The Colts scrutinized starting linebacker apologized for some of his publicly questionable commentary and conduct this past season.
Indianapolis Colts starting linebacker Zaire Franklin took to Twitter (or X) on Tuesday to address the fans, after some arguably questionable antics and commentary this past season:
Indy fans!
Listen, I made some mistakes! I let something’s get to me that they shouldn’t and did something things I wish I could take back
But understand my heart was always right! And ima learn and be better because of it !#Fortheshoe
— Zaire Franklin (@ZiggySmalls_) January 7, 2025
The NFL’s 2024 leading tackler (173) and first career NFL Pro Bowler finished much stronger than he started this past season and looks to build on that momentum headed into 2025.
However, it was some of his ‘questionable’ antics that drew the scrutiny and ire of Colts fans—ESPN national media sports personality Pat McAfee included among them.
Franklin used a cover picture of Pat McAfee for his ‘The Trenches Show’ podcast episode when discussing the national media driving 2nd-year starting quarterback Anthony Richardson’s midseason benching and ensuing public backlash, following the young quarterback’s infamous in-game ‘tap-out’—insinuating an ‘us vs. them’ mindset.
That led to a back-and-forth public feud with McAfee, which Franklin ‘doubled-down’ again recently with a fake handshake to McAfee’s likely intentionally empty end zone suite post-game following the Colts regular season finale overtime win against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
He also boasted about his desire to play a bottom feeder like the New York Giants and ‘spank them,’ only for the Colts to get upset in Week 17 by that same lowly squad in what was one of the most embarrassing losses in recent franchise memory.
That being said, Franklin taking ownership about some of his public conduct is an encouraging start—and arguably a necessary one. It’s unclear whether a fellow Colts captain, a coach, or GM said something to Franklin or whether this apology was of his own volition, but hopefully it leads to making better decisions publicly.
His actions will speak louder than his words going forward.