While it was not difficult to see Jim Irsay as the driving force behind the Colts’ decision to abandon their Carson Wentz effort after one season, the owner effectively confirmed this Tuesday.
GM Chris Ballard called the Irsay-initiated meeting after the Colts’ Week 18 loss “an ass-chewing,” and the longtime owner certainly appears to have identified Wentz as the main problem. Irsay’s refusal to meet with Wentz, following reports the Colts were done with him, preceded the team trading the former No. 2 overall pick to Washington earlier this month.
“No disrespect to Jacksonville, but I mean, they’re the worst team in the league. You play well and hard for the first quarter or so, and they’re looking to go to their locker room and clean it out. I’ve never seen anything like that in my life,” Irsay said, via the Indianapolis Star’s Joel Erickson. “You say, ‘My God, there’s something wrong here.’ It needs to be corrected. I think that we feel like we did.”
Moving away from Wentz became the “obvious” decision, per Irsay, who was grateful the Deshaun Watson saga led to Matt Ryan becoming available (Twitter link via The Athletic’s Zak Keefer). Wentz finished with a career-low 4.3 QBR against the Jaguars, who were two-touchdown underdogs, and Irsay criticized the since-traded passer for his failure to lift the team as its season-defining upset took shape. Irsay met with Colts leaders and determined a Wentz-related disconnect existed, per Erickson.
It is safe to say Wentz will have sufficient motivation going into the 2022 season, considering persistent criticism aimed his way over the past several weeks. Frank Reich said this week he believes Wentz can still be a top-10 quarterback, adding “You guys know how I feel about him,” but “you have to make the move that you think is right,” via The Athletic’s Stephen Holder (subscription required). Reich was the last of the Colts’ power trio to reach the conclusion the team needed to trade Wentz, Holder adds. Given Reich’s pre-Indianapolis connection to the QB, this hesitancy makes sense.
“That was a good debate. That went back and forth,” Ballard said, via Holder, of talks between he, Reich and Irsay on Wentz’s future. “Look, I mean, Carson was productive for us. Let’s be real here. [He threw] 27 touchdowns and seven interceptions. My job is to look not only at the short term but also the long-term implications. And I think sometimes you hang on just because you made a move and you don’t want the world to see you in a negative viewpoint. We gotta always do the right thing no matter how it might make me look. I just thought it was the right move for us short- and long-term.”
This, ladies and gentlemen, is how you build a damn good culture.
For old timers like myself the name Irsay will always be associated with the destruction of culture. If the post-Wentz plan bombs, JIm will probably rent some Mayflower moving trucks like his dad did.
Oh yeah, that was a Bruce Allen reference.
………….
OK MLBTR/NFLTR THERE IS A 20 INCH SEPARATION BETWEEN COMMENTS IN THIS THREAD. IT HAPPENS ON BOTH SITES!
AND IT’S BEEN HAPPENING OCCASIONALLY FOR YEARS!
CAN YOU FIX IT PLEASE!!?? I DON’T PAY EXTRA FOR THIS BALONEY! THANKS!
Wow
I know the details will probably never come out, but I’d love to hear the whole story. This makes two organizations that couldn’t wait to get rid of Wentz in spite of the cost of doing so. He seems to be polarizing because he has his share of fans, but the critics are very emphatic.
Maybe just maybe having an overly emotional and often drunk owner is not good for franchise stability?
“Carson Wentz BETRAYED us!!!! We trusted him and he let us down. 48 year old Matt Ryan will NEVER fail us!”
The drunk comments are tiresome! Find something else to say. There is no owner more passionate about their team than Irsay. They admitted to making a mistake and moved on. You should do the same.
He pretty much put the loss all at the foot of one player and got rid of him in anger based off that moment, by his own admission. That to me is impulsive and overly emotional, but the fact that Irsay refused to even meet with Wentz at all is definitely unprofessional.
And before we put all the blame at Wentz’s feet (he unquestionably deserves some of it), don’t forget Indianapolis’ recent record in Jacksonville, even before Wentz got there. The Colts play poorly in Jacksonville for some reason, with or without Wentz.
They do play poorly in Jacksonville. However that was not the only game where he played badly. He didn’t provide the leadership expected and overall did not have a good season. He may have a good td/int ratio but anybody who watched Colts games knows he should’ve had 20 picks. His decision making was shaky and injuries/Covid was an issue. That trade was a bad move. Lesson learned.
Okay, granted, but publically castigating one player for a team loss (and refusing to meet with that player afterward) is completely unprofessional. He also essentially confirmed that he meddles with management decisions. Irsay is not setting a good example for anyone to see when considering the Colts as a destination, and I say this as someone who believes that the team is and has been close to contention status lately.
Why does Irsay need to meet with him? Did he meet with other players? Where in the quote, or any quote, did he call out Wentz specifically? Meddling seems strong. Like most GMs in the NFL, Ballard goes to him when ideas/deals reach a certain magnitude. I’ve not read anything about his input in lesser deals. Seems to me like the media is blowing this out of proportion to get folks going. Like I said earlier, this experiment just didn’t work.
