The Indianapolis Colts are in the final week of their virtual workout program before breaking for summer, though that has a different meaning this time around.
Typically, the Colts would have been together this entire time at the team’s facility on West 56th Street. But everything they have done has been in isolation so “breaking for summer” doesn’t have the same ring to it.
Even so, the Colts are expected to begin training camp on July 28, barring any changes with the league’s schedule due to the coronavirus.
“I’m going to leave a two-week window after this week for position coaches to have one-on-one Zoom meetings with young players. Even though we’re finished and there will be no team meetings, there will still be some positional meetings for two more weeks after this week just on an as-needed basis more so with the focus on the young guys,” said Frank Reich on Monday. “Then July 22 is the tentative start date for our rookies to return to camp. Then Chap (Mike Chappell) as you said, July 28 is the tentative report date for the vets.”
The Colts also won’t be able to hold training camp at the Grand Park Sports Complex in Westfield and will instead be doing so at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center on West 56th Street.
It isn’t clear if the team will make accommodations for fans to attend training camp, but it might be difficult even if they wanted to given the limited space the Colts have at their practice facility.
Regardless, the team wraps up their offseason workouts this week and will hopefully be returning for a full training camp on July 28.
When players return to their locker rooms, the state of America will have to be addressed. Two NFL coaches have given excellent examples.
Whenever NFL coaches are able to return to their practice facilities, host minicamps and training camps, and get ready for the 2020 season, they won’t just be dealing with the effects of a pandemic that continues unabated. They will also have to deal with the internal effects of a country that has once again been torn apart by police violence against people of color. The death of George Floyd, and the subsequent protests around the country? The feelings will not go away by the time it’s time to suit up and run plays.
When those players walk back into their locker rooms, put their personal knick-knacks back in their lockers, and get ready for practices, they will do so in a world that has been inexorably and irrevocably altered — not only by the coronavirus, but also by deadly racism, and the reaction to that deadly racism all over the world. Those players will be on edge, as most people will be around the country. They will be walking back into a league that has seven team owners who donated $1 million to the Presidential campaign of Donald J. Trump. They will be walking back into a league that now admits it erred in the handling of the Colin Kaepernick situation. They will be walking back in with raw feelings based on their own experiences as people of color (over 70% of the NFL’s player population is of color, while there are only four coaches of color for the NFL’s 32 teams.
And it will be up to those coaches, no matter their color or life experience, to speak to their players in ways that make their players feel that their concerns are at least being heard, if not understood on a molecular level.
An important group of prominent quarterbacks — specifically, white quarterbacks — have made their own statements regarding the death of George Floyd. As I wrote last week, to hear from Carson Wentz, Joe Burrow, Andy Dalton, and Trevor Lawrence on this matter is important. When those people who play the most important position in the nation’s most prominent sports speak up, and cannot be dismissed by those who would do so because of the color of their skin, it makes an impact.
Still, we also need to hear from those who came from the communities in question who have experienced these things and can testify from the front lines. We can no longer tell these players to “stick to sports” because what they say may make us uncomfortable.
(Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)
San Francisco 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman put his feelings very succinctly on social media.
“When will the response be justice?” Sherman asked in a series of Sunday tweets. “Racism has been around forever and too many excuses have been made for it. If you are sitting by watching it and judging the reaction you are part of the problem with what is going on because you allow yourself to overlook the cause.
“Unarmed and Black is not a crime and should not be treated as such. I will not argue or engage in discussion with individuals who cannot understand that basic premise. Basic fairness and justice is all that has been asked for and it has not be given.
“It’s curious the way I’m treated in public when I have a mask on and when I don’t. When I wear a mask I feel the tension that I have felt since i was a child. I can feel the looks I get of [people] who assume I’m a threat. But when the mask comes off and suddenly I’m not a threat.
“My profession nor my education change the fact that I’m a black man in America and to that end I will continue to fight for equality for the ppl that are treated unjust in the country. And if that offends you or makes you uncomfortable then maybe we are starting to make progress.”
To meet such deep and valid concerns with the usual “Hey, let’s go out there and get ’em, boys!” would be to ignore and misuse what has happened in America, and what will happen in America. Now is the time to listen and to speak, and in the case of coaches who are entrusted with the careers of these players, it’s time to understand and to help whenever and however possible.
(Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)
Dolphins head coach Brian Flores, one of those four coaches of color (along with Anthony Lynn of the Chargers, Mike Tomlin of the Steelers, and Ron Rivera of the Redskins) led the charge last Friday, releasing the following statement:
“I’ve had the privilege of being a part of many different circles that have included some very powerful and influential people of all different races and genders. The events of the last few weeks have brought some of the memories of those conversations back to light. I vividly remember the Colin Kaepernick conversations. ‘Don’t ever disrespect the flag’ was the phrase that I heard over and over again. This idea that players were kneeling in support of social justice was something some people couldn’t wrap their head around. The outrage that I saw in the media and the anger I felt in some of my own private conversations caused me to sever a few long-standing friendships.
“Most recently, I’ve had conversations about incentivizing teams for hiring minorities. Again, there was some outrage in the media and talks that this would cause division amongst coaches, executives and ownership. I bring these situations up because I haven’t seen the same OUTRAGE from people of influence when the conversation turns to Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and most recently George Floyd. Many people who broadcast their opinions on kneeling or on the hiring of minorities don’t seem to have an opinion on the recent murders of these young black men and women. I think many of them QUIETLY say that watching George Floyd plead for help is one of the more horrible things they have seen, but it’s said amongst themselves where no one can hear. Broadcasting THAT opinion clearly is not important enough.
“I lead a group of young men who have the potential to make a real impact in this world. My message to them and anyone else who wants to listen is that honesty, transparency, and empathy go a long way in bringing people together and making change. I hope that the tragedies of the last few weeks will open our hearts and minds to a better way of communicating and hopefully create that change.”
Flores’ statement resonated with Patriots safety Devin McCourty. Flores worked in the New England organization from 2004-2018, starting as a scouting assistant, and working his way up to linebackers coach, and de facto defensive coordinator.
“He holds a position that falls right into that category [of representing the entire NFL],” McCourty said on the “Double Coverage” podcast he hosts with his brother Jason, who plays cornerback for the Patriots. “A position that as players, as people who watch football know: We need more black coaches, we need more black GMs, we need more people in that position. So, to see him be outspoken — and knowing him personally, he’s always been like that — to me was great to see.
“It’s about leading men. It’s about men seeing the important things. We don’t just come to play football. We’re around each other, we mentor each other, we try to pour into each other. So, to see him go out there and make it public and say how he felt I thought was really good.”
Not that Flores needed any additional courage to say what he said, but it is worth mentioning that Chris Grier, the Dolphins’ general manager, is also black. Miami has the only combined coach/GM tandem of color in the league, which is a separate and shameful discussion.
As for Lynn, he spoke with NFL.com’s Jim Trotter about what he’ll say.
NFL teams return to virtual workouts today, but football won’t be the focal point for some. When I asked Chargers coach Anthony Lynn last night if he would discuss the events of the weekend with his players, he said: pic.twitter.com/wAvNrGxMHT
On Monday, Colts head coach Frank Reich made his own personal statement which turned out to be an ideal example of how coaches should speak to players on the matter — from a team standpoint in evoking the team’s statement, and then saying what he felt.
“Good morning, everybody.
“Injustice. Few things stir the human heart and soul like injustice. When we see it, feel it, experience it, it’s heart-wrenching. It’s not enough for a person who looks like me to say, ‘I’m not racist.’ This kind of talk and thinking lends itself to a posture of neutrality… indifference… and passivity. It’s easy to be silent and do nothing when it doesn’t impact you. This attitude simply doesn’t evoke any conviction about doing what it right and standing up for the inherent dignity and right of all people, no matter the color of their skin. I stand firmly behind the Colts’ statement, and in particular, the phrase that says, ‘We abhor racism.’ Racism is vile, deplorable, detestable. There’s no form of it that is acceptable, and in no way can it be justified.
“Our black community has bore the brunt of this injustice far too long. I believe that I — we — all have a personal responsibility to speak up, and act in ways that build each other up, not tear each other down. I believe that each one of us can make a difference if we’re willing to grow personally, and display the courage necessary for us to take steps of progress in this most important of issues.”
After his statement, Reich spoke of the importance of putting himself out there in support — not only of his players, but of his community. The need to no longer be silent about subjugation. The need to be proactive in saying that such things are anathema to the human experience. It was an emotional and necessary series of things to say that humanized the coach to his players, his team’s fans, and to perhaps anyone else who was listening and wanted to hear and see humanity from a position that usually doesn’t show it at that level.
