INDIANAPOLIS -- Darius Leonard knows a fellow maniac when he sees one. And, this week, Leonard saw one in Indianapolis Colts rookie pass-rusher Ben Banogu.
“He was out there going crazy during practice on either Tuesday or Wednesday,” the Colts All-Pro linebacker remembered, “and I went up to him and was like, ‘Man you’re practicing pretty hard.' And he tells me, ‘Yeah. I want more playing time.’”
He was trying to send a message, Leonard explained. And the Colts got it.
Defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus must have seen the same thing on the practice field Leonard because Banogu’s high effort practices were rewarded with a career-high 36 defensive snaps Sunday.