The Indianapolis Colts are as flush with cap space as their former rivals in New England this offseason, which will be pivotal for both future contenders — though Indy’s current roster is better.
Both teams could use more playmakers on both sides of the ball, and both have a defined vacancy at quarterback.
After so many years of butting heads led by the prior generation’s two great QBs, who could’ve predicted we’d end up back here with both franchises?
The Colts have the better roster as we rise and shine on Sunday, though, and they also have a pretty phenomenal infrastructure, led by players like Darius Leonard instead of aging and inconsistent coaches.
Leonard unleashed a message this weekend to any and all players considering joining the Colts defense this offseason: get ready to strap on your helmets and go to work.
Because once training camp begins, the dollar figure written on your check is irrelevant. This is a team.
Free agents!! If y’all are thinking about coming to the Colts and play defense just know that we don’t want you if you don’t play hard, run to the ball, make plays or not willing to sacrifice yourself for ya teammate to make the play! Don’t care how big or little ya name is!
— Darius Shaquille Leonard (@dsleon45) February 13, 2021
Leonard’s speaking the good word here, and Colts fans have to be fanning themselves thinking of the leadership he’s showing yet again.
The defense certainly isn’t the problem in Indianapolis. In fact, there aren’t many problems here at all — there are simply a few holes that need filling before the roster can get humming again.
And when (when, not if) the Colts get back to the mountaintop, it’ll be Leonard’s manic and intense energy leading the way and setting the tone at every turn. Remember his brutal shushing of Josh Allen in the public square during the team’s Wild Card playoff game? Yup. The Colts are going to be fighting for every inch.
Also — anyone specific you think Leonard’s speaking to? Have any major defensive free agents recently hit the open market, looking for the type of second chance the Colts and their ample cap space could provide?
outdoor date night. @KealiaOhai pic.twitter.com/cvobM6Gsl6
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) February 14, 2021
Huh! Intriguing!
The last time JJ Watt left the field, he was downtrodden, propping up a collapsing franchise in Houston and comforting Deshaun Watson, apologizing for wasting one of his precious few years.
If there was ever a high-motor game-changer looking for a second chance in this league, it’s Watt right now, who has an intimate knowledge of the way the Colts operate, based on their intense in-division battles.
In case he needed more information on a team that will never let him down, Leonard certainly had things covered this weekend.
Now, who’s in and who’s out?
Darius Leonard is Colts’ Michael Jordan in world of Twitter trolls
Indianapolis Colts linebacker Darius Leonard is the team's Michael Jordan when it comes to feeding off of trolls on social media.