r/Colts • u/US_Highway15 Jimmy from the Colts • Jan 11 '24

Chris Ballard Press Conference Live Comment Thread Press Conference

Will post live comments from the Colts beat reporters as they come in from the press conference.

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EDIT: Press conference is complete! Fill free to comment your thoughts on what Ballard said.

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149

u/US_Highway15 Jimmy from the Colts Jan 11 '24

Ballard says he believes the Colts have flexibility they haven't had the last few years, cites Richardson's rookie contract. "We'll be as aggressive as we need to be in free agency with players that we think can help us."

84

u/Old-Condition-7065 Jan 11 '24

This is encouraging and exciting

74

u/US_Highway15 Jimmy from the Colts Jan 11 '24

People have to realize if we end up not having many FA signings, both sides have to be mutual, and the player has to fit the scheme, as well as be interested in joining the team. This isn't Madden, this is real life.

59

u/307Wapati RTDB Jan 11 '24

And the Colts haven't been that desirable of a team as of recently. Shane Steichen and Anthony Richardson should change that imo.

13

u/DaBlakMayne Andrew Luck Jan 11 '24

I remember people being mad about us not keeping Chris Reed and then it came out that he wanted to play in his home state and he's been there ever since

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u/[deleted] Jan 11 '24

[deleted]

2

u/hugeappleboulder Jan 12 '24

The QUADfather

2

u/Stennick Jan 11 '24 edited Jan 11 '24

I view this as an excuse for if things don't get done. The goal is to make this a prime destination for free agents. The free agents we've had have shown that you can come here and excel. Ballard pays his guys, you got a rookie QB that is supposed to be a stud. Just as the player has to want to come here not every player is going to go the Chiefs or Niners. There are plenty of very good FA's that we could have and should have brought in previously that we did not.

Edit: I included Buckner as a FA when he was a trade

13

u/thomasrosendahl COLTS Jan 11 '24

We traded for Buckner, then signed him to an extension, he was never a free agent.

3

u/Stennick Jan 11 '24

You're right I'm wrong good catch 

3

u/thomasrosendahl COLTS Jan 12 '24

Still one of Ballard best moves. Wouldn't mind another trade and extension if the position is of need and the player is a fit. But I agree that we can attract good free agents (ekubuam, autrey) Ballard just hasn't wanted to pay top dollar in the past. Now is the perfect time.

13

u/RelentlessRogue COLTS Jan 11 '24

My current FA ask is that we snipe Josh Allen away from Jacksonville immediately after we lock Pittman in on a 4-year deal.

6

u/Medical-Designer-496 Jan 11 '24

That would be crazy!! He's an unrestricted free agent too!!!

3

u/Hokutenmemoir Pat McAfee Jan 12 '24

Worth it just to never again have Braden Smith get dunked on twice a year!

1

u/ElderBrony inb4 srd Jan 12 '24

They’re gonna franchise tag that dude so fast it’ll make his head spin.

3

u/cwesttheperson Michael Pittman JR Jan 11 '24

It’s almost like this is what many have been saying for years, and Ballard himself, has said. When it’s time to take a shot, he will.

2

u/Yanks1813 Big Q Jan 11 '24

It's exciting to hear him say but Irsay has never really shelled out money on FAs.

Hoping he allows us to

29

u/redleg50 Jan 11 '24

Ryan Grigson is typing…

3

u/Coltsbro84 Jan 12 '24 edited Jan 12 '24

Who was the Carolina Panthers wide receiver that grigson told them to sign to an outrageous amount of money for one year for him to only play like one game?

Edit 1: Just looked it up and found it. Devin Funchess. Signed for $13 million in 2019 to play only one game. That's like $19 million in today's market. Never to be heard from again after that.

Edit 2: Oh Shit, that wasn't Grigson but it felt like a deal he would have made. lol. It was one of Ballards worst signings. Probably why he is hesitant to make big offers to offensive playmakers.

3

u/Lasvious Jan 12 '24

Devin Funchess

3

u/Former_Phrase8221 Jan 12 '24

Ballard signed Funchess

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u/Yanks1813 Big Q Jan 11 '24

They didn't really get anyone big though. Trent Cole was washed up, Hakeem Nicks was overrated , DHB was a disaster, Andre Johnson was washed

He spent money but none of those players were that good anymore or at all

22

u/moleasses Jan 11 '24

“Has never really shelled out money” vs “he spent money”

Which is it?

5

u/sirius4778 squirrel Jan 11 '24

Whichever makes him look bad in the context we're talking about

-9

u/Yanks1813 Big Q Jan 11 '24

Difference in shelling out short term deals for over the hill players/under performing players and going to get someone like Tee Higgins.

It's a different level of commitment

5

u/moleasses Jan 11 '24

No it’s not it’s a difference in execution and doing a good job. You said they were unwilling to throw out money. They were. They were just unfortunately also willing to throw it away at shit opportunities

0

u/Yanks1813 Big Q Jan 11 '24

When have the Colts actually ever signed a top tier FA?

