Zaire Franklin thought it was a joke.
Ninety-seven? That’s the number assigned to me? As a linebacker?
A few days after the Colts picked him in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL Draft, Franklin had to put on a No. 97 jersey – not exactly a number worn by many off-ball linebackers in the NFL – for his first practices with his new team. It was a harsh reminder about how difficult it’d be to navigate his way to a place in the league.
But Franklin wasn’t discouraged by it. He was motivated.
“It made me work harder, made me tough through it and through the ups and downs, the highs and lows of my career, continue to push and persevere,” Franklin said. “It definitely, to be in this moment now, it’s validation of everything I put in and all the hard work I put in and the blood, sweat and tears.”
This moment now was, last week, signing a contract extension with the Colts. He joined three teammates – tight end Mo Alie-Cox, tackle Matt Pryor and defensive end Tyquan Lewis – in inking…