lester

It is fair and equitable. The contract binds both parties. The team and the player are obligated to adhere to the contract they signed. Sometimes teams are stuck with poor deals but must stick it out with a player they don't want any more. Sometimes players perform at a higher level than their current contract; but they are obligated to perform under the document they signed. For players, contract protections include things like guaranteed money and signing bonuses. They are often paid in advance for services they haven't yet rendered. It is also evident in things like cap structure and dead cap. All kinds of contract language is used by players to protect themselves. The more valuable the player, the stronger the language that favors them. Teams take a huge risk on drafting a player. The contract protects the player by getting them money before they have played a single down in the league. But the contract also protects the teams by giving the ability to cut a player who is not performing well. That does not mean they don't follow the contract, it means the player is paid the contract amount they agreed to.

The Athletic has the Colts ranked #21 (move up from #26 from last week).

Last year was coaching. All of it. There, I said it.

I think it is a deliberate play calling issue. For now.

That 2 game sample puts Michael Pittman on pace to end the season with 136 catches and 1266.5 yards. I'll take it.

I want to see that. Shane Steichen wants to see that. Chris Ballard wants to see that. Jim Irsay wants to see that. No one in their right minds wants to pay extra to see that. If it is as good as everyone is hoping, then Jonathan Taylor will be a very wealthy man.

That was fantastic. Thank you!

I don’t take it that NCF is advocating for a losing season, nor is he suggesting that the Colts want to lose. What he is saying is: The Colts recognize their issues but believe the best way to address them in the long run is to play the younger players so they can themselves become vets, instead of short term rentals on available veterans. It does the team no good to have a bunch of replacements in 2 years who don’t have any experience because they didn’t play and grow along side Anthony Richardson.

It is my interpretation of Shane's comments that he believes he was helping Anthony Richardson by keeping his playbook closed. If I understand correctly, Shane Steichen knows AR can make those plays but he didn't want the quarterback thinking he had to save the world in his first game. The leash was short on purpose (not due to lack of faith in AR's skillset).

Barring injury, I'll take 1200 yards and 11 touchdowns.

That Calvin Ridley dude only had 9 yards in the 2nd half. I'm sure glad that scrub plays for the Jags and not the Colts.

Today was not an example of RBBC. It was a 3rd string and a 5th string running back filling in for three injured team mates. Not a valid sample of what Shane has in mind…

The Colts have been transparent. They are not hiding their agenda: they want to see how an elite running back (specifically, Jonathon Taylor) fits into the new scheme, with a new coach, after his recovery from injury, etc. etc. etc. Jonathon Taylor is accustomed to 15 to 20 carries per game (average 15 in 2020, 20 in 2021, and 17 in 2022). How is it great for the Colts (or JT for that matter) if his role with Shane Steichen is only 7 to 10 carries a game in the new offense? You don't extend him (or anyone this year) until you know how they fit. A contract is not just more money. It is also a lengthy commitment where they team carries that player into the future (with an opportunity cost of not having that roster spot for someone else). The Colts understand that a player like JT might not be the best fit in the kind of offense they are crafting. If they extend him now, BEFORE seeing the offense emerge, they are committing to him. That would be a mistake. They know this (and I think JT knows this too). Remember, Jonathon Taylor is a very smart human. Observers are scratching their heads trying to figure out why he is behaving the way he is. My opinion, JT is doing everything, anything he can think of to engineer a trade precisely because he understands exactly what kind of role he will have in Indy going forward. He knows the tape he makes this year will be bad for his business. Not as a bad player, mind you; I'm not disparaging Jonathon Taylor's ability as a running back. I'm merely stating that he knows that he needs to land on a team that fits his desired role; before he creates a measly 700 or 800 yards during this contract year.

That is a good way to put it. I WANT him to do well. Not for me (so I can watch), but for him; based on who I think he is.

I loved Andrew Luck. Loved him. One of my favorite players. Ever. But, No.

This post has all the reasons that everyone’s predications are worthless. No one has any idea what this colts team is going to do. Tons of reasons to illustrate why they’ll be horrible; but also lots of unknowns with upside that could lead to wins. it’s not about talent or experience, it’s about matchups, week-over-week. And; which Oline shows up? How does the new coach game plan? Do our third year pass rushers put it all together this year? Does Shaq Leonard create a dozen forced fumbles like in times of old? Does Alec Pierce catch those sure touchdowns? How many games that would otherwise be a loss get saved by our new (expensive) kicker? Yadda yadda yadda. No one knows anything. Just enjoy the ride. LOL

