“You abandoned them!” Shannon Sharpe calls out Colts’ Anthony Richardson for quitting on his team after getting gassed out
Anthony Richardson stepped out of the game as he was out of breath in the middle of a crucial drive against the Houston Texans.
Follow Us
Shannon Sharpe and Anthony Richardson (Images via IMAGO)
The Indianapolis Colts have a lot to be worried about after their Week 8 loss to the Houston Texans. The team faced yet another scare with quarterback Anthony Richardson as he went down in the third quarter and opted to substitute himself for a play before getting back on the field.
It was later revealed that Anthony Richardson chose to sub himself because he was fatigued and out of breath at that moment. That was a rather shocking revelation, considering it came from a quarterback and not a defensive lineman or a receiver.
Richardson’s decision caught many off-guard, including Pat McAfee, who called him out on that. Now, ESPN’s Shannon Sharpe lashed out at the quarterback for ditching his team when they needed him the most. Sharpe believes Anthony Richardson lost the trust of the locker room by walking out on his offense.
Coach Lombardi had a famous quote, he said, ‘Fatigue will make cowards of us all.’ Your team they are not looking at you the same because you left them. You supposed to be the leader of that offense and when they needed you the most, you left them, you abandoned them…I’m not telling you this as somebody from the outside, I’m telling you this as somebody that was a de facto leader in a locker room.
Shannon Sharpe said via First Take
Sharpe went after the quarterback on First Take. He believes Richardson lost the faith of his teammates because his decision to take a break resulted in them losing trust in his abilities as a leader.
Shannon Sharpe further took offense to Anthony Richardson quitting on his teammates
The quarterback sat out for just one play. He managed to come back and orchestrate a touchdown drive. However, Shannon Sharpe does not care about that. He was part of NFL locker rooms for the longest time and understands how they work.
When you did what you did, just don’t quit on me. I understand if you can’t make a play, I understand if you turn the ball over, I understand if you get beat, that’s a part of it but you can’t quit. You quit on them bro, you left them out to dry, when your teammates needed you the most, when they were counting on you the most, you said you know I’m done. You got a lot of growing to do young man.
Shannon Sharpe delivered a rather emotional message directly to Anthony Richardson.
Sure, in this case, the quarterback was able to orchestrate a touchdown drive right after but in the NFL, each play is important. One play is enough to turn the tide over, take the instance of Jayden Daniels’ game-winning Hail Mary pass last night.
.@ShannonSharpe couldn't believe Anthony Richardson sat out for a play in the third quarter of Colts-Texans ? pic.twitter.com/oImzQN3R5g
— First Take (@FirstTake) October 28, 2024
Anthony Richardson is an athlete, he is a quarterback, and that position is not as taxing physically when compared to a wide receiver or offensive lineman. It is halfway through the season. How can a player be gassed out at this point? Even if that were the case, he should have urged the HC to take a timeout because regrouping after a break is easy, but regaining the trust of your teammates is not.
Shannon Sharpe went on to say that if a report had been the source, claiming Richardson sat out for a play because he was out of breath, then he would not have believed it. However, the quarterback himself admitted that he was tired and chose to substitute himself. Sharpe was baffled by Richardson’s revelation.
The Colts ought to be second-guessing themselves on if Richardson is their ‘franchise QB’ moving forward because he has proven to be fragile and lacks the leadership qualities a team looks for in their floor general.
Stay Updated!
Sumedh Joshi
(2235 Articles Published)