Nobody Gets Such a Kick Like ‘The Maniac’

Indianapolis Colts linebacker Darius Leonard seems to enjoys every possible second of NFL life, starting with being playful in practice.

INDIANAPOLIS — In the first few minutes of Friday practice, Indianapolis Colt linebacker Darius Leonard spots rookie kicker Rodrigo Blankenship going through the motions of the specialist’s routine.

The sun is shining and it’s a beautiful day to play football, even if it’s just practice. Leonard, whose enthusiasm and love of the game starts here, walks up to Blankenship, then lines up next to the kicker.

As Blankenship moves to the left, taking three distinct steps in preparation for a kick. Leonard does the same. The specialist moves his shoulders back and forth, a kind of shudder to ensure the body is in position. Perfectly in sync, Leonard does that twitch, too.

Then at the same time, both step ahead and swing their left foot, as if a ball were there. The guy on the left, whose job depends on being able to manipulate a football’s direction with that foot, displays an extended follow-through. The playful guy on the right, well, he just kind of gives that quick kick an abbreviated motion.

No matter. It’s a good rep, or so Leonard seems to say, as he and the rookie exchange a fist bump.

Nobody should ever forget that the linebacker known as “The Maniac” always seems to get a kick out of everything.

He’s been that way since being drafted in the second round out of South Carolina State in 2018. That’s when the intense tackle machine became an instant leader of this Colts defense. He led the NFL in tackles as a rookie. And he takes pride in being one of this team’s undisputed leaders.

As the Colts (2-1) prepare to visit the Chicago Bears (3-0) on Sunday (4:25 p.m., EDT), Leonard is still loving every minute of NFL life.

When asked on a video call if anything about his job feels like work, Leonard smiled and said, “No.”

And it’s always been that way. It’s why Leonard is so much fun to watch, whether he’s flying around in games or just playing around in practice with Blankenship.

“It’s my happy place,” Leonard said. “Every sport that I’ve played is my happy place. Growing up through the struggle, it takes your mind off of everything that is going on in the real world when you step on the court, step on the field or whatever. I embrace every moment and I know that football or whatever, it’s going to end one day so if I’m going to do it, I’m going to have fun doing it.”

The struggle, as he calls it, began with being one of nine children to a single mother in Lake View, S.C. While two of his brothers were sentenced to life in prison for murder, Leonard turned to sports to keep his nose clean.

That’s why a football field anywhere is a safe haven.

“Whenever I feel like I’m not having fun or I don’t want to go into work, that’s when I’ll hang it up,” he said. “ As of right now, this is my play area. This is where I have fun. This is where I let all my emotions go.

“Life is tough no matter what. You put that mask on when you leave your house and then once you go to work and actually enjoy work, that’s when you can really have fun with it.”

He's the first NFL player with 300 total tackles in his first 30 games since 1987. But Leonard sets enormously high standards for himself each season, and when he doesn’t meet those lofty goals on a lengthy list, which includes winning a Super Bowl ring or being named NFL Defensive Player of the Year, it’s added motivation for the future. 

And he always finds more motivation. He feeds off it. That rookie year, he was named All-Pro but ignored for the Pro Bowl.

In the offseason, his wife gave his agent some of the snubs to be painted on customized blue cleats. The slights include his Madden NFL video game rating being just “85.”

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“The Maniac” is always motivated. And he’s never shy about speaking up.

When asked about the Coronavirus outbreak that shut down the Tennessee Titans this past week, he admits the NFL’s comfort zone has been shaken. Entering Week 4, there was confidence in how the league has been handling COVID-19 so well, pushing ahead with daily testing and safety protocols.

There’s nothing fun about being reminded NFL players aren’t immune — New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton tested positive on Saturday. Leonard reiterates the importance of players being smart and, as a team leader, delivers a stern message.

“We can’t win a Super Bowl with COVID in the house,” he said.

And you can’t win without proper preparation. No. 53 is the No. 1 guy you recognize. He’s the one making the most noise.

He prides himself in trash-talking. During practice, that can include trading verbal shots with 17th-year quarterback Philip Rivers.

Don’t let Uncle Phil or @JBrissett12 get started in practice because they will not stop talking trash 😂😂😂 https://t.co/PlSTBycmiZ

— Darius Shaquille Leonard (@dsleon45) September 30, 2020

On game days, with few fans in the stands, that trash talk sounds louder.

“I think there is more trash talk because usually when we have the fans there you don’t really hear everyone talking trash,” he said. “Now that it’s empty in there, you hear all the trash-talking so that makes the game a whole lot of fun with all the trash talk.

“I remember last week the guys were talking trash, just going back and forth. Then we made plays defensively, and that’s when you can really turn up and really talk trash.”

It’s all part of “The Maniac” having fun in his happy place.

We should all be so lucky to enjoy our jobs as much.

(Phillip B. Wilson has covered the Indianapolis Colts for more than two decades and authored the 2013 book 100 Things Colts Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die. He’s on Twitter @pwilson24, on Facebook at @allcoltswithphilb and @100thingscoltsfans, and his email is phillipbwilson24@yahoo.com.)