Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - Indianapolis Colts' Jonathan Taylor Allowed to Seek Trade, Will He Get it?
Episode Date: August 24, 2023Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor is officially allowed to see a trade. Will he ultimately get it? Destin Adams of AtoZ Sports joins the show to discuss trade possibilities and to dispel... some rumors about this whole ordeal.Find and follow Locked On Colts on your favorite podcast platforms:🎧 https://link.chtbl.com/LOColts?sid=YouTube📺YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLdpxJspi1hMh5HL7ExpWOQLocked On NFL League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Draft & More🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNFLFollow Jake and Zach's written work on HorseshoeHuddle.com, and give them a follow on Twitter @JakeArthurNFL, @ZachHicks2, @LockedOnColts, and @ColtsOnFN!Catch the Locked On Colts pregame show at Nevermore at Union Station before every Colts home game! Info here: https://www.tailgateplanet.com/indianapolis-colts-tailgatesLinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn Dot Com slash LOCKEDONNFL. That’s LinkedIn Dot Com slash LOCKEDONNFL to post your job for free. Terms and conditions apply.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Harry'sGet your best shave ever this summer with Harry’s razors and skin care products. Get a $13 Starter Set for just $3 at harrys.com/NFL. GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNFL for $20 off your first purchase. Last minute tickets. Lowest Price. Guaranteed.birddogsGo to birddogs.com/LOCKEDONNFL or enter promo code LOCKEDONNFL for a white tech hat with any order. You won’t want to take your birddogs off we promise you.BetterHelpThis podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. If you’re thinking of starting therapy, give BetterHelp a try. Visit BetterHelp.com/Lockedon today to get 10% off your first month.Underdog FantasyThis episode is sponsored by Underdog Fantasy! Sign up HERE with the promo code LOCKEDON to get your first deposit DOUBLED up to $100.Must be 18+ (19+ in Alabama and Nebraska, 21+ in Massachusetts and Arizona) and present in a state where Underdog Fantasy operates. Terms apply. Concerned with your play? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit www dot ncpgambling.org; In Arizona call 1-800-NEXT-STEP; in New York, Call 1-877-8-HOPENY; in Tennessee, call 1-800-889-9789eBay MotorsFor parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit. eBay Motors dot com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply.LinkedInLinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNFL. Terms and conditions apply.FanDuelMake Every Moment More. Right now, when you bet on a Super Bowl Winner, you can GET BONUS BETS EVERY TIME THEY WIN IN THE REGULAR SEASON! FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Transcript
Discussion (0)
Jonathan Taylor is officially allowed to seek a trade.
Will he get it?
Let's get to it.
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I am Zach Hicks, your favorite film nerd over at horseshoehuddle.com. And joining me today is my former colleague, my ex-colleague, actually,
beat writer for A to Z Sports.
That is Destin Adams.
He covers Indianapolis Colts still.
He just kind of stepped away from our site and kind of took a different job there.
So Destin Adams is going to join us to talk all about this Jonathan Taylor situation.
And I think Destin's a great person to go to for this
because he's a beat writer for a different site.
Give us a little bit of different perspective on it.
So our first segment, we're going to talk about Jonathan Taylor
being able to seek out trades for other teams,
what that kind of means for the Indianapolis Colts,
what that means for Jonathan Taylor.
And then we're going to talk about potential trade packages.
And then at the last segment, we're going to dispel some rumors
that are going around about this entire thing.
And I know a lot of national guys are talking some crazy rumors
and crazy things here.
We're going to address all that in the third segment.
But, Destin, getting into this first segment,
Jonathan Taylor is officially
allowed to seek out a trade from other teams. Now, what that means from my understanding of it,
and you can correct me if I'm wrong here, Destin, his agent is now officially allowed to reach out
to other NFL teams, engage if those teams would, one, be willing to engage in that type of contract that he is seeking,
and then two, also whether they would be willing to give up some capital for Jonathan Taylor. So
before this juncture in the Jonathan Taylor saga, other teams could not talk to Jonathan Taylor's
representation. They technically could not. Outside of that,
it would be a collusion. But as of right now, they are allowed to talk to Malki Kawa,
and they're allowed to talk to Jonathan Taylor, and they're allowed to see kind of where his
injury's at, where his contract demands are at, where the whole compensation is allowed to be at.
