1 00:00:05,880 --> 00:00:08,520 Speaker 1: Welcome into another episode of The Two Minute Drill podcast 2 00:00:08,600 --> 00:00:12,000 Speaker 1: presented by Nerd Wallet. I'm JJ Sankovitz. Joined this week 3 00:00:12,000 --> 00:00:15,520 Speaker 1: by Colts dot Com contributing writer Amanda Foster. Our final 4 00:00:15,560 --> 00:00:18,480 Speaker 1: podcast of the year, Amanda and the Two Minute Drill. 5 00:00:19,160 --> 00:00:22,720 Speaker 1: It's been good doing these late week updates with you, 6 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:24,919 Speaker 1: We've all said. Casey Valier joined in on that, thanks 7 00:00:24,960 --> 00:00:29,520 Speaker 1: to case for so our final update on this podcast 8 00:00:29,600 --> 00:00:34,559 Speaker 1: is not one that is particularly positive. But Anthony Richardson 9 00:00:34,600 --> 00:00:37,840 Speaker 1: will not play in Week eighteen. He is still dealing 10 00:00:37,880 --> 00:00:41,120 Speaker 1: with back spasms those popped up after the Colts Week 11 00:00:41,240 --> 00:00:44,720 Speaker 1: sixteen win over the Tennessee Titans. Richardson has not participated 12 00:00:44,800 --> 00:00:48,280 Speaker 1: in practice since Amanda, and on Friday he was ruled 13 00:00:48,479 --> 00:00:49,920 Speaker 1: out for Sunday's game. 14 00:00:50,240 --> 00:00:54,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, and it's it's a very disappointing end to the 15 00:00:54,200 --> 00:00:57,200 Speaker 2: season obviously for Anthony, not anything that anybody wanted to 16 00:00:57,200 --> 00:01:00,680 Speaker 2: see him go through, but also not necessarily unexpected given 17 00:01:00,720 --> 00:01:04,960 Speaker 2: that he hasn't practiced since Week sixteen, So take that 18 00:01:05,040 --> 00:01:08,040 Speaker 2: for what you will. In terms of Joe Flacco starting 19 00:01:08,080 --> 00:01:10,880 Speaker 2: this weekend, it's not like he's going to be thrown 20 00:01:10,880 --> 00:01:12,840 Speaker 2: into this. Also, he's a seventeen year veteran. He's not 21 00:01:12,880 --> 00:01:14,480 Speaker 2: going to be thrown into anything. He knows how to 22 00:01:14,520 --> 00:01:16,640 Speaker 2: prepare everything like that. We've talked about that, He's talked 23 00:01:16,640 --> 00:01:19,920 Speaker 2: about that. So it is kind of I think where 24 00:01:19,959 --> 00:01:25,199 Speaker 2: everybody saw this going. Yeah, unfortunately for Anthony, like I said, 25 00:01:25,240 --> 00:01:26,840 Speaker 2: not how you want to end your second season in 26 00:01:26,840 --> 00:01:27,640 Speaker 2: the NFL. Yeah. 27 00:01:27,680 --> 00:01:30,960 Speaker 1: I think when he wasn't out there on Thursday in practice, 28 00:01:30,959 --> 00:01:32,679 Speaker 1: I think it was pretty clear it would be really 29 00:01:32,720 --> 00:01:34,600 Speaker 1: hard for him to get on the field. He doesn't 30 00:01:34,640 --> 00:01:37,880 Speaker 1: participate in practice again on Friday, and you know it's 31 00:01:37,920 --> 00:01:39,800 Speaker 1: gonna be Joe Flaco who's going to start this game. 32 00:01:40,600 --> 00:01:42,520 Speaker 1: I think for Anthony, we'll have plenty more time to 33 00:01:42,520 --> 00:01:45,880 Speaker 1: take stock of his season. The forty seven point seven 34 00:01:45,920 --> 00:01:50,960 Speaker 1: percent completion rate, more interceptions than passing touchdowns, but he 35 00:01:50,960 --> 00:01:53,480 Speaker 1: does have six rushing touchdowns, four hundred and eighty nine yards. 