Top Colts playmaker finally weighed in on the QB battle (and his response will shock you)

The Indianapolis Colts quarterback battle has been one of the biggest stories of the offseason, and even if they won't admit it, it's inevitable that people are going to take sides. Some will gravitate towards Anthony Richardson, who current Colts players have had two years to know and love as a person; his abilities on the field notwithstanding, by all accounts, Richardson is a likeable guy, and it makes sense that so many Colts were openly and publicly rooting for him last season. Others, however, will feel that, as much as they like Richardson, Jones gives them the better shot at winning.

Zaire Franklin hasn't had much to say about where he falls in the Richardson vs. Jones race, but last season, he was one of Richardson's loudest advocates and defenders. So his answer in a recent interview on the issue was surprising.

" First and foremost, I trust Shane. So I'm going to just go there. Shane is somebody I got full trust in and that's his decision to make. The guy that he feels the best to lead that offensive side and help, you know, get our team to the promised land, I'm behind him.
But at the same time, you know, I just think, you know, both of those guys offer different strengths and different mentalities. You know, just kind of when you're looking at it, obviously Daniel's, he's been a starter in his league, he's been to the playoffs, you know, but he has his different strengths. Anthony's kind of the younger playmaker ceiling type of thing."

Zaire Franklin

This response is surprising for several reasons.

First, as mentioned, Franklin has been one of Richardson's biggest supporters, publicly ripping the media over its treatment of him, and even getting into a social media feud with Colts alum Pat McAfee about it.

"I'm saying, though, y'all saying a bunch of s*** and picking up off a narrative that's building instead of being the actual adult in the room and telling them the real, and the real guidance, bro. The last couple weeks was a part of Anthony's story," he said at the time. "That's a part of his growth. That's a part of his development and no, he don't f***ing got it. No, he has not f***ing arrived. He hasn't. He's on a process. He's on -- he joined. He's in the race that every single person in that building, all the players who actually are worth a s*** in the league, the journey that they are on ,and that is the never-ending process of getting better, bro. Never ending process, the never-ending pursuit to perfection. That's what he's on. That's what we all are on first and foremost."

Second, Franklin also was one of Steichen's loudest critics after Richardson was benched. Multiple members of the Colts spoke out about the situation; they were not necessarily angry because Steichen decided to bench Richardson, but because of how he handled it, with most of the Colts seemingly finding out about it through the media. It was so unpopular that rumors began flying that Steichen had lost the locker room, and Franklin was one of the people speaking out about poor team culture at the time.

So, long story short, to see him suddenly singing Steichen's praises and saying how much he trusts him is surprising, to say the least.

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