Darius Leonard was disappointed when his name didn’t appear on the AFC’s Pro Bowl roster Tuesday night.Now the league’s leading tackler intends to make all future opponents pay for the perceived snub.“He told me he’d have 40 tackles this week Youth Lawrence Taylor Jerseys , and I told him that’s humanly impossible,” tight end Eric Ebron said Wednesday.But if the Colts (8-6) have learned anything about their star rookie, it’s not to discount anything he says.When South Carolina State played Clemson in 2016, Leonard had 19 tackles against the eventual national champs and his childhood favorite, which never offered him a scholarship. His performance that day earned him the nickname “Maniac” around campus, a nickname he still clings to, and put him on the radar of Colts general manager Chris Ballard.Throughout the draft process, he heard from the critics again. This time they were questioning the level of competition he faced in college; how long it would take to make the transition from FCS to the NFL; and whether Ballard reached when he took Leonard at No. 36 overall, four picks into the second round, in April.Others questioned whether missing all of the Colts’ spring and summer workouts because of a bad hamstring would slow him down this season.Leonard has proved all of them wrong.Despite missing one game, at New England Lawrence Taylor Jerseys Stitched , he continues to lead the league with 146 tackles and needs 15 over the final two games to break Jeff Herrod’s single-season franchise record (160), a mark that has stood since 1991. And if Leonard’s play matches the hype, Herrod’s record could go down Sunday against the New York Giants (5-9).“It adds more fuel to the fire,” Leonard said when asked about missing the Pro Bowl. “It gives me more reason to go out and keep fighting. With everything I did and knowing it’s still not enough, I’ve got to put more on my resume.”Leonard views it as more of a promise than a warning and it fits his personality.While he revels in the underdog role, he routinely plays with a chip on his shoulder and continually sets his standards high. His goal each week is to get 25 tackles and he’s finished in double digits in seven of the Colts’ 14 games. He’s tied with Carolina’s Luke Kuechly for the most games with 10 or more tackles this season.But what the Colts have found in Leonard is much more than a tackling machine.His seven sacks are third most by a Colts rookie, trailing only Dwight Freeney (13) and Vernon Maxwell (7). Dee Ford, Khalil Mack and J.J. Watt — all Pro Bowlers — are the only players this season to force more fumbles than Leonard (4). He also has 12 tackles for loss, six passes defensed and two fumble recoveries.Andrew Luck spotted the potential almost from the first moment Leonard suited up for Indy. At the first training camp practice, Leonard made a leaping, acrobatic interception of the three-time Pro Bowl quarterback.“I’ll be honest Womens Phil Simms Jersey , the first couple of training camp practices I said ‘My goodness, he’s not supposed to be that fast and play linebacker,'” Luck recalled. “And then he went up for that interception and came down with it, and I just said ‘My goodness.'”Luck appreciates that he won’t have to contend with Leonard in a meaningful game. The rest of the league won’t be as fortunate.“I want to go out there every week and make every tackle,” Leonard said.“I like to set a crazy goal, so each week if it’s not 25 (tackles), I’m mad at myself.” EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Coach Jeff Monken and the Army football team watched the New York Giants practice and were saluted by the NFL players after the workout.Because of NCAA rules, the Cadets had to watch the roughly two-hour workout sitting in the temporary stands surrounding the Giants’ three fields at the team headquarters near MetLife Stadium.After meeting with coach Pat Shurmur, the Giants walked over as a group, waved to the Army players and threw small equipment to the Cadets. Star receiver Odell Beckham Jr. ran toward the chain link fence separating the field from the stands and climbed it Harry Carson Jersey , while two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning tossed gloves into the stands.“These guys are terrific young men and at some point they may be defending our freedom, so our guys, I thought it was great, they went over there and acknowledged them,” Shurmur said.Monken said the Cadets had planned to attend a practice last season but they had to cancel the trip when weather forced him to make up a practice at West Point. With a day off Tuesday, Monken planned the roughly one-hour trip from the military academy.“We were thrilled to have this opportunity to come here on our day off and watch the professionals,” Monken said.Army is coming off a 10-3 season that ended with a 42-35 win over San Diego State in the Lockheed Martin Armed Services Bowl in Texas. The Cadets open their season on Aug. 31 at Duke.Like most coaches, Monken said his team is not ready.“We are a long ways from ready,” said Monken, entering his fifth season at Army. “If you saw us practice yesterday (Monday), you would know how far we are from ready.”Monken and his staff stood on the sidelines and occasionally talked to Giants coaches during the workout. Being a former special teams coach http://www.giantslockerroom.com/authentic-lawrence-taylor-jersey , he spoke with assistant Tom Quinn. He also liked a few of the passing routes New York was running.“We’re not a big throwing team, but we can use some of that,” he said.If one drill caught Monken’s eye it was a scout team drill the Giants were using to prepare their defense for Cleveland.Monken took note of the offensive personnel on the field.“Who is in there but No. 10 at quarterback (Manning), and Beckham is over there playing receiver off the scout cards,” Monken said. “It’s great for our guys that these guys in there and giving their defense the best look, and we’re prepared to win the game. Other people don’t notice. I noticed and I certainly think our guys noticed, too.”