Colts insider Stephen Holder on what he learned about the next likely Colts coach from the Patriots' locker room. Stephen Holder/IndyStar
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Being traded by the team that drafted you is bound to be a punch to the gut.
But you know what’s worse? Finding out about that trade on social media.
That’s how Phillip Dorsett learned the Indianapolis Colts had traded him to the New England Patriots in September. He read it on Twitter. It wasn’t supposed to happen that way, but word leaked prematurely and made its way to the young wide receiver’s feed.
“It’s cool,” Dorsett said. “Chris Ballard called me right after I saw it.”
No hard feelings, Dorsett said of his conversation with the Colts general manager.
In fact, if Dorsett is to be believed, he’s not spending much time these days thinking about the Colts at all. After all, his Patriots are one win shy of another Super Bowl berth heading into Sunday’s AFC Championship Game. Plus, Dorsett’s been too busy trying to stay ready to contribute for New England when called upon, learning the Patriots’ intricate offense on the fly after spending training camp and the preseason in Indianapolis.
But Dorsett will forever be inextricably linked to the Colts. He will likely always be remembered by Colts fans for being former GM Ryan Grigson’s most controversial draft pick, Grigson using a 2015 first-round choice on the speedy receiver from Miami (Fla.).
But Dorsett doesn’t concern himself with that. He’s maintained his eternally sunny disposition, even in the midst of a New England winter and during a season in which he’s played only 33 percent of the team’s offensive snaps.
He could complain, but why bother? He could second guess how things played out, but to what end?
“The train keeps moving,” Dorsett said. “You can’t do anything about it. It’s not your choice. When it happens, you have to take a look at yourself and say, ‘Hey, time to turn the page. Time for the next challenge.’ I don’t try to get into (why). I feel like everything happens for a reason. I don’t regret anything. I don’t do anything I regret. I couldn’t stop them from trading me. It just happened.”
It’s possible both parties can still come out of the trade with a win. The Colts are certainly happy with it, having netted quarterback Jacoby Brissett in exchange for Dorsett. Brissett started 15 games for Indianapolis while Andrew Luck recovered from shoulder surgery.
And Dorsett still has upside, he believes. You have to think the Patriots do, too. They don’t exactly make a habit of keeping players on the roster for whom they have no use.
Dorsett caught just 12 passes this season on 18 targets. He chalks it up to the Patriots having brought back many of the players from last year’s Super Bowl-winning roster, then adding a player like receiver Brandin Cooks. There were bound to be limited opportunities for the new guy, Dorsett figured. For what it’s worth, Dorsett still shows a knack for the big play, his 16.2-yard per-catch average second on the team behind Cooks (16.6) during the regular season.
He’d love to have had more opportunities. And who wouldn’t want to have more catches? But don’t cry for Dorsett. He’s got another year on his mostly-guaranteed rookie contract, he’s playing with quarterback Tom Brady and his team is closing in on another shot at a Lombardi Trophy.
“It’s been a fun ride. Just being in the NFL is a blessing, really,” he said. “I’m looking forward to learning more and to keep getting better and be a better player on and off the field. I’m still learning. Overall, this has been good for me.”
Dorsett was never a bad player in Indianapolis. His problem was inconsistent production. Truth be told, there were times in 2017 when the Colts' lackluster receiving corps could have used a player like Dorsett. The talent was and is there. He’s just never seemed to maximize it. But maybe that can still happen.
Dorsett believes it will.
“I just turned 25,” he said. “I still have a lot of good years ahead of me. I know that for a fact. I’m just going to keep working and learning and I know it’s going to happen. I know it.”
Follow Colts Insider Stephen Holder on Twitter: @HolderStephen.
MORE:
► What Josh McDaniels would mean for Colts quarterback Andrew Luck
► Patriots on Josh McDaniels: Smart. Innovative. Forward-thinking.
► Has expected Colts coach Josh McDaniels learned from his failures in Denver?