Chandler Harnish: Colts Misplace Priorities with Mr. Irrelevant Selection

Ryan Grigson is confused.

The Indianapolis Colts pieced together a phenomenal 2012 NFL draft by reeling in Andrew Luck as well as a bounty of weapons for his arsenal. As picky as it sounds, though, their decision to make Chandler Harnish Mr. Irrelevant was a poor one.

CBS Sports’ Tom James reported that Grigson said after the selection that: “He is relevant because otherwise you wouldn't burn a pick on somebody.”

But Grigson’s efforts to defend Harnish from the traditional nickname don’t overshadow the fact that he did indeed burn the pick.

What is the only use of a backup quarterback? To have someone capable of stepping in when the starter goes down with an injury.

Adding quarterback help behind Luck makes sense. Last season, Indianapolis’ quarterback-by-committee approach—featuring Curtis Painter, Dan Orlovsky and Kerry Collins—played abysmally. But instead of preparing in case of an injury, Indy should’ve prepared to prevent an injury.

This offseason, Jeff Saturday, Mike Pollak, Ryan Diem and Jamey Richard all left in free agency. Only Samson Satele and Mike McGlynn were signed to replace them.

Going into draft weekend, Indianapolis still had work to do. They failed to significantly upgrade, though, only selecting offensive tackle Justin Anderson—a player who not many even expected to be drafted.

Harnish grew up in Bluffington, Ind. and played football at Northern Illinois. He would’ve most likely signed with the Colts in free agency if he had gone undrafted. Under those circumstances, why waste a draft pick?

Quality offensive-line prospects Mike Brewster, Matt Reynolds, James Brown and Ronald Leary all went undrafted and could’ve been taken at No. 253.

As nice as it was to reel in Coby Fleener, Dwayne Casey, T.Y. Hilton, Vick Ballard and LaVon Brazill, if the Colts can’t keep Luck upright, they all become useless.

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

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