Get ready for more of the same.
Since we all know the definition of insanity, I will spare you, but what we are seeing from the owner of the Indianapolis Colts is textbook. Jim Irsay penned a letter to Colts fans expressing his frustrations over how the season ended, stating that the Colts have high standards. He then proceeded to make the same error he has made over the last three to four seasons by retaining Chris Ballard as the team’s GM. This decision isn’t going to lead to higher standards; it is only going to lead to more of the same.
Colts.com has the letter in full on their website. If you haven’t read it already, take a look. I will provide the highlights, or in my opinion, lowlights. Irsay states the following:
There’s a high standard in this city for our team and anyone who steps on the field wearing the Horseshoe. The expectation is to win our division and compete for championships. Just being on the doorstep of the playoffs is not the standard I expect, nor what you deserve.
More than anything, we want to reward you with division titles and playoff runs, and we’ve fallen short in the most painful ways possible.
…I believe in Chris Ballard and Shane Steichen…I know fans who want an immediate change in leadership will be disappointed. That means we all have a lot to prove,
How can he possibly talk about high standards and winning the division when this franchise has failed to win the AFC South during Ballard’s tenure? How is that possibly still the expected standard? Additionally, if the ultimate desire is to reward fans with playoff runs and there have only been two appearances during Ballard’s time, then clearly, the franchise is falling short. All of these things get said in Irsay’s letter, but none of them have been demonstrated while Ballard has been behind the wheel.
I still think Shane Steichen deserves more time. I am not a fan of constant and immediate change when things don’t work out right away. I think another year or two is more than fair for the head coach. What I can’t get behind is more time for Ballard. Looking at the results and being objective, who can? Honestly, can you? His philosophy of building in the trenches hasn’t worked. His unwillingness to spend cap space and refusal to bring in free agents hasn’t worked. His stubborn pride and inability to change and adapt has put this franchise directly where it stands today which is absolutely no where. The team is set with another middle of the road season and draft pick. That is sports purgatory.
Jim Irsay made the call, so nothing I say will change that. Nothing he has done is going to change the trajectory of this franchise either. His refusal to move on from Chris Ballard when he has delivered close to nothing is mind boggling when speaking about sports at the highest level. Ballard is supposedly a great drafting GM but can’t get players who make a difference. At some point, that isn’t enough to hang your hat on. I guess though, in the eyes of Irsay, for at least one more year, it is.