Good news: Two of the Indianapolis Colts’ main players and fans surprised the team’s head coach, Shane Stevens.

Good news: Two of the Indianapolis Colts’ main players and fans surprised the team’s head coach, Shane Stevens.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — When Shaquille Leonard and Zaire Franklin joined the NFL in 2023, they didn’t have much in common.

As a South Carolina State product selected in the second round of the draft, Leonard came with high expectations. After being selected from Syracuse in the seventh round, Franklin was seen as a project.

Together, though, the two linebackers were very successful with the Indianapolis Colts. They became close friends both on and off the field, learned how to take care of their bodies, and studied video.

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Thus, the harsh reality that Leonard was no longer his teammate struck Franklin on Wednesday when he entered Indianapolis’ locker room and noticed the empty stall next to his.

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The three-time All-Pro and 2018 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, Franklin shook his head in disbelief and said, “You know my locker was next to his for a lot of years.” The Colts cut Franklin the day before. “Without him here, it just feels different.”

After meeting with team officials, Leonard announced that he would be benched, which gave Franklin the idea Monday night. Franklin was taken aback by the conversation, and even after the Colts had taken a day off, the shock lingered.

Leonard was the emotional leader of the Indy (5-5) team both on the field and in the locker room. For his first five seasons, the team captain was one of the most feared linebackers in the league because of his playmaking abilities and infectious energy.

But Leonard was a different player after having two back surgeries to treat a damaged nerve that sent pain down his leg. Yes, even though he played fewer snaps this season, he still had 65 tackles. The issue is that there are no forced fumbles, interceptions, sacks, or fumble recoveries.

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Some speculated that Leonard’s absence from the trademark splash plays may spell the end of his six-year tenure in Indianapolis in the offseason. Rather, a few weeks after Leonard voiced his dissatisfaction with his playing time and less than a month after the NFL trade deadline, the Colts cut Leonard.

Shane Steichen, a first-year coach, said, “I think it’s hard.” “There is never a perfect moment to let a player go. It was a difficult decision that had to be made. I want to wish him the best, but I won’t go into all the specifics.

All over the Colts’ headquarters, Leonard left his mark.

Just hours after the announcement, he made his first remarks about the move during a pre-planned Thanksgiving giveaway event. He was a prominent voice in the Colts’ “Kicking The Stigma” mental health campaign. He was candid about his struggles with depression, his fear of making contact while recovering from an injury, his time as a student at a historically Black college, and, as Franklin put it, how he changed his teammates’ perspective on the game.

Not just the defense adopted Leonard’s strategy.

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Recalling his initial meetings with Leonard as a rookie in 2020, running back Jonathan Taylor said, “That was kind of like my first reps against an All-Pro linebacker, so that was tough.” However, I needed to see it. “If I want to be on the field and help the team, this is the standard and this is what I need to be ready for.” You must develop your ability to play against such types of defenders.

Taylor applied those lessons to his success in winning the NFL rushing title in 2021.

There was more to Leonard and Taylor’s relationship. After Leonard’s agent negotiated a record-breaking $99.25 million contract in 2021, Taylor joined the client list and received a $42 million extension last month. They also exchanged stories about their personal struggles with injuries.

Leonard’s abrupt and unexpected departure meant more to Taylor, Franklin, and the other Colts than just business. A friend was lost by them.

DeForest Buckner, a two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle, said, “This will definitely hit home a little bit more just because of the person he is and the player he is and the way he always seeks to help others.” There aren’t many situations where someone can enter the league and start playing at an All-Pro level right away. It’s both talent and skill. He will be a lucky possession for whoever acquires him.