Colts All-Pro Darius Leonard would like for you to call him Shaquille
Darius Leonard has a request. He would really like for you name name him Shaquille.
The Indianapolis Colts All-Professional linebacker made the revelation as coaching camp acquired underway on Tuesday. In truth, he hates being known as Darius.
“I hate being known as Darius,” Leonard told reporters. “I perceive it’s going to be arduous, however I might like it if y’all would attempt to name me Shaquille or D or Maniac, and never Darius.”
So why the swap? It seems it isn’t a swap for Leonard besides in broader NFL circles. Shaquille is his center title. Darius is his first. However he is passed by Shaquille for all of his life.
“I glided by Shaquille my entire life,” Leonard mentioned. “My mother known as me Shaquille, my family and friends known as me Shaquille. I by no means glided by Darius, solely at school or if I used to be in hassle. As soon as I acquired to the NFL, that’s when folks began calling me Darius.”
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Leonard’s coming into his fifth NFL season. He is certainly one of soccer’s most proficient and achieved defenders, with 4 All-Professional nods in 4 seasons along with a Defensive Rookie of the Yr trophy from 2018. He is frequently among the many league leaders in each tackles and turnovers pressured. So why have we been calling him by a reputation he hates?
“Coming in as a rookie, I figured simply go together with it,” Leonard mentioned. “Didn’t need a rookie to return in and begin saying he needs to be known as one thing else, so I simply went with it. I like being known as Shaquille.”
He additionally cites recommendation that he acquired as a rookie from Randy Moss.
“Coming into my rookie camp, speaking to Randy Moss, he mentioned the most effective recommendation he might give me was to maintain your mouth closed, and your ears and eyes open,” Leonard continued. “I simply needed to work. I didn’t need to are available in and really feel like I needed to be handled particular. In the event that they known as me Darius Leonard, I imply, that’s my title. I didn’t need to trigger any issues. In order that’s the explanation why.”
It seems that his title’s not a problem in Colts circles. Basic supervisor Chris Ballard informed the Indianapolis Star that “folks across the constructing name him Shaq.” Now Leonard would really like for the remainder of the world to increase him the courtesy of calling him is most well-liked title. Additionally, he understands that it may be an adjustment.
Shaquille, it’s.
