Colts captain Zaire Franklin sent his own message to Pat McAfee after the former Indianapolis punter sat out the team's final game of the season.
After Sunday's win over the Jaguars, Franklin made He headed straight to McAfee's fieldside suite at Lucas Oil Stadium and pretended to shake the ESPN host's hand.
But the suite was left empty after McAfee ripped his former team for missing the playoffs, decrying “unwarranted arrogance, laziness and unprofessionalism” that led to “ANOTHER early vacation… which is probably what most of you have called vagabonds”. expecting.'
The 37-year-old, who spent eight seasons in Indianapolis, promised to cancel his season ticket and was not in the crowd during the final week of the season.
The Colts beat the Jaguars 26-23 on Sunday to finish the season 8-9. However, the victory was in vain after last month's loss to the Giants. That ended Indianapolis' playoff hopes and prompted an angry tirade from McAfee.
'In the biggest moments, everyone with a brain knew they would break…and they did, McAfee wrote on social media.
Zaire Franklin sent his own message to Pat McAfee after the ESPN host criticized his former team
Franklin pretended to shake hands with ESPN host after victory over Jaguars
'A blind person could see the warning signs on this equipment. Work ethic questions NEVER happen on good teams. Preparation commitment questions NEVER happen on good teams.
He continued: “Being late to meetings NEVER happens on good teams. Being late or skipping treatment NEVER happens on good teams.”
McAfee later stated that he wants the Colts to keep only five players from their current roster. Franklin was not among them.
And his words seem to have filtered into the locker room. After Sunday's game, Franklin shook hands with fans sitting on the field at Lucas Oil Stadium.
The linebacker soon arrived at McAfee's suite, but the rows of empty seats did not discourage him. Franklin extended his hand and gestured to shake it before turning around and heading down the tunnel.
“As a multi-year season ticket holder (without renewal)… and someone who has actively tried, on a daily basis, to be a contribution to this beautiful city, I hope it becomes a good franchise again… this city will deserves it,” McAfee continued. .
“I have never seen a group waste more opportunities, talents and money than this group.”
On Sunday night, Colts owner Jim Irsay confirmed that general manager Chris Ballard and coach Shane Steichen will remain in place, prompting a sarcastic reaction from McAfee. “Everything is going to be great,” he wrote in X.