NFL's Saquon Barkley commented on fellow running back Jonathan Taylor after his trade talks broke down.
It has been confirmed that the 24-year-old will not be leaving the Indianapolis Colts for the time being and remains on the physically unable-to-perform list. This means he will not be able to play for at least the first four games of the upcoming season.
During a chat with FOX News, Barkley shared his thoughts on Taylor’s abilities and what he can offer to a team. "All I can say is that I know Jonathan Taylor is one of the best players in the league," the New York Giants player explained. "I see he had a down year last year battling some injuries. But he showed, when he’s healthy, what he’s able to do and what he’s able to bring to an offense and to a team.
"Hopefully the trade is able to go through, and he’s able to go to a team that respects him and values him, and hopefully he can go out and show out and put on this year. I know Jonathan prior to all this stuff that happened, and being a Big Ten guy and watching him closely, [I've] been a big fan of his and still going to continue being a fan of his."
Taylor is set to enter the final year of rookie contract with the Colts. He has not played since December 2022 after suffering an ankle injury. Prior to the injury, Taylor recorded 1,811 yards in 2021 with 18 rushing touchdowns – stats that led the league.
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The running back believes he is worth a long-term extension, but Colts owner Jim Irsay disagrees. While initially refusing to engage in any conversations regarding a trade for the player, the franchise allowed him to seek a move to a new team.
However, ESPN confirmed Tuesday that the Colts did not find what they felt was a fair-value offer for their All-Pro running back. The AFC South team reportedly wanted a first-round pick, or a "package of picks that equates to as much," according to ESPN. The Colts' next-best opportunity to deal Taylor could be before the NFL's Oct. 31 trade deadline.
Barkley was placed on franchise tag before signing a one-year deal worth up to $11M with a $2M signing bonus (Getty Images)The running back position has been heavily scrutinised this offseason. At the moment, running backs assigned the franchise tag have a one-year salary of $10.091 million. Only kickers and punters have a lower franchise tag salary of $5.393, almost less than half.
The other positions earn in excess of $18 million when placed on franchise tags. Barkley, who was placed on a franchise tag, signed a one-year deal worth up to $11M with a $2M signing bonus to remain with the Giants through the season. In response to suggestions that the sport should reconsider the franchise tags on running backs, Colts owner Irsay took to social media to object to that point of view.
"We have negotiated a CBA, that took years of effort and hard work and compromise in good faith by both sides," he wrote earlier this month. "To say now that a specific player category wants another negotiation after the fact, is inappropriate. Some agents are selling 'bad faith.'"
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