BroBible
Divisional rivalries in the NFL run deep. If you spend any time on NFL Twitter and see the way rival fan bases interact, you know that to be true.
But, I think many underestimate just how seriously the league’s players take some of these rivalries. Recent comments by star Indianapolis Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin illustrate that point.
Franklin had an absolute monster season in 2023, where his 179 tackles ranked him second in the league. That earned him a 3-year $31 million extension.
Franklin seems to think that gives him the right to make some pretty crazy comments. That money must be giving him some confidence, because I can’t imagine why someone would want to call out Houston Texans quarterback CJ Stroud. Here’s Pro Football Talk with more.
Franklin dismisses the Titans as a contender this season, pointing to quarterback C.J. Stroud and the Texans as the Colts’ biggest threat.
“No, because I already smacked them a couple times,” Franklin said on the Green Light with Chris Long podcast, via NFL Media, when asked if he had “beef” with the Titans. “It really be Houston. I’m not going to lie to you, I like C.J., man. I support all our young brothers at quarterback, but C.J., he done said a lot of wild stuff to me in our run-ins. . . . He is feeling himself. . . . I need to see that boy again.”
Franklin took offense with how Stroud characterized the season series. Stroud threw for 648 yards and four touchdowns against the Colts, with 348 yards coming in a Week 2 loss in which he was sacked six times.
The Colts led the Week 2 game 28-7 at halftime and 31-10 after three quarters before winning 31-20.
“Well, we were talking, and you know how the Super Bowl is at Radio Row, he had the XM Radio right before me, and he was on there talking about how he cooked the Colts in both games,” Franklin said. “I saw him, and I pulled him aside and was like, ‘You know when you played Anthony [Richardson before he was injured], it was like 28-7 in the second quarter. We were kind of blowing you out. . . . Yeah, you threw for 300 yards but. . . .’
Given the way that CJ Stroud played in his rookie season and considering the talent the Houston Texans added this offseason, I’m wondering why Zaire Franklin felt it necessary to poke the bear.
Plus, if you’re the Jacksonville Jaguars, you should take notice to these comments by Zaire Franklin, as well. They are a pretty talented team that stumbled down the stretch last year. But, I would think many people would say they’re better than the Colts.
These will be comments to remember when the Colts and Texans match up twice this fall.
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