36 00:01:53,520 --> 00:01:55,600 Speaker 1: All that a lot there. But I just I think 37 00:01:55,680 --> 00:01:58,920 Speaker 1: the kind of like you mentioned, Amanda, it's a disappointing 38 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:01,840 Speaker 1: end for him in that that he's not able to 39 00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:04,360 Speaker 1: finish the season on the field right, which I think 40 00:02:04,440 --> 00:02:06,120 Speaker 1: is something that would have been important to him. It's 41 00:02:06,120 --> 00:02:08,520 Speaker 1: something he said this week. It was important to him 42 00:02:08,840 --> 00:02:10,560 Speaker 1: for him to get back out for this game even 43 00:02:10,600 --> 00:02:13,440 Speaker 1: though it doesn't matter for the playoffs. I think, you know, 44 00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:15,880 Speaker 1: I think he absolutely tried to get back out there, 45 00:02:15,880 --> 00:02:18,160 Speaker 1: but ultimately he just he was not able to do so. 46 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:20,320 Speaker 2: Right well, when he talked about how important it was 47 00:02:20,400 --> 00:02:23,240 Speaker 2: to or how important it would be rather to go 48 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:26,360 Speaker 2: into the off season with one final win and how 49 00:02:26,440 --> 00:02:29,480 Speaker 2: much momentum that would give everybody on the team just 50 00:02:29,680 --> 00:02:33,280 Speaker 2: having that success. Yeah, right, It's always like they talk about, 51 00:02:33,280 --> 00:02:35,200 Speaker 2: momentum is a big thing. Vibes are a big thing. 52 00:02:35,240 --> 00:02:37,520 Speaker 2: Like you want to feel good at any point, but 53 00:02:37,639 --> 00:02:39,840 Speaker 2: maybe especially going into the off season. Just have a 54 00:02:39,880 --> 00:02:43,680 Speaker 2: little bit more energy, belief in yourself, like you don't 55 00:02:43,720 --> 00:02:46,000 Speaker 2: want to go out on a bad note. Nobody ever 56 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:47,320 Speaker 2: wants to go out on a bad note. 57 00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:49,640 Speaker 1: And I think for for folks listening to this, who 58 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:51,480 Speaker 1: might be like, well, why does it matter, Like you know, 59 00:02:51,480 --> 00:02:53,760 Speaker 1: a win or a loss, you're missing the playoffs. Like, I 60 00:02:53,760 --> 00:02:57,079 Speaker 1: think the thing that I learned in twenty twenty two 61 00:02:57,520 --> 00:02:59,400 Speaker 1: when I covered that Colt steam that went four twelve 62 00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:03,280 Speaker 1: and one is that a lot of veterans do realize 63 00:03:03,520 --> 00:03:06,680 Speaker 1: the longer you get into your career. Nothing is guaranteed 64 00:03:06,840 --> 00:03:10,320 Speaker 1: in the NFL. It is probably the most unforgiving league 65 00:03:10,440 --> 00:03:13,120 Speaker 1: in major professional sports, Like your career can be over 66 00:03:13,480 --> 00:03:16,760 Speaker 1: like that. And I think for a lot of guys, 67 00:03:16,840 --> 00:03:20,280 Speaker 1: they realize, Okay, this game might not matter. We are disappointed, 68 00:03:20,280 --> 00:03:25,360 Speaker 1: we are frankly probably pissed off that we're not playing 69 00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:27,959 Speaker 1: for something in Week eighteen because of something we did 70 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:31,000 Speaker 1: to ourselves against the New York Giants. But I think 71 00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:34,240 Speaker 1: a lot of guys realize that you never know what 72 00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:36,480 Speaker 1: next year is going to bring. You know, you heard 73 00:03:36,520 --> 00:03:38,000 Speaker 1: from a lot of guys this week, Amanda. It's gonna 74 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:41,240 