Indianapolis Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin pulled off a savage prank at the expense of one of his teammates

I'm sure it can be challenging for players to shut off the seriousness required to compete at the highest level during an NFL season. But it looks like the Indianapolis Colts linebacker was able to find the time to have some needed fun at the expense of his friend and teammate, E.J. Speed.  E.J. Speed gets […]

Destin Adams NFL News Writer
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Oct 20, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin (44) high fives his teammates as he takes the field during a game against the Miami Dolphins at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Christine Tannous/IndyStar USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images

I'm sure it can be challenging for players to shut off the seriousness required to compete at the highest level during an NFL season. 

But it looks like the Indianapolis Colts linebacker was able to find the time to have some needed fun at the expense of his friend and teammate, E.J. Speed. 


E.J. Speed gets pranked into playing the top Madden player in the world 

Indianapolis Colts linebacker E.J. Speed (45) reacts after a foul call Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, during a game against the Chicago Bears at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Colts told Speed he was playing against a Colts fan who won a sweepstake to play Madden against him. But little did he know it was Henry Leverette, the number one Madden player in the entire world. Leverette is 21 years old, and his profession is being a competitive Madden player. As you read above, he is viewed as the current top player in the world. He has won the Ultimate Madden Bowl tournament two of the last three years, with him coming in second in 2023. 

During their game, Speed allowed Leverette to use the Colts, and he chose to use the New York Giants; I like to think he chose them so he could use his former teammate Bobby Okereke as his user on defense. The game went as well as you could probably expect for Speed, playing the number one player in the world. Leverette was up 42-7 with 2:16 left in the third quarter before Speed quit the game. The score, I'm sure, was a factor, but the smack talk Leverette was relying on from Zaire Franklin through an earpiece seemed to be the final straw for Speed. Before finding out who Leverette was, it sounded like Speed wanted a rematch, though; this time, he wanted to use the Miami Dolphins. 

I'm sure Speed is one of the best Madden players in the Colt's locker room. I think it's safe to say the Cotls don't have to worry about Speed retiring from the NFL to try his hand in the professional E-Sports world anytime soon. Maybe we will get more details about this hilarious prank on a future episode of Speed and Frankin's podcast "The Trenches Show."