Hasselbeck’s winning run with Colts in Luck’s absence keeps them on track
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Matt Hasselbeck prepares to throw against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of a game on Sunday.
The Indianapolis Colts have had a remarkable run of quarterbacks.
While other NFL franchises have been a revolving door at the position, the Colts have essentially gone from Peyton Manning to Andrew Luck, and now to 40-year-old backup Matt Hasselbeck, who is 4-0 in relief of the injured Luck.
Long gone are the days when teams could have Joe Montana, backed up by Steve Young, backed up by Steve Bono. Quarterbacks have gotten so expensive, consuming so much of the salary cap, that anything more than a lightly experienced clipboard holder is a luxury. Hasselbeck took the Seattle Seahawks to the Super Bowl and these days is continually proving his value, both on the field and in the locker room.
Although they typically run away with the AFC South, the 6-5 Colts have no room for hiccups this season, with Houston tied atop the division after four consecutive victories. All the more reason the Colts should be thanking their lucky horseshoe for Hasselbeck.
In two separate stints replacing Luck — now out with a lacerated kidney and abdominal tear — Hasselbeck has directed the Colts to victories against Jacksonville and at Houston, at Atlanta and last Sunday against Tampa Bay. He will get his fifth start of the season Sunday night at Pittsburgh.
“We always were thinking more of a two-game stretch or something like that, but for Matt to do what he’s done, on the road too against some adverse situations, it’s been exciting,” Colts owner Jim Irsay told The Times. “It’s a folk-hero story, for sure.”
Typically, Hasselbeck has been sharp and efficient, completing 65.7% of his passes for 1,023 yards, with seven touchdowns and two intercepted passes.
Colts offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski marveled at the notion that Hasselbeck, in his 17th season, seems to be getting better by the week.
“That’s an amazing thing to say for a guy that’s played as much as he has and for as long as he has,” Chudzinski said. “He’s got a great attitude about things. He’s been in probably about every kind of offense there is. We’re working through this thing together.”
For Hasselbeck, who previously played for Green Bay, Seattle and Tennessee, that means wringing the most out of every minute of practice time.
He laughed this week when reminded he used to playfully grouse that Luck would hog all the snaps with the No. 1 offense.
“Yeah, I’ve found that I’m equally as selfish as he is,” Hasselbeck said. “I probably owe him an apology. It’s true.”
There’s no denying it has been a rough season so far for Luck, the No. 1 overall pick in 2012, who has 15 touchdowns and 12 interceptions and a 2-5 record as a starter this season.
Hasselbeck rolls his eyes at the chatter outside the franchise that the Colts might want to stick with him even when Luck is ready to return.
“I know the truth,” Hasselbeck said. “I know what reality is. This is 100% Andrew Luck’s team. Not only is he the quarterback of the future, he’s been the quarterback of the past. He has earned every bit of respect that he gets in this locker room.
“I don’t put anything into those kinds of comments outside the building. I don’t even think that would ever be discussed inside this building. It’s kind of a non-starter I think.”
Before the season, Hasselbeck flirted with the notion of hanging up his cleats. He talked about retiring with his dad, Don, an NFL tight end with four teams — New England, the Los Angeles Raiders, Minnesota, and the New York Giants — from 1977 to 1985.
“He was kind of planning on moving on and doing what’s next, and he said, ‘What do you think?’ ” said Don, whose two other sons also played — Tim in the NFL and Nathanael in college. “I said, ‘Here’s the thing. If you feel fine, health-wise, there’s nothing like this game. It’s fun. Ask your brothers. When it’s over, it’s over.’ There’s nothing that simulates it.
“I’ll tell you right now, from the time that I stopped playing until now, there’s never been anything as exciting as playing.”
Exciting doesn’t mean easy, especially for a guy who’s now the oldest non-kicker in the league.
“A lineman accidentally stepped on Matthew’s foot the other day,” Don said. “You get some 330-pound guy putting some torque on your foot. He sent me a picture of his foot the other day. It was all black and blue. He said, ‘Oh, and this is the good one.’ ”
Even in that state, Hasselbeck is keeping the wheels of the Colts from coming off.
Twitter: @LATimesfarmer
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