Indianapolis Colts’ star running back, Jonathan Taylor, is reportedly seeking a contract renewal, which seems to be elusive at this point. Earlier in the week, Taylor had requested a trade, the final decision of which is yet to be made, according to an NFL source.
Reacting to the trade request, Colts’ owner Jim Irsay asserted the team’s firm stance against trading Taylor. “The question of trading Jonathan Taylor is off the table, now or even in October,” stated Irsay.
The revelation of Taylor‘s trade request coincided with an hour-long meeting between Taylor and Irsay, held in Irsay’s upscale bus at the north end of the Colts‘ practice field during a Saturday night practice session. The contents of the discussion were kept private by Irsay, who clarified that the team’s position regarding Taylor‘s contract extension hadn’t changed.
Irsay shared his anticipation for the upcoming season, expressing hope that Taylor would be a crucial part of it. Despite their constructive dialogue, Irsay remained firm on his stand of not discussing a contract extension at present.
“The current focus is not on discussing this matter,” Irsay declared. “It’s about the responsibilities I hold. I am accountable for the entire team, and I need to consider the cap money available and plan contracts accordingly.”
Taylor, who is heading into the last season of his four-year rookie contract, is set to earn $4.304 million this season, placing him 18th among running back salaries in 2023.
In a prior discussion about Taylor, Irsay conveyed, “When the appropriate time for payment arrives, it will be granted.”
According to multiple sources, Taylor is reportedly quite distressed over his current circumstance, and it remains to be seen if the situation between him and the team can be remediated. The tension may have escalated following a tweet by Irsay on Wednesday targeting proposed pay structure changes by several league running backs. Although Irsay clarified the next day that his remarks weren’t aimed at Taylor, who has also expressed his concerns about the running backs’ contractual conditions.
Irsay had his choice words about Taylors request
Reacting to the disappointing monetary situations at his position, Taylor previously remarked, “Now you understand why players request trades.”
Presently, Taylor, recovering from an off-season ankle surgery, remains on the physically unable to perform list. Although his inclusion on the list at the start of the camp was unexpected, sources claim that Taylor genuinely needs more recovery time and this situation is unrelated to his contract matters.
Taylor, a 24-year-old dynamic asset of the Colts since he was drafted in the second round in 2020, led the NFL with 1,811 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2021.
Irsay commented, “If either I or Jonathan Taylor were to disappear from the league today, the game will go on. It’s a reality that the NFL continues to move forward, irrespective of who joins or leaves, and it’s an honor to be a part of it.”