So this is a notable break in the Jonathan Taylor dilemma, but it doesn't really change
too, too much.
It's just that the Colts are now like basically able to listen to what other teams are willing
to offer.
If I got that right or wrong here, Destin, correct me.
But I think that's kind of how it goes there.
Yeah, I don't think you have to worry about me correcting you very often, Zach.
But I mean, I think that basically covers all of it. I mean, I think nothing really changes here
outside of teams are able to talk to Jonathan Taylor. I don't think this increases, decreases
the likelihood that a trade was going to happen. I think where they were is where they were.
Now all that's going to happen is those teams can kind of figure out more information
from Taylor's side of things, hear his perspective on those things,
where before, if they were reaching out to Indianapolis,
that's all they could receive is Indianapolis's point of view.
So they may have known what it would take from the Colts to get a trade done,
but they wouldn't know what that contract that Taylor is looking for. That is a big part of the trade here
because no, no team is trading for a guy that's disgruntled over contract disputes without giving
them that said contract, because then you're just bringing those disputes to you with, by giving up
draft assets. So we will see how it all plays out. But I understand why it was
notable. It was a change in the preseason window where anything that happens is going to be major
news and the Colts and Jonathan Taylor just dominating preseason headlines right now.
It's a good time to be writer for them, I guess. Right, Zach?
I mean, for you, maybe. I'm not a beat guy, though. You're a beat
reporter. I'm just an analyst that breaks down films. So for me, it's like, oh my gosh, another
Jonathan Taylor thing for you. It's like, oh my gosh, let me report more on Jonathan Taylor.
Zach is more interested in breaking down the fifth safety on the Colts and what they did in
the preseason game, whereas I've had to write 13 Jonathan Taylor stories
in seven days let me let me post my 20 Grant Stewart special team snaps and we're gonna be
rolling here but talking more about Jonathan Taylor here when we're looking at this situation
I think one thing is really interesting with this new development is teams are finally able to inquire about the
injury. Now we've had a lot of comments on this podcast through audio and through video,
also on social medias through Twitter X or whatever the heck it's called and Facebook as well.
So wherever you guys are joining us, you can, you know, I've seen, yeah, my space,
I've seen all the comments that people think that Jonathan Taylor is faking this ankle
injury, that this ankle injury is just a way for him to hold out until he gets that contract.
I think we're going to find out here in the next couple of days or wherever it's going
to be when teams start making actual offers.
That ankle injury is kind of a big part
of this equation. I don't think that ankle injury is a fake, but Destin, you could probably shed
some more light. I don't think that that ankle injury though is him just trying to hold out.
I think that ankle injury is a legit injury that is still nagging him. And something that I've
heard, and I know you're more connected to me, so you can definitely enlighten us on this, but something I've heard is when teams are asking him about the ankle injury, he's saying, oh, it's getting there.
Like, it's getting there.
It's getting close.
That doesn't tell me that he's faking the injury.
That tells me that the injury is real and he's still trying to rehab it right now.
Yeah, I mean, he failed a physical.
I think people look at that like it's an easy thing to do, like it's an English test on a Tuesday that if you don't study for it, you can fail it.
And I mean, have there ever been players that have stretched the truth a little bit on what was going on to not have to play through injuries?
Sure. But Jonathan Taylor failed a physical. That is the true statement. It's how you can land on the putt prior to training camp beginning to get on that active putt list. Failing the physical being required to fulfill a trade.
Just like for a free agency move, anything like that,
you can make it contingent on those things, but you don't have to.
You can waive those things.
So it'll be interesting to kind of see how these trade maneuvers.
