Prior to being sidelined 12 weeks of his rookie season following a right shoulder injury that required surgery, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson flashed superstar potential. Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 244 pounds, Richardson has a build similar to former MVP Cam Newton.

The two are difficult to compare because of Richardson’s small sample size in the NFL, but as far as size is concerned, the two are nearly clones. Newton has him by an inch in height, but they’re two similarly built quarterbacks.

With so much buzz surrounding Richardson, much was left to be desired following his shortened rookie season. However, the hype has now been moved toward 2024.

When a player has as much hype as Richardson does heading into this season, the media tour is destined to happen, and it did.

Anthony Richardson paints the main difference between players in the NCAA and the NFL in recent podcast appearance

The Colts’ second-year quarterback recently hopped on Jeff Teague’s Club520 Podcast to discuss the upcoming season. Within the conversation, Richardson made a bold claim that might come back to bite him if he doesn’t reach the expectations many made for him this season.

Playing in the NFL, I feel like, is easier than in college. In college, you got players that are good, they know they’re good, but they’re not as confident. They’ve got to rely on other players to do this for them and to do that. But in the league, everybody is trying to work to stay in the league and try to keep their job.

Anthony Richardson on the Club520 Podcast

Now, there’s truth to what Richardson is saying here, but it’s a quote that could come across as cocky to some.

The main point of this argument is that in college, some players are good enough to try to cover the tracks of players who they might not think are good enough to do their own assignments correctly. So, in Richardson’s perspective, he might’ve been trying to play too much hero ball in college, as he didn’t entirely trust his teammates.

The difference in the NFL, per Richardson, is that he doesn’t have to do more than he’s expected to. If his job is to throw a 10-yard dig against X coverage, he’ll throw a 10-yard dig against X coverage. He won’t have to anticipate his Colts receivers not being capable of completing their duties to ensure Richardson’s pass is completed the way it was intended.

And, to be honest, that’s probably a big difference from the NCAA to the NFL. With everyone in the NFL being some of the best at their position, there’s trust between teammates that each player on the field is capable of doing their job.

In fact, the phrase “Do your job” is what led the New England Patriots to their dynasty during the Tom Brady era. Bill Belichick is frequently associated with that phrase because it’s true. If all 11 players on each side of the ball focus solely on doing their assignment to the best of their ability, there’s no need for someone else to chip in and do one-and-a-half jobs per play.

It could come across as overzealous from a quarterback who’s only played 173 snaps in the NFL, but there’s plenty of truth behind what Anthony Richardson said.

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