Perhaps that’s enough for coaches to do at this point, especially white coaches who care deeply about their players, but come from their own substrata of privilege and could never possibly understand what it’s like to travel outside your house every day with the voice in the back of your head saying that today is the day you might succumb to police violence despite your innocence. Perhaps the willingness to say, “I don’t know your experience, but I want to hear it, and I want to help if I can,” is enough. To say to one’s players, “You are heard. You can say what you feel without fear of professional retribution. You are safe here.”
It’s a tough sell after what happened to Colin Kaepernick, and players know that, but it’s important for coaches to say those words right now, and to back them up.
Living in Seattle, and having covered the Seahawks since 2010 — the year Pete Carroll was named the Seahawks’ head coach — I’ve heard from Carroll and from his players how important it is that those players are allowed to say what they want, and forward their own causes. It does not go unnoticed around the league, and it’s one reason Carroll is one of the NFL’s most respected coaches, and why Seattle has been a prime destination for free agents throughout Carroll’s tenure.
However it’s said, that’s what we should all be saying right now — that we are willing to use our various advantages in life to lift up and help those who do not yet share them. And if coaches are willing to say these things, as it appears they are, perhaps it’s one small but important step into a world where we all feel heard and valued for who it is that we are, and what it is that we can offer to the world.
At the very least, it’s the start of a paradigm shift we must undertake if we are to preserve what truly makes America great.
Frank Reich issued a statement regarding the recent events in America.
The Indianapolis Colts released a statement regarding the recent events hitting the country on Sunday, but head coach Frank Reich felt responsible to give his own thoughts on the matters.
Reich opened his conference call with the media Monday morning with the following statement:
“Injustice. Few things stir the human heart and soul like injustice.
When we see it, feel it, experience it, it’s heartwrenching. It’s not enough for a person who looks like m to say, ‘I’m not racist.’ This kind of talk and thinking typically lends itself to a posture of neutrality, indifference, passivity. It’s easy to be silent and do nothing when it doesn’t directly impact you.
This attitude simply does not evoke any conviction about doing what is right and standing up for the inherent dignity and rights of all people—no matter the color of their skin. I stand firmly behind the Colts’ statement and in particular the phrase that says ‘We abhor racism.’ Racism is vile, deplorable and detestable. There’s no form of it that is acceptable and in no way can it be justified.
Our black community has bore the brunt of this far too long. I believe that I—we—all have a personal responsibility to speak up and act in ways that build each other up, not tear each other down. I believe each one of us can make a difference if we’re willing to grow personally and display the courage necessary for us to take steps of progress in this most important of issues.
Just felt compelled to make a statement.
Just cannot be silent. Wanna be proactive, and wanna do my part and feel responsible.”
The Indianapolis Colts found a gem in Frank Reich during the 2018 offseason even if he wasn’t part of the original plans. Entering his third season, there are high hopes for his squad.
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Whether it’s from a leadership standpoint or a play-designing standpoint, Reich is often considered one of the top head coaches in the game. He took the Colts to the AFC divisional round during his first season and nearly made the playoffs after Andrew Luck dropped the retirement bombshell just weeks before the 2019 season.
Mike Tagliere of Fantasy Pros ranked every head coach in the league, and Reich came in at No. 10.
After an impressive rookie campaign, Reich took a step back in 2019, though injuries and one major retirement were certainly a factor. Whenever you have your franchise 29-year-old quarterback retire out of the blue, you’re going to have some growing pains. The Colts finished 7-9 in 2019 despite all the things they endured, keeping them on the map. Reich is a young coach who’s still in the beginning stages, but based on what we’ve seen, he’s a keeper.
Reich certainly is a keeper and has proven himself that quickly during his first two seasons. The way he commands the room makes him the right man for the job. Add in that he has an intelligent mind when it comes to play-calling and play designing, and he’s certainly deserving of praise.
The Colts have missed the playoffs four times in the last five seasons—the only one coming during the 2018 season. With a new quarterback and an improving defense, Reich is hopeful the Colts can get back into the postseason and make something happen.
The Indianapolis Colts didn’t make major moves to add to the offensive line this offseason like they have in recent offseasons. Outside of signing Anthony Castonzo to a contract extension, the only other move came in the draft.
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We know how much the Colts value offensive line play. Ever since Chris Ballard took over as general manager in 2017, the priority has been to build up the depth on the offensive line. With an elite set of five starters, the Colts focused their attention on adding some depth to the interior this offseason.
There are some who are still concerned about the depth of the unit behind the five starters, but head coach Frank Reich doesn’t feel that way.