I had heard from one person that they had spoken with someone
in Jonathan Taylor's camp and that that person had heard that
if a trade
were to get done if a contract got done that Jonathan would be ready to play um not saying
that means he's playing at 100 percent um I think that's a big part of it is what without the long
term contract right now there is no interest there to play through a non-100 body health um
whereas if you're you get that contract and you're at a 75, 80 percent
percentile on your body, you're more inclined to put it out there and go out there anyway.
Yeah. One thing I want to touch on really quick, because we have to move on to our second segment
and talk about potential trade packages though, is there seems to be this very pressing need to get those guarantees to get that money
right now right now we need that money like we can't wait until after the season where and you
know if we're looking at all the metrics like Jonathan Taylor by all likelihood was going to
have a career season with a player like an Anthony Richardson so why not play out this last season but
part of me keeps coming back to the ankle injury.
Like, is the ankle injury worse than what we expected?
And that's why he needs that guaranteed money right now before he steps on the field.
Do you have any thoughts on that real quick, Destin?
Yeah, I mean, I think that plays into it.
I think the knowledge that if an injury does occur week five, week six after playing,
that it would hurt his long-term market, whether that's with the Colts or elsewhere.
I think the other side of it is, I mean, there's all these things going out about how Chris
Jones in Kansas City is willing to hold out until week eight.
And when he was called out about it, his comment on Twitter X, whatever you want to call it,
was, I have it.
I have the money to pay those fines till week eight.
I don't think Jonathan Taylor is in the same situation coming off a rookie deal. I mean, not saying he doesn't have it. I have the money to pay those fines till week eight. I don't think Jonathan
Taylor is in the same situation coming off a rookie deal. I mean, not saying he doesn't have
money. That's not at all what I'm saying. But I'm not sure he's in that inkling to take that $40,000
a day fine up until that week eight mark to where you could via the new CBA, you could technically
fulfill the whole year's contract with the team.
So I don't think that's going to play into it with the Colts
or whoever this situation ends with.
Yeah.
Coming up, guys, we're going to talk about potential trade packages
that could be out there for the Colts.
And, you know, again, Jonathan Taylor plus whatever team gets involved in it.
So we're going to talk about those trade packages
and see if they're actually realistic or not.
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And every dares, we're going to be back again tomorrow afternoon.
We're going to be going into the evening.
We're going to be going again in this afternoon live stream time
to talk all about the Colts training camp and previewing the game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
That happens tomorrow night.
Tomorrow night, the Colts play the Philadelphia Eagles in their final preseason game.
We're going to be talking all that tomorrow on Locked on Colts.
All right, Dustin.
So getting into the second segment, we're going to talk all about potential trade packages. And you can tell me if I'm wrong here. I kind of highlighted three teams. These are just three teams. Again, this is no source info. This is just me looking at three teams that, one, have a willingness to make big trades, and two, could potentially absorb a big contract from Jonathan Taylor.
So I have the Rams, Bears, and Dolphins as my three teams.
You don't have to confirm me with sources or anything.
You can just speculate, do whatever you want.
You don't have to do anything crazy on this podcast here, Destin.
But what do you think about those three teams as potential fits
for Jonathan Taylor in a potential trade?
Yeah, I mean, this isn't breaking.
I think it's already been put out there that somebody connected in Miami shared that Miami had interest.
I've heard that as well on that end.
It's interesting because their cap situations, they don't have a lot of it.
So it'll be interesting how they maneuver things.
I mean, you can maneuver around the cap nowadays if you want to.
There's certain ways you can go about it to get guys their money
and get that level of player there.
And I think they are willing to go that route
if they deem that injury to be the route to do.
So I think Miami is interesting.
I got so much flack from the Chicago fan base
for saying they were an interesting one.
Oh, my gosh.
But, I mean, they have a lot of draft assets.
They have a ton of money.
And while people can say they like the young backfield they have,
I mean, Jonathan Taylor coming in would by far increase the floor of that offense.
So if that's a route they decided to go, it would make a lot of sense to me.
You said the Rams.
I mean, the Rams in the past
have went balls to the wall and went and got those level of players before, so I could see it.
