When a team usually gives a young quarterback a break, it’s the first step in a divorce. For the Colts, the decision to bench second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson feels like a move aimed at giving the Colts a chance to make the playoffs.

Indy is 4-4. The rest of the season could be ruined one way or another. Veteran Joe Flacco, who is 1-1 as a starter and won the game against Steelers after coming off the bench following an injury to Richardson, now helps them to the win.

The cost, of course, is Richardson’s delayed development. He came into the league desperately in need of reps, and as a rookie he missed thirteen games due to injury. He still needs those reps, now more than ever.

But the Colts have to win. The likes of coach Shane Steichen and GM Chris Ballard may not be there for the payday if they miss the playoffs because of the losses that occur while the game slows down for Richardson.

Don’t forget the role of the locker room in situations like this. Experienced players are not interested in giving it their all as part of a glorified internship, especially if the student is willing to go all out during a match because he is tired.

Everyone is tired, especially the people blocking for the quarterback.

So between wanting to win and not being a fan of Richardson taking himself out of Sunday’s game, it makes it easy for his teammates to get behind Flacco.

Will it hurt Richardson’s development? Yes. But it will also continue to have its chance to develop in Indy, with both Steichen and Ballard still with the team. If they go, the new regime may ensure Richardson never gets the chance to figure out how to play NFL football as a member of the Colts.

Still, we hope he finds out. As Peter King used to say PFT LiveBill Walsh said if he sees someone do something once, he can coach them to do it all the time. Richardson could do spectacular things someday.

The only problem is that all too often it’s literally once per game. Combine that with checking out of a game once and Richardson is asked to take a seat.

It’s now up to him to make sure this only happens once.