Issues Are Getting Messy Between the Colts and Jonathan Taylor

4 months ago 3 min read

Coming off an All-Professional season that noticed him lead the league in speeding with 1,811 yards and rating 20 whole touchdowns, Indianapolis Colts operating again Jonathan Taylor seemed to be prepared to determine himself as an NFL famous person final season. An ankle damage he suffered in Week 4 derailed that plan and Taylor’s third NFL season was a forgettable one as he rushed for simply 861 yards and 4 touchdowns in 11 video games because the Colts stumbled to a 4-12-1 file.

Eligible for an extension this summer time, Taylor reported to coaching camp final week with Indianapolis and was positioned on the bodily unable to carry out record as his ankle continues to heal. Based on the Colts, which may not be the one ailment Taylor is coping with and the workforce is reportedly desirous about shifting him to the non-football damage record as a result of a again damage the 24-year-old suffered whereas figuring out on his personal in Arizona.

Taylor has denied his again is harm. “Never had . . . back pain.” Taylor tweeted. “By no means reported again ache. Undecided who ‘sources’ are, however discover new ones.”

If the Colts do transfer Taylor to the NFI record, that might be vital as a result of it might imply the workforce won’t need to pay him till he will get on the sector, because the alleged damage was not suffered whereas he was taking part in or working towards for Indianapolis or figuring out at a workforce facility.

All of this comes within the wake of Taylor assembly with Indianapolis proprietor Jim Irsay over the weekend after contract negotiations between the Colts and their operating again reached an deadlock. Irsay, as he generally does, made issues extra difficult by tweeting. “NFL Working Again scenario — We have now negotiated a CBA, that took years of effort and laborious work and compromise in good religion by either side,” Irsay wrote final week. “To say now {that a} particular Participant class desires one other negotiation after the very fact, is inappropriate. Some Brokers are promoting ‘unhealthy religion.’”

Taylor’s agent tweeted again and issues acquired to the purpose the place a commerce request was made. The workforce is saying that request will not be honored. Across the identical time information of the commerce request leaked, Irsay met with Taylor on his bus at coaching camp. Afterward, he informed reporters that he reminded the star operating again that “nobody treats gamers in addition to this franchise.” Then, the 64-year-old NFL proprietor added one other fascinating nugget.

“If I die tonight and Jonathan Taylor is out of the league, nobody’s gonna miss us,” Irsay said. “The league goes on. We all know that. The Nationwide Soccer [League] rolls on. It doesn’t matter who comes and who goes and it’s a privilege to be part of it.”

If Taylor is part of it for a full season, he’s as a result of make $4.3 million within the last yr of his rookie contract. If the Colts place Taylor on the NFI record as a means of responding to his commerce request and leveraging him on the negotiating desk, the scenario in Indianapolis goes to get very, very messy very, in a short time. As has been well-documented, NFL operating backs are largely handled like disposable razors and Taylor isn’t any totally different. The Colts have the entire leverage and don’t have any motive to present Taylor an extension aside from to make him joyful. They in all probability gained’t.