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A Colts veteran offered Anthony Richardson something invaluable as a reward for his big game in Week 11 vs. the Jets

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Destin Adams | Last updated Nov 18, 2024 6:58 AM ET

Emotions were running high for the Indianapolis Colts in Week 11, with the news of Anthony Richardson returning to the starting lineup after a two-week benching.

He made the most of his opportunity and had arguably his best performance as a pro. And to make it even sweeter, he capped off his strong outing with a game-winning drive to give the team a much-needed win over the New York Jets in Week 11.

After the game, the Colts set up their victory cam as players left the field, as they've done after each win over the last few seasons. But this one included a veteran player offering Richardson something young players rarely get at this stage of their careers.

Big dubs in the Big Apple. pic.twitter.com/I027kHhGja
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) November 17, 2024

Colts LB Zaire Franklin is giving Anthony Richardson the veteran treatment after his game-winning drive in Week 11 over the Jets

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Multiple players took the time to shout out Richardson and his strong performance into the victory cam, but veteran linebacker Zaire Franklin went even further. Franklin shared that he would be carrying Ricahrdson's pads this week after practice.

"Hey, 5, I'm carrying your pads this week after practice. Don't even worry about it, gang."

- Zaire Franklin

pic.twitter.com/uIHWqwgrRf
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) November 17, 2024

This offer from Franklin may seem like no big deal to some reading this, but it's important to understand what this act typically represents. Carrying pads after practice is typically a task assigned to rookies as some form of initiation into the NFL and a team's locker room. Sometimes, rookies can be tasked with carrying multiple veteran players' pads before and/or after practice. Franklin offering to do this is showing Richardson respect and giving a second-year player an opportunity that typically only veterans in the locker room get to experience.

It's been a rough couple of weeks for Richardson, who has had to deal with a lot of noise regrading his ability to play QB as well as his character among the national media and even the fan base. Some even went as far as to say that it appeared that Richardson had "lost the locker room." However, multiple Colts players have spoken out in defense of Richardson and shared their support for the young QB. If those past statements weren't enough, I believe Franklin and other players' comments after the game show that the locker room is still very much in Richardson's corner. And he was able to repay them all for their support with a stellar performance in Week 11.