PITTSBURGH — Indianapolis Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin was not happy about Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris’ two middle fingers gesture toward the blue-clad home faithful when coming out of the tunnel on Sunday. After the Colts’ 27-24 win, Franklin let Harris know about it by calling him soft on X.
“Kid is soft,” Franklin wrote. “84 run harder.” Harris finished with 19 yards on 13 attempts (1.5 average), while Cordarrelle Patterson rushed for 43 yards on six carries, a robust average of 7.2 yards per carry.
Harris was asked about the shade thrown by Franklin during his media availability on Thursday.
“Man, great player. We went back and forth at it all game,” Harris said. “Competition, man, it is what it is. I tipped my hat off in victories, tipped my hat off in defeats. And so, when I saw that comment, it was more like, I was just laughing. Hey man, congratulations, you won, you can talk whatever you want. It is what is. Can’t win them all.”
Harris said he had no recollection of flipping Colts fans off with the double bird.
“Man, I be blacking out. I don’t remember that,” he said.
Franklin explained why he called Harris soft during the latest edition of The Trenches Show With Zaire Franklin.
“I wouldn’t say I have personal feelings toward that guy, but what I will say is … you flipping off my city coming in and then you gonna go put out that type of performance — I’mma speak on that,” Franklin said.
Franklin definitely puts the city of Indianapolis on his back. He called out Steelers Nation prior to the game, stating, “It’s our house, and we make the rules.”
“I know the Pittsburgh fans, they are going to try and come in here,” Franklin said. “They like to travel, so I’m looking forward to us fighting back. It is always a talented and tough team when we play Pittsburgh. We know the brand of football that they like to play, but it’s our house, and we make the rules.”
Franklin also added fuel to the fire by saying he might try to snatch some Terrible Towels.
“Hopefully we get to steal a couple Terrible Towels,” Franklin told WTHR. “I might try to snatch one myself. We’ll see.”
Franklin not only got the W, but he also had a solid game, recording nine tackles, second on the Colts.
Alan Saunders contributed reporting from Pittsburgh.