Chris Ballard knows how to handle these settings. The smile. The laugh. The occasional curse word and immediate apology. His personality can be endearing, especially when the Indianapolis Colts general manager is being interviewed during the NFL Scouting Combine. But as Ballard enters his 10th season with the franchise, with little success through the first nine, that appeal has lost its luster.
The fans, or at least a large portion of them, wanted to see change. They wanted Ballard fired, only for him to get yet another chance to right the ship. Ballard acknowledged that frustration yesterday before diving into another offseason full of pivotal and potentially franchise-altering decisions.
“I know it’s social media. My kids keep me informed all the time like, ‘Oh, Dad, they’re killing you!’” Ballard said, slightly pushing back on how he’s received online versus in person. “But when rubber hits the road, I don’t catch the same amount of s— that I do in other places. People are respectful. That’s all you ask for. Should they be upset? Damn right. I’m a fan, too. … It’s our job to get it right.”