Tag: Andrew Luck

Andrew Luck appears on Amazon post-game show as Capt. Andrew Luck

Andrew Luck arrived at the Giants-Niners post-game in incredible style

The Amazon post-game show featured a quiz show spin on the Stanford-Cal Big Game.

And appearing on the Stanford side was one Andrew Luck, the former Indianapolis Colts quarterback.

Luck came out in character as Capt. Andre Luck, resplendent in Civil War garb.

“The war is over,” he said. “We’re onto greener pastures now in California.”

Those were the days:

Absolute brilliance by Luck, who has returned to football in a way, helping coach a high school team in Palo Alto, Ca.

Andrew Luck returns to football as part-time high school coach

Andrew Luck, former Colts and Stanford quarterback, has returned to football as a part-time coach at Palo Alto High School.

After retiring from the NFL in August 2019, little has been heard from Andrew Luck, a star quarterback from the moment he stepped on the gridiron. He’s now back in the football landscape, serving as a part-time coach at Palo Alto High School (Calif.) while he studies for his master’s degree at Stanford, according to the Mercury News.

Luck coaches at practices twice a week and has led workouts including individual passing drills, timing routes with quarterbacks and wide receivers, and the scout team defense.

Funny enough, when Luck first reached out to coach Dave DeGeronimo last fall, DeGeronimo either didn’t see the email or didn’t respond, as his focus was on the playoffs, the Mercury News wrote. It wasn’t until the athletic director received a phone call in April that Luck and DeGeronimo had a conversation.

Obviously, DeGeronimo was more than happy to have help from the Stanford legend and four-time Pro Bowl quarterback.

“I was going to take whatever he could offer,” the coach told the news outlet.

Luck got into the groove immediately, as described by Palo Alto quarterback Declan Packer.

“The first week he got here, we have our whole playbook and he walks in not knowing any of our plays,” Packer explained to the news outlet. “The next day he comes, he knew every single play. It was crazy — he knows everything about football.”

Palo Alto is hoping to use that knowledge to build them up. The team went 7-7 last year and won six straight games at the perfect time, parlaying those victories into the CIF Central Coast Section Div. V championship before falling in the Div. 6-AA regional finals.

Through three games this year, Palo Alto is 2-1. With help from not only Luck but also former Palo Alto 2010 championship quarterback Christoph Bono, prospects are looking high for the Vikings.

ESPN analyst: Colts among teams with worst offseason

ESPN’s Bill Barnwell wasn’t too excited about the moves the Colts made this offseason.

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After a disappointing 4-12-1 season, the expectations were high for the Indianapolis Colts to nail their offseason moves, starting with the installation of a new coaching staff, building through the draft, and adding free agents.

While there are plenty of reasons for optimism about the direction of the team following the offseason, ESPN recently released a ranking of the teams with best and worst offseasons, and they were less than impressed with the Colts.

General manager Chris Ballard’s team landed at No. 24 on ESPN staff writer Bill Barnwell’s list. The list is based on what the team did during the offseason to increase its chances of winning a Super Bowl, in the short term and long term, given the roster and resources it had to work with.

Barnwell then breaks down the offseason into “what went right,” “what went wrong,” and “what is left to do.”

The team’s most significant move that went well was drafting quarterback Anthony Richardson and not having to move some serious capital to pull it off. Barnwell credits the team for investing in Richardson after a series of moves that didn’t pan out post-Andrew Luck’s departure. He also credited the team for signing Gardener Minshew as insurance if Richardson struggles.

However, Barnwell did not hold back about what he felt were serious missteps or concerns. His biggest problems on the offensive side were whether Richardson had enough help to succeed and if stars like Michael Pittman, Jr. and Jonathan Taylor would return to form. Additionally, he was less than thrilled with the play of Bernhard Raimann and felt it was a misstep by the team not to add more depth to the offensive line.

