INDIANAPOLIS --- Matt Hasselbeck made it very clear Wednesday. He does not view the Colts starting quarterback job as his, regardless of how many games he wins this season.
"I know the truth. I know what reality is. This is 100% Andrew Luck's team," said Hasselbeck in the locker room after practice. "Not only is he the quarterback of the future, he's been the quarterback of the past. He has earned every bit of respect he gets in this locker room. He has earned it. Nothing's really been given to him. It's his team, absolutely."
Hasselbeck also said Luck and him are on the same page when it comes to this very important situation. Even right now when Hasselbeck is starting, he still defers to what's best for Luck on questions about how to run the offense.
"I think he and I are clear on that," said Hasselbeck. "Even when they ask me if there's something I like in the offense, before I even speak on it, I'll realize here shortly it will be Andrew under center."
As for some fans and talking heads having the discussion over the airwaves about the Colts starting quarterback, the 4-0 40-year-old even gave some inside perspective.
"I don't put anything into those kinds of comments outside the building," said Hasselbeck. "I don't even think that would ever be discussed inside this building. It's kind of a non-starter."
No pun intended.
All this echoes what head coach Chuck Pagano said when asked if Andrew Luck would still be the starting quarterback if Hasselbeck remained unbeaten as the starter this year.
"Andrew is our starting quarterback and when he is healthy and he is 100 percent healthy and the doctors and our trainers say he is ready to roll then he is going to be under center," Pagano said Monday.
But will it be hard for Hasselbeck to go back to being the back-up quarterback? Sure. He admits it, joking he now finds himself being as selfish for practice reps as Luck was as the starter.
"It'll be different, but that's the situation and that's the job description," said Hasselbeck. "Part of my job is to be his biggest supporter and his biggest fan. Sometimes you have to work at that. I don't have to work at that. I really am his biggest supporter. I really am his biggest fan. Anything I can do to help him or help this team, which may help him to help this team, just here to help."
Looking for a quarterback controversy? You've come to the wrong place.
