Indianapolis, IN
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_.
Indianapolis, IN
Cooler temps Friday with some afternoon sun, warmer weekend | March 27, 2026
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH-TV) – All of the rain has moved off to the south and east of us. Cooler temperatures have settled in and will be here through the first part of the weekend. We warm back up late in the weekend and into much of next week.
Moderate to heavy rain fell yesterday and into the overnight hours. Some locations across parts of Central Indiana picking up an inch or two of rainfall. This will definitely help where drought conditions are in place for northern sections of Indiana.
TODAY: We will hang on to you some cloud cover early this morning before more sunshine peeks out later in the afternoon. Look for breezy conditions with winds out of the North and Northeast gusting at times near 20 mph. Temperatures later this afternoon will be right around 48 degrees.
TONIGHT: If you are heading to the Pacers game or the home opener of the Indianapolis Indians you will not need the rain gear. Bring along the layers though because we will see chilly conditions. Either at first pitch or pregame those temperatures will be into the middle forties. Readings will fall around 28 degrees overnight under mostly clear skies.
TOMORROW: You will need the jacket in the morning early Saturday however with lots of sunshine for the afternoon temperatures warm up a little bit more. It will be seasonally cool with light and variable winds and high temperatures near 50.
7 DAY EXTENDED FORECAST: Clouds increase on your Sunday Look for partly cloudy skies with high temperatures a little warmer. Look for readings right around 61.
Temperatures continue to climb heading into next week. Look for a partly to mostly cloudy sky Monday with highs near 71. On Tuesday we get close to 80° but our rain chances do increase especially late Tuesday. We’ll see temperatures above normal with more rain possible on Wednesday and Thursday.
Indianapolis, IN
Colts free agent running back signs with Atlanta Falcons
ATLANTA (WISH) — Tyler Goodson, who played for the Indianapolis Colts the past three seasons, is joining a new team.
The Atlanta Falcons announced on Thursday that they have signed the free agent running back.
Goodson appeared in 33 games during his time in Indy, rushing for a total of 234 yards. He had one rushing touchdown back in 2024.
The rushing touchdown came during the Colts’ win over the Miami Dolphins that season. The rushing touchdown in that matchup was Goodson’s first career NFL touchdown during the regular season.
“For me it was a lot more exciting,” Goodson said following that game. “A moment I’ve been waiting for and it’s just surreal for me to be in this position. And I just thank God for it.”
Goodson also had 103 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown with the Colts. The receiving touchdown also came during the 2024 season, in a loss to the Buffalo Bills.
The move to the Falcons will be a homecoming of sorts for Goodson, who is a native of Suwanee, Georgia. He also attended North Gwinnett High School.
Indianapolis, IN
Butler PD seeks help identifying suspects in Hinkle Fieldhouse break-in
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Butler University Police Department is seeking the public’s help in identifying a group of people who broke into and vandalized Hinkle Fieldhouse.
The incident happened sometime Saturday, according to a post from Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana.
Security camera video of the group – four males and one female – shows them entering the fieldhouse through a side door, entering one at a time before turning and disappearing out of view.
Crime Stoppers says the group vandalized a concession stand, stole alcoholic drinks, and then stole a $12,000 headset. Butler PD estimates the stolen communication equipment is valued at around $15,000.
Anyone with information was asked to contact Crime Stoppers. Officials say a reward of up to $1,000 will be offered for details leading to any arrests.
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