Colts Question Officiating After Hit on QB Anthony Richardson

The Indianapolis Colts have voiced their concerns this season over the officiating of their young quarterback, Anthony Richardson. The latest incident, during a 27-24 victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers, has only added fuel to the fire, leaving the Colts questioning the league’s standards.

As the game progressed, Richardson took what appeared to be another damaging hit. Running down the field, he skillfully maneuvered around the left side of the line, eventually succumbing to a hit involving his head and neck by experienced Steelers safety, Minkah Fitzpatrick. Despite the concerning nature of the hit, referee Land Clark decided not to throw a flag, citing the contact as merely “incidental.”

Clark’s ruling has not sat well with the Colts, who have repeatedly found themselves at odds with how hits against Richardson are being judged. Earlier in the season, Richardson was tossed to the ground by the Texans’ Mario Edwards and was later on the receiving end of a blow from Kwame Lassiter, Houston’s quarterback. Despite these incidents, no fines were imposed on the offending players, a decision that prompted Colts head coach Shane Steichen to demand a review from the league.

Steichen has been vocal, expressing that the quarterback’s identity should not influence whether a flag is thrown. The lack of penalties in these instances appears to reinforce the Colts’ frustrations, as they feel that the severity of hits on Richardson is not being taken into proper account.

Interestingly, Anthony Richardson himself remains undeterred and chooses not to seek additional fouls. The quarterback takes the punches as part of the football experience, maintaining a resilient attitude. Reflecting on his recent encounter with Fitzpatrick’s hit, Richardson explained, “I was trying to make sure I got down for the team because like I said, I couldn’t really accelerate how I wanted to. So, I just tried to gain a little bit of yards and get down to the ground. But I don’t know if they should have thrown the flag or not. I didn’t even really care about the hit, honestly.”

The debate around how quarterbacks like Richardson are protected in the NFL remains as contentious as ever. As teams strive to safeguard their key players, the league’s interpretation of “incidental” contact will likely face further scrutiny as the season progresses.