I don’t know what I was expecting when the Colts’ media relations staff told us that Keenan Allen was available to speak to reporters Thursday after practice.
Maybe some humility, a little bit of contrition, a hint of remorse a few days after his arrest on an OWI that forced him to spend time in police custody.
Maybe I was harkening back to Pat McAfee’s post-swim press briefing, when the tearfully contrite Colts’ punter fell on his sword and expressed his embarrassment and disappointment after his late-night dip in the Broad Ripple Canal.
Now, I understand Allen can’t say much of anything – I’m sure his lawyers told him to say as little as humanly possible – but you would think, or hope, he would apologize for creating a distraction for the organization less than two weeks before the season opener.
But Allen said…nothing.
Well, close to nothing.
Asked how the last few days have unfolded and whether he’s discussed it with coaches and teammates, he said, “Let’s keep the discussions in house. Just focus on being a good football player.”
Asked a similar question about how he moves forward after the arrest, he said, “Because it’s an ongoing legal matter, we’re not going to discuss it.”
I asked Allen, “What do you want Indy fans to know about you after this was their first impression?”
He answered, “I take my job serious. I’m a good player and a try to be a good teammate.”
“Just a mistake?” I wondered.
He cast a glance my way.
“I’m asking the question,” I followed up.
He shrugged.
Look, I don’t know what happened that night, and as I think back to my reckless younger years, I can’t help but think, “There but for the grace of God go I.” In the pre-Uber days, mistakes were made. Thank heavens nothing horrible happened.
I am more than willing to give Allen grace, especially given his history of good works throughout his former communities, but I thought his brief interview with the media Thursday fell flat. A little bit of contrition, a hint of remorse, go a long way.
Ask McAfee.
I’m thrilled for Anthony Richardson.
After all the injuries and benchings and false starts behind center, Richardson, who had asked to be traded several months ago, is going into this season as the Colts’ No. 2 quarterback over Riley Leonard.
Can you imagine the amazing story Richardson could write if (heaven forbid) Daniel Jones goes down with an injury, Richardson steps in and plays exceedingly well. Now, I’m not saying Richardson versus Leonard was some kind of clash of the titans, but it’s hard to argue against the idea that Richardson performed better than Leonard in the three preseason games. In a sense, this is Richardson’s best/last chance to find his way into NFL playing time. It can’t be easy, navigating a young career in which he already has been cast as a draft bust, but to Richardson’s credit, he’s continued to work, continued to grow, continued to be a good teammate.
And now he’s just a snap away, a snap behind a player, Daniel Jones, who hasn’t stayed healthy for an entire season since 2022.
If you’d have asked me a few months back, I would have sworn Richardson had a foot-and-a-half out the door. But here’s the truth: Nobody wanted him. I mean…nobody. And it’s not like the Colts were holding out for a major return. They would have dealt him for a ham sandwich. But there are still lots of questions about his health, specifically his vision after that terrible and fluky injury last season. Teams weren’t willing to touch him with a 10-foot pole.
So he’s back, probably in the last place him and his agent thought he would be.
“I’ve been pretty consistent with Anthony.,” Ballard said Tuesday. “We forget how young he is sometimes. Really proud of his growth. There was a little bit of rough start against New England with the turnovers. There were two times in camp that I said, `OK, he’s really starting to show some poise. The two-minute (drive) against New England, remember, we’re backed up. I think it was 38 seconds left, he gets us into field goal range to give us a chance to get points. And then during the Atlanta scrimmage, he had a tremendous two minute, so it’s been fun to watch Anthony’s growth.”
