2026 Off-Season Thread

[IndyNorm]

Originally Posted by ChaosTheory

Maybe, but you're right, it's hindsight. Basically any hypothetical you throw out will look better and we don't have the luxury of seeing the outcome. Some people think Aaron Rodgers or Patrick Mahomes wouldn't be what they are if they didn't sit. I don't particularly agree, but that's also a separate topic.

Steichen’s track record with QBs belies the claim that AR failed due to a lack of mentorship. Between Herbert, Hurts, Minshew, Jones... Seems AR is the outlier, not Steichen's mentorship.

I think there's a huge tendency for people to act like these players are simply chess pieces controlled by their masters. Jalen Hurts had plenty of issues and concerns, but he was also showing up to the building for 12-15 hour days.

All that said, I don't hate on AR like it may sound. I think the injuries definitely derailed progress and he has worked to fix things. But damage was already done and I don't begrudge them if they try to salvage something in a trade.

All of the QBs you mentioned had significantly more playing experience than AR and were older than him as well. If ever there was a case to bring in a vet mentor and try to develop a QB slowly AR certainly was it, and the shit show results definitely prove it.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it's all the Colts fault. AR certainly played his part as well, but IMO the Colts organization failed AR just as much as he failed them. And not just in his play development. Take his eye injury for example. Why didn't someone from the Colts staff have AR safely use a piece of exercise equipment designed to old resistance bands rather than allow him to use a makeshift setup in his locker?