Colts captain Zaire Franklin sent his own message to Pat McAfee after the former Indianapolis punter skipped the team’s final game of the season.
After Sunday’s win over the Jaguars, Franklin made a profit on his way to McAfee’s field suite at Lucas Oil Stadium and pretended to shake hands with the ESPN host.
But the suite was empty after McAfee eviscerated his former team for missing the playoffs, calling out “unwarranted arrogance, laziness and lack of professionalism” that led to “ANOTHER early vacation… which probably is what most of you have called ‘bums’. hoping.”
The 37-year-old, who spent eight seasons in Indianapolis, has vowed to cancel his season ticket and was not among the crowds during the final week of the season.
The Colts defeated 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’ hopes of making the postseason and prompted an angry tirade from McAfee.
‘In the biggest moments, anyone with a brain knew they would crack… and they did, McAfee wrote on social media.
Zaire Franklin sent his own message to Pat McAfee after the ESPN host criticized his old team
Franklin pretended to shake hands with the ESPN host after the win over the Jaguars
“A blind person could see the warning signs of this team. Questions about work ethics NEVER arise in good teams. Questions about preparation involvement NEVER arise with good teams.
He continued, “Late to meetings, NEVER happens to good teams. Late to/skipping treatment, NEVER happens to good teams.”
McAfee later claimed that he wants the Colts to keep just five players from their current roster. Franklin was not there.
And his words seem to penetrate the locker room. After Sunday’s game, Franklin shook hands with fans sitting on the field at Lucas Oil Stadium.
The linebacker soon reached McAfee’s suite, but he was undeterred by the rows of empty seats. Franklin held out his hand and gestured for him to shake hands before turning and walking into the tunnel.
‘As a multi-year season ticket holder (not renewing) and someone who has actively tried to be an addition to this beautiful city on a daily basis, I hope they become a good franchise again. This city deserves it,” McAfee continued.
“I’ve never seen a group waste opportunity/talent/money more than this group.”
On Sunday night, Colts owner Jim Irsay confirmed that general manager Chris Ballard and coach Shane Steichen will remain in their positions, prompting a sarcastic response from McAfee. “It’s all going great,” he wrote on X.