If anyone is fit to provide proper commentary and perspective on a tumultuous quarterback situation, it’s anyone who has had to watch the Chicago Bears for an extended amount of time.
Which makes us highly qualified to discuss the calamity in Indianapolis Colts camp, as Head Coach Frank Reich is already moivng on from Matt Ryan after just seven starts.
News from old friend JJ Stankevitz:
It’s not just that an injured Ryan is taking a seat on the bench. Nope. Although, seeing the 2016 MVP and four-time Pro Bowler sent to ride the pine has my attention. Now, THAT is the kind of move someone makes when they’re on the hot seat. And it’s not even about Sam Ehlinger making the move into the starting lineup. Instead, this is all mind-blowing because this is a full-time swap-a-roo.
“Right now the move is for Sam to be the starter for the rest of the season,” Reich said in making the move.
Ryan, 37, leads the NFL in completions (203) while connecting on 68.4% of his passes. But he also leads the league in completions TO THE OTHER TEAM. Ryan’s 9 interceptions put him atop an NFL leaderboard no one wants to be on. After 14 years with the Falcons, there was hope Ryan would find a late-career boost from a change-of-scenery. Instead, a Colts team that looked prime to take the AFC South is going through yet another quarterback change. And when Week 1 2023 rolls around, Indy could be on its sixth Week 1 QB1 in as many seasons. Even the Bears have had more continuity at the position than the Colts. Unbelievable!
What a wild situaiton. And to think, we saw the Colts move a third-round draft pick for Ryan about 10 months ago. Trading draft capital to inherit that monstrosity of a contract might’ve been questionable at the time, but looks awful now. As NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reports, the Ryan trade came with a contract adjustment that guaranteed $24.7 million in 2022 and included $12 million in full guarantees in 2023. In order for the Colts to escape that deal, they’ll have to eat $18 million in dead money in order to create $17,205,882 in cap savings. Tough scene.