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 [url=http://www.thegiantsfansclub.com/darius-slayton-jersey/]Darius Slayton NFL Draft[/url] , 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, 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-most100View Gallery Gallery:View from the sidelines: NFL cheerleaders 2018Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports | Raj Mehtaby a Colts rookie [url=http://www.thegiantsfansclub.com/darius-slayton-jersey/]Darius Slayton Buffalo Bills Jersey[/url] , 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, 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) — Two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning isn’t ready to hand over the job as the New York Giants‘ starting quarterback.With fans and many in the media calling for him to be benched with the Giants off to a second straight 1-7 start, the 37-year-old Manning insisted Monday he wants to play when New York takes the field against the 49ers in San Francisco on Nov. 12.Before Manning spoke, Coach Pat Shurmur said the 15-year veteran remains his starting quarterback, but he will be evaluating everything during the upcoming bye week.“I’ve always been a team player, and do kind of what I’m told [url=http://www.thegiantsfansclub.com/michael-strahan-jersey/]Youth Michael Strahan Jerseys[/url] ,” Manning said. “I expect and want to be the starting quarterback until I’m told differently.”To be honest, Shurmur doesn’t have many good options at quarterback.Alex Tanney has played in one game in his three years in the league, appearing for Tennessee in 2015. Rookie Kyle Lauletta was a fourth-round draft pick out of Richmond. Neither has played a down this season.Making a change would allow the Giants, who are 4-20 over the past 1½ seasons, a chance to evaluate Tanney and Lauletta in a regular-season game.Former coach Ben McAdoo was in a similar position last season and gave veteran Geno Smith a start against Oakland when many felt Dave Webb, a third-round draft pick in 2017, would get a chance to show his stuff.Manning was not only benched, but his streak of consecutive starts was snapped at 210.The Giants lost the game and McAdoo and general manager Jerry Reese were fired days later. Manning returned as the starting quarterback the following week.Manning has hit 215 of 315 passes for 2,377 yards, a completion rate of 68 percent. The problem is the offense is not scoring in the red zone. Manning has eight touchdown passes, with most coming late in the fourth quarter.“I think the answer just comes to execution,” Manning said. “We got good players. There’s some good football. There are some good plays. There’s some big plays, some explosive plays. There’s just some bad football as well. So, it’s just cleaning up the bad stuff.”There is a lot to clean up.The revamped offensive line has struggled. Manning, whose biggest weakness is his lack of mobility, has been sacked 31 times, with seven coming in the 20-13 loss to Washington on Sunday.Despite the addition of Saquon Barkley [url=http://www.thegiantsfansclub.com/michael-strahan-jersey/]Michael Strahan Jerseys Stitched[/url] , the running game is ranked among the bottom three. It gained 37 yards against the Redskins.Manning said the offense won’t be changing the system in the bye week. The goal will be to figure out what is working well and what plays can be run either more or differently. The goal will be to keep the Giants in manageable situations and to avoid sacks.“We’ve just got to find ways to be productive, whether you get the ball out quickly or more max protection, or just have a combination of the two, or move in the pocket,” Manning said. “Just things to try to get us out of those situations, because sacks are drive killers. We have playmakers. We got to get them the ball, and get it to them in a timely fashion, and let them make plays.”Shurmur chose his words carefully talking about evaluating the quarterback position.“Yeah, I think Eli is our quarterback; but I did say, and again, I know you’re all trying to tease a headline out,” Shurmur said. “At this point, Eli is our quarterback, and we are looking at all areas to improve. That’s where it’s at.”The coach said Lauletta and Tanney have been taking snaps all season to be ready to play. He said he has not considered lifting Manning in any game this season.NOTES: Right tackle Chad Wheeler hurt his right foot and ankle. He was in a walking boot Monday, but he hopes to be ready for the 49ers. … With the trading deadline on Tuesday, Shurmur said he will talk with general manager Dave Gettleman. New York traded cornerback Eli Apple and defensive tackle Damon Harrison last week.