Chris Ballard Combine Press Conference

On negotiations with Alec Pierce and Daniel Jones with the new league year starting soon.

”Yep, good. I’ve had great discussions with both of them. We will continue to work this week and see if we get something done. It’s been very positive. Look when both sides are driven to get it done, it usually works out the right way. There’s a long, I know 4-5 days doesn’t seem like a long time, but it can be in these situations, but both players and we are driven, the agents have been great to work with. We just gotta keep working through it.”

On if he would use the franchise tag for either player to make sure at least one of them doesn’t hit free agency:

“It’s not what we want to do. It’s a tool we have, it’s not what we want to do though.”

Regarding Michael Pittman Jr.’s future with the team after his doubts on a podcast

”I love Mike. Did y’all know Pitt is a pilot now? I had no… I mean I knew he was dabbling with it but I didn’t know that he was going up in the air and flying solo and doing all that.”

“Pitt’s an interesting guy, so look I think the world of Pitt and who he is as a player. Any suggestion that he is not going to be here is a pure hypothetical in my mind.”

He was asked a follow up by Jake Arthur on if it is realistic for him to play at his $29 million cap figure when the Colts have to pay Alec Pierce

“Mike Bloom does an unbelievable job for us, so whatever challenges we have we will work through them as we get these contracts done.”

Mooney Ward health and retirement decision update

“We’ve had discussions… our couches and Shane have had long discussions with him (everyday) and I had a long discussion with him at the end of the year. Mooney is a special kid young man who had some unfortunate circumstances. The 2nd Concussion was pretty severe and when he had the 3rd one he fought me, he wasn’t happy with the doctor or I. We are going to do the right thing for the player.

He’s in a good frame of mind. I’m not going to get into the hypotheticals of what’s going to happen but his frame of mind is really good right now.”

James Boyd followed up with a question of if he (Mooney Ward) was still deciding.

Ballard responded with:

“I don’t want to say he is still deciding, all indications is he is wanting to move forward and play.”

DeForest Buckner post surgery update

“Yeah he is good. And I think he was some relief for Buck when he got it done. I mean look it was really the first, I mean he’s had injuries before, but it was the first time that he had one that was pretty serious. Then getting the surgery done the relief that I think he felt like 1. I feel better instantly and 2. I can play football again.

I’m not going to put a time frame on it, we are expecting him back for Training Camp. The way he works and who he is, wouldn’t surprise me if it’s sooner. He will be back and he will be ready to go and I think he will have a good year.

What traits are the Colts seeking out for Day 2?

“History has proven that great players have come from anywhere in the draft. Whether their are a 1st Round Pick, 2nd Round Pick, Undrafted Free Agent. There’s certain athletic traits that we do look for but the one consistent: Bernie was a really good player coming out who played a lot of football, Pierce has played a lot of football, JT played a lot of football, Pittman… These guys have played a lot of football. Our scouts do a great job digging and getting these guys who we think can produce right away.

They come from everywhere. I think you know us we like to acquire picks. I’m not saying we wouldn’t like to move in the draft as that is always a possibility but there’s a good chance we will end up moving back. And we have plenty (of them). And we are going to get 2 comp picks and we are at 7 (right now) so I would anticipate us having more when its all said and done.”

Anthony Richardson’s eye recovery and if he’s regained his full vision

“Well he is getting better. He just had, I know he met with another specialist. He’s getting better and he’s been cleared to play football. I’m proud of him, I’m proud of Anthony man. Here’s a guy who’s had to deal with a lot of injury stuff that you know, happens. Unfortunate accident with his eye, he doesn’t win the job, Daniel wins the job.

I think the one thing that I don’t know if everyone appreciates about Anthony, I do, and I know some of his teammates do: he’s a really good teammate. Positive, wants to do the right thing.

So it’s trending in the right direction, still got a ways to go. But he is cleared to play and the eye is getting better. We’ll just work from there.

On if he sees a future for Richardson in Indianapolis:

”Yeah. I’m not going to (speculate) kinda with any player you don’t know what is going to happen and things change. But yeah we like Anthony.“

On what derails QB development besides injuries

”Lack of… that’s a… I mean… golly man, that’s a long answer there. So many factors because you are seeing it in the league now. Especially with a first round pick, they are really given year 1 okay benefit of the doubt but year 2 if they are not superstar flush them. That’s kinda been the MO.

You can see it with the guys around the league who have bounced back and matured and gotten the snaps and figured out the game. I mean Sam Darnold just won a Super Bowl doing it, Baker Mayfield is a guy, Daniel… I mean we have had these guys when development happens in a QB, organizationally and in general, everybody succeeds at their own rate. They, and I’ve said this numerous times, I think all of them have to stand on the edge of the cliff because they are going to struggle.

I just had a talk with a guy about this. They are going to struggle and they are going to be criticized like they’ve never been criticized before. And if you think about it especially in today’s age in social media where we stamp and make superstars even before they are a superstar and they get to our league and it’s not easy. They’ve got to stand at the edge of the abyss and not jump.

I wish I had a answer for that one, I’d probably quit and become a consultant and make a lot of money.“

Which positions will be the focus of the offseason with getting younger and faster?

“The front 7, we’ve had some pretty good players here. Like speed on defense we gotta get faster on Defense and we really have to on the front 7.

On how that message extends to the current roster of players and who the Colts are going to lose because of that, Ballard elaborated:

“It’s a fair assessment. I think we will work on it as we go along. We gotta see how free agency works out and then you attack the draft in that way. The draft we think is good on the defensive side of the football especially in the front 7. But it’s a definite area we need to address.”