From PFT on Ryan

[JAFF]

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...ain-this-year/

Indianapolis Colts v Tennessee Titans
Getty Images
Sam Ehlinger officially becomes the starting quarterback of the Colts. If he fails or gets injured, Nick Foles will take over. And if Foles gets injured, the quarterback will be anyone but Matt Ryan.

Ryan is done. He’s out. He won’t play again, for reasons rooted in his contract. Put simply, once the team decided (and it was clear from coach Frank Reich’s comments that owner Jim Irsay made the decision) that Ryan won’t be the quarterback in 2023, it was time to pull the plug on 2022.

SPONSORED
Pottery Barn Kids
How To Transition To A Big-Kid Room
By Pottery Barn Kids
Make your toddler feel safe and special in their first big-kid room with our design guide and tips.
SEE MORE

by TaboolaPromoted Links
Tecovas
Don't Miss Out On The Hottest Trend This Fall
NFL fines Micah Parsons, Trevon Diggs for unsportsmanlike conduct - ProFootballTalk
NerdWallet
Refinancing Your Student Debt Could Mean Lower Payments.
Bears make full use of 11-day break from Thursday to Monday - ProFootballTalk
Ryan’s contract already pays him $12 million in base salary next year, fully guaranteed. But millions more would become fully guaranteed if Ryan suffers an injury that keeps him from passing a physical by the third day of the 2023 league year in March, when the payments that are currently guaranteed for injury become fully guaranteed.

Specifically, Ryan has $7.205 million in additional 2023 salary guaranteed for injury, and a 2023 roster bonus of $10 million, which is also guaranteed for injury. That’s $17.205 million that the Colts would potentially owe Ryan (in addition to the $12 million) if he emerges from the 2022 season with an injury that prevents him from passing a physical by the middle of March.

That’s why Ryan won’t be playing again for the Colts in 2022. He could, in theory, be traded before next Tuesday. His performances through seven weeks of the current season, however, will surely cause any/every team to shy away from Ryan and his contract, regardless of whether a starter suffers a season-ending injury this weekend.

The question then becomes whether the Colts would cut Ryan after the trade deadline. He may ask to be released. The Colts may wait for the right moment to dump him, thinking that a potential quarterback-needy team may claim his contract on waivers.

Again, it’s unlikely. He is, by all appearances, done. No every quarterback will have his arm beyond his fortieth birthday. For the 37-year-old Ryan, too many of his throws now look like what John Madden used to call the last shot out of a Roman candle.

Ryan has had a great career. He was an MVP. He did everything in his power to win a Super Bowl. He recently passed Dan Marino to become No. 7 on the all-time passing yardage list.

Matt Ryan has a solid case for Canton. At this point, however, continuing to play could eventually hurt his cause. And so, as it was when the Vikings benched Donovan McNabb for Christian Ponder in 2011 and later released McNabb, it may simply be over for Ryan.

Even if it is, he’ll still make $12 million next year to not play pro football. The Colts, at this point, are simply hoping to be sure he doesn’t get $17.205 million more.

[HoosierinFL]

So I guess what was left unstated in there is that they will not risk further injury on Ryan this season so that he could in principle pass the March physical and will not be owed so much next year.

ok whatever.

I'm not sure how I feel about it being Irsay making this call, though it feels like the right call. Bad o-line aside, it really feels like Ryan is toast. Our own Lawrence Owen doesn't agree but it just feels like the same story week in and week out with Ryan.

[Brylok]

I'm glad Jim yanked the bandaid off. We can't keep going on and on with washed up retread QBs. Gotta start over and build around the young guy. Three years and two months since Luck rat-fucked us. It's been long enough. C'mon Sam! Give us hope for the future, one way or another.

[Hoopsdoc]

Makes more sense this way.

Now, we need Sam to either be really good or really bad.

[rcubed]

Originally Posted by HoosierinFL

So I guess what was left unstated in there is that they will not risk further injury on Ryan this season so that he could in principle pass the March physical and will not be owed so much next year.

ok whatever.

I'm not sure how I feel about it being Irsay making this call, though it feels like the right call. Bad o-line aside, it really feels like Ryan is toast. Our own Lawrence Owen doesn't agree but it just feels like the same story week in and week out with Ryan.

I think it was pretty well stated.

[JAFF]

So how many quarters does he get this week before they pull him? Raimann was suppose to be the LT, and that lasted two series.

Usually the Colts have their bs stories organized. If the Colts cant move the ball by halftime, will there be a change? Maybe this will get the O line to get over their shit storm and go play some ball

[Brylok]

Originally Posted by JAFF

So how many quarters does he get this week before they pull him? Raimann was suppose to be the LT, and that lasted two series.

Usually the Colts have their bs stories organized. If the Colts cant move the ball by halftime, will there be a change? Maybe this will get the O line to get over their shit storm and go play some ball

It seems as if Jim has made this decision. I expect Sam will play the whole game unless he gets injured. God forbid.

[CletusPyle]

It sounds like this is more to save money than the Colts having any confidence in Sam having success where Ryan failed. Looks like unless Sam shocks the world we will be looking at drafting a franchise QB next season.

[rcubed]

Originally Posted by CletusPyle

It sounds like this is more to save money than the Colts having any confidence in Sam having success where Ryan failed. Looks like unless Sam shocks the world we will be looking at drafting a franchise QB next season.

agree. with all the info coming out about the structure of ryan's contract coupled with the beating he is taking and a sub-par arm, they are benching him rather than risk the extra $17M.

unless there was some massive turn around, he wasnt going to be the guy next year. cut losses now.

[dwilli57]

Originally Posted by Brylok

It seems as if Jim has made this decision. I expect Sam will play the whole game unless he gets injured. God forbid.

Might be a guaranteed way to get a high draft pick bc we all know how great Foles would be.