A couple other teams that just have the cap space and assets that I think could make sense,
being like a Washington for the Commanders, the Arizona Cardinals come to mind. And again,
that's just going off of paper What looks like they could make sense.
Yeah, I was kind of looking at a couple of these teams here and something I put on social media the other day on Twitter slash X, whatever the heck you want to call that that app.
Now, I was kind of saying that I don't want like a young running back in return.
Like I want a second round pick and an offensive lineman or a second round pick and a
wide receiver. Like it's fine if we get a running back back, cause it makes most sense for the other
team to send a running back because that running back is obviously going to get pushed down the
depth chart. So you could look at the bears, for instance, like you mentioned, like if you get a
second round pick and Khalil Herbert, or maybe a third round pick and some change plus Khalil
Herbert, I think that's a big win for the Colts plus Khalil Herbert I think that's a big
win for the Colts Khalil Herbert was a really good running back for them last year if you're
getting a bunch of picks or a second round pick and Herbert you're looking pretty good after that
trade but even I was kind of looking at these other teams I mentioned here like the Rams and
the Dolphins and even the Bears as well I don't really like any of their interior offensive lines does anyone does any team in the nfl other than the browns right now like the interior
offensive line depth they have yeah like i think it's the browns and maybe the chiefs the chiefs
have a pretty decent offensive line group but like i don't know maybe we call the browns the
browns have like 40 million in cap space now they've been moving everything i know they have
56 million in uh under cap next year that they have to or over the cap next year they have to
kind of clean up a little bit but I'm looking at these other teams I'm like man I guess like if I'm
looking at the Dolphins for instance right if I'm trying to take a 2024 second round pick off them
I was looking at their offensive line I'm like maybe Dan Feeney because he played under Steichen before,
but like,
it's kind of a crazy situation.
Yeah.
I mean,
it's definitely tough to try to mock what the situation would be.
I mean,
to me getting a second Khalil Herbert,
a second Roquan Johnson,
however you'd want to look at it on from Bears perspective, I would do that. Everything I've heard is I just don't know if the Colts would
do a second and a player for just Jonathan Taylor. Because, I mean, we'll get into it in the last
segment that we're going to talk about, but I don't think overall they feel pressured or demanded
that they have to trade him. Even if, even if he's upset, like,
I just think in a perfect world, they would rather play this season out and pay him if he earns it.
So we'll, we'll see how it all plays out. But while I would do a second and a young player at a position of need, whether that's interior or line, whether that is a replacement running back,
like I think those things would be worth it to get off the headache that is
occurring on both sides throughout this, but I'm just not sure Indy would do it.
Yeah. One thing I will say in this is Shane Steichen, I don't have any source to Shane
Steichen whatsoever, but Shane Steichen, I know for a fact from everything I've done research-wise,
we have like a shared brain. We're like
disconnected twins, me and Shane Steichen. Like we think the same about football. So I know for a
fact he is annoyed as heck about this situation. I know that this is the most annoying situation
ever because if you look at his past, running backs aren't that important to Shane Steichen. Running backs
are important. Don't get me wrong. I am not trying to downplay how important a player like Jonathan
Taylor is, but if you look at Shane Steichen's past, it's so big for him just to have a running
back that can hit the hole hard. That's the only thing that matters. You don't need a top five
running back in his type of scheme. So I know for a fact Shane Steichen is annoyed.
So he's going to be pressing to make a trade here.
But, Destin, before we get out of this segment here,
I do want to run three potential trade packages by you.
They're going to be very similar packages,
but I just want to see where your thoughts lie with this.
Just, again, no source info.
Just want to have some fun with it here.
We got the Rams trading a 2024 second round pick, Again, no source info. Just want to have some fun with it here.
We got the Rams trading a 2024 second round pick and Kyron Williams, a player who just has not worked out for them.
The Bears traded 2024 second round pick and Roshon Johnson.
Or the Dolphins traded 2024 second round pick and Salvin Ahmed.
I hope I said that name right there.
