Indianapolis Colts

Colts GM: "Rivalry on" following McDaniels snub

Published Feb. 7, 2018 12:39 p.m. ET

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Indianapolis Colts general manager Chis Ballard has a message for New England -- the rivalry is "back on."

Ballard spoke to reporters for nearly half-hour Wednesday as he tried to explain why Josh McDaniels backed out of a deal to become the Colts' new coach.

The questions came about 24 hours after team officials announced the hiring on its Twitter account and roughly 16 hours after McDaniels called to say he had changed his mind.

Ballard says the Colts have a list of additional coaching candidates including some they couldn't interview because their teams were in the playoffs.

Ballard also said he doesn't believe Andrew Luck will need additional surgery though he hasn't started throwing yet.