Indianapolis, IN

Chris Ballard goes on expletive-filled rant to defend ‘pissed’ second-round pick Adonai Mitchell

Published

9 months ago

April 27, 2024

Chris Ballard goes on expletive-filled rant to defend ‘pissed’ second-round pick Adonai Mitchell

INDIANAPOLIS — Adonai Mitchell’s phone finally started ringing on Friday night. Colts general manager Chris Ballard was on the phone with what he hoped would be good news.

Mitchell’s family began to celebrate, but Mitchell left the jubilation to them. He had a different feeling simmering inside.

“Right now, the only thing I’m kinda feeling now is I’m kind of pissed,” Mitchell said. “I don’t know what other way to call it.”

Mitchell was projected to go late in the first round by some mock drafts but was not one of the seven receivers taken in it. He was the fourth receiver off the board in the second round, after the Colts traded back from No. 46 with the Panthers to No. 52 and made him their first offensive selection of the draft.

“At the end of the day, people were chosen before me. That’s just the reality of it,” Mitchell said. “My job now is to make them pay.”

Mitchell had some first-round buzz for obvious reasons: He ran a 4.34-second 40-yard dash, good for third among all receivers at this year’s NFL Scouting Combine. Throw in a 39.5-inch vertical jump and a 136-inch broad jump, and he posted a score of 9.99 out of 10.00 on the Relative Athletic Score, which compares all combine participants since 1987.

But the reasons he slipped aren’t hard to find either: Mitchell had just one year of big production after transferring from Georgia. He also came with concerns about his preparation, attitude and interviews with teams, as expressed by anonymous NFL scouts to longtime journalist Bob McGinn of Go Long as well as on NFL Network during the draft broadcast.

The Colts decided to take him after a small trade back, with hopes that he can compete with Alec Pierce to be the team’s starting ‘Z’ receiver and deep-ball specialist for second-year passer Anthony Richardson.

Moments after the pick, general manager Chris Ballard delivered a profane defense of his newest receiver against those anonymous scouting reports.

“I read some of the (expletive) that was said on TV, just some of the typical (expletive) — excuse my language — just our typical league: unnamed sources, bad interviews. That’s such (expletive),” Ballard said. “It just (expletive) is. It’s (expletive). Put your name on it. I’m tired of it.

“We tear these young men down. These are 21- or 22-year-old young men. If people out there can tell me they’re perfect in their lives. It’s crap. It’s crap. This is a good kid. For those reports to come out — I said it last year. It’s (expletive). I’m sorry. I apologize. I don’t, but I do.”

Mitchell’s entrance into the NFL is laced with chippiness, which the Colts believe is in some ways essential to his makeup and any chances of reaching the ceiling within those athletic traits. They have popped in some of the biggest games of his life so far, including in the College Football Playoff and against Alabama. But now, the challenge is drilling that fury down into a day-to-day professionalism and consistency that can sustain a career at the highest level.

That’s where they hope the match with receivers coach Reggie Wayne can work. Wayne brings fire to the role but also a relatability as a six-time Pro Bowl receiver with the Colts who won a Super Bowl and is regularly in the running for the Hall-of-Fame.

“He’s competitive. He’s like any young player: They get built up so big now, especially in college football with NIL and all the stuff they go through,” Ballard said. “Sometimes, a little adversity, a little humbleness is a good thing. I think he’ll respond good to it.”

It’s time to get to work. In Mitchell’s eyes, he’s bringing a simple skill set to the Colts and to the NFL:

“The best,” he said.

Contact Nate Atkins at natkins@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @NateAtkins_.

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Indianapolis, IN

Bundle up! Indiana to see more bitter cold, dangerous wind chills this week

Published

5 hours ago

January 19, 2025

Press Room

Bundle up! Indiana to see more bitter cold, dangerous wind chills this week

Light snow flurries in Indianapolis early Sunday signaled an approaching arctic air mass that could bring dangerous wind chills as low as -20 degrees across Indiana in the coming days.

Bitterly cold temperatures are forecast across Indiana from 7 p.m. Sunday to 10 a.m. Wednesday, according to a cold weather advisory issued by the National Weather Service.

By Monday, the daily high is expected to drop near 10 degrees, with wind chill indexes cold enough to cause frostbite on exposed skin within just 30 minutes.

The NWS urges Hoosiers to cover all skin when going outdoors and to bring pets inside. When traveling, wear several layers and bring extra blankets in case of an emergency.

“That cold air will continue to filter in and we’re going to be below zero for overnight lows tonight,” NWS Indianapolis meteorologist Randy Bowers told IndyStar. “For the next few days, we’re going to be quite a bit colder than normal.”

Indiana’s weather colder than normal

At the peak of the cold blast, Central Indiana temperatures will be 25 to 30 degrees below typical levels, Bowers said. The average high this time in January is 36 degrees, while the overnight low is around 20 degrees.

