Two days ago, Colts owner Jim Irsay got crushed on Twitter for his comment about running backs wanting to change their pay structure.
“NFL Running Back situation- We have negotiated a CBA, that took years of effort and hard work and compromise in good faith by both sides..to say now that a specific Player category wants another negotiation after the fact ,is inappropriate. Some Agents are selling ‘bad faith’..,” Irsay tweeted.
Irsay’s comment was labeled tone-deaf because the Colts have an All-Pro running back who wants a new contract in Jonathan Taylor.
However, Irsay claims his comment wasn’t aimed at Taylor.
“The comment wasn’t really directed at Jonathan,” Irsay said in an interview with ESPN. “We haven’t exchanged any contract numbers with each other or anything like that. So, it’s not like we’re in the midst of that. I think we had a tough season last year. Didn’t win a lot of games. This is a year about coming back together and having a great year and we’re really depending on Jonathan to team up with [quarterback] Anthony Richardson to try and pull together to have a great year.”
NEW: Colts owner Jim Irsay clarified his comments about running backs from yesterday. But he also made a surprising revelation in my conversation w him: The Colts have not presented a contract offer to Jonathan Taylor. At all. https://t.co/tvqxozZM2D
— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) July 28, 2023
Irsay added that he wants Taylor on the roster for years to come.
“Our hope is Jonathan has an outstanding year and that we have a good year as a team and then we get his next contract done. That’s the hope. We think the world of him as a person, as a player. It’s just timing. When your time comes to get paid, then you get paid.”
Taylor has 3,841 rushing yards and 33 touchdowns in three seasons with the Colts.