On Tuesday, the Indianapolis Colts decided to bench second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson in favor of 39-year-old Joe Flacco.
However, after star wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. offered some insight Wednesday into how the decision was relayed to the team, the organization and head coach Shane Steichen came under fire.
During an interview with James Boyd, who covers the Colts for The Athletic, Pittman revealed that he first found out about the move on social media, like everyone else, when ESPN’s Adam Schefter first reported it.
“Well, I first found out through social media,” said Pittman. But then I messaged somebody from our front office to see if it was confirmed, and then it was.”
Boyd then asked how someone within the Colts organization formally told him about the move. And Pittman seemed to indicate that there was no formal conversation within the locker room about it.
“Well, I mean, everybody’s seen it, so we haven’t necessarily talked about it. But everybody kind of knows. We’ve had walk-throughs and team meetings. So it’s not like it’s a secret now.”
#Colts WR Michael Pittman Jr. on the QB change:
“I first found out through social media but then I messaged somebody from our front office to see if it was confirmed and then it was.”
How was he formally told?
“Everybody’s seen it, so we haven’t necessarily talked about it …” pic.twitter.com/Pi1Hy4HnFr
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) October 30, 2024
Pittman is not only one of the most steady offensive contributors on this Colts roster but also a captain. So, if he wasn’t formally told about the decision, it sure seems likely that nobody on the roster was.
Typically, when a move this big is made, a head coach addresses the team and notifies them before it is ever leaked to an NFL insider.
But clearly, the Colts have a different way of doing things compared to the rest of the league.
This wasn’t the only interview from a Colts player that largely exposed the rather strange way that the organization is handling the Anthony Richardson benching either.
Richardson himself spoke to reporters on Wednesday, detailing that Steichen didn’t offer him any explanation for his benching.
“He just told me they were going to go with Joe (Flacco), and that was that. And I just had to take in the information and just grow,” said Richardson.
“Did he explain why?” a reporter asked in a follow-up question.
“Nah, not really,” replied Richardson.
I asked #Colts QB Anthony Richardson how/why HC Shane Steichen explained him being benched:
“He just told me they were gonna go with Joe (Flacco) and that was that. And I just had to take in the information and just grow.”
So, did Steichen explain why?
“Nah, not necessarily.” pic.twitter.com/RNrKSFVzx0
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) October 30, 2024
Shane Steichen not only didn’t inform his team about the move but also didn’t explain the decision to Richardson directly in a productive way that could have really helped him focus on an area of improvement.
It’s not a secret that the Colts are trying to win now with this decision to bench Richardson. Steichen said as much when he officially discussed the decision with the public. But how they made this decision certainly opens them up to scrutiny.
