Tag: Zaire Franklin

Anthony Richardson’s captaincy a ‘big honor as a rookie’

Anthony Richardson’s captaincy speaks volumes of the respect he’s earned.

The Indianapolis Colts voted on their seven captains for the upcoming 2023 season, and one of the spots included rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson.

The majority of captains typically come in the form of veterans—five of the team’s seven captains have held the honor at least once before. And though Richardson has been one of the biggest storylines since joining the team in April, his captaincy wasn’t given.

It was earned from the respect he’s garnered from his teammates.

“I think it’s big. It just shows what the team has thought about him. I mean these were not, there was no favoritism – these guys, it was their votes and they voted him to be one of the top seven captains,” said head coach Shane Steichen on Thursday. “I’m excited for him to get that honor. I think that’s a big honor as a rookie. To get that just kind of really speaks volumes about what the team thinks about him.”

The other six captains include defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, linebacker Shaquille Leonard, guard Quenton Nelson, linebacker Zaire Franklin, cornerback Kenny Moore II and center Ryan Kelly.

All except Kelly have had the “C” on their chest for at least one prior season to 2023.

It’s easy to see how much Richardson enjoys putting the work in and going through the process of learning at the highest level. That aspect of his personality is contagious.

“You know what, I think it’s just his contagious personality. He’s got something special about him that says like, ‘I want to be around this guy.’ He’s fun to talk to, he can relate to everybody. I think that’s what makes him special, that’s part of it,” Steichen said. “Obviously, he’s a very talented player but when you add that extra piece of the hard work and the character and the preparation part of it – I think that’s when guys have success in this league.”

Fellow captains echoed those statement as well when asked about Richardson as a leader.

“I would just say with Anthony (Richardson) being a captain so young, it speaks to how he carries himself in the building, just the respect we all have for him,” said Franklin.

Even his center, who joins Richardson as a first-time captain, sees the growth taking place on a daily basis.

“I think he just keeps growing. I mean, he’s grown every single day he’s been here. He keeps getting better, learning from his mistakes and owning them – I think ownership a lot in that position and in general in the NFL goes a long way. Obviously, well deserved,” Kelly said.

There will be some growing pains throughout his rookie season but one thing is clear. Richardson has earned the respect of his peers almost immediately.

Anthony Richardson among Colts’ seven captains for 2023

Here are the team captains for the Colts in 2023.

The Indianapolis Colts players have voted on their team captains for the 2023 season, and the seven-player group was announced Thursday.

In a mix of youth and veterans, the list of the Colts’ captains shouldn’t come as a surprise. Only two of them are entering their first season with the “C” on their chest, one of which is rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson.

Head coach Shane Steichen spoke about what that means for a rookie to be voted a captian.

“I think it’s big. It just shows what the team has thought about him. I mean these were not, there was no favoritism – these guys, it was their votes and they voted him to be one of the top seven captains,” Steichen told the media Thursday. “I’m excited for him to get that honor. I think that’s a big honor as a rookie. To get that just kind of really speaks volumes about what the team thinks about him.”

Here’s a look at the Colts’ captains for 2023:

Eagles-Colts: Highlights and notes from joint practice

We’re looking at highlights and notes from the Philadelphia #Eagles joint practice with the Indianapolis Colts

The Eagles and Colts gathered for one joint practice before Thursday night’s preseason finale at Lincoln Financial Field.

The session was supposed to feature two dynamic quarterbacks, powerful offensive lines, and defensive standouts on both sides of the football.

It ended early after Jason Kelce and Zaire Franklin were involved in a scuffle that led to an entire two-team brawl.

With both teams off until Thursday’s preseason finale, here are highlights and notes from the practice.

Eagles-Colts joint practice ends after huge brawl

#Eagles-Colts joint practice ends after Jason Kelce and Philly native Zaire Franklin kicked off a mssaive brawl

The Eagles and Colts only scheduled one joint practice for this week, and that’s a good thing after a massive brawl ended Tuesday’s single session.

Things had gotten chippy after Jalen Carter and Derek Barnett took turns swatting the ball out of Anthony Richardson’s hands, a no-no for quarterbacks staying protected.

The two teams will now have walkthroughs on Wednesday before Thursday’s preseason finale.

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Colts’ 2023 training camp preview: Linebackers

Checking out the Colts LB room entering training camp.

The Indianapolis Colts are set to return for training camp at the Grand Park Sports Complex in Westfield with their first practice being held July 26.

Before then, we’ll be previewing each position, giving our takes on the starters, position battles and projected depth chart entering camp under the new regime.

The linebacker position will be an interesting one to watch for the Colts considering the injury situation surrounding Shaquille Leonard. His status and progress will be vital in the room’s production after he missed all of the spring workouts due to additional back surgery.

You can follow along with our training camp previews as we post the links below:

Quarterback Running Back Wide Receiver Tight End
Offensive Line Defensive Line Linebacker Cornerback
Safety Special Teams

Here’s our preview of the linebackers entering training camp:

Madden 24: Launch ratings for Colts LBs, CBs

Shaquille Leonard and Kenny Moore II lead the Colts LBs and CBs in Madden 24 ratings.

With training camp right around the corner for the majority of teams, EA Sports has started unveiling “Madden NFL 24” launch ratings ahead of the release date for the game.

After taking a look at the wide receivers and safeties, the second group to be revealed included the defensive tackles and defensive ends. Now, it’s time to take a look at the linebackers and cornerbacks for the Colts.

Here’s a look at the launch ratings for the linebackers and cornerbacks on the Colts in “Madden NFL 24:”

Colts LB Zaire Franklin feels infusion of energy with young roster

Zaire Franklin has felt the energy of the youth movement.

