INDIANAPOLIS -- Jack Trudeau replaced Gary Hogeboom as the starting quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts Wednesday, prompting the demoted NFL veteran to demand his release from the team.
'My feeling, as I expressed to Ron, is I want to be released or cut tomorrow,' Hogeboom said. 'There are other things to do in this world besides play in the NFL. I've had a whole night to think about this because I didn't get any sleep. I have my pride. I went from starting on Sunday to working on the third string.'
Hogeboom completed 15 of 20 passes for 209 yards and a touchdown Sunday in the Colts' 17-14 overtime loss to Houston. But the often-injured veteran threw a sideline pass that was intercepted and returned 44 yards for a touchdown. He was also sacked and fumbled to end a late drive.
'There were enough plays in the game, enough things showed through, where we decided it was time to make the mood and a need to make the move,' Colts Coach Ron Meyer said. 'I felt it was a combination of Jack Trudeau's emergence and a lack of production for where I wanted this football team to go.'
Meyer said the release of Hogeboom was not a 'feasible possibility at this time' and that Hogeboom remained the No. 2 quarterback on the team ahead of rookie Chris Chandler entering Sunday's home game with Chicago.
'Friday my arm was good enough to lead us to the Super Bowl and now it isn't,' Hogeboom said.
'I guess I haven't performed. The won-loss record hasn't been as good as it should. I haven't been putting it on the line for them. I haven't held up as well as they would have liked.
'Nobody expects it. If this decision was to be made, it should have been made in training camp in fairness to Jack.'
Meyer said Hogeboom played well statistically but there were other factors involved.
'Some things statistics don't point out, and some of those things are where we needed improvement,' Meyer said.
Hogeboom, a nine-year veteran, has been replaced by Trudeau in 21 games because of injuries since joining the Colts from Dallas in 1986. He suffered a separated shoulder during the second game of the 1986 season. Trudeau replaced Hogeboom for 11 games before Hogeboom returned to lead the Colts to three season-ending victories.
Last season, Hogeboom missed nine games with three different injuries -- a torn left thumb ligament, a cracked rib and punctured lung and a dislocated right shoulder.
Trudeau said he was pleased but also worried because of the strange circumstances surrounding the switch.
'I was shocked and very surprised,' Trudeau said. 'On one hand I'm really happy and on the other I hope I don't have to look over my shoulder. The timing seems funny. This decision should have been made a couple of weeks ago.'
Trudeau also warned that further uncertainty at quarterback could tear the team apart.
'I hope that's not the case. If so, it will cause this football team problems. A quarterback can't be playing scared,' Trudeau said.
Eric Dickerson said the switch will have no effect on the team.
'I don't think there will be any change at all,' he said. 'They are both starting quarterbacks. They will run the same plays. It's not like Jack hasn't been there before. I wouldn't say it's disruptive.'
Meyer called Trudeau's status as a starter 'as permanent as anything can be in the NFL,' but also said the move was not 'etched in granite.' He emphasized that Trudeau need not look over his shoulder on Sunday.
'It's not like I haven't been here before,' Trudeau said. 'It's not like I'm going to be wetting my pants out there.'
Meyer also made a switch on defense, moving rookie linebacker O'Brien Alston ahead of Johnnie Cooks.