But three pretty similar packages. Which one would
you take in that situation there, Destin? I mean, me, I would go Chicago's just because
of the running backs there. I think Johnson has the best projection to being a bell cow if the
opportunity and the stars align and that's where his career goes. I think his skill set has the ability to be that bell cow type back in the NFL.
He just happened to be behind a pretty notable running back in college.
You may have heard of him.
I'm a little Bichon.
So I think Chicago makes a lot of sense because of that,
and I know it is not a direct correlation,
but lots of ex-Colts coaches are in Chicago
where they didn't coach the running backs obviously a lot of them are on the defensive
side of the ball for example but Jonathan Taylor is a guy who before all of this was so and I think
still well beloved in the building in Indianapolis and everyone that's been around him so like they
have those guys there that just can vouch for the person that he is before all of this, that some teams may not think he's worth a headache.
But overall, he's not been a headache in the past.
Yeah, I think the one thing I'll add to that is I would probably take the Rams package.
And that's only because I don't even care about Kyron Williams in this equation.
I think the Rams pick might be the 34th pick or the 35th overall pick next year's draft.
Because I've been looking at their defense, I've been looking at their offensive line,
and oh my gosh, it might be the worst in all of football. So just getting me that premium pick
there at 34, 35, and knowing Chris Ballard, how he would trade back seven times and get
25 more picks out of that, I think that's extremely valuable to the Indianapolis Colts.
But I think the Colts are going to have some offers to look over with this situation.
But like you said at the beginning of this topic, will they actually entertain an offer
unless it's a crazy high price like that first round pick, which kind of leads us into our
last segment of today's show.
Coming up, we're going to talk
about some rumors and just national media buzz that just doesn't make sense for this situation.
And, you know, Destin and I are going to kind of dispel a couple of those things. But first,
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Post your jobs for free at linkedin.com slash locked on NFL. That's linkedin.com slash locked on NFL to post your jobs for free. Terms and conditions apply. All right, Destin, so the
number one rumor that I wanted to talk about in this final segment is the number one thing I've
seen from national guys, I've seen from national guys.
I've seen from just people again on Twitter slash X, whatever the heck you want to call that site.
Jim Irsay is completely to blame for this entire saga. This entire saga is 100% on Jim Irsay.
Jim Irsay had that crazy spiel after he met with Jonathan Taylor, where he said,
running backs don't matter. my life doesn't matter,
Jonathan Taylor's life doesn't matter, and all that craziness.
One thing I really want to hit on before I pass it over to you here is,
look, that comment has so little to do with this entire situation.
This situation can be boiled down to Jonathan Taylor wants to get paid right
now. He wants to get paid now. He wants the guarantees. He wants the extension. And the
Colts are not willing to extend anybody until they see them under Shane Steichen. Jim Irsay
doesn't factor into that at all. Like, Dustin, from what you've heard again you're you're more connected than I
am but like is Jim Irsay any bit of the reason why Jonathan Taylor is having this whole debacle
with the Colts I mean people know who Jim Irsay is people know what Jim Irsay does I don't think
it is something that's like this brand new thing I mean if a mic gets put in his face, sometimes things will get said. I think it boils
down to he says the right things in not the right way sometimes, where with what he was trying to
say, for example, with the spiel of I could die tomorrow, Taylor could die tomorrow, and the NFL
would go on. It was just saying that the NFL is bigger than owners, the NFL is bigger than players,
and whether these things get figured out like the NFL goes on.
Now, how I just said that sounds a lot better,
and you wouldn't have seen that in the headlines everywhere.
And it's the same exact statement.
Same exact statement, just said different ways,
and I didn't include two people dying.
So there's just ways to say things at times that I think would make things better, yes.
But I don't think what he has done has increased a lot of things.
I mean, there's been that social media drama here and there.
But Jim Irsay has never even responded to Malikawa when he's said those things on social media.
So, like, I just don't think Jim Irsay is increasing what is going on or adding to it.
I think Jim, for the most part, lets his guys do their job.
So I think Ballard and Co. are taking care of the trade aspect things.
And like we said earlier, Shane Steichen's focusing on football.
