INDIANAPOLIS – If there’s a voice of reason and perspective in difficult times, it probably belongs to DeForest Buckner.
And clearly there have been difficult times during his five-year stint with the Indianapolis Colts. They’re 40-42-1 with one playoff appearance since general manager Chris Ballard pulled a significant trade with San Francisco in March 2020 that delivered Buckner to his defense.
The latest loss was another painful one: Sunday’s 45-33 embarrassment to the New York Giants that eliminated the Colts from playoff contention.
“I’m going to be honest,’’ Buckner said Monday afternoon. “As the entire team, we (expletive) the bed another year and it’s frustrating.’’
Buckner is one of the best at his position – 3-technique defensive tackle – in the NFL. He’s a two-time All-Pro and a three-time Pro Bowl selection who’s had at least 6.5 sacks each of his five seasons in Indy. His teammates have named him a defensive captain the past four seasons and he’s part of the Colts’ consequential Leadership Council.
When he talks, people listen. Or at least they should.
Buckner first used the “s**t the bed’’ phrase after the Colts fell flat in the 2021 season finale at Jacksonville. Win, and there was a 98% chance of earning a playoff berth. The 26-11 loss to the 2-14 Jaguars eliminated and humiliated them.
And now this.
Sunday’s loss to the 2-13 Giants “was just pure frustration,’’ Buckner said.
As is another season of unfulfilled expectations. The Colts will miss the playoffs for a fourth consecutive season, their longest drought in three decades.
“It was definitely on us,’’ Buckner said. “I mean, just big moments where we fell short. We shot ourselves in the foot multiple times throughout the season.’’
Falling hard and falling short with so much on the line undoubtedly means changes loom. The overriding question: How massive will they be?
“There’s obviously going to be people that are going to be still in the building, people that are not,’’ Buckner said. “Changes are going to need to be made, you know what I mean? I understand that and we all understand that in the building.
“You’ve got to make those changes for the better.’’
Difficult questions must be asked, and answered that involve owner Jim Irsay, Ballard and coach Shane Steichen.
“There’s going to be some uncomfortable conversations and we have to make those changes for the better,’’ Buckner said.
Running back Jonathan Taylor agreed.
“When you have a season and it doesn’t turn out how you want, there could be more changes than usual,’’ he told reporters in the locker room after the Giants loss.
Buckner’s faith in a lot of players in the locker room and the team’s decision-makers hasn’t wavered.
“Yeah,’’ Buckner said. “It takes all of us and that’s why I signed back up here.
“I don’t have any regrets.’’
With one year remaining on the four-year, $84 million contract he signed after the 2020 trade, Buckner signed a two-year, $46 million extension in March. He trusted Ballard, the team being put together and the possibilities of 2024 and beyond.
One of the byproducts of the lopsided loss to the worst team in the NFL and failed season has been fan backlash. The latest and loudest criticism came Sunday evening from former punter and ESPN personality Pat McAfee.
Shortly after the inexcusable loss to the Giants, he questioned several aspects of the Colts’ operation, including players being late for meetings and treatment, and the overall culture.
“I completely understand their frustration,’’ Steichen said of McAfee and other angry fans.
Buckner has been avoiding social media, but had heard about McAfee’s rant.
“He has a tremendous passion for this organization, this city,’’ he said. “He has every right to be mad.’’
Buckner and Steichen wouldn’t push back on McAfee’s claim of players being late for some team activities.
“I think with any team, not everyone is going to be on time every time,’’ Steichen said, “but there is accountability, and guys are held to a standard.’’
Quarterback Anthony Richardson was benched for two games in November because he wasn’t showing the necessary commitment in his preparation, which included meetings, the weight room and practice field.
“It’s got to be a higher standard,’’ Steichen said when he reinserted Richardson into the starting lineup.
Without naming names, Buckner admitted “we’ve had sometimes where we haven’t had people being accountable and we’ve called people out on it. And that happens (on) almost every team.
“I wouldn’t say it was a constant issue because we would nip it in the bud.’’
Richardson update
Richardson missed the Giants game because of back spasms.
“It was bad,’’ Steichen said after the game. “We didn’t want to put him in harm’s way.’’
Monday, Richardson was getting treatment and “he’s feeling a little better,’’ Steichen said.
If he’s healthy enough by the end of the week, Richardson will start in Sunday’s season wrap-up against Jacksonville at Lucas Oil Stadium.
“Yeah, if he’s healthy and he feels good to go,’’ Steichen said. “We’ll have those conversations at the end of the week.’’
You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.