Indianapolis Colts: Jonathan Taylor and Jim Irsay are stuck together

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 17: Jonathan Taylor #28 of the Indianapolis Colts is carted through the stadium after sustaining an injury in the first quarter of the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 17, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) /

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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – NOVEMBER 28: Jonathan Taylor #28 of the Indianapolis Colts walks off the field after losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers 24-17 at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 28, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

1. Taylor has to show up to get paid

Before this X beef started, Taylor’s agent allegedly stated the former second-round pick requested a trade. The reason is simple, more money and a long-term deal. As I’ve discussed in the previous slide, the Colts can’t get anything in return for Jonathan Taylor, even if they wanted to trade him. Jim Irsay made it clear, he has no interest in doing so. Still, he could change his mind at some point before the trade deadline. For either to happen, Taylor has to be on the field in week one of the 2023 NFL Season.

Taylor can decide to sit out and take his chances, but we’ve seen how that plays out. Look at LeVeon Bell, who decided to sit out a season to prove a point that he was worth more. He ended up signing for less than he would have, and his career was short-lived. Bell’s case was a cautionary tale, an example of what running backs can’t do. Unfortunately, the NFL doesn’t value the running position.

The Colt traded up for Taylor, and he’s been nothing short of fantastic for a team that’s been a disappointment since Andrew Luck retired. What’s worse, is Taylor could play, ball out, and it will only earn him the franchise tag creating the next chapter of this ongoing story.

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