Jonathan Taylor No Colts Trade, But OUT for Week 2 vs. Texans
The "soft deadline'' has come and gone ... but Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor is not gone from the AFC South.
Taylor, the gifted 24-year-old All-Pro, has terrorized the Houston Texans over the years, and so there was reason for Houston to keep an eye on the situation as entering Tuesday morning, multiple reports suggest that there are two teams in the running for Taylor and that a deal figures to get done on NFL Cutdown Day.
But the reports were wrong. No trade has materialized. And if it does? Houston still won't have to face Taylor, as he is reportedly going to stay on PUP, meaning he'll miss the first four weeks of the season ... and Indy plays the Texans in Week 4. Consider that a big break for Houston.
Indianapolis owner Jim Irsay could at the last minute step up and offer to pay Taylor to stay. But some bridges have obviously been burned here.
“If I die tonight and Jonathan Taylor is out of the league, no one’s gonna miss us,” Irsay said recently, per The Athletic. “The league goes on. We know that. The National Football (League) rolls on. It doesn’t matter who comes and who goes, and it’s a privilege to be a part of it.”
Irsay having adding gasoline to the flames surely has not helped settle the situation for the Colts, who have Taylor in the final year of his contract as they attempt to rebuild. Taylor is in Year 4 of his rookie contract, with a full value of $7.8 million. He makes about $5 million this year - a steal - and is eligible for an extension.
Not long ago, Irsay was still talking, texting SI, “We’re not trading Jonathan... end of discussion. Not now and not in October!”
That policy changed for a moment. But no offer was sufficient. So the Colts go back to the drawing board with their star. And the Texans get a bit of an easier draw in Week 2.
