-
Stephen HolderESPN
WESTFIELD, Ind. – Name Darius Leonard has become synonymous with defensive play in the NFL.
But Indianapolis Colts The All-Pro roader no longer wants to be called by that name.
When Leonard reported to training camp Tuesday, he asked reporters to call him Shaquille, which is his middle name and the name most people in his life use to only him.
“I’ve been with Shaquille all my life,” Leonard said. “My mom calls me Shaquille, my family calls me Shaquille, my friends and family call me Shaquille. I just pass by Darius in school or if I get stuck. When I get to the NFL, that’s it. when people start calling me Darius I hate it, but coming in as a rookie, I think they don’t want a rookie to come up and say call him by a different name. I went with it.”
Even after winning the 2018 Defensive Rookie of the Year, Leonard has yet to voice his wishes. Now, as he begins his fifth season, he’s finally made his spot known.
About to enter my rookie year, talk to [Hall of Fame wide receiver] Randy Moss, he said the best advice he could give me was to keep my mouth shut, ears and eyes open,” said Leonard. So I come here and work. I didn’t want to come in and get special treatment. If they call me Darius Leonard, that’s my name. That’s just what I went [by]. I don’t want to cause any problems.
“But I like being called Shaquille and hate being called Darius. I understand it’s going to be difficult, but I would love it if you guys tried to call me Shaquille or ‘D’ or ‘Maniac’ and not Darius.”
Leonard began camping on the non-competitive list after undergoing back surgery in June. He first explained his condition, explaining that two discs in his back affect two nerves and, therefore, cause pain in his lower legs. The team searched in vain for the source of that pain before eventually uncovering a neurological problem, Leonard said.
Leonard underwent ankle surgery during the 2021 season to address a “calcification” in the joint, he said. As the pain persisted throughout the season, Leonard had to play through injury.
Now, however, he is relieved and optimistic about the end result.
“Now we’ve found the source of the whole problem,” Leonard said, “and we’re ready to rock.”