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The 2022 season was not kind to the Indianapolis Colts. A season filled with hope and pressure to deliver an AFC South title ended in disaster and a host of staff changes, including the firing of offensive coordinator Marcus Brady and head coach Frank Reich.

With those changes, the Colts hired Shane Steichen to lead the team, inject immediate change, and weave energy into the roster core. Linebacker Zaire Franklin seems to notice some initial differences and loves the shift.

“I would just say, to be honest, we’re just having a lot of fun. I would just say just the energy in the building, energy at practice,” Franklin told reporters at minicamp.

“Personally, I just feel like I’m really enjoying the team, enjoying our time together, and hopefully, that pays dividends when it’s time to put those pads on and play real football,” said Franklin.

The new wave of energy will be needed when the team takes on the early parts of the 2023 schedule. The team plays four division games in the first six weeks, including the reigning AFC South champion Jacksonville Jaguars twice.

From there, the team sees several games against the NFC South and AFC North before ending the season at home against the Houston Texans.

Additionally, the organization hasn’t won a division title since 2014 and hasn’t seen a Super Bowl since 2010, leaving high expectations.

Time is ticking, and owner Jim Irsay is watching.

Where PFF ranked the Colts LB corps entering 2023

Here’s where PFF ranked the Colts’ linebacker corps entering 2023.

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One of the biggest question marks the Indianapolis Colts face entering training camp is the state of the linebacker room, mostly due to the unknown timeline of Shaquille Leonard’s recovery.

In their latest ranking of every linebacker corps in the NFL, the Colts found themselves within the top 10. Without a surprise, much of the outlook depends on the health and recovery of Leonard.

8. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

The Colts’ linebackers actually held up reasonably well, considering Shaquille Leonard played only 74 snaps in 2022. Bobby Okereke (73.3 overall grade) and Zaire Franklin (57.0) led the way, while fourth-year man E.J. Speed (78.4) performed well in his first year with significant playing time. Okereke left for New York this offseason, but Franklin and Speed remain. Leonard’s health will be the key for this unit.

When healthy, Shaquille Leonard is one of the premier playmakers in the NFL—his 2021 season featured a league-best 91.1 run-defense grade, seven forced fumbles and four interceptions. His presence as a turnover-forcing machine can change games in a heartbeat. His return to full health is as good as anything the Colts could have acquired to improve their defense.

We didn’t get to see much of Leonard in Gus Bradley’s defense during the 2022 season and when we did, it was clear he was not the same player that earned a massive contract extension.

Leonard opted to undergo a second surgery during the second half of the regular season, and he’s still working his way back. He didn’t participate in the offseason workout program, and there is no current timetable for his return.

Still, the trio of Leonard, Zaire Franklin and E.J. Speed is a solid group. If The Maniac can return quickly without any issues, this unit could be a massive strength in the middle of Bradley’s defense.

But until we get a concrete update on Leonard’s timeline, there will be some big questions surrounding the linebacker room.

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Colts’ Zaire Franklin signs with NFL super agent Drew Rosenhaus

Colts LB Zaire Franklin has some impressive new representation.

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Indianapolis Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin has some new representation, signing on with NFL super agent Drew Rosenhaus.

Franklin, who is coming off a career year in which he set the single-season franchise record for tackles (166), proved he can be a crucial piece of Gus Bradley’s defense.

Franklin still has two more years left on his current contract, and the Colts made it clear to Kenny Moore II last offseason that they aren’t willing to negotiate with players who still have that many years remaining.

Coming off that strong season, though, it makes sense for Franklin to sign with a big agent like Rosenhaus.

Franklin has $5.37 million remaining over the next two seasons but only $900,000 of that is guaranteed. According to Spotrac, he’s due $2.49 million in base salary for the 2023 season. $900,000 of that is guaranteed while he has $510,000 in per-game active bonuses and 16 likely-to-be-earned incentives.

In 2024, he is due $2.88 million in base salary, none of which is guaranteed, and also has another $510,000 in per-game active bonuses.

Franklin proved he can be a key piece of the defense, stepping up when Shaquille Leonard dealt with major injuries.

With two years remaining on his deal, Franklin may simply be preparing to negotiate an extension after the 2023 season or this may be something to monitor entering training camp.

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Zaire Franklin: Anthony Richardson ‘has everything necessary to be special’

A Colts captain had high praise for Anthony Richardson after opening OTAs.

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Indianapolis Colts rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson has already made a strong impression on his new teammates both in what he’s flashed on the field and the type of work ethic he brings each day to the facility.

While on the Jim Rome Show, Colts captain and linebacker Zaire Franklin talked about the impression Richardson has made through the first week of OTAs and how his appeal goes beyond simply what he does on the field.

“It’s cool to have a young boy come in with a lot of glitz and glam. But, you know, I think the thing I so much about Anthony is he’s all about the work,” Franklin said on the show. “He’s all about the game. He comes in early. He’s putting that work in.”

This essentially falls in line with everything we’ve heard about Richardson’s attitude since he arrived on the scene as the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft. He’s a non-stop worker who keeps a smile on his face seemingly at all times.

While Richardson hasn’t been without his growing pains during the early part of OTAs, Franklin has also joined the several analysts and players who have bought into his ceiling.

“As he’s settled in, he started to make plays. He’s athletic, he makes some big throws,” Franklin said. “I think just as he’s settled down and as he continued to get comfortable and work with coach Steichen and the offense with those guys in a rhythm, a routine, I definitely think he has everything necessary to be special.”

There’s still a long road of development ahead of Richardson as he gets acclimated to life in the NFL, but it’s exciting to know he’s already showing flashes and leaving a strong impression on his new teammates.

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