Colts' Anthony Richardson unfazed by strain of being the 'face of the franchise'

INDIANAPOLIS — If Zaire Franklin ever finds himself missing confidence in his crew’s quarterback, the Indianapolis Colts‘ linebacker can merely look on the offensive huddle for just a little reassurance.

There, he’ll typically discover quarterback Anthony Richardson fully comfortable, bouncing to a beat and displaying no signal that the appreciable pressures of the job are sporting on him.

“Man, after I look over there and [No.] 5 has that swagger in his step, man, I am simply making an attempt to present the ball again to him,” Franklin stated. “This goes for me and each different man on this constructing, from coach to participant: All people believes in him.”

There isn’t a scarcity of strain on Richardson, the Colts’ second-year quarterback upon whose shoulders a lot of the franchise’s destiny rests. And he is aware of it.

“Because the franchise man,” Richardson stated, placing the time period in air quotes together with his arms, “persons are anticipating you to win and do nice issues. So, that is some strain proper there in itself.”

Particularly in Indianapolis. Many see Richardson because the potential savior the franchise has been in search of for the reason that sudden retirement of Andrew Luck in 2019; a younger passer the crew hopes can finish a years-long revolving door to nowhere on the place.

After a single season of short-lived success with Philip Rivers, and calamitous one-year experiments with Carson Wentz and Matt Ryan, Richardson was drafted final yr to lastly set the franchise on a path ahead. In Sunday’s season opener towards the Houston Texans (1 p.m. ET, CBS), he’s anticipated to turn into the primary Colts quarterback to begin back-to-back openers since Luck did so in 2015 and 2016.

Richardson’s very presence was a significant motivating issue behind the Colts doubling down on final yr’s veteran roster, committing an mixture whole of greater than $180 million in contracts in the course of the offseason to seven in-house free brokers to, they hope, set them up for a run at their first AFC South title since 2014.

In the meantime, Richardson can also be a brand new father and newly engaged, even whereas he is coping with the realities that include being the face of an NFL franchise. His gigantic likeness presently graces the aspect of the JW Marriott Indianapolis — a downtown landmark — and he has the advertising and marketing and media calls for to match that stature, prefer it or not.

“I am probably not into all of the flash and glamour and stuff like that,” he stated.

However within the face of all of it, Richardson stays unfazed.

“He does not get rattled,” common supervisor Chris Ballard stated. “That is factor.”

Richardson’s been-there-done-that perspective may appear shocking beneath the circumstances. He’s 22 years previous and has 4 NFL begins to his credit score after a season-ending shoulder harm final October. This comes after a mere 13 school begins at Florida and a late begin to enjoying quarterback in highschool.

How has Richardson managed to keep up a lot perspective with a lot swirling round him? Others within the Colts’ group have some theories.

One, espoused by veteran heart Ryan Kelly, is that Richardson gained a novel viewpoint final season when he missed 13 video games with a sprained AC joint. He is already overcome an terrible circumstance, Kelly stated, so the pressures he now faces pale by comparability.

“I am not saying he was in a shell in his rookie yr,” Kelly stated, “however you are feeling the load of every thing. I feel now he is form of let that out just a little bit. So, it has been a pleasure to see.”

Then once more, Richardson has at all times proven some indicators of being a cool buyer. There is likely to be no higher instance than the Colts’ Week 4 assembly with the Los Angeles Rams final season. The Colts yielded 272 yards of offense within the first half whereas Richardson accomplished simply 4 passes earlier than halftime. Indianapolis trailed 20-0.

It was the rookie’s third begin and circumstances have been bleak. Then got here the second half.

“There wasn’t lots of hope,” Ballard stated. “Subsequent factor you already know, we’re tying the freaking factor up. I stated, ‘Okay that is what this man can do.'”

After the Colts fell behind 23-0 with seven minutes remaining in third quarter, Richardson helped the Colts mount a livid rally with three second-half touchdowns (one speeding, two passing). The Colts tied the sport at 23-23 and in the end misplaced in additional time, however Ballard had seen sufficient — together with Richardson’s 38-yard completion to Alec Pierce whereas being wrapped up by fearsome defensive sort out Aaron Donald.

Off the sector, tight finish Kylen Granson pointed to Richardson’s upbringing as a think about his potential to stay even-keeled.

Richardson famously performed a essential position in elevating his youthful brother, Corey Carter, typically dashing off after college at Eastside Excessive in Gainesville, Florida to scoop Corey up from elementary college on the handlebars of Richardson’s bicycle. After getting Corey squared away at residence — their mom, LaShawnda Lane, typically labored a number of jobs to help the household — Richardson would scramble again to high school for soccer follow.

“You have to be the instance within the family, and I feel that brings lots of maturity,” Granson stated, including that he is seen Richardson assert himself extra within the assembly room this yr.

Bringing all of it full circle, Franklin stated, is the buy-in Richardson has earned from his teammates, which has garnered their full-throated help. That, in flip, fuels much more confidence and permits Richardson to maintain confronting one problem after one other, undaunted.

“All people right here trusts him,” Franklin stated. “And I feel with that help, it permits him to go on the market and be fearless. He cannot be incorrect as a result of we have got him, it doesn’t matter what.”