Yep.
And then we have our second thing we want to touch on.
It's two of three here, Destin.
So we're going to get to a third one as well.
But the Colts are low-balling Jonathan Taylor that is completely false completely false the Colts have not made a single offer to
Jonathan Taylor because of what I just said they are not offering contract extensions to anybody
until they see how they reform under Shane Steichen so people going out there and being
like oh yeah the Colts are demanding
a first round pick for Jonathan Taylor, but they're low balling him in house. That's not true.
They are not offering him right now because they have been very clear from the beginning
that they are not giving contract extensions to anybody until they see them under Shane Steichen.
Look at Michael Pittman Jr. for instance. Chris Ballard in his opening press conference before training camp said, I love, basically said, and this is paraphrasing,
obviously, obviously paraphrasing. I love Michael Pittman Jr. to death. I would adopt him if I could,
but we're not extending him because we're not extending anybody until we see them with Shane
Steichen. So they're not low-balling Jonathan Taylor. They just aren't offering him anything
as of right now, Destin.
Yeah, I mean, like we said earlier,
it's just all about seeing what he looks like in this offense,
seeing what he looks like post-injury.
Things change.
I mean, the entire offensive staff is different.
You're not going to extend somebody if you are not 100% sure
of how they work in that said offense.
I saw the comment there that Adam Sheffer reported that JT has
until next
tuesday that aligns with what i had heard i had put that out yesterday on twitter that
from what i was hearing that it sounded like if a deal does not get done by
tuesday which that timeline for everyone that's listening is the cut down day um if the if a trade
doesn't get done by cut down day it gets significantly more diminished that a trade even comes to fruition
um on the colt side and other teams i mean other teams want to get these things taken care of
so um i i agree with what was put out i think it was um shepter put it out there but i think it's
actually steven holder's story that adam shepter was sharing yeah and the one thing i wanted to
touch on real quick because i i know it's gonna be more of me than you here, Destin, but I'll let you obviously comment on this as well. A lot of thing that's going around is the Colts are failing Anthony Richardson because he I would be fine with placing blame on Jim Irsay before I am fine with saying that Anthony Richardson needs Jonathan Taylor.
Because if you look at the Anthony Richardson type of quarterback, the mobile quarterback that can be used in a design run game,
when have they ever needed a top-tier running back?
When has that ever been the case? I mean, we go back to
Robert Griffin III, and who was his running back in 2012 when he had that phenomenal rookie season?
Oh yeah, sixth round pick Alfred Morris, who was just a nobody before coming to Washington. And
he had a great year with RG3. Like, I'm not trying to diminish Alfred Morris whatsoever,
but like, he didn't need a top tier running back.
He needed a six round player in Alfred Morris.
Then you go to Lamar Jackson.
He had what Gus Edwards,
Gus Edwards was really good with Lamar Jackson,
but like,
that's not a top tier running back right there.
Then you go to Jalen Hurts.
Jalen Hurts has Miles Sanders,
Sanders.
Maybe you could make the argument with Cam Newton,
Cam Newton with Jonathan Stewart and D'Angelo Williams, but like, don't get me wrong,
great players, great players, but they were not top five running backs in the NFL. They were good
players, but like, come on. And then if you want to, if you want to even go crazier with this here,
oh, the Colts are failing Anthony Richardson by not giving him Jonathan Taylor,
this top five running back. Then what are the Panthers and the Texans doing by giving Bryce
Young, Miles Sanders this year? And then the Texans are giving CJ Stroud, Devin Singletary,
and Damian Pierce, who again, good players, but they're not giving them top five running backs.
Like, oh my gosh, like every team is failing the rookie quarterback because they're not giving them top five running backs. Like, oh my gosh, like every team is failing their rookie quarterback
because they're not giving these guys top five running backs.
Like, don't get me wrong.
Jonathan Taylor would be a great, great, great asset for Anthony Richardson.
