Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris had a calm response to Indianapolis Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin, who called him “soft” after their Week 4 matchup.
Being labeled as soft by an opponent isn’t ideal, but Harris didn’t seem too bothered by the comment on October 3.
When asked by reporters if he had any reaction to Franklin’s remark, Harris simply smiled and said, “No.”
“He’s a great player, man. Great player. We went back and forth the whole game,” Harris told the media, via ESPN’s Brooke Pryor. “Competition, man. It is what it is. I tip my hat off in victories and defeats. So when I saw the comment, I just laughed.”
“You can say whatever you want. It is what it is. You can’t win them all.”
Franklin’s “soft” jab came on X (formerly Twitter) in response to a Colts fan who claimed the Indianapolis defense “owned” Harris on September 29. Franklin replied, “Kid is soft. 84 run harder.”
The “No. 84” Franklin mentioned was fellow Steelers running back Cordarrelle Patterson.
Patterson gained 43 yards on six carries, averaging 7.2 yards per run against the Colts. In the same game, Harris struggled, gaining just 19 yards on 13 carries, averaging less than 1.5 yards per attempt.
Najee Harris Shrugs Off Criticism There are a couple of ways to interpret Harris’ reaction, or lack thereof, to Franklin’s insult.
In the past, Harris has embraced the idea that winners get to talk, while those who lose must accept it. After rushing for only 19 yards in a 27-24 Steelers loss, Franklin earned the right to brag.
Harris’ comment about them “going at it” all game may have been genuine, and Franklin’s tweet could have been a continuation of that competition.
Additionally, Harris chose not to engage in trash talk through the media, showing sportsmanship.
However, some might argue that one NFL player calling another “soft” on social media is more than just friendly trash talk. It’s a serious insult, and some Steelers fans might not find it as amusing as Harris did.
It didn’t help that Harris had his worst yards-per-carry average since December 2021 against the Colts. Through the first four weeks of this season, he’s averaging 3.4 yards per rush, down from 4.1 yards per carry last year.
Can Harris Bounce Back Against the Cowboys? Harris has a chance to improve his performance in Week 5 against the Dallas Cowboys, whose run defense ranks among the worst in the league.
Three of the Cowboys’ first four opponents averaged at least 4.9 yards per carry.
However, Dallas’ run defense showed improvement last week, limiting the New York Giants to just 26 rushing yards on 24 carries. With extra time to prepare, since the Cowboys last played on Thursday, September 26, Harris’ task won’t be easy.
Though Harris has an opportunity to shine, nothing is guaranteed. The Colts, with the 31st-ranked run defense, had little trouble containing him.
The Steelers are hoping for a better result against the Cowboys on Sunday.