While teams around the NFL have started to participate in joint training camp practices, the Lions and Colts had the distinct fortune of their mutual session being filmed by virtue of Detroit’s presence on HBO’s Hard Knocks.
One new testy moment between Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin and Lions running back Jamaal Williams (who already shined in an episode earlier this month) came into focus in what seems to be promo dialed up for next week’s episode. And boy, was it effective.
As the two squads divided up for individual drills, Franklin and Williams matched up one-on-one in a few pass blocking and coverage reps. Let’s just say there was no love lost between the two during the plays and well after:
Nothing like a chippy joint practice 🍿#HardKnocks | @Lions pic.twitter.com/WRDl8HsZED
— NFL Films (@NFLFilms) August 19, 2022
Phew, man. There’s a lot more heat happening in that clip than the hot temps at the Colts’ training camp facility.
With Franklin seemingly getting the best of Williams during their battle, the linebacker decided to rub it in a little bit on Twitter:
Only in the League can a bum lose 3 reps in a row and still yell like he won 🤣🤣 hope you ready to cry about another losing season champ https://t.co/9jAGSChsB5
— Zaire Franklin (@ZiggySmalls_) August 19, 2022
My goodness. No chill whatsoever from Franklin. Of course, Williams couldn’t help but respond directly in kind:
Sir I literally made you look stupid in team period when you missed an open field tackle and I ran you and the safety for a touchdown during team period pls go bout your business 😂😂 you not bout tht when it’s Go time
— Jamaal Williams (@jswaggdaddy) August 19, 2022
Gentlemen, please! Save all these competitive juices for your preseason game on Saturday afternoon in Indianapolis (!). And yes, to everyone else — get your popcorn ready.