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LANDOVER, MD - SEPTEMBER 16: Indianapolis Colts Tight End Eric Ebron (85) celebrates his touchdown with Indianapolis Colts Quarterback Andrew Luck (12) during the game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Washington Redskins on September 16, 2018 at FedExField in Landover MD. (Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Last week, on the ‘On My Soul’ podcast, former Indianapolis Colts Pro Bowl tight end Eric Ebron caused some national stir, when he recalled that current longtime team general manager Chris Ballard gave retired franchise quarterback Andrew Luck an ‘ultimatum’ that he either commit to the team and play through lingering pain for the 2019 season or retire from professional football all together (via Justin Aufiero):
It caused enough national controversy that Luck addressed Ebron’s recent comments over the past weekend through FOX59/CBS4’s Mike Chappell, denying that any such thing transpired, while maintaining his strong professional relationship with Ballard—even to this day:
After catching 66 receptions for 750 total receiving yards and 13 touchdown receptions (!) for the Colts back in 2018—largely benefitting from catching passes from a healthy Luck during his debut campaign in Indianapolis, his relationship with Ballard quickly deteriorated over his injured ankles that ultimately required season-ending surgery (*in-season) a year later in 2019.
Ebron maintains that he needed surgery before the 2019 season even started, while Ballard seemed to contend that the former Detroit Lions first round castoff quit on the team later in the year, opting for season-ending surgery, with no Luck and in the midst of a disappointing 2019 season in Indianapolis (*both for him individually production wise and the team from a win-loss standpoint), ahead of his upcoming NFL free agency.
Thereafter, Ebron alleges that Ballard essentially labeled him ‘a quitter,’ and that false narrative followed him around league circles even after leaving Indianapolis, only playing two more seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers before retiring at 29-years old—and effectively capped his collective pro career earnings and production.
Needless to say, there may still be some bad blood and a lingering personal feud between Ebron and Ballard—at least from Ebron’s perspective. Perhaps that carried over to this latest Luck retirement saga story.
Regarding Luck, there may be more to his retirement story than has been disclosed to the general public. In particular, we’ve heard rumors of him injuring his throwing shoulder also snow boarding, that the team (and presumably Ballard) turned down his request to rehab in Hawaii away from the team, etc. among other rumors through past years. However, this one doesn’t seem to have much legs, as Luck cleared this one up himself.