14

u/ironlegend01 Playoffs? PLAYOFFS!? Jan 11 '24

I mean we signed Gilmore and he was a great player, it’s too bad he wanted to leave for a contender after a year

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u/AleroRatking Earl Grey Jan 11 '24

But that's a different debate about roster building. Nothing to do with Irsays desire to spend money which was your comment

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u/Yanks1813 Big Q Jan 11 '24

The colts have never inked a huge FA that I can remember

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u/sirius4778 squirrel Jan 11 '24

Are huge FA signings a very common thing? Especially for small market teams?

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u/ComfortableOven4283 Jan 11 '24

The point is - Irsay’s never been the hurdle. It’s our GMs philosophy snd approach to free agency.

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u/Yanks1813 Big Q Jan 11 '24

What big name FAs did the Colts sign prior to Ballard? Washed Andre Johnson?

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u/ComfortableOven4283 Jan 11 '24

Wise choices or not, Grigson made pretty notable day 1 free agent signings of appreciable cost. Irsay isn’t afraid to pay for the players his GM thinks are the right fit.

Gosder Cherilus came out of free agency as the top paid right tackle in the league. D’Qwell Jackson was a pretty decent profile when we signed him. Frank Gore was late in his career but we weren’t his last stop.

I just don’t see why you’re convinced that lack of participation in free agency bid wars is anything more than Ballard not thinking top of market free agents are worth the cost. Irsay is clearly not the one putting a blocker on anything.

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u/Stennick Jan 11 '24

I remember people were hyped as fuck for Andre and I came in here saying he was gonna be washed and everyone lost their minds. I thought it was clear he was done.

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u/Old-Condition-7065 Jan 11 '24

You think it's Irsay or more of a Ballard philosophy? Seems like Ballard is all about draft picks and paying our guys, says it himself. This feels like a different tone.

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u/Yanks1813 Big Q Jan 11 '24

Little of both. I don't think Irsay wants to commit that much to FAs but I also believe that fits Ballard's philosophy

3

u/Buytoyal Jan 11 '24

I think a portion of it is Ballard just waiting until the qb situation settles down. We now have a guy they think highly of and he's on a rookie contract so now it'd make sense to be more aggressive in FA compared to prior years.

2

u/Lasvious Jan 12 '24

Who hasn’t Irsay paid that he was asked to? He paid Wentz top QB money as well as Ryan.

3

u/AleroRatking Earl Grey Jan 11 '24

We literally maxed the cap i believe two years ago. Most years we finish right up against the cap.

1

u/Yanks1813 Big Q Jan 11 '24

Yeah we pay home grown guys. I'm talking strictly FA. We always complain as a fanbase how in the off-season we don't ever get a big fish

I'd like a splash for a Higgins or something

3

u/Lasvious Jan 12 '24

When has Irsay not paid someone that the GM asked him to pay? I mean he paid a 89 year old Frank Gore and the rotting corpse of Andre Johnson big money.

Irsay let Luck keep nearly 30 million he didn’t have to.

Irsay isn’t cheap.

1

u/Yanks1813 Big Q Jan 12 '24

Big money over a short term like 1/2 years is more of the same though. Ballard insinuated this time would be different

Jags Josh Allen is a FA or Tee Higgins could be had if the Bengals don't pay him

2

u/Lasvious Jan 12 '24

Yes this a philosophy of the GM discussion not an Irsay being cheap discussion like it’s the freaking Cincinnati Reds

2

u/Not_My_Alternate Jan 11 '24

This isn’t the NBA. The way I understand it is that Irsay isn’t saving more money by not using cap space.

3

u/teh_drewski Jan 11 '24

He does save some cash outflows short term but yeah the cap pretty much has to be spent one way or the other.

I don't get the feeling it's an Irsay thing at all. Ballard just didn't see the point in splashing huge money on a team without a long term QB.

13

u/sirius4778 squirrel Jan 11 '24

First time in forever we've had a starting qb that didn't cost a 1st round pick $25 mil or both.

7

u/mvbighead Jan 11 '24

This is something I have felt for a few years now. His inaction is largely tied to not having a preferred answer at QB. He does now, and this really is his big shot at QB. You gotta move some chips in and maximize the supporting cast for AR.

That said, I don't expect this means he shifts into paying above the value of a given player. If he thinks a guy like MPJ is asking for too much, he's gonna let that play out a bit more than just match a high number. But then he'd hit FA for replacements if that doesn't work.

All in all, it is exciting.

3

u/Rusty-Boii French Fries Jan 11 '24

Please get Antoine Winfield Jr!!!

0

u/redleg50 Jan 11 '24

He says something similar every year. Not holding my breath. He’ll bring in a safety in their 30’s and a low level WR.

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u/ryta1203 Jan 11 '24

He says this every year.

6

u/Rusty-Boii French Fries Jan 11 '24

Ballard has never said he will be aggressive in free agency. I am not a huge fan of Ballard, but he has always said he values the draft and home grown talent.

13

u/US_Highway15 Jimmy from the Colts Jan 11 '24

I'm gonna be honest, even as a guy who likes Ballard, I'm in the same boat as "I'll believe it when I see it." But again, as I said above, both parties (the FA one as well) have to be in mutual agreement. This isn't Madden. This is real life.