"This is not Michael Jordan coming back": Ryan Clark doesn't hold back on Philip Rivers starting for Colts amid Cam Newton’s complaints

Philip Rivers' return to the NFL raised many eyebrows around the league. At 44, Rivers was closer to being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame than playing another snap in the league, but everything changed when Daniel Jones suffered a season-ending Achilles injury against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Colts called Rivers, who played for them in 2020, to bring him in for the remainder of the season. Many didn't like the decision, including Cam Newton, who took issue with Indianapolis not calling him.

During Friday's edition of ESPN's "First Take," former NFL safety Ryan Clark went off on the Colts over this move, labeling it as reckless.

“I believe this is incompetent,” Clark said. “And I also believe it is irresponsible. This is not Michael Jordan coming back to play basketball after three years off for the Washington Wizards. This is a man in Philip Rivers who was always a stationary target taking five years off to coach high school football and then coming back to play against the Seattle Seahawks, who would get after your keester if you were freaking Michael Vick.”

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He doubled down on those comments, saying that even if Rivers turns out to play at a decent level, the move would still be bad.

“I don’t give a care how much you hand it to Jonathan Taylor. I don’t care how great you think your defense can play. Philip Rivers should not be starting this game. And if he comes out and he plays well and he stays healthy I’m not going to retract this statement. Because it is a bad decision to put him out there. Don’t get me wrong, somebody calls me after five years and says you can play, I might go try to give them a play too. Philip ain’t wrong. Shane Steichen and the Colts are."

Daniel Jones allowed Philip Rivers to take No. 17 jersey

During his Wednesday press availability, Philip Rivers recalled how he got his old No. 17 jersey from Daniel Jones.

"I talked or texted with Daniel about him being so gracious about 17, you know," Rivers said. "That was certainly meaningful to me, you know, and obviously didn't want it to be like this again and didn't ever think of anything like all this happened so fast. But him being gracious and saying shoot heck yeah, you know, go for it."

The Colts (8-5) are well alive in the playoff race. They are tied with the Houston Texans in the second spot of the AFC South standings, trailing the Jaguars (9-4) with four games left.

Edited by Orlando Silva