Colts: Jim Irsay’s call to surprise second-round pick is actually amazing
By Adam Weinrib
Most Indianapolis Colts fans feel like the team’s draft lost its way in the second round when Chris Ballard, presented with a golden opportunity for one of his trademark trades back, instead snagged a potential reach in Vanderbilt DE Dayo Odeyingbo.
Injury-plagued and a pass rush specialist like the team’s first-rounder Kwity Paye, the fit felt suspect.
Unless…the team plans to shift him to left tackle? No, they would never.
Unless……..?
Though the fit on paper isn’t ideal, perhaps fans’ anger will be softened with the clip the Colts released on Wednesday afternoon of another instant classic Draft Day phone call from Ballard to the Vandy defender … where owner Jim Irsay most definitely stole the show.
Is it just us, or were there more excellent audio clips from the phone lines this year than ever before? This one, like most of these inspirational videos of the best moment of these kids’ lives, will hopefully stand the test of time.
Dreams to reality https://t.co/Ft3YHg1wAE
— Dayo Odeyingbo (@dodeyingbo) May 5, 2021
Indianapolis Colts GM Chris Ballard and Jim Irsay’s phone call to Dayo Odeyingbo was classic.
“Happy to say I’m gonna make you a millionaire, and let’s go get that Super Bowl ring.”
Music to our ears from Irsay. Bonus points for the Mathis and Freeney reference to the ghosts of pass rush past, but the owner really saved his money soundbite for the tail end of the conversation there, huh?
Hopefully, the scenario he envisions where the Colts are up three points late and need some pass rushing prowess to save the game comes to fruition sooner rather than later. Odeyingbo, a first-round talent, might not be fully cleared for game action until closer to the season’s midpoint.
The #Colts select Vanderbilt’s DE Dayo Odeyingbo, who is coming off a torn Achilles. He’ll be cleared in August return to play late September/October. Plenty of teams had first round grades if healthy.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 1, 2021
Poll executives at a different time of year and they might have a very different grade on Indy’s draft haul. Right now? There are going to be plenty of doubters for this crew to prove wrong.
It all starts when Odeyingbo signs on the dotted line and officially becomes an Irsay-minted millionaire.