I’m not sure Indy did enough to address the other premium positions on its roster. Does Richardson have enough help? Its offensive infrastructure looks more promising if you treat last season like a bad dream, but if you had to watch the tape, you remember what things looked like. Michael Pittman Jr. went from playing like a breakout star to averaging 9.3 yards per reception. A once-feared offensive line looked past its best and made too many mental mistakes. Jonathan Taylor, the reigning top running back in football, looked a step slower amid ankle injuries after a heavy workload in 2021.

The biggest issue is not addressing the offensive line, which comes back virtually untouched from a year ago. The Colts love 2022 third-rounder Bernhard Raimann’s potential as a tackle, but the converted tight end looked overmatched as a rookie and turns 26 in September. I’m not saying they should have given up on Raimann after one year, but the only competition they brought in for him is rookie fourth-rounder Blake Freeland.

On defense, Barnwell listed the lack of production outside of DeForest Bucker as alarming and noted that the team needs more out of players like Kwity Paye. Admittedly, he understood trading away cornerback Stephon Gilmore but felt it was a misstep to leave veteran cornerback Kenny Moore II with rookie Julius Brents and others to fill the void. He also is not confident in defensive coordinator Gus Bradley’s abilities to build defenses without superior secondary unit play.

Despite a grim outlook, there is hope the team will finish what’s left: extending running back Jonathan Taylor. Earlier this week, Taylor confirmed that he and the Colts have engaged in discussions, and he is hopeful for the future. Barnwell echoed this sentiment and noted that leaning on Taylor would be in the team’s best interest as Anthony Richardson grows.

It’s impossible today to know whether these offseason moves are enough to move the growth needle, but the team will continue to assess as the season progresses.

Colts’ Chris Ballard ranked 17th among NFL GMs

Colts GM Chris Ballard was ranked 17th among NFL GMs.

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With another offseason comes more time to evaluate the state of the NFL. This includes assessing critical leadership positions, like the general managers of all 32 teams.

NBC Sports writer Patrick Daugherty has released his 2023 rankings of the league’s general managers. Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard lands in the middle of the pack at No. 17.

Ballard is down six spots from the 2022 rankings and eleven from the 2021 rankings.

Chris Ballard has lost control of this ride, but he doesn’t want off. At one point famous for assembling one of the league’s most complete rosters, Ballard is now better known as the general manager who loves elderly or washed-up quarterbacks, sometimes at the same time. Not anymore. Ballard took owner Jim Irsay’s not-so-subtle Jeff Saturday hint. No more thinking small. Ballard shattered his Philip Rivers mold with April’s selection of Florida QB Anthony Richardson. Quite literally everything Rivers, Carson Wentz and Matt Ryan were not, Richardson arrives with the widest range of potential outcomes as any quarterback in recent memory. Thankfully, he won’t be working with Saturday. Ballard made a solid hire at head coach when he plucked Shane Steichen away from the Eagles. In his two short years under Nick Sirianni, Steichen gained invaluable experience with dual-threat quarterbacks, run-based offenses and more pass-heavy schemes. He will be ready for whatever Richardson’s inexperience throws at him. That’s good because the rest of the roster has fallen from its 2019-20 heights. Now that he has finally settled his biggest question, Ballard can get back to work on rebuilding his offensive line and stockpiling defensive difference makers.

Ballard has lost some ground, far removed from being considered one of the top general managers in the league just a few seasons ago. The 2022 season was perhaps the most tumultuous in recent memory for Ballard. The writing has been on the wall for quite some time as bad decisions for several seasons since Andre Luck retired came back to haunt the team.

It all came crashing down with a 4-12-1 record and an end-of-season press conference where Ballard emphatically stated, “I failed.” He openly admitted that he made several missteps that landed the Colts in their position that day. In his words, he was very “dogmatic” and “bullish” in certain areas, costing the organization.

The brutal but honest assessment from Daugherty gives Ballard credit for getting off the quarterback carousel, ending the Jeff Saturday experience, and landing Shane Steichen and Anthony Richardson. Daughtery also says Ballard must rebuild the team’s offensive line and stockpile defensive playmakers.