Speaker 1: be a different team next year. Everyone knows changes always come, 75 00:03:41,240 --> 00:03:42,560 Speaker 1: and no matter if you win the Super Bowl or 76 00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:44,160 Speaker 1: you get the number one overall pick, there are always 77 00:03:44,200 --> 00:03:47,680 Speaker 1: going to be changes to a locker room, to a team. 78 00:03:47,960 --> 00:03:50,400 Speaker 1: But I think knowing that you got to take advantage 79 00:03:50,400 --> 00:03:52,360 Speaker 1: of the opportunity. And I think there are leaders on 80 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:55,840 Speaker 1: this team who recognize that. You know, we heard this week, Amanda, 81 00:03:55,840 --> 00:03:58,280 Speaker 1: from like Ryan Kelly who talked about that, Zire Franklin, 82 00:03:58,320 --> 00:04:01,160 Speaker 1: DeForest Buckner. He's a guy who are seven eight nine 83 00:04:01,200 --> 00:04:04,400 Speaker 1: year veterans in the league who understand you might not 84 00:04:04,440 --> 00:04:08,280 Speaker 1: get another opportunity. You never know when when the last 85 00:04:08,280 --> 00:04:11,120 Speaker 1: one's going to happen, especially with this team, with the 86 00:04:11,120 --> 00:04:13,560 Speaker 1: guys you're playing with. And I do think that matters 87 00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:14,800 Speaker 1: to a lot of guys in that locker room to 88 00:04:14,840 --> 00:04:17,040 Speaker 1: win in that final opportunity of this season. 89 00:04:17,120 --> 00:04:20,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, of course, and that you're right that you're not 90 00:04:20,400 --> 00:04:22,320 Speaker 2: guaranteed anything, and those guys know that. And there are 91 00:04:22,320 --> 00:04:25,480 Speaker 2: also a lot of guys who likely still feel like 92 00:04:25,520 --> 00:04:27,800 Speaker 2: they have a lot to prove, whether it's not just 93 00:04:27,839 --> 00:04:30,640 Speaker 2: from this season, but just prove themselves as NFL players. 94 00:04:30,680 --> 00:04:32,480 Speaker 2: And I did want to point out just because I've 95 00:04:32,680 --> 00:04:35,000 Speaker 2: talked about this a lot, and I've talked a lot 96 00:04:35,040 --> 00:04:36,920 Speaker 2: about Alec Pierce throughout the season. He and Joe Flack 97 00:04:37,040 --> 00:04:38,840 Speaker 2: with a good reason, right, with good reason. And so 98 00:04:38,839 --> 00:04:42,280 Speaker 2: against Jacksonville, the two of them, Alec had that crazy 99 00:04:42,320 --> 00:04:45,919 Speaker 2: fourth quarter sixty five yard touchdown. So like this Sunday 100 00:04:45,920 --> 00:04:48,280 Speaker 2: still has potential, Like there's there's a lot that can 101 00:04:48,360 --> 00:04:50,800 Speaker 2: still go on on Sunday, you know. 102 00:04:51,040 --> 00:04:54,120 Speaker 1: What can go on, Like I think individually for guys, Yes, 103 00:04:54,400 --> 00:04:57,320 Speaker 1: Alec Pierce could lead the NFL yards per reception. He's 104 00:04:57,320 --> 00:05:01,320 Speaker 1: a twenty one point nine right now. And you know, 105 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:03,400 Speaker 1: I've been trying to like nail down what he needs 106 00:05:03,440 --> 00:05:06,240 Speaker 1: to qualify for it. I said on the Official Cults 107 00:05:06,279 --> 00:05:08,480 Speaker 1: Podcast earlier this week, I think he needed one more catch. 