COLTS RELEASE ALL-PRO LB SHAQUILLE LEONARD
The Indianapolis Colts have released three-time Pro Bowl linebacker Shaquille Leonard, the team confirmed on Tuesday afternoon.
In a statement released by the team on Tuesday, Colts General Manager Chris Ballard said regarding Leonard: “Shaq is the ultimate competitor and has been a fan favorite since he arrived as a rookie in 2018. We are incredibly grateful for his contributions to the team and the city of Indianapolis over the last six seasons. We wish him the best and he will always be a valued member of the Horseshoe.”
Colts owner Jim Irsay also commented on the team’s release of Shaq Leonard, saying via a statement on social media: “Colts Nation will always remember The Maniac’s palpable energy on the field with each tackle, interception, punch-out, and fumble recovery. Off the field, he’s a servant leader and assisted numerous families in both his hometown and the Indianapolis community.”
“We’re thankful for Shaq and the contributions he made to our organization. We wish him and his beautiful family the best moving forward.”
Leonard, who was once the 2018 Defensive Rookie of the Year, has played in nine of the Colts’ 10 games in 2023, totaling 65 tackles and two tackles for loss. “Indy, I want to thank you for accepting me and my family with open arms,” said Leonard in a heartfelt message to the fans. “These past 6 years has [sic] been nothing but incredible! Through the good times and bad times y’all stood by my side.”
“I apologize for not bringing that trophy back to 317. The energy in Lucas Oil has been nothing but amazing and I thank you for every memory. I’m thankful to play for such an amazing fan base. I love you guys and wish the Colts nothing but the best! Maniac out.”
Despite being cut by the team, Leonard went out Tuesday evening and passed out turkeys to the Indianapolis community for Thanksgiving. The former South Carolina State Bulldog jokingly told the media he felt like Craig from the movie “Friday” since he got cut on his day off. An endearing player to Colts fans, Leonard still showed up hours after being released by the team to do his part for the community.
“I’m all about giving back. Through tough times, good times, no matter what it is,” said Leonard.
Leonard told reporters at his turkey drive that the team’s defensive coordinator, Gus Bradley, informed him Monday after team pictures he would be inactive this week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and labeled his release by the team as “shocking.” The 28-year-old also confirmed that he did not request to be released.
The 6-foot-2, 230-pound linebacker has been recovering from offseason back surgery and expressed frustration with the Colts coaches earlier this month regarding his limited defensive snaps despite feeling fully healthy this year.
“It was the biggest surprise ever,” said Leonard. “But I don’t make those decisions. It was shocking. I asked for a November meeting, I guess I got a November meeting. So, I guess you’ve got to be careful what you ask for.”
“They actually came up to me after team photos. We had team photos on Monday and Gus [Bradley] walked up to me and was like, ‘Hey, let’s go have that November meeting that you’ve been wanting.’ When I got there it wasn’t what I wanted to hear. I just wish it was a little different. I felt like I gave a lot to this community, I gave a lot to the team, I gave a lot to the organization. I just feel like I should have been there through to the end, I guess.”
The Colts will now move forward with linebackers Zaire Franklin and EJ Speed, two players who have come into their own this year. Indianapolis recently signed Leonard to a lucrative five-year, $99.25 million deal in 2021.
As per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Leonard is making a $15.7 million base salary this season and is set to earn roughly $6 million in guaranteed salary for the rest of the year, an amount that will still come to him regardless of what happens going forward. Leonard also has $6.5 million next year guaranteed for injury, a figure that the Colts didn’t seem ready to pay given Leonard’s injury history.
The three-time All-Pro has suffered the same back injury in consecutive seasons, going back to 2021 and would be owed more than $50 million from 2024 to 2026.
Leonard said he didn’t mind taking a backseat and was regretful of how things ended in Indianapolis, saying that he felt like he left his teammates “out to dry.” One of the longest tenured leaders on what is an objectively young and inexperienced Colts team, Leonard now walks away after a successful six-year period in Indianapolis.
The former second-round pick registered 12 career interceptions across 70 games with the Colts, alongside 17 forced fumbles, 15 sacks, 32 tackles for loss and 614 tackles. Currently on waivers, Leonard will now have an opportunity to restart his career somewhere else.
Leonard’s back problems and current contract are expected to hinder his ability to be claimed from waivers, which would make him an unrestricted free agent, and thus grant him the ability to negotiate another deal with any potential suitors. Among the teams that would be interested in Leonard’s services would include the Kansas City Chiefs, Chicago Bears, Philadelphia Eagles, the Buffalo Bills and the Dallas Cowboys.
-Maher Abucheri
Twitter: @pabloikonyero
Photo: Tennessee Titans. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.