- NFL. Pat McAfee doesn't hold back after Chicago Bears player reckless play leads to defeat
- NFL. Pat McAfee doesn't hold back after Chicago Bears player reckless play leads to defeat
When NFL teams spend high draft picks on players, they are expecting to get a star. Particularly when it comes to drafting quarterbacks high, teams are doing so with the hope that the player will be a "franchise quarterback" for a very long time. Every player and situation is unique, so it doesn't always pan out the way teams envision it, but if it goes poorly, it can set the franchise back for even a decade. That's where the Indianapolis Colts may find themselves soon.
After seeing one of the best quarterbacks in the league, Andrew Luck, suddenly retire before the 2019 season, the franchise was thrown into a whirlwind. After trying to bridge the gap with veterans, the front office pulled the trigger in the 2023 NFL Draft, aiming to get "their guy" 4th overall with Anthony Richardson. Richardson was a raw prospect with not a lot of starting experience coming into the NFL, so it was always going to take some time developing him. But the Colts appear to have run out of patience.
Head coach Shane Steichen made the decision to bench Richardson following the team's loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday, turning to veteran Joe Flacco instead.
Pat McAfee says Anthony Richardson was benched for "tapping out"
The move has been questioned by many NFL analysts, with the common sentiment being he hasn't been given enough time to show something. But Pat McAfee believes he's been benched for an entirely different reason, something he mentioned right after the game ended.
Richardson subbed himself out of the game on a critical play during the loss to the Texans due to being out of breath. That move has been universally panned. Richardson says it was for the betterment of the team in that moment, but it's almost never been seen before from a quarterback.
Colts captain Ryan Kelly already mentioned that it was a bad look at the time. It's clear that play didn't sit well with anyone on the team, or the coaches. If anything, it was an excuse for Steichen to finally bench him after he's been so inefficient throwing the ball.