“We don’t want you if you don’t play hard, run to the ball, make plays” Indianapolis Colts Linebacker Darius Leonard Warns Incoming NFL Free Agents

Darius Leonard

Darius Leonard is one of the best linebackers in the league. Leonard made the Pro Bowl for the second straight year, and was a first team All-Pro for the second time.

Leonard also captains one of the best defenses in the league in the Indianapolis Colts. Clearly, there’s a lot of pride for the linebacker, and he doesn’t want just anyone signing with his team this offseason. Leonard made sure incoming free agents know that.

Also read: Could JJ Watt Land With The Pittsburgh Steelers? Who Will Be The 3x DPOY’s Next NFL Team??

Was Darius Leonard Taking a Shot at JJ Watt?

The Texans made headlines yesterday when they released, arguably, the best player their franchise has ever seen as JJ Watt and Houston agreed to mutually part ways. Watt, of course, is now a free agent and is completely free to sign wherever he wants if the contract fits.

So, was Leonard trying to throw some shade at Watt? After all, Watt and Leonard competed against each other multiple times as the Colts and Texans both match up twice a year in the AFC South.

However, it seems unlikely that Leonard would have been referencing Watt. For one, Watt is anything but a slouch on defense. Yes, admittedly, his numbers aren’t what they used to be, but there’s no question about Watt’s passion for the game.

Additionally, Watt is looking to play for a contending team at this stage in his career. If he wants to prove his worth and become a mainstay on a team fighting for a Super Bowl, there’s no question that Watt will be diving for every loose ball, chasing after every tackle, and leaving it all on the field as he’s done so many times in Houston.

How Good Was the Colts’ Defense Last Year?

The Colts assembled a very good defense this past season. They finished the year allowing the eighth fewest yards per game, second fewest rush yards per game, and had the fifth best fourth down percentage.

The addition of DeForest Buckner was a major plus for the Colts as he went on to put up 9.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss on his way to a first team All-Pro berth.

If another big free agent chooses sign with the Colts, like JJ Watt, the Colts defense can only get better from here.

Also read: Best Defensive Ends In The 2021-22 NFL Season

Post Edited By: Ashish Priyadarshi
Darius Leonard Houston Texans Indianapolis Colts JJ Watt NFL NFL Offseason

About the author

Ashish Priyadarshi

Ashish Priyadarshi is The SportsRush's content manager and editor. Ashish freelanced for 1 year in the NFL division before taking on an editorial role in the company. He then tacked on managing content while adding on a writing role in the NBA division. Ashish has been closely following the NFL and NBA since the 2012 season when the Patriots lost the Super Bowl and Derrick Rose was at the height of his powers. Since then, Ashish has focused on honing his knowledge for both leagues in, even writing crossover pieces. In his free time, Ashish is an avid basketball player, he loves to watch movies and TV shows, immersing himself in the cinematic world. Ashish studies computer science and data science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and would love to mesh his love for sports with his technical skills.

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