After a shocking move by the Indianapolis Colts, Shaquille Leonard’s former teammates opened up about the news.
The news that former All-Pro linebacker Shaquille Leonard had been dismissed by the Indianapolis Colts shocked the NFL.
Leonard, a pillar of this defense for many years, is no longer with Indianapolis. The Colts parted ways with one of their most decorated defensive players in franchise history due to frustrations with playing time and declining play. Admirers and colleagues in the organization will remember Leonard for a very long time.
Head coach Shane Steichen praised the player on Wednesday, calling him a “great teammate, great leader, and a ton of respect for what he’s done over the six years he’s been here with this organization, not only the team, but the city.” “It’s never easy to release a player, especially one as good as his. We want the best for him in the future.
Even while the NBA and viewers were surprised by the revelation, it is nothing compared to what Leonard’s now-formal colleagues are going through in the locker room. Leonard had been teammates with a few players since they first joined the league.
They had battled The Maniac, going through the highs and lows that the Colts had throughout Leonard’s five and a half years with the team.
De-Forest Buckner is one player that has been close to Leonard since he moved to Indianapolis. The Colts’ defense was bolstered by an All-Pro pair that Buckner and the team acquired in 2020. Not only did Buckner understand Leonard’s game at its best, but he also understood the kind of person he was off the field.
“Shaq is unique,” Buckner stated, putting his head down. He is a terrific person, teammate, and athlete. Every day, the energy he brought would make you smile. It was undoubtedly difficult to watch him go yesterday. It’s a challenging aspect of the company. It’s simply difficult. Seeing your teammates, whether they be cut or moved, is never easy. Because of the man he is, the player he is, and the way he constantly tries to help people, this one struck home a little bit more. He will be missed for sure.
Zaire Franklin is another teammate who perhaps knew Leonard the best of all of them. Leonard and Franklin grew up in the NFL together and were selected in the same class by the Colts in 2018. Since joining the league, the two have encouraged one another to improve every day, and they have each served as team captains for several seasons. It will take some getting used to being split up for the first time as pros after maybe being one of the best linebacking tandems in the league.
When asked what was on his mind, Franklin answered softly, “Honestly, just surprised.” “On Monday as he was leaving the building, I had a brief conversation with him. He hinted at what will happen in a vague way. Honestly, I didn’t think it was real. I thought it sounded so absurd.
things was difficult to kind of see things come to an end like way because I had been here for the entire trip. However, as soon as I learned of the news, I texted him to let him know how much he meant to me, how much I cared for him, and how much I agreed with everything he stood for. Though difficult, we must proceed.
The loss of Leonard will affect more than just the defense. No matter where you were on the field or where you were in the depth chart, the linebacker had an effect on the whole squad. Every player in that locker room has been impacted, even those on the offensive end of the ball.
“You lose a guy that everyone really respects, and you know is a great player, a great leader for us, and a great guy in the locker room,” Gardner Minshew said. “Obviously, everyone needs to rise up even higher at that point, whether it be through trades or someone becoming hurt. Leaders need to take the initiative in the locker room. Unquestionably a guy we will
Jonathan Taylor stated bluntly, “He’s a leader on this team and he has been a leader on this team.” He has made a significant, significant contribution to both the community and our team. You folks witnessed it while he was distributing turkeys the other day. It hurts when something like that occurs. It aches. Excellent vigor following the bye. That was one I didn’t anticipate.”
![](https://www.si.com/.image/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_700/MjAyMzk0NDA4MTExMzE4MDI4/usatsi_21950102_168388302_lowres.jpg)
Yes, it is. Leonard did not let yesterday’s heartbreaking news that he was being cut by the one NFL franchise he had ever called home stop him from going to his yearly turkey drive. On Tuesday evening, Leonard gave 200 turkeys to the less fortunate residents of Indianapolis who would not otherwise be able to celebrate Thanksgiving. With a few of his teammates by his side, Leonard gave back to the community one final time, all the while maintaining a smile.
The Colts need to focus on the current task at hand while the wound is still fresh. They feel bad for their brother, but Sunday is when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are visiting town. In order to maintain their chances of making the playoffs, the Colts must perform well at home, no matter how they feel.
Will the Colts allow Leonard’s passing to cause them to lose focus while they get ready for the Bucs?
“It’s going to be on us in this locker room – the other leaders – to try to help everybody rally because that’s a big hit,” Taylor said. Therefore, it will be up to the other leaders in this locker room and me to try to encourage and reunite guys so that they can return to the task at hand. We must persevere even if it will be difficult.
Franklin urged, “Look, we just have to concentrate on Tampa.” “We have a fantastic squad that will be playing on Sunday, and we need to be mindful of their explosive individuals. Look, guy, his locker sat next to mine for years. It’s obvious that his presence and everything about him are missed.
Understand what I’m saying? Without him here, everything about the building feels different, including how I’m moving around in it. It’s a difficult business, but as I have stated, we must continue forward motion.
The players inside those locker rooms are the ones who are most aware of how harsh the NFL business is. However, those players are aware that they have a task to do and cannot allow their emotions to stand in the way of that.
The Colts would be better off honoring their old teammate by winning on Sunday, even though Leonard may not be with them in spirit.