NewColtsFan

Honestly, I don’t know. I don’t recall Ballard or anyone else making a comment one way or the other about that issue. Sorry about that….

I don’t think Brents is a question either. But on this site, the corner getting the most love is Rush. It’s my view that people here have over-reacted to Brents injury and elevated Rush to a higher level as a result. I don’t know who the third corner will be? But I’d be surprised if the Colts sign Peters or the Guard, Risner. Way too expensive. Guys like that are holding out waiting for a training camp injury to a playoff caliber team who will then be willing pay up. I suspect the Colts might sign a lesser name to fill Rodgers spot. Someone willing to sign for a little over the veteran minimum plus incentives.

Ballard’s public comments about Brent’s are that he is expected to be ready to go at the start of camp. I’m operating on that expectation. I don’t think the Colts would’ve taken Brents at 44 if he wasn’t going to be ready. Hopefully we’ll all know in roughly 7-10 days.

Odds are pretty high the answer to the question should come from one of three players. AR, Brents, Downs. They will get the most opportunity, the most snaps during competitive games. As Colts fans, we should all hope the answer comes from one of those three. Doesn’t mean that Day Three draft picks can't have good rookie seasons, but it would be very surprising if was better than the Big Three.

Im sorry, but no. It is NOT an article about the view of one Exec. Not even close. More than 80 Execs, coaches, scouts and players were interviewed about all the profiles. This was one quote — one. The “article” was about Taylor. Not about the execs VIEW of Taylor. There was much more to write up. It was 4-5 paragraphs total. I wouldn’t even think if it as an article. It was the Taylor portion about the top-10 running backs. The article was about the best running backs. Im sorry, but you have this habit of characterizing articles that you have not read. This is not the first time this has happened. By the way…. If you’re trying to pat yourself on the back because you and Nick have had the same view of Taylor for two years, then I have bad news for you. This series of positional review articles by ESPN is now in its fourth year. And last years review of the 21 season (the season you just said you and Nick have concerns about) last years review ranked Jonathan Taylor first. FIRST OVERALL. Yet you say you had concerns about JT after his 1800+ yard 2021 season when the Colts had a bad passing game so defenses could key in JT. Perhaps your concerns are not as valid as you believe….

It appears your speculative numbers weren’t even close. 2/13? 3/15? It’s being reported the numbers were in the range of 11-13 per year. And were only about 1-2 million per year apart. Each case is unique. You keep writing the market is being set, and that Ballard has to follow these numbers. Neither is true. The market is not set and Ballard is free to make the best deal he can with JT, which might eventually be a franchise tag, but it might also be a multi-year deal. Ballard is not fenced in.

For your consideration…. I think there’s an argument to be made that the Colts are tanking right now in plain sight…. Just look at the moves that fans and media have called for and the Colts have NOT made…. (Yet) 1. The Colts have not signed a veteran right guard. 2. The Colts have not signed a veteran cornerback. 3. The Colts have not signed a veteran safety. 4. The Colts have not signed a veteran wide receiver. 5. The Colts have not signed a veteran backup offensive tackle. Now the Colts might still sign one or more. They might also claim a player at the cutdown day or even make a small trade or two. I’m just noting the moves the Colts have yet to make and camp opens in less than 10 days. Again, this could change by Sept 1. Honestly I’d be surprised if the Colts don’t make some moves. It’ll be interesting to see what the Colts do and don’t do before the start of the season.

When a player like Hopkins goes to the worst team by far to show interest, that typically tells me that team offered the most by far. Not a hard and fast rule, but I think it happens more often than not. And I think it’s interesting that more of a market didn’t happen for Hopkins.

The Colts are talking to Taylor because Ballard’s history is to extend his top players during the last year of their rookie contract. The Colts value Taylor and Pittman even if you don’t. The question becomes, how much? We may not find out for a while. Last year the Nelson deal wasn’t announced until the weekend of the season opener at Houston. So these things can take time. That could happen again this year with both JT and MP.

Reminder…. JT is not on the same clock as Barkley, Jacob’s, Pollard…. They had to have their deals done by today. Taylor did not. The Colts can still sign him or tag him next year and the year after if need be.

The Raiders and Giants agree? Both teams tried to sign their RB to a multi-year deal. They wanted to but couldn’t come to terms. How is that agreeing?