1. The Colts already took the risk. They used scarce draft capital on Taylor and paid him a contract with no guarantees for themselves. If Taylor had NOT become an all pro in his 2nd season, could the Colts have decided to not pay him the contractually agreed amount? Could they have re-used the expired 2nd round pick on someone else? Silly, I know. No, they could not. Busts happen in the draft; its a real risk for the team. Of course they can cut the player later, but the contract obligations stay in force. That is what a contract is. The Colts took the risk on JT at the beginning. They don't owe him anything more than his agreed salary this year. He owes them his effort and performance for one more year. 2. If that is a part of his argument (and I agree with you that I think it is part of his argument), it is offensive. Jonathan Taylor has the same risk to his future earning as every single other player. That line he is concerned about, they have the same risk. The receivers, they have the same risk. The quarterbacks, they have the same risk. He is a running back, he might get hurt. That might end his career. So says the ten thousand before him who never made it. He is not special. 3. Taylor is no different than any other employee in the history of employees. Sure, he deserves to be led, managed, cared for, incentivized, and motivated to perform; just like the employees at my company or any one of us at our job. Rarely in the rest of the world, does that mean any one of us knows 'if I do this, I get that' - and then maybe we get to decide for ourselves how hard we work to get the reward? That is the mindset of an elite athlete in the most popular sportstainment endeavor in the world? One who is under contract who also has hungry youngsters lining up take his job? Is this how JT should think and how he should be measured? For real? 4. I agree with you about trust, but not in the way you are implying. Taylor is the one who expects trust in return but is unwilling to demonstrate it of his own accord. Taylor wants the team to trust him about his abilities. In fact, his entire shtick, this whole episode, is a matter of trust. Trust him that his ankle is not a problem. Can't see it, just trust him. Trust him that he will perform throughout the period of his next contract too. New contract, same problem in the last year of that one? And the one after that. Trust him that he won't hold-in again if he gets close to the end of the new contract he wants. There is very little the Colts could've or should've done differently. They are being victimized by Jonathan Taylor and Malki Kawa. Sure, the situation might benefit if Irsay was more as a silent party to the proceedings (but I'm not sure his motivation is this particular transaction more than being aimed at the broad NFL in general) but that is a different post. JT and his agent are bullying the Colts, in public; for the sole purpose of receiving more money than he has already agreed to. He owes the colts. They do not owe him.

Or, he re-watched Varsity Blues and thinks he can make the Colts look bad by saying they were mean to him. That'll make Chris open the checkbook; this time for sure.

That's true. It is true IF Mr. Taylor's physical abilities are the same as they were in 2021. If they are not, he is no longer a home run hitter on any given play.

Because they want to see him play in the new system, first. They aren't paying more money (and have said just as much) for a player that might not fit the 'new' Colts. They already own JT's rights for 2023. Why should they pay more for this year if its possible they don't even want him next year?

Playmakers? From the Athletic, this morning: "4. Anthony Richardson, QB, Indianapolis Colts Like Stroud, Richardson learned a valuable NFL lesson about double-clutching on throws when he was picked off early in his preseason debut. Richardson has a live arm, and it’s clear that his passes generate velocity that’s missing from the other QBs in this class, even on underneath throws. He has much to learn about tying his feet to the timing of his progression, though, because he still makes some poor throws outside of the numbers. Richardson will have some explosive performances this season — good and bad – but he’s the first-round QB I’d bet on winning Offensive Rookie of the Year. — Lee"

You may be on to something. My gut tells me JT knows he doesn't fit. He knows he won't be 'productive' (not the big $$$ kind of productive) in the new offense. I think he made a calculation this summer that he needed to get paid or get outta-dodge before he puts down 2023 tape that does not showcase his strengths. That is what led him to change to the 'aggressive' agent and completely change his public demeanor. That's all the sense I can make out of it.

That's just it. Some posters here think the conversation is about JT being 'worth it'. The conversation is, "Is any running back worth it' in the 2023 version of the NFL (and if yes, how much); and is JT a stud RB anymore. He's young, but that doesn't mean he still has the physical ability to produce at an elite level. That is the gamble. The Colts have consistently said (over and over, in lockstep): They LOVE Jonathon Taylor They believe it is necessary to pay their 'special' players They haven't discussed extensions with any player this off season because they have a new coach and a new system They are willing to discuss an extension during the season. This season. But they have to know first if the player fits into what they are doing now. All of this is reasonable and is great news for Jonathon Taylor. The Colts are likely to overpay for a running back's services, this year, if he would get on the program. Or, is he hurt, and can't perform (does he know this and this is what this is all about)? REMEMBER: This isn't a free agent negotiation. This is a player who is already on contract with the team and is expected, is contractually obligated, to play football for this team. That is, unless he cannot perform or until the team decides they can and should trade him for something. Mr. Taylor, can you perform your contractual obligations this season? If not, how do you expect to be traded; and/or how do you anticipate being able to earn a new, longer contract?

This part, in the bold: I believe (from listening to what Ballard has said and what he isn't saying) this is part of the reason we did 'nothing' with the O-Line this year. Ballard acknowledged that the fact of changing the line last year was just as disruptive as the quality of the players he changed. What I think he wants is this: he wants to keep the group from the end of last season in place so they can learn and grow together. He thinks the pieces are adequate and will work better if they stay a unit. Plugging in a new piece - even if that piece is a fantastic individual - won't necessarily solve the problem (especially since there aren't enough good lineman and dollars for good linemen to go around). So, the line stays as is. This is just my understanding of the situation, of course. #NoCharge

That kidney thing he had going on from the Mack truck (or the Denver broncos) that hit him was a busted play. He was scrambling.