Here’s the latest NWS forecast through Wednesday:

Sunday, Jan. 19: Scattered snow showers before 1 p.m., then scattered flurries. Mostly cloudy, with temperature falling to around 14 by 5 p.m. By tonight, ambient air temperatures will be as low as -1 and wind chill values as low as -14.
Monday, Jan. 20: Sunny and cold, with a high near 12. Wind chill values as low as -14. Monday night’s low is around 3.
Tuesday, Jan. 21: Mostly sunny but even colder than Monday, with a high of 8 degrees. Tuesday night’s low is -3.
Wednesday, Jan. 22: Mostly sunny with a high near 22. Wednesday night’s low is 17.

Will it snow in Indiana this week?

Little to no snowfall is forecast over the next week. On Sunday, a band of snow swept across Central Indiana and counties east of Indianapolis. Visibility could be poor for drivers, with rapid snow accumulations of a few tenths of an inch.

“There really is not a good chance of precipitation for the next seven days,” Bowers said. “Kind of a dry pattern. It’s mainly just cold.”

Weather info you need

🚨 Indiana Weather Alerts: Warnings, Watches and Advisories.

⚡ Indiana power outage map: How to check your status.

💻 Internet outages: How to track them.

🚫 What you should and shouldn’t do when the power is out.

🐶 Your neighbor left their pet outside. Who you should call.

Warming shelters around Indianapolis

People can find information about warming shelters via the city’s winter contingency plan or by calling 211. Emergency warming shelters will be available during harsh weather conditions through March 31.

Indy Parks Family Shelters will be open to all during normal business hours, which can be found at this link.

More: Freezing cold is here. Where to stay warm and find overnight shelter in Indianapolis.

Email IndyStar Housing, Growth and Development Reporter Jordan Smith at JTsmith@gannett.com. Follow him on X: @jordantsmith09

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Indianapolis, IN

Indianapolis firefighters battle house fire on Southern Springs Drive

Published

13 hours ago

January 19, 2025

Press Room

Indianapolis firefighters battle house fire on Southern Springs Drive

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Firefighters with the Indianapolis Fire Department on Saturday are battling a house fire on the city’s south side.

At 8:53 p.m. Saturday, firefighters were dispatched to the 8400 block of Southern Springs Drive on a report of a residence fire. That is a residential area on the city’s south side. Firefighters arrived on the scene and located a one-story house with heavy fire showing.

At 8:58 p.m., multiple propane tanks were reportedly exploding inside the house. at 9:27 p.m., the fire was put under control. At 9:37 p.m., a safety officer reported a drywall falling down inside the house. At 10:11 p.m., the fire was completely out.

Two firefighters were injured in the incident. One injured firefighter was taken to Methodist Hospital. The other injured firefighter was checked at the scene and released. Both firefighters suffered moderate injuries after the kitchen ceiling fell in on them.

There were no other reported injuries at the scene.

The house and vehicles are a total loss, according to IFD officials. IFD Victims Assistance was dispatched for three adults, a child, and a dog.

The owner of the house told investigators that the electricity went out in a portion of the house. After investigating, the owner found fire in the garage. The occupants evacuated after the fire was found.

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Indianapolis, IN

Bitter cold arrives through midweek

Published

20 hours ago

January 18, 2025

Press Room

TONIGHT

Cloudy skies will persist, with flurries or isolated snow showers possible, especially in northern and southern parts of the area. Temperatures will drop into the upper teens to near 20, with north winds at 10 to 20 mph. Watch for slick spots where light precipitation may occur.

TOMORROW

Mostly cloudy with a chance of snow showers and flurries, particularly during the morning. Light accumulations may occur, especially south of I-70. Temperatures will remain frigid, falling through the day and reaching the teens by late afternoon. Wind chills as low as -5 are expected, with west northwest winds at 10 to 15 mph, gusting to 25 mph.

TOMORROW NIGHT

Partly cloudy and extremely cold. Lows will fall to near or below zero, with wind chill values between -15 and -25. Winds from the west northwest will range from 10 to 15 mph, adding to the bitter chill. An Extreme Cold Watch is in effect.

MONDAY

Sunny but very cold, with highs in the single digits to low teens. Wind chills will remain in the -10 to -20 range for much of the day as west winds blow at 8 to 10 mph.

MONDAY NIGHT

Partly cloudy with lows near zero, though localized areas may dip below zero. Wind chills could again approach -15 with calm winds from the west southwest around 5 mph.

TUESDAY

Mostly sunny but brutally cold, with highs only reaching the upper single digits to near 10. West winds at 5 to 8 mph will keep wind chills subzero.

TUESDAY NIGHT

Clear skies and the coldest night of the season so far. Lows will range from -5 to -10, with light and variable winds allowing for dangerous radiative cooling.

WEDNESDAY

Sunny and slightly warmer, with highs reaching the upper teens to near 20. Light south winds at 6 to 9 mph may bring some relief.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT

Mostly cloudy, with lows in the mid to upper teens. South winds will persist at 8 to 10 mph, keeping conditions less frigid than earlier nights.

7 DAY FORECAST

A bitterly cold start to the week will dominate, with wind chill values plunging to dangerous levels Sunday night through Tuesday night. By midweek, temperatures will moderate slightly but remain below average, with highs in the teens and 20s. A late-week system could bring a return of snow or wintry precipitation, along with slightly milder air, as highs near freezing by the weekend.

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