Thanks, I have not seen that before. With RB salaries either flat lining or going down, it’s hard to wrap my mind around the tag going up from $10.1 to $13.1. I wonder if this will hold? Wonder if/when it will get updated? Anyway, thanks for the good 411.

“Tag him at $13 mill in 24” ??? Sorry, you lost me. Everything I’ve read projects the tag for JT in 24 will be $10.1, the same as the RB tag this year. Then a second tag in 25 would be $12.2, with the 20 percent bump. I’ve seen that in multiple stories. But you’ve written a $13 mill tag for 24. Is that a typo, or do you see another way to calculate?

I suspect Hopkins is going to Tenn because they’re offering the most money, perhaps by a wide margin. Pure and simple.

I recognize that JT does most of his damage between the tackles. But I also have strong memories of the first two years of sweeps left and right behind pulling lineman like Nelson and AC and Smith. So Taylor can go wide. The Colts did less of that last year, but as Superman noted the Colts OL was a hot mess, and the entire offense lacked basic coordination. I’m cautiously hopeful that things have to get better this year.

Likely somewhere in the middle… The first month or two will probably have a lot of growing pains. And the last half of the year will hopefully show good progress. I don’t know how competitive the Colts will be in the first half, but I hope they’ll be much more competitive in the second half of the season. Last year we were a joke. This year we’re rebuilding. That’s not the same. Better days should be ahead, but patience will be important.

I think Jonathan Taylor is capable of being any type of runner he wants to be. He can be a straight line down hill runner, and he can also be a zone runner capable of hitting any hole the blocking gives him. I don’t think there are any restrictions to what JT can do.

To be clear…. The Colts don’t want a high touchback rate. They want the ball kicked somewhere between the 5 and the goal line. The Colts want to force a return. They believe they can stop the return before the 25 yard line and gain a competitive advantage — even if it seems slight. And before his injury, Sanchez was really good at placing the ball where the opponents were forced to return. We’ll soon find out if he has that gift.

I hate to break it to you….. This is at least the second time, maybe even the third time this off-season you’ve written that statement. Careful! A few more like that and it could ruin your reputation!

I think Steichen would LOVE to sign Taylor. He is BY FAR our best offensive weapon. A weapon the defense must account for on every play he’s on the field. You don’t get rid of guys like that easily unless you stumble into a very good replacement. The Colts have no one on the roster anywhere near as good. You cannot replace Taylor easily. There are two issues. Talent and salary. Each has to be considered. Remember, Ballard says he and Steichen share many viewpoints, so I’m not sure if your view of Steichen wanting to shed Taylor like unwanted baggage holds much water. The Colts could offer JT a contract much bigger than you’d like, but Taylor and his agent could still reject it as unacceptable. Odds are none of us will know about the offer unless the two sides agree to a contract.

The report says the deal will be 2-years with the first year worth a minimum of $13 mill which could become $15 mill. Not many other details. I’m sure they’ll come out in the next few days.

The person who wrote this projection used to be a regular here. I don’t believe he’s a regular here anymore. Not sure if he ever posts here at all. Back then, he wanted to be a journalist so he could cover the NFL. He was a teenager when he was here.., 15 and 16. I’d guess he’s roughly 25 now. Andrew writes for Stampede on a variety of topics ranging for the draft, free agency and contracts. I’ll try to be diplomatic in case he lurks here…. I don’t find him to be a very effective writer. And we’ll leave it at that. By the way, for the record…. I’m on record as saying I’m fine if we tag Taylor twice if need be. But if we hope to sign him, I’d try for 3 years, $40 mill…. $13.3 mill per, which would make him the 3rd highest paid RB. The bigger question is…. How much would be guaranteed? That’s typically the biggest hurdle in negotiations.

Ballard doesn’t have to tag Taylor this year. His rookie contract has one more year, this year. JT is not on the same clock as Barkley. Ballard can tag Taylor in 24, and again in 25. I don’t believe there’s any deadline pressure for Ballard to get a deal done quickly. Maybe there is for Taylor, but I don’t think there is for Ballard.

And for my money, here’s todays winner for Best Post of the Day!

That’s your opinion. Nothing more, nothing less. Some might agree, others would not.