Chris Ballard was potentially ahead of Daugherty’s thinking with the 2023 draft class. The team drafted a record 12 players, including six defensive players and two offensive linemen. Ballard also added an initial group of 15 undrafted free-agent players, including some strong candidates to make the roster, like Alabama’s Emil Ekiyor.

Time will tell if Ballard has learned from his mistakes. The climb for the Colts begins again as off-season activities are underway this week.

Report: Colts ‘satisfied’ with resolution to Commanders tampering dispute

The Colts reportedly are satisfied with the NFL’s tampering investigation involving alleged contact between the Commanders and Andrew Luck.

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The Indianapolis Colts reportedly are satisfied with the resolution to the inquiry into the league’s investigation of potential tampering between the Washington Commanders and former quarterback Andrew Luck, per ESPN’s Stephen Holder.

Earlier this month, an ESPN report stated that the Commanders reached out to Luck during the 2022 offseason in order to gauge his thoughts on a potential return. Because the Colts still own the rights to Luck’s contract, that would have been a clear violation of the tampering rules.

Colts owner Jim Irsay then requested an investigation into potential tampering, but the issue reportedly has been resolved without further action needed.

From Holder:

But after further clarification, it has been determined that the Commanders never spoke to Luck or anyone in his immediate circle and therefore did not violate the NFL’s anti-tampering policy, the source told ESPN.

There we go. Finally, we can put this issue to bed and focus on the future of the organization, which will be led by rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson and first-year head coach Shane Steichen.

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Report: Commanders not likely to be penalized for alleged tampering with Andrew Luck

No punishment coming for the Commanders for the alleged tampering with Luck.

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay created headlines two weeks ago with a late-night tweet about alleged tampering with retired quarterback Andrew Luck.

Irsay’s tweet came after an ESPN story regarding the Washington Commanders’ pursuit of a quarterback and “even phoned about retired Andrew Luck, just in case,” the story read.

The Colts reportedly asked the NFL to look into the alleged tampering. Sources close to Luck, his father and his uncle, who acted as his agent, all denied Washington had reached out to Luck.

Luck retired in 2019 just before he would begin his eighth NFL season at age 29.

Now, according to Mark Maske and Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post, the Commanders are not expected to face any penalties for the alleged tampering with Luck.

There probably is “not enough hard evidence” of impermissible contact for the Commanders to be penalized, one of the people with knowledge of the case said, adding that the issue probably is “going to fade away” without being pursued further.

That’s good news for Washington, considering how seriously the NFL has enforced tampering allegations recently. The Miami Dolphins and Arizona Cardinals were each punished for alleged tampering.

The Commanders are expected to have a new owner soon with Daniel Snyder finalizing a deal to sell the franchise to Josh Harris. All that remains is the NFL Finance Committee vetting all of Harris’ partners before the league’s other owners vote for Harris to take over the Commanders.

 

Report: Colts want NFL to investigate Commanders, Andrew Luck matter

The Colts reportedly requested the league investigate potential tampering regarding the Commanders and Andrew Luck.

The Indianapolis Colts reportedly requested the NFL investigate a potential tampering situation following an ESPN report that claimed the Washington Commanders reached out to former quarterback Andrew Luck, per the Washington Post.

According to Mark Maske and Nicki Jhabvala of The Post, the Colts requested the league take further action to “determine whether there was improper contact through intermediaries.”

ESPN’s Stephen Holder, who covers the Colts, confirmed the team’s request to look into the matter. However, it may come down to whether the contact was made through a third party as another report surfaced from The Post that a source within Luck’s camp denied any direct contact with the Commanders.

From Holder:

The Commanders are not believed to have spoken with Luck, nor his agent, which would be a direct violation of the league’s anti-tampering policy. Whether the Commanders spoke with a third party, and whether any such actions constitute a violation, are among the details the Colts are hoping to clarify as they seek to learn more about what exactly transpired, a Colts source told ESPN on Sunday.

