Colts general manager declares “the rivalry is back on” after Josh McDaniels backs out of head coaching job

Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard held a press to discuss the failed hiring of New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.

“We were very confident we were going in the right direction,” Ballard said about working with McDaniels. “Very confident Monday night and Tuesday morning...I got a call Tuesday evening saying he had decided to- he had changed his mind and was going in a different direction.”

McDaniels said he wasn’t joining the Colts after a last minute change of heart and Ballard didn’t ask for an explanation, saying “I live in a black and white world- either you’re in or you’re out.”

Ballard added, “I wish Josh the best. Let me say this- Josh McDaniels is a good football coach and I wish him the best going forward,” before saying “the rivalry is back on,” as he walked away from the podium.

It seems like Ballard is handling the bad news as best as possible and it’s an easy sell to say that he doesn’t want to work with a head coach that doesn’t have his heart fully with the team. But saying, “the rivalry is back on,” gives this circus a real WWE vibe as if this was all set up for the sake offseason ratings since the Colts haven’t beaten the Patriots since 2009 and haven’t been very competitive in most of the recent games.

The Patriots and Colts face each other in 2018 in New England, though, so Indianapolis will get an immediate chance for revenge.