But if Anthony Richardson is going to be the quarterback that we want in Indianapolis,
it doesn't come down to Jonathan Taylor playing or not. If Anthony
Richardson needs Jonathan Taylor to be a successful quarterback, then he was not going to be a
successful quarterback regardless. That is my biggest point I'm trying to make here with Colts
fans, is if Anthony Richardson absolutely needed Jonathan Taylor to be successful, then Anthony
Richardson was not going to be successful
regardless. Yeah. I mean, I think the argument can be made that Anthony Richardson could be
more beneficial to Jonathan Taylor than Jonathan Taylor can be to Anthony Richardson. So I think
Jonathan could be doing himself a disservice going elsewhere, depending on where that team
falls that he ends up with. There's not too many just super immobile quarterbacks in the
NFL anymore. We're kind of moving away from that, but who knows where he could land. And so I don't
understand those things. I think maybe I can see that you're saying that Jonathan Taylor has been
the best offensive weapon that the Colts have had over the past few years, which I completely
understand. So maybe you're saying that you're losing that top-tier weapon
before he can ever suit up with Anthony Richardson.
But that doesn't change that this is not something they are doing
to Jonathan Taylor.
This is something that the Colts have decided they're doing for everyone.
The Colts have not offered a contract to Michael Pittman.
The Colts have not offered a contract to Jonathan Taylor.
This is not something where they're choosing one or the other. They're just wanting to see them play. They want to see
them in these offense and then we'll see where it goes. In all likelihood, you can only franchise
tag one of them. So if they both wanted to stay and play, you're going to have to pay one during
the season anyway, during or right after the season ends anyway. So that's just how I keep
looking at it is they obviously are just wanting to see these
guys play see what they look like in this new offense um so that's why all these things that
have been put out there have been interesting to me because i just feel like there have been
people jumping to conclusions that the colts are hypocrites they don't value them enough to pay
them but they want a first round pick well first of all i could i have a bunch of things in my
house that we're having a garage sale next week that I don't value.
I'm not giving it away for free though.
Like I'm selling it this weekend at a garage sale
because that's just how life works.
So even if they didn't value Jonathan Taylor,
but they knew other people did,
they're not selling low just because they say we don't like him,
which is not the case.
But just had to make that comment too.
Yeah, no, like my record collection
around my office here i would turn my camera around if i could but like my record collection
around my wall here i value it but like you know if someone came and offered me ten thousand dollars
for it i would sell them i would sell them i would just go buy them again for for less yeah for
cheaper but like that's kind of what it comes down to. The Colts value Jonathan Taylor.
They absolutely value him.
And again, to kind of bring back my point,
he would be amazing alongside Anthony Richardson,
but it's not paramount that he has Jonathan Taylor.
At the end of the day,
the most important things for Anthony Richardson
are Shane Steichen,
the pass catchers, and the offensive line somehow figuring out what the heck is going on.
Those are the most important things.
Jonathan Taylor is great to have.
And I would love to have Jonathan Taylor and his explosiveness and how good of a running back he is.
But I care more about the offensive line.
I care more about Pierce, Pittman, and Downs.
And I care more about Shane Steichen calling the correct plays for him and also his confidence building throughout the
year. Like those are more important to me than Jonathan Taylor. I love Jonathan Taylor's death
and I hope he gets paid. I don't care if it's with the Colts or whoever it's with, but at the
end of the day, the whole Colts franchise right now is around Anthony Richardson and Shane Steichen, the offensive line and the pass catchers.
So it's just it's a tough situation right now.
And hopefully it comes to conclusion soon.
The Colts either extend him or they're able to find a trade partner.
But every day is again, I appreciate you joining, joining us and entertaining this type of conversation.
I know we've talked about Jonathan Taylor quite a bit on this podcast,
this offseason.
So every day or again,
we'll be back tomorrow to preview the Colts preseason game against the
Philadelphia Eagles.
And if you don't already, follow at LockedOnColts,
at JakeArthurNFL, at ZachKicks2,
and at TheDestinAdams all on Twitter slash X.
Destin is doing great work over A to Z Sports.
Again, a former colleague of mine,
but we still treat him as a brother here on Locked on Colts.
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