It literally says so in the linked article…Wentz tried to meet with Irsay before the Jacksonville game, Irsay said no. Not real conducive to positive results. There was also this in the article above:
“Moving away from Wentz became the ‘obvious’ decision, per Irsay, who was grateful the Deshaun Watson saga led to Matt Ryan becoming available (Twitter link via The Athletic’s Zak Keefer).”
I’m not sure where you’re getting your argument that it’s being media driven from. Irsay hasn’t ever been shy about expressing himself to the media.
Apologies AK, I did not read the linked article about the meeting. Seems like Wentz wanted to meet with him to save his job. Owners dont have to meet with players. If declining that meeting is in poor taste so be it.
The quote you have from this article only states the Irsay was involved in the decision to move on, which like I said owners often take part in major decisions.
I’m terms if the media, I do think it’s blown out of proportion because we’re still hearing about this as though there was something deceptive going on behind closed doors. The team expected more from there investment and he didn’t deliver. Wentz may not deserve all of the blame, but he was a major, major part of the problem and the team found what they believe is a better path forward, which I agree. The team wanted more pass rush so they traded for help.
You’re correct, Irsay is not shy about tweets and comments. He wants to win as all owners and fans do. He’s just vocal about it. I’m just tired of hearing about an addiction problem he had many years ago. When it’s not that, folks mention him buying memorabilia. Give the guy a freakin break. He had a problem, admitted it and made the life changes needed. He’s got a lot of money and wants to buy stuff, so what? He badly wants his team to win. I’m happy he’s the owner.
You guys stop fighting
Injuries/covid were issues for 99% of the league especially when omicron hit. Even vaccinated players were sick and testing positive.
It was such an issue the league and union agreed to alter protocols.
Wentz might be the reason they lost some games but they lost 8. Defenses lost them games. Wentz lost some games. Special teams lost some games.
link to nfl.com
Some people are born with leadership traits and some have to be taught leadership traits. Wentz obviously wasn’t born with leadership traits and Everyone has failed to train him to be a leader.
Would you prefer overly emotional and mentally unstable?
I can meet you halfway here.
If you think the human equivalent of an angry roulette wheel running the show is the way to go…enjoy.
He is emotional. You can’t have passion without emotion. Why is he mentally unstable? Give me an answer without mentioning an abuse problem 8yrs ago.
Yes, let me spend time laying out something you refused to see when everyone else tried to explain the thing you refuse to see to you. Or not.
Irsay is your guy and you are happy. Enjoy.
What’s really “tiresome” is how many still lay so much blame on Wentz. Granted, he played poorly, but good lord, that entire team completely blew that last game against the Jags. Thinking Matt Ryan, who was part of another unreal team meltdown in a Super Bowl, is gonna make it all better, is wishful thinking.
Even at his age, Ryan is light years better than Wentz. He’s been consistent, productive and a healthy starter his entire career and guided his team with unwavering leadership. Wentz looks to have the tools for success but he lacks what’s necessary to be a winner.
Unwavering leadership if you don’t count the Super Bowl meltdown. He’s also practically immobile. Overall, he’s benefited from a better receiving corp than Wentz has ever had. He will benefit from a solid running game which should improve the passing game (if they get him more viable targets)… We’ll see. But light years better? I don’t see it.
Ballard and Reich had little choice but to relent to Irsay
At the end of the day they are contract employees just like the players.
In his defense, that was a hilariously pathetic way to end the season. I know I enjoyed it.
Wentz probably has issues in the locker room and Washington has the worst owner in football. Perfect match!
I don’t see this as a step up from their previous 2 QBs at all. If the colts make the playoffs, they’ll be 1 n done. There’s 6 better AFC teams if not more.
Interesting that the coach never received any blame for that last game. Colts have the league’s top rusher and arguably the league’s top offensive line. And yet Taylor had 4 rushes in the first quarter. And another 4 rushes in the second quarter. The owner can blame Wentz all he wants but the play calling was suspect.
That happened more than once in key spots.
So why didn’t they play Sam Ehlinger in that last game!!??
You’ve got the ANSWER right under your nose, Irsay, but you can’t smell nothing!!!!!
Wentz is a choker!
The Colts aren’t as good as they think they are.
If the defense doesn’t allow 2 tds and 2 two point conversions and the kicker missing two fields goals, which they say he was hurt, the ravens don’t tie the game and the colts don’t lose the game in OT after the coin toss. I guess winning the game against the cardinals Christmas Day with a few timely throws didn’t help the colts win either and some turnovers by the defense. It’s a team game. And blaming Wentz in Jacksonville is funny when the defense set the tone of the game by allowing Lawrence to throw all over them the first two possessions. A lot of pro bowlers on the defensive side came up empty that game. A good running back couldn’t help that offense against the Jags either. One player lost that game from what Irsay believes.