A “maniac” no more — Shaquille Leonard is no longer part of the Indianapolis Colts.
Life without Shaq Leonard will probably feel foreign to fans for quite some time. Shaq was the life and soul of the Colts’ defense for many seasons. A former HBCU standout with a goofy and larger-than-life personality, Leonard brought so much juice to a team struggling to find the same energy that greats like Robert Mathis, Dwight Freeney and Gary Brackett brought to the franchise.
With a gnarly punch on the football and a high motor, Leonard wreaked havoc on opposing offenses, ripping out footballs and daring whoever was in his way to stop him.
THE MANIAC SAID NO. 😈
📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/SZZKHuYY9J
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) December 20, 2020
But several injuries over the last two seasons forced Leonard to be sidelined more than he or the Colts probably liked, leaving the door open for other players like Zaire Franklin to shine.
Add in a new defensive scheme that wasn’t a hand-in-glove fit for Leonard, and he quickly became frustrated by the situation in recent weeks.
But so did the Colts.
They’ve stuck beside him through the injuries and the rough patches. Yet, All-Pro accolades come with the expectation of continued All-Pro production, and Leonard’s recent on-the-field efforts didn’t match the price tag Indy paid for him.
So, deciding to waive him was the only decision Indianapolis was left with.
General manager Chris Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen have preached accountability in this new era of Colts football. Simply put: if you talk about it, be about it. No one, even a star linebacker, is above getting their walking papers.
It probably feels shocking. It probably feels strange. But it’s the right move.
