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INDIANAPOLIS – Colts owner Jim Irsay has gone from not having to really worry about being a quarterback for nearly 20 years to now heading into his second straight offseason not knowing who will be the starter in 2021.
“The type of team that we have, it would really benefit us the most if we could have someone who could come in and play at a high level, with a veteran vision,” Irsay said Wednesday.
The Colts have a young and talented team, led by linebacker Darius Leonard and guard Quenton Nelson, but they have a substantial quarterback vacuum. Veteran Philip Rivers, 39, led the Colts to the playoffs for the second time since 2014, but announced on Jan.20 that he was retiring after 17 seasons.
Rivers’ retirement means the Colts could have their fifth different Week 1 quarterback in 2021 after having either Peyton Manning or Andrew Luck essentially from 1998 to 2019. Rookie Jacob Eason is the only quarterback currently under contract for the Colts. Jacoby Brissett, who started Week 1 in 2019, is expected to be a free agent.
Colts general manager Chris Ballard’s belief is that there is more to a team than the quarterback; it’s about having a complete list. But there has to be stability in the quarterback, as the four teams that have reached the NFC and AFC Championship Games – Green Bay, Tampa Bay, Kansas City and Buffalo – all have it.
“We are convinced that we are close, that we have a great core of players who can compete for the Super Bowl very soon,” said Irsay. “Ideally, if you can bring in someone this year who is ready to go, that gives you the best opportunity.”
The Colts are expected to have around $ 69 million in salary cap space, but it’s not really a booming free agent market in the quarterback, as players like Cam Newton and Jameis Winston point out this group. Ballard didn’t look optimistic about drafting a quarterback to his current No.21 position in the first round.
The other option is the Commercial Market, where Detroit’s Matthew Stafford continues to be linked to the Colts as a possible destination.
Irsay acknowledged that the franchise would gladly welcome Luck, who suddenly retired in August 2019, if he decided to resume his career. The two did not discuss a possible return, but the owner joked that he would keep looking at his fax machine in case the quarterback decides to remove a page from Michael Jordan’s book by sending a message that simply said, “I’m back,” like Jordan after his first retirement from the Chicago Bulls.
“He knows how much we would love him to be our quarterback, there’s no question about it,” Irsay said. “But at the same time, we know that for it to work, he’s got to be the one saying, ‘You know what? I’m ready. I really want to create a bit of history, in unprecedented aspects. “”
Irsay added, “I don’t know if we’ll see that. I think he’s happy. He’s raising his daughter. He has a wonderful family. He’s a great Colt and he knows it can come back anytime he wants, but at the same time, we respect that he made this decision. “
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