“I really am hopeful that we can go again with our same five starters playing every snap. I don’t know how realistic that is. I don’t want to say (it’s) a concern, it’s always a priority,” Reich said Tuesday in a conference call. “It’s always a priority if the right opportunity would have fell in the draft, there was discussion of finding the right guy, but it just didn’t fall that way. It just didn’t fall that way for us.”
The Colts were fortunate enough to see all five of their starting offensive linemen play 16 games—each playing over 1,000 snaps on the campaign. That doesn’t happen all that often, especially at the level they played.
But the Colts did need to add some depth this offseason. They decided it was best to go with Danny Pinter out of Ball State in the fifth round, but Reich also mentioned another player they hope to develop.
“We talked a lot about that and we were very excited to get Danny Pinter. I think that he adds good depth. Then we just keep developing,” Reich said. “We think Jake (Eldrenkamp) is a good player. We think Jake Eldrenkamp can continue to develop. He adds good depth for us inside and a couple new guys that we brought in from last year we think will continue to develop there and keep our eyes open.”
The Colts have their starting five returning for another season, but the team knows they must be ready if one or more of them get injured. It’s the NFL. It happens all the time.
But while some of the depth might have some question marks, Reich and his staff aren’t all that concerned about the players they have in the room.
Pittman and Taylor can be the future of their positions.
The Indianapolis Colts used their first two picks in the 2020 NFL Draft to grab some explosive prospects in wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. and running back Jonathan Taylor.
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While Taylor is expected to split the early-down work with Marlon Mack in the backfield, Pittman Jr. is expected to slide into the WR2 role behind T.Y. Hilton. But history shows it is harder for wide receivers to make an impact from Day 1 even when given the opportunity.
Head coach Frank Reich said on the Dan Patrick Show this week that while he acknowledges the historical trends, they believe Pittman Jr. has what it takes to make an impact almost immediately.
“History and stats will tell you it’s a little bit harder for receivers to have an impact early on but I think—and this is one of the reasons we love Michael— he’s got a physical and emotional maturity about him that we think can come in and make a more immediate impact than most receivers do,” Reich told Dan Patrick. “Obviously we think Jonathan can come in a make a big impact as well so we feel really good about both of them.”
There shouldn’t be much of a debate about Taylor’s potential impact on the offense from an early standpoint. Mack will be there to share the load, but rookie running backs make a bigger impact earlier when afforded the opportunity.
But Pittman Jr. seems to have checked every box the Colts have when it comes to a prospect profile. It isn’t likely he puts up 1,000 yards in his first season, but the Colts still see him as an immediate contributor.
The offseason workouts being modified don’t help his chances, but the Colts are expecting to ramp things up soon whenever they are allowed to get in the building again.
It will be interesting to see how quickly Pittman Jr. and Taylor can make their mark on the offense, but the Colts are optimistic it will go on without much of a hitch.
Entering his third season as head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, Frank Reich has likely given some strong speeches from time to time. While the team can’t get together yet due to the restrictions of COVID-19, Reich will have his chance to bring people together in a different way.
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As an ordained minister (from his time before entering the coaching ring), Reich still officiates weddings. It might not be as frequent as it used to be, but Reich still does so at times.
He will be doing one this summer for one of his assistant coaches.
Reich said on the show that he’s still an ordained minister and even helped out with the wedding of former Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, who got married in Prague during the 2019 offseason.
It isn’t clear when the Colts will be able to return to the practice facility together in preparation for the 2020 season, but Reich will have another event on his plate during the summer.
Houston Texans coach Bill O’Brien ranks in the middle of the pack in a recent listing of all 32 NFL coaches.
Houston Texans coach Bill O’Brien isn’t finding himself highly ranked on any NFL coaches lists this offseason.
Patrick Daugherty from Rotoworld released his ranking of all 32 coaches, and somehow O’Brien, who won the AFC South and a playoff game after being ranked No. 14 in Daugherty’s rankings a year ago, dropped three places.
For his six-year career, O’Brien boasts a .542 winning percentage but has outscored his opponents by only 23 points across 96 games. Things grow stranger in the front office, where O’Brien keeps winning power struggles and rewarding himself with promotions. He actually did not intend for that to be the case in 2019, but when his clumsy pursuit of Patriots executive Nick Caserio turned out to be obvious tampering, he was forced to back away. With no one to check his power this offseason, BOB formally named himself general manager before making one of the worst trades in NFL history. O’Brien didn’t even shop star wideout DeAndre Hopkins, a fact made clear by the fact that other GMs were forced to answer for his inexplicable acquisition of David Johnson. It is easy to believe O’Brien would have long ago been out of a job without Deshaun Watson, though that discounts the fact that he’s won divisions with Brock Osweiler and Brian Hoyer as his primary quarterbacks. Nothing about the man or his football team makes sense. I am not expecting that to change in 2020.
