Another layer added to Colts-Jonathan Taylor situation

The Indianapolis Colts and Jonathan Taylor are not the biggest fans of each other, right now.  Everyone knows the star running back formally requested a trade on Saturday after his frustrations with his contract and recent comments made by Colts owner, Jim Irsay.  After the latest developments, it does not seem like the partnership is […]

Bryce Lazenby
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The Indianapolis Colts and Jonathan Taylor are not the biggest fans of each other, right now. 

Everyone knows the star running back formally requested a trade on Saturday after his frustrations with his contract and recent comments made by Colts owner, Jim Irsay. 

After the latest developments, it does not seem like the partnership is meant to last much longer. 

Irsay and Taylor held a private meeting on Saturday night to discuss things. Clearly the meeting did not go well, because news of Taylor's trade request broke soon after. 

Per A to Z Sports' Destin Adams, Taylor's asking price is a "non-starter for the Colts and the NFL." 

This revelation could mean that the trade market for Taylor is depressed, due to teams not willing to meet his asking price. 

ESPN Colts reporter Stephen Holder shed more light on the situation. 

When asked how serious both sides are and if Taylor's days as a Colt are number, Holder offered the following analysis:

Multiple sources have told ESPN that Taylor is incensed about his situation and has been for quite some time.

Taylor's agent, Malki Kawa, tweeted on Thursday that he doubted the relationship between the Colts and Taylor can be fixed. And that, as well as Kawa tweeting it's bad faith not to pay your top offensive player, might have ratcheted things up.

As for the Colts, they have taken a firm position based on Irsay's unequivocal statement about refusing to trade Taylor. What happens next is anyone's guess, but the state of the relationship between Taylor and the Colts is as bad as it gets between a player and team.

Describing the relationship as "as bad as it gets" is certainly not a positive sign that this can be put in the past. It's also unfortunate that both sides seem unwilling to budge. 

While stressing that Irsay is not looking to trade Taylor, it is expected that the team would be looking for an early-round draft pick. 

Even if Irsay was willing to trade the back, ESPN national reporter Jeremy Fowler mentions there may not be many suitors. 

"What hampers Taylor's market is a team having to relinquish draft capital for the right to give him a new deal in this running back climate," explained Fowler. "Given Taylor's importance to the Colts' offense, Indy would likely want significant draft capital as part of a deal." 

Another factor adding fuel to the situation is Taylor's placement on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. A few weeks ago, Irsay went on The Pat McAfee Show and described Taylor as "healed up." 

However, Taylor was placed on the PUP list last Monday, meaning the back cannot practice. According to Holder, this situation has "helped fuel the frustration between Taylor and the team." 

Ultimately, this is an ugly situation and it seems like neither side is going to get the result they want. 

Featured image via © Jeffrey Becker | 2022 Dec 17

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