Former Colts All-Pro linebacker Shaquille Leonard just pointed the finger at one of his former coaches blaming him for how his time with the franchise ended.
Jenna Watson/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Indianapolis Colts have seen a number of legends symbolize the horseshoe, and so they have earned followers’ assist on and off the subject. One of the biggest fan favorites was Shaquille Leonard, who some could keep in mind as Darius Leonard.
Sadly, his time with the Colts ended abruptly in a shocking release, and now, a number of years later, the linebacker is talking out and pointing the finger at one of his former coaches for betraying him.
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Remembering Shaquille Leonard’s stunning launch by the Colts
After being drafted in the second spherical of the 2018 NFL Draft, Leonard ended up incomes three Pro Bowl and All-Pro choices throughout his six years with the Colts. He took the league by storm, main the NFL with 163 complete tackles and 111 solo tackles as a rookie, and ended up being named the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year, beating out Los Angeles Chargers’ first-round decide Derwin James.
He started at a legendary tempo, seeking to be on monitor to not solely turn into a Colts all-time legend but additionally a future Hall of Famer. Sadly, like so many gamers, accidents derailed his profession, and after showing in 58 video games over his first 4 years, he performed solely 12 video games in his final two seasons in Indianapolis, together with just three in 2022.
After lacking almost all of the 2022 season, Leonard made his return in 2023, but it surely was fairly evident that the harm was having long-term results on him as a participant. Ultimately, this led to the Colts releasing the legendary linebacker, and even after hitting an all-time low, Leonard confirmed as much as assist the Indianapolis group and Colts followers by handing out turkeys throughout the Thanksgiving season.
Shaquille Leonard tried to carry Gus Bradley accountable as a coach
This new coordinator doesn’t know me, know my character. I’m going ot maintain you accoutable (Gus Bradley) just like you need to maintain me accoutable, and so they didn’t like that. Once that season began they instructed me it doesn’t matter what you do it doesn’t matter what you say you gained’t play on third down. Well what was I good at? Making performs on third down.
This mom (specific) (Gus Bradley), you see thats my first time cussing this entire time, after a loss giving out participant of the video games and wished me to rock with that. Nah coach we don’t do this, if we misplaced then we misplaced as a staff, there is no such thing as a participant that’s the participant of the recreation after a loss. They didn’t like that I used to be holding them accoutable.
Shaquille Leonard
Former Colts LB
Leonard shares that he seen fairly early on that he and Bradley didn’t fairly see eye to eye. And as time went on, it grew to become clear that Bradley was not fond of the large character linebacker who, based on Leonard, held the veteran coach accountable, one thing he says Bradley didn’t take nicely to.
It is fascinating as a result of the Colts fan base has at all times felt that Bradley was not exhausting sufficient on gamers and the staff as a coach, and Leonard mainly shares the identical sentiment, having been in the locker room and performed below him as a defensive coordinator.
Shaquille Leonard thinks former Colts defensive coordinator Gus Bradley betrayed him
Now we go play towards Jacksonville, and you already know we by no means win in Jacksonville. Two rookie c0rners get they beat on the identical route two differnt occasions for touchdowns, I come to the sideline and in a clam demeansor saying mans thats teaching.
Next factor I keep in mind I get again to the facility and so they say hey man coach is mad at you, and I say for what. Because you stated thats teaching, and I stated it’s. So I went as much as him and stated hey man I heard you could have an issue with what I stated, I didn’t scream at you I just instructed you thats teaching, and he stated what makes you suppose its teaching. I stated if somebody makes a one mistake in a ball recreation you come to the sideline you coach it up, so that you don’t make it agian.
He stated you already know nicely I’m not going to (specific) with you no extra, straight like that. And you already know as soon as he stated that it’s (specific) you too then I used to be just making an attempt to assist. And then he stated why didn’t you get on him, as a result of i’m his teammate, as a teammate i’m going to him telling him you’re alright, you’re good, beacuase he’s a rookie. You as a coach are alleged to step on his toes, I’m not about to step on his toes throughout a recreation.
Shaquille Leonard
Former Colts LB
Leonard went on to share just how a lot the end of his profession in Indianapolis affected him, not solely as a participant but additionally mentally. He shared that he feels to at the present time that Bradley stabbed him in the again and tried to taint his identify to a franchise that he gave his blood, sweat and tears too.
Colts followers already don’t look again on the Bradley period nicely in Indianapolis, and listening to Leonard’s ideas on him as a coach and a participant undoubtedly appears to substantiate many of the suspicions about the defensive coordinator. His time in Indy didn’t end the method he wished. Leonard nonetheless helps the franchise and his former teammates as a fan. However, you may inform listening to him that he undoubtedly feels some sort of method about how he was handled on the method out of Indianapolis.
Hopefully, time can heal these wounds as a result of though it wasn’t for a very long time, followers will at all times keep in mind Leonard’s time on the subject in a optimistic gentle. It wouldn’t be stunning if someday they felt the must make him a Ring of Honor member. Even although it isn’t mentioned in the identical method as Andrew Luck’s, 9 surgical procedures in six years robbed Leonard of a Hall of Fame-caliber profession.
To hear extra about Leonard speaking about his time in Indy with fellow former Colt Eric Ebron, examine out the full present under.
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