Among playoff-winning coaches, O’Brien’s No. 17 ranking is the fourth-lowest. The lowest playoff-winning coach was the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Doug Marrone at No. 27.
O’Brien ranks third among AFC South coaches. The Tennessee Titans’ Mike Vrabel was No. 12 on the list with the Indianapolis Colts’ Frank Reich at 13th overall. Of course, Vrabel gets deserved credit for back-dooring the Titans into the AFC Championship Game. Reich remains a favorite for leading the Colts to a 7-9 record despite having no quarterback and injuries hitting the roster. Imagine if Reich had delivered back-to-back division titles with no quarterback and injuries to the roster.
Mike Vrabel (Tennessee Titans), Mike McCarthy (Dallas Cowboys): +1400
Kyle Shanahan (San Francisco 49ers), Frank Reich (Indianapolis Colts), Kliff Kingsbury (Arizona Cardinals): +1600
Sean McDermott (Buffalo Bills): +1800
Bruce Arians (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Andy Reid (Kansas City Chiefs), Sean Payton (New Orleans Saints), Brian Flores (Miami Dolphins), Mike Tomlin (Pittsburgh Steelers), John Harbaugh (Baltimore Ravens): +2000
Sean McVay (Los Angeles Rams): +2200
Pete Carroll (Seattle Seahawks), Doug Pederson (Philadelphia Eagles), Matt LaFleur (Green Bay Packers), Mike Zimmer (Minnesota Vikings), Dan Quinn (Atlanta Falcons), Zac Taylor (Cincinnati Bengals): +2500
Ron Rivera (Washington Redskins), Vic Fangio (Denver Broncos), Jon Gruden (Las Vegas Raiders): +3000
Matt Rhule (Carolina Panthers): +3500
Matt Nagy (Chicago Bears), Adam Gase (New York Jets), Joe Judge (New York Giants), Anthony Lynn (Los Angeles Chargers), Kevin Stefanski (Cleveland Browns): +4000
Matt Patricia (Detroit Lions), Bill O’Brien (Houston Texans), Doug Marrone (Jacksonville Jaguars): +5000
2020 Coach of the Year best bets
Belichick (+1000) is the favorite for a reason. The Patriots have had unprecedented success and, if they continue to be good without QB Tom Brady, it will only add to Belichick’s legacy. He could tie Don Shula by winning the award for the fourth time.
The award is about performance vs. expectations, and a coach gets credit if his team far exceeds expectations. Which teams are in position to do that?
For that reason, the Cowboys’ McCarthy (+1400), beginning his first year with Dallas, is one of the favorites to watch.
However, if there is one pick that makes sense, it is Kingsbury. The Cardinals are vastly improved on defense and many believe QB Kyler Murray can have a second season that rivals what Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes and Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson have done. The Cardinals, coming off a five-win season, could be a surprise. If they win 10 games or more, KINGSBURY (+1600) is a good bet.
The Bucs’ ARIANS (+2000) is another good bet because of the addition of Brady. Tampa Bay won seven games with QB Jameis Winston throwing 30 interceptions last season.
Likewise, with the addition of Philip Rivers at quarterback, the Colts’ REICH (+1600) is another good bet. They already have the defense and if Rivers can be what he has been in his career, the Colts could dominate the AFC South.
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Frank Reich leads a group with high upside in 2020.
Following a very busy offseason, the Indianapolis Colts are expected to be back in the mix for a playoff spot. Being led by third-year head coach Frank Reich, all of the arrows are pointing up.
Not only does that go for the projected success of the team, but it also goes for Reich himself, who is already in the conversation as a potential Coach of the Year candidate.
According to BetMGM, Reich has the fourth-highest odds to win the Coach of the Year Award at 16/1.
Steady and calculated, Reich is a strong candidate for the award. Rarely does he ever seem to lose control. He’s accountable and honest and the seemingly right man for the job to lead the type of culture the Colts have built in the last three seasons.
Of course, it all depends on the success of the team in 2020, but Reiach has a strong chance to be in consideration whenever the season starts up.
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