Blog: The Maniac exits

From 2018-2021, Shaq Leonard was among the truly elite defensive players in the NFL. Today, he's been cut loose by the Colts. It was the franchise's call, and it's one it had to make.

Shaq Leonard was a goner at season’s end. We knew that.

Simple calculation: His price wasn’t worth his production, or lack of same. Toss in the fact that he spent his Thursday media sessions critiquing defensive coordinator Gus Bradley and his own diminished role in the defense, and you could certainly see how the Colts might be tiring of his act.

A couple of weeks ago, I specifically asked Shane Steichen his feelings about Leonard’s weekly airing of grievances, and in typical Steichen style – which is to say, he has no style – he said the following in a monotone: “I have great respect for Shaq.”

Hmmm…

And now he’s gone, waived Tuesday afternoon by the Colts.