Whither AR

 Anthony Richardson did not sow a whole lot of anything in the five series he played against the Bengals last night. Unless you count question marks.

Man planted a whole row of those. Maybe two.

What are we to make, after all, of what Richardson showed us, even if it was just a lousy preseason game?

First off, he was the AR of every Colts fan's hopes and dreams, completing seven of his first eight throws for 65 yards and a six. 

Then he was AR-rrgh, missing on five of his last six throws including a pick-six.

So there was Good Anthony and then there was Bad Anthony, and now we're left to wonder what the regular season will bring with him. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was a horror story, after all. And God knows the True Blue Crew has seen enough of those.

Here's what I think, as if it matters:

1. I think Richardson has a phenomenal skill set but he's still, in all but name, a rookie. Which means he will look like a million bucks sometimes, and other times he'll look like Monopoly money. I loathe the chic word "process", but it really is a process.

2. Given that, I think it's way, waaaaay too early to broach the subject Kirk Herbstreit broached on last night's telecast.

What Herbstreit wondered, right out loud, if the Colts would reach a point where they'd bench Richardson for 98-year-old Joe Flacco.

(OK, so he's not 98 years old. He's also not yet drawing Social Security. But 40 is crowding him like Dale Earnhardt used to crowd some poor schlub's rear bumper, and 40 in the NFL is when they start wheeling in the tapioca at the training table.)

Anyway, Herbie's observation was, ahem, ridiculous. Maybe he should stick to college football, where the unfettered transfer portal means coaches now change quarterbacks the  way most people change socks.

And Anthony Richardson?

 Three words no one in Horsie Nation wanted to hear, heading into the regular season: We shall see.