Richardson and Jones begin the Great QB Battle

Day One? Neither guy covered himself in glory, but this will be a daily referendum to be monitored closely.

WESTFIELD – They need Anthony Richardson to win this quarterback derby. Certainly, the fans who showed up for the training-camp opener Wednesday made their preferences known, the excitement audible every time Richardson stepped behind center. This city is still largely behind Richardson, who has not developed the way they would have hoped as he approaches his third year. Injuries, inconsistency, lack of professionalism, all of it has conspired to put Richardson in this position, one where he’s going to fight newcomer Daniel Jones for the starting quarterback job this season.

We know what Jones can do. He’s started 69 games. He is average, at best, having finished 26^th in QBR last season in New York, ultimately benched in favor of the immortal Tommy DeVito. He is clearly more accurate in the short passing game than Richardson – so is everybody, for that matter – but he lacks Richardson’s explosiveness, his ability to get the ball way downfield. If Jones starts this season, and it appears to be a 50-50 proposition, the Colts will be average at best but not a playoff team. There’s a ceiling with Jones.

What we don’t know is what Richardson can do if and when he ever combines the physical gifts with all the other requirements of being the CEO of a franchise. The ceiling is extraordinarily high, but to believe in Richardson, a disappointment his first two seasons, it’s going to require an act of faith. We’ve seen snippets of excellence, the comeback against the Rams his rookie year, the comebacks against the Jets and Patriots last year, but we haven’t seen enough of the good stuff to offset all the inaccuracy, especially in the short and intermediate game.

Chris Ballard sat with the media Tuesday and asked for patience, which is rich coming from an organization that named Richardson the starter after just one preseason game his rookie season.

“Do you think people regret Baker Mayfield’s timeline? Sam Darnold’s timeline?” Ballard asked.