108 00:05:08,520 --> 00:05:10,280 Speaker 1: I think he might have already qualified for it. 109 00:05:10,400 --> 00:05:12,680 Speaker 2: I think because I was talking about this yesterday with 110 00:05:12,920 --> 00:05:14,640 Speaker 2: Casey and Bill Brooks a couple, we were all trying 111 00:05:14,680 --> 00:05:17,000 Speaker 2: to figure it out as well. And I think he 112 00:05:17,360 --> 00:05:19,000 Speaker 2: does qualify for I think he does. 113 00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:21,680 Speaker 1: I think in terms of average like one point eight 114 00:05:21,880 --> 00:05:23,280 Speaker 1: catches per game or something like that. 115 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:24,520 Speaker 2: Something it's I don't know. 116 00:05:24,520 --> 00:05:26,800 Speaker 1: But essentially, if he goes out and he has call it, 117 00:05:26,880 --> 00:05:29,640 Speaker 1: four catches for one hundred yards, I think we can 118 00:05:29,640 --> 00:05:32,000 Speaker 1: say he's probably gonna lead the league in yards per reception. 119 00:05:32,839 --> 00:05:36,000 Speaker 1: Regardless that this is another Hey, Alex Pierce has been 120 00:05:36,040 --> 00:05:38,400 Speaker 1: one of those guys the seasons that's shown a lot 121 00:05:38,440 --> 00:05:40,640 Speaker 1: of growth, a lot of development. He's going to come 122 00:05:40,640 --> 00:05:43,400 Speaker 1: out of this year, I think with a really good 123 00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:46,720 Speaker 1: vibe just around how he's being talked about and I 124 00:05:46,760 --> 00:05:50,159 Speaker 1: was being viewed within the organization and outside the organization. 125 00:05:50,200 --> 00:05:52,760 Speaker 1: People know who he is, right he's been. He's been 126 00:05:52,800 --> 00:05:57,040 Speaker 1: a relevant NFL player this year and someone who I 127 00:05:57,040 --> 00:05:59,080 Speaker 1: think when you see the work he puts in and everything, 128 00:05:59,120 --> 00:06:01,599 Speaker 1: it's been really impressive. I mean, look for Zia Franklin. 129 00:06:02,080 --> 00:06:04,120 Speaker 1: He can lead the NFL and tackles. He's got a 130 00:06:04,160 --> 00:06:07,280 Speaker 1: ten tackle lead on Buddha Baker right now. You know 131 00:06:07,360 --> 00:06:10,520 Speaker 1: that I think is meaningful. While you don't want to 132 00:06:10,839 --> 00:06:14,279 Speaker 1: rest on individual accolades in a season where you missed 133 00:06:14,279 --> 00:06:18,240 Speaker 1: the playoffs, I do think for Zire Franklin, if he 134 00:06:18,360 --> 00:06:20,000 Speaker 1: leads the league in tackles in a year in which 135 00:06:20,000 --> 00:06:23,599 Speaker 1: he made the Pro Bowl, that is meaningful. When Zire 136 00:06:23,640 --> 00:06:27,760 Speaker 1: Franklin's career is over, and it might be ten, fifteen, 137 00:06:27,760 --> 00:06:30,320 Speaker 1: twenty years down the road, you know he'll be able 138 00:06:30,320 --> 00:06:33,679 Speaker 1: to tell his kids, Hey, I led the league in tackles, 139 00:06:33,720 --> 00:06:36,000 Speaker 1: I made a Pro Bowl. Those two things are really 140 00:06:36,040 --> 00:06:38,960 Speaker 1: freaking hard to do. And I don't want to lose 141 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:42,279 Speaker 1: sight of that because just because the Cults have kind 142 00:06:42,279 --> 00:06:45,240 Speaker 1: of blown it this year and making the playoffs, they're 143 00:06:45,279 --> 00:06:48,920 Speaker 1: not going to do that individually. That stuff matters, and 144 00:06:49,080 --> 00:06:53,039 Speaker 1: it should matter, and it shouldn't be washed away because 145 00:06:53,080 --> 00:06:54,680 Speaker 1: of the disappointment of this season. 