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- The Colts added QB Matt Ryan to the roster, likely making him the 7th different opening day starter in 7 years
- Fans are now comparing Indianapolis to the Browns, a team that’s known for QB turnover
- Read more NFL news here
Indianapolis has figured out their future at the quarterback position.
The Colts dealt last year’s starter Carson Wentz to the Commanders earlier this offseason, leaving a void under center for the organization.
On Monday, Indy found Wentz’s replacement.
News broke early this week of Matt Ryan’s signing with the Colts. The move shores up the quarterback position in Indianapolis for the 2022 season, giving the offense a veteran signal caller as they look to make a playoff push.
Last year’s team seemed just a player away from making that postseason run. A great defense paired with one of the league’s top rushers, the Colts looked destined to make the NFL Playoffs in 2021. Unfortunately, a week 18 loss to cellar dweller Jacksonville ended those postseason hopes.
Many blamed Wentz for a lackluster season performance, culminating with that loss in the finale. The organization wasn’t fond of his leadership abilities or decision making, and for that reason, he was shipped off to the NFC.
Indianapolis is hopeful that Ryan will provide more stability. The four-time Pro Bowler owns an MVP and a Super Bowl appearance. He’s been, arguably, the most important player in Falcons franchise history. He should be a proven upgrade from Wentz.
Now, Ryan will try to lead a new team to the Promised Land. But this interesting statistic has fans comparing the Colts to the Browns as opposed to a Super Bowl contender.
Colts Begin 7th Straight Season With A Different Starting QB
The Browns are not known for their roster management at the quarterback position. Before Baker Mayfield arrived, the team had gone 17 straight seasons with having to play multiple passers.
Since the turn of the 21st century, the organization has seen an incredible 31 different signal callers start under center. With Deshaun Watson joining the team in 2022, that list is only set to grow.
Now, no one in the NFL has been quite on that level, but the Colts are doing their best to keep up.
Over each of the last seven seasons, the team has started a different quarterback for the opener. It has fans on social media making that undesirable comparison to Cleveland.
And so it continues for the Colts…. pic.twitter.com/T4Js5Vu8q2
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 21, 2022
They are literally the browns… https://t.co/q8w3IB65Lv
— Hungover HARRY (@stickysixbiscut) March 21, 2022
10 years from now, the Colts are going to have a Browns' like jersey with 20 names on it. https://t.co/BSPiLUp9YL
— Getty (@ItzGetty) March 21, 2022
you know what they say, 7th time the charm https://t.co/5pT4tfZ1qx
— ¯_(ツ)_/¯ (@wyatt_campbell3) March 21, 2022
https://twitter.com/tdshoemaker/status/1506005864825573376
https://twitter.com/tdshoemaker/status/1506005864825573376
GIVE THEM A QB CAROUSEL GRAPHIC!!! ITS THEIR TURN!!! LET SOMEONE ELSE HAVE IT!!! https://t.co/STgaHedJdx
— Caleb Mauldin (@cwmauldin00) March 21, 2022
The Colts are acting like the Browns with all these QB’s. https://t.co/Mb480Hma8o
— Carlos (@Carlosthejet) March 21, 2022
https://twitter.com/CartuneNetwerk/status/1506001472156225545
Trying to make their own version of the infamous Browns jersey https://t.co/93yAJd2M3l
— Road Kit Kek 🍀⚽️ (@dougkeklak) March 21, 2022
https://twitter.com/gstigs40/status/1505993987710230545
The Colts have had more starting QBs in the past 5 years than from 1998-2016. pic.twitter.com/QrylHaXX9q
— SB Nation (@SBNation) March 21, 2022
Veteran QBs to the Colts every year 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/oQPctMZTYF
— Whistle (@WhistleSports) March 21, 2022
I know it's not their fault Luck retired, but the Colts neverending carousel of QBs is very funny. Can't wait to see who it is next year
— Céad Míle Fáilte (@ColeyMick) March 21, 2022
the Colts are 0-8 in Week 1 dating back to 2014
they are the only team in the NFL to lose 8 straight season-opener games
with Frank Reich as Head Coach:
weeks 1-5 = 8-12 (40%)
weeks 6+ = 29-16 (64%)the new QBs every year likely a key contributing factor to the slow starts https://t.co/ozqYp83mJ1
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) March 21, 2022
Not the best comparison, but maybe it will work out a little better for the Colts than it has for Cleveland.