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Indianapolis Colts make Darius Leonard highest-paid inside linebacker
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Linebacker Darius Leonard of the Indianapolis Colts looks on during practice at Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S., May 27, 2021. /CFP

Linebacker Darius Leonard of the Indianapolis Colts looks on during practice at Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S., May 27, 2021. /CFP

The Indianapolis Colts reached a contract extension with their inside linebacker Darius Leonard, the team announced on Sunday. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, it's a five-year, $98.5-million deal which will make Leonard the highest-paid player in his position in NFL history.

"I'm a competitor. If you're not first, you're last. To have my name at the top, that's something I don't take for granted. I have to continue to go out and prove that. You've seen the [linebacker] rankings; I think I was sixth, I was No. 8 on Madden," said Leonard.

He already won the competition of linebacker salary beating Fred Warner who signed a five-year, $95-million contract extension with the San Francisco 49ers in July.

The Colts extended their offensive tackle Braden Smith's contract by four years for $72.4 million in July, retaining the star duo for the long term.

Linebacker Darius Leonard (R) of the Indianapolis Colts defends tight end Geoff Swaim of the Tennessee Titans in the game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S., November 29, 2020. /CFP

Linebacker Darius Leonard (R) of the Indianapolis Colts defends tight end Geoff Swaim of the Tennessee Titans in the game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S., November 29, 2020. /CFP

Leonard was drafted by the Colts with the No. 36 pick in 2018. He became the tackles leader (163) in his rookie season and achieved seven sacks. He has already been named First-team All-Pro twice and Second-team once, as well as Pro-Bowl twice in the three seasons he has played for the team.

Last season, Leonard contributed 132 tackles, three sacks, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries as the Colts made it back to the playoffs.

"We all know Darius, that chip has served him well. Whatever level of disrespect he felt from all that, he's used that as a motivator in [his] own way, but what I've learned to appreciate about Darius is he's going to be motivated no matter what to be the very best. He's going to hold himself to those standards," said the team's head coach Frank Reich.

The Colts will host the Seattle Seahawks at Lucas Oil Stadium on September 12 in their first game of the new season.

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