146 00:06:54,760 --> 00:06:57,400 Speaker 2: Right you should still be able to recognize guys for 147 00:06:57,440 --> 00:07:00,720 Speaker 2: what they have contributed. And Jonathan Taylor talked about how 148 00:07:01,040 --> 00:07:03,240 Speaker 2: making the Pro Bowl is kind of bittersweet because obviously 149 00:07:03,279 --> 00:07:05,760 Speaker 2: you want your team to succeed, and I think it's 150 00:07:06,200 --> 00:07:10,280 Speaker 2: it's probably hard to feel good about yourself performing well 151 00:07:10,280 --> 00:07:12,080 Speaker 2: when your team is not performing well. But again, that 152 00:07:12,120 --> 00:07:14,480 Speaker 2: doesn't take away from the fact that you had a 153 00:07:14,560 --> 00:07:16,600 Speaker 2: really good individual season. 154 00:07:16,840 --> 00:07:20,360 Speaker 1: So yeah, one other thing to look for on Sunday. 155 00:07:20,360 --> 00:07:22,320 Speaker 1: It does sound like Juju Brents is going to play 156 00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:24,960 Speaker 1: yes for the first time since Week one, so that 157 00:07:24,960 --> 00:07:27,320 Speaker 1: that's encouraging to get him back on the field. He's 158 00:07:27,320 --> 00:07:29,640 Speaker 1: a guy who stills, you know, a lot of talent, 159 00:07:29,720 --> 00:07:31,280 Speaker 1: a lot of upside, but he's got to be able 160 00:07:31,320 --> 00:07:34,440 Speaker 1: to stay healthy for a full season. Getting back out there, though, 161 00:07:34,480 --> 00:07:37,280 Speaker 1: I do think shows a certain kind of resiliency and grit. 162 00:07:37,360 --> 00:07:40,360 Speaker 1: Oh yeah to him that you know, he got asked 163 00:07:40,360 --> 00:07:42,080 Speaker 1: this today on Friday. You know, you could have kind 164 00:07:42,120 --> 00:07:45,320 Speaker 1: of packed it in. This game doesn't matter, and you know, 165 00:07:45,360 --> 00:07:47,920 Speaker 1: he said it really was important for him to get 166 00:07:47,960 --> 00:07:50,800 Speaker 1: back out there and get in this game. So we'll 167 00:07:50,800 --> 00:07:53,160 Speaker 1: see how he plays. But that is something that you know, 168 00:07:53,440 --> 00:07:54,880 Speaker 1: you at least are going to feel a little better 169 00:07:54,880 --> 00:07:56,840 Speaker 1: about him going into the off season with him playing 170 00:07:56,840 --> 00:07:57,960 Speaker 1: in this game out Sunday. 171 00:07:57,760 --> 00:07:59,080 Speaker 2: And it goes back to what we were saying earlier, 172 00:07:59,160 --> 00:08:02,000 Speaker 2: just this game really does matter to these guys because 173 00:08:02,040 --> 00:08:05,120 Speaker 2: of their own personal goals, and that is playing in 174 00:08:05,120 --> 00:08:07,120 Speaker 2: the NFL, and they're gonna get one more NFL game 175 00:08:07,160 --> 00:08:08,840 Speaker 2: this year and they're not gonna take that for granted. 176 00:08:09,520 --> 00:08:11,080 Speaker 1: All Right, Well that is gonna do it for this 177 00:08:11,200 --> 00:08:13,800 Speaker 1: quick episode of the Two Minute Drill Podcast presented by 178 00:08:13,880 --> 00:08:17,480 Speaker 1: Nerd Wallet, Thanks for listening all season long, to me, 179 00:08:17,680 --> 00:08:21,080 Speaker 1: to Amanda, to Casey. It's been fun doing these again. 180 00:08:21,240 --> 00:08:23,840 Speaker 1: And we'll see when they pick up again in twenty 181 00:08:23,840 --> 00:08:26,520 Speaker 1: twenty five. It's gonna be a long off season. Near 182 00:08:26,520 --> 00:08:28,480 Speaker 1: and Andy, we obviously have you fully covered here on 183 00:08:28,520 --> 00:08:32,280 Speaker 1: the Colts Audio Network and on the Coltsapp, on Colts 184 00:08:32,280 --> 00:08:35,160 Speaker 1: dot Com, all across the board on Sunday and then 185 00:08:35,280 --> 00:08:37,920 Speaker 1: into the off season. For Amanda Foster, I'm jj Stinkibbitz. 186 00:08:37,960 --> 00:08:39,800 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening to this episode. In all our episodes 187 00:08:39,800 --> 00:08:41,680 Speaker 1: of the two Much Drill Podcast, here are the Colts 188 00:08:41,720 --> 00:08:42,760 Speaker 1: Audio Network. So long