CLEVELAND, Ohio – Darius Leonard, twice Colts ‘All-Pro linebacker, found the Colts’ middle linebacker Anthony Walker to leave the Browns extremely difficult on Friday.
“Well, I’m about to cry, ” Leonard tweeted shortly after the news it broke that Walker, 25, had agreed to a one-year contract with the Browns for up to $ 3.5 million with bonuses and incentives. “If you really understood the impact it has on a locker room. ”
Walker, who started 48 games for the Colts, is likely to replace the Browns’ free agent mid-linebacker, BJ Goodson, unless he is re-signed by the club soon. He will also replace part of Goodson’s inspiring leadership.
“Incredible player, he does everything the right way! It’s a shame that he’s leaving, but Cleveland is winning a Dawg! ” Leonard tweeted. “He is a great leader and will make his defense great! I will really miss him! I give him a lot of credit for my success! I wouldn’t be me without him! ”
AND, “Crazy to see such an incredible person, leader, player and a friend come out of a locker room! ”
Colts’ cornerback, Kenny Moore II, also weighed in.
“You will never understand the effect that one teammate can have on another, ” he tweeted. “We all signed up for that and that’s fine. But talking about this moment then really happening is totally different. ”
Walker, who visited the Browns on Thursday, left his mark on the Browns last season during the 32-23 victory over the Colts, when he defeated Baker Mayfield at 7:05 am to make things tense at FirstEnergy Stadium.
A pick of the Northwestern Colts’ fifth round in 2017, Walker (6 ft -1, 230), accumulated 343 tackles, 19 for a loss, 3.5 sacks, 11 defended passes, three interceptions and two fumble recoveries in his four seasons. He started all 16 games last season and recorded 92 tackles, but third-year linebacker Bobby Okereke is set to take that position.
According to Pro Football Focus, Walker had the 16th best tackle efficiency and was 20th in the tackling score among qualified linebackers in 2020.
The Browns rehired 11th year linebacker Malcolm Smith for a one-year contract on Wednesday, and will continue to try to improve the position.
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