Football players have been known to try anything to get an edge. Several years back, ESPN ran a story on the various rituals and superstitions practiced by every NFL team. Many involved food, as was the case with the Indianapolis Colts’ Darius Leonard. He ate the exact same two meals for breakfast and lunch every day of a game week.
Clothing. mantras, activities … it was all fair game. If something gives you a little extra confidence, it’s worth a shot, right?
Anthony Richardson wore number 15 while at the University of Florida. It was an homage to Tim Tebow, and it led to the clever and controversial nickname AR15. When he entered the professional ranks, Richardson wanted a fresh start and wanted to move away from the nickname’s semi-automatic associations. So he chose something new.
Solution to Colts' Anthony Richardson’s woes is as simple as a change in numbers
Upon joining the Colts, Richardson could have gone back to number 2, which he had worn before 15, because that was Cam Newton’s number. But back-to-back veterans – Carson Wentz and Matt Ryan – had worn that jersey in the previous two years with minimal success.
Instead, Anthony Richardson went with number 5.
But here’s the thing. No Colt, either in Baltimore or in Indianapolis, has ever had success wearing the number 5. Prior to Richardson, only eight players had ever worn it in franchise history. The first was Steve Mike-Mayer, a journeyman kicker who played his final two seasons for Baltimore in 1979-80. Over the course of 29 games, Mike-Mayer converted just over half of his field goal attempts.
Those 29 games were the most ever played by a Colt wearing number 5 until Richardson’s arrival.
Stephon Gilmore was the best player to wear the number in his lone corner-for-hire season just before AR entered the league. Gilmore’s one year wearing number 5 for Indy broke his four-year run of Pro Bowls. He has not been back since. Coincidence? Sure.
Between Mike-Mayer and Gilmore, the number has been donned by the likes of Craig Colquitt, who came out of retirement to boom a couple of punts – 61 yards total – when Rohn Stark had to miss a game in 1987.
Or Josh Freeman, who also showed up after semi-retirement, to quarterback Indy to a very strange win in the final week of 2015. Kerry Collins finished his long career wearing number 5 in a few Colts’ games in 2011.
In other words, Indianapolis has been where the number 5 has gone to die for the better part of its history. Prior to Richardson, the only player besides Mike-Mayer to even last a second season wearing number 5 for the Colts was Blair Kiel. You remember Blair Kiel. Sure you do.
Look, I’m not saying Richardson has to don 18 or 19 to have success as a Colts QB. Besides, he can’t take those numbers because they are retired. But how about Bert Jones’ 7? Jones had an up-and-down career in Baltimore, but he was wearing 7 when he won the league MVP in 1976. I’m sure Charvarius Ward would give it up for the good of the team.
Or just wait until Jason Bean gets cut and grab Andrew Luck’s 12.
Before you scoff, let me just throw one more name from Colts history at you.
In 1984, Indy signed a rookie free agent kicker to fill in for an injured starter. He performed well enough to stick around after the starter returned and handled kickoffs, but was released the following season. He wore number 5.
Then, in 1986, he took another shot, this time with a different number. Was simply switching from 5 to 4 the reason Dean Biasucci went on to kick for Indy the next nine seasons, two of which resulted in All-Pro selections? He is still the third-leading scorer in franchise history.
I know, the number had nothing to do with it. But these are desperate times in Indy. With a decent QB, this roster could make some noise. I think it’s worth a try.