McDaniels fiasco latest for Colts, Patriots

After speaking at length about Josh McDaniels' decision to reject the Indianapolis Colts' head coaching job and stay with New England, Colts general manager Chris Ballard might have offered his most salient comment with his closing remark Wednesday.

"The rivalry is back on," Ballard said.

With that Ballard left the podium, leaving reporters and viewers to ponder the rekindling of the Colts-Patriots rivalry.

That rivalry began when the Patriots' Tom Brady and the Colts' Peyton Manning competed for personal and team supremacy in the AFC.

However, the on-field competition took a turn when Ryan Grigson, the Colts general manager at the time, opened the door to the Deflategate saga that came after the Patriots' 45-7 victory over Indianapolis in the AFC Championship Game following the 2014 season.

The lengthy Deflategate episode, which revolved around the air pressure being put in the footballs, ultimately cost the Patriots two draft picks, $1 million and a four-game suspension for Brady.

Reportedly Patriots owner Robert Kraft has not forgotten that effort by the Colts. A league source told ESPN's Adam Schefter that Kraft has been trying to get back at the Colts ever since.

Following McDaniels' decision to remain with the Patriots, Schefter offered this Tweet:

"Text from one league source: 'That's Kraft putting it to the Colts again. He will forever try and (expletive) that place ever since deflate gate.'"

The rivalry had cooled recently, but McDaniels' move and Ballard's closing remark suggest it's back.