The NFL’s anti-tampering policy is somewhat vague, but direct contact with a player is not required for a violation to occur.

Even though Colts fans are tired of hearing about the former franchise quarterback, this may be a situation to keep an eye on in case the league does hand down punishments on the Commanders, which likely would come in the form of losing draft picks.

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Report: Commanders did not contact Andrew Luck, his father, or his uncle

This would seem to favor the Commanders.

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay sent shockwaves around the NFL late Sunday night with the following tweet regarding retired quarterback Andrew Luck.

Irsay’s tweet came on the heels of an ESPN story from John Keim regarding Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell.

What would a story about Howell have to do with Luck and Jim Irsay, you ask?

In referencing Washington’s wide-ranging search for a solution at quarterback last offseason, Keim said the following:

Even so, they didn’t feel the same urgency they did last offseason, when they called every team that might have a quarterback available. They even phoned about retired Andrew Luck, just in case.

That was enough for Irsay to send out the tweet and have the NFL look into possible tampering by the Commanders regarding the retired quarterback. The Colts still own the rights to Luck, and even though he has no interest in returning to football, any interested team would need to go through the Colts — not Luck or his camp.

What wasn’t included in Keim’s story — and this is important — was who the Commanders contacted about Luck. Was it Luck himself, his father [former NFL QB Oliver Luck], or his uncle, Will Wilson — who was his agent when he played?

According to Mark Maske of Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post, it was none of the above.

The Commanders did not contact Luck, his father or his uncle who has served as his agent, according to a person within Luck’s camp. However, a person familiar with the Colts’ position said the team wants the NFL to determine whether there was improper contact through intermediaries. The Colts do not want the situation to be dismissed without being properly investigated, according to that person.

Everything we know about Andrew Luck and the Commanders, including Colts tampering talk

Were the Commanders interested? And is that a problem with the Colts?

Why are we sitting here talking about Andrew Luck, the former Indianapolis Colts quarterback who hasn’t play a down in the NFL since 2018?

Well, because, per a report, a team kicked the tires on the retired QB to see if he had that itch to get back into the league. This is a thing that happens in the NFL from time to time, especially when there’s a dearth of truly elite QBs beyond the top tier. Some veteran gets a phone call, either says “yes” or “no thanks” and we all move on.

But this one has escalated a bit. Let’s explain what we know:

Jim Irsay: Teams contacting Andrew Luck violate tampering rules

Colts owner Jim Irsay: Teams contacting Andrew Luck violate tampering rules

Years after his retirement, former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck is still making headlines.

Despite having been retired going on four years, Luck’s name still pops up now and again. The latest bit of news came from an ESPN report that claimed the Washington Commanders contacted Luck during their search for a quarterback last offseason.

That raised a red flag for Colts owner Jim Irsay, considering Luck is still technically under contract with the team despite being on the retired list. According to NFL rules, teams cannot contact players (or representatives) under contract with another team.

When Luck retired, his contract didn’t simply run out. It was tolled in accordance with Appendix A of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Unless this contract specifically provides otherwise, if Player becomes a member of the Armed Forces of the United States or any other country, or retires from professional football as an active player, or otherwise fails or refuses to perform his services under this contract, then this contract will be tolled between the date of Player’s induction into the Armed Forces, or his retirement, or his failure or refusal to perform, and the later date of his return to professional football. During the period this contract is tolled, Player will not be entitled to any compensation or benefits. On Player’s return to professional football, the term of this contract will be extended for a period of time equal to the number of seasons (to the nearest multiple of one) remaining at the time the contract was tolled. The right of renewal, if any, contained in this contract will remain in effect until the end of any such extended term.

The Colts still hold the rights to Luck’s contract and because he’s unlikely to come back, it isn’t clear how much longer they will hold those rights. Still, it would technically be tampering if a team reached out to Luck last offseason.

We’ve seen the league come down hard on teams for tampering. The Miami Dolphins are the most recent case, and they lost their first-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft.

We’ll see if anything comes of it, but this may be something to monitor over the offseason.

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