruptly benched second-year signal caller Anthony Richardson for 39-year-old Joe Flacco earlier this week.
Head coach Shane Steichen’s decision received mixed reactions from senior analysts and former players. JJ Watt, who always advocates for young athletes, highlighted that benching Richardson may be a tactical move to keep the locker room in check. Yet at the same time, he also questioned the merits of the decision regarding Richardson’s confidence and growth.
Watt popped the important question: whether the Colts are aiming for the Super Bowl? Or rather, who among Joe Flacco and Anthony Richardson gives the Colts the best chance to even come close to winning a Lombardi?
"I think the only way you go to Flacco today, is if you truly believe you can win the Super Bowl this year."@JJWatt believes the Colts should let Anthony Richardson grow and develop ✍️ pic.twitter.com/k2UOqRyKe0
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) October 30, 2024
Watt argued that if Steichen’s goal is winning a Super Bowl this year, then Flacco gives them the best chance.
I think they are good team. Flacco gives them the best chance to win games right now. [But] I don’t think they are a Super Bowl-winning team this year. For me, if you were gonna go that route then you had to move toward Flacco earlier than this.
JJ Watt said on the Pat McAfee Show.
JJ Watt isn’t a fan of Anthony Richardson spending time on the bench
Benching Richardson was the right decision. However, several news outlets, including FOX Sports and USA Today, gave the Colts just a 1% chance of winning the Super Bowl in February 2025.
The Colts are currently just outside of the playoff spots, but from Watt’s point of view, Steichen, instead of benching the 22-year-old, should have kept on playing Richardson to gain experience and learn the ropes on the job. Hardly anyone outside of Indianapolis believes they have a shot at winning the title. So Richardson should see more game time.
We would love if everyone came in and played like CJ Stroud and Jayden Daniels… But we are churning through these young guys so fast… You better understand that it might not be Super Bowl in year 1 or year 2 but that guy could develop longer term.
Watt ranted.
Watt presented Josh Allen as an example who struggled in his first season but has consistently led the Bills to postseason football. Watt even put himself on the pedestal, citing that he should have been benched due to the bad patch of games at the start of his career, but he was allowed to develop and he won three DPOYs.
Steichen’s decision to start Flacco over Richardson was in the aftermath of much criticism following the Florida graduates’ sudden retirement in the Texans fixture last week. Up next, the Colts will play NFC high-fliers the Minnesota Vikings.
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Ishan